Me and My Guitar
Channel: James Blunt
When it comes to electric guitars, the rock world divides. There’s the Fender (the iconic Stratocaster and its cool cousin the Telecaster) as played by Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Buddy Holly; and there’s the Gibson, which has Led Zeppelin’s guitar legend Jimmy Page, John Lennon and a host of rock guitarists to its name.
When it comes to acoustic models, though, Gibson’s guitars blow Fender away. Legendary blues guitarist, Robert Johnson, the player around whom the myth developed that he sold his soul to the devil at a crossroads and who has since been dubbed the grandfather of rock’n'roll, played a Gibson acoustic. Elvis Presley strummed one too. And Bob Dylan, like James Blunt, picks at a J-45 model.
Various types including the J-200, J-45 and LG1 have become very collectable, depending on when they were made, since the techniques of the instrument makers, the varnishes and the woods used vary with each year of production with some being more highly prized than others.
Aware of its heritage, Gibson has over the years released a signature series in homage to the guitar heroes who are identified with a particular model of their guitars. Here is a showcase of their acoustic range, so pick your idol and get strumming…
The Arlo Guthrie LG-2
Woody Guthrie’s son espouses this hand-crafted beauty in mahogany and spruce.
The Dwight Yoakum Honky Tonk Deuce
Dwight’s a country giant. So is his guitar.
The Elvis Presley Dove
An exact replica (in tasteful black) of the King’s guitar from his Las Vegas years.
Elvis Presley King of Rock J-200
Black (again) and big and recreated from Elvis’s personal collection complete with mother of pearl inlay.
John Lennon’s J160E Peace
His 1969 guitar, the same kind he used on the Beatles first single Love Me Do and his guitar of choice.
The L-200 Emmylou Harris
The country girl who played with Gram Parsons is a Gibson devotee.
The Pete Townshend SJ-200 Limited
The Who’s axeman wrote most of his songs on one of these.
The Robert Johnson L-1
According to Gibson this ‘captures the haunting, timeless sound of the man whose genius has inspired generations of blues artists’, and who are we to argue?
The Sheryl Crow Signature
She sang ‘all I want to do is have some fun’ and when it’s on stage it’s with one of these.
The W Guthrie Southern Jumbo
The archetypal troubadour strummer Woody Guthrie’s 1945 guitar in replica form.
More From James Blunt
View All
