Even the fiercest rockers like their hot-looking guitars, and no axe out there offers the intensity of eye candy captured in the form of the stunning new Eye Guitar, a new 2009 Limited Run Series model from Gibson USA. You’d better believe this is one sweet-looking instrument — but watch out! Try to take a bite and you’ll expose yourself to an eviscerating maelstrom of tone. Available beginning April 1, 2009, only 350 of the new Limited Run Series Eye Guitars will be produced, and they’re bound to go fast.
Eye catching? You’d better believe it. Gibson USA’s new Eye Guitar nails a look like nothing else on the planet. Its ultra-pointy, offset double-cutaway body is dressed in a nitrocellulose lacquer Fire Engine Red finish that’s matched on the headstock, while the powder-coated pickup covers echo the theme. The swooping, symmetrical pickguard recalls custom creations seen on the guitars of the ’70s, but is totally original and unique, while the jet-black ebony fingerboard — sans position markers — adds a touch of elegance and simplicity.
More than just a looker, the Eye Guitar is packed with all the tonal goodness that Gibson USA is known for. Its solid mahogany body and glued-in mahogany neck maximize resonance and sustain, while the ebony fingerboard adds an edge of clarity and definition to every note – even through heavily distorted settings on high-gain amplifiers. The pickups, a 490R at the neck and a 498T at the bridge, are the optimum humbuckers for hard rockin’ performance, blended with a dash of vintage-voiced sweetness. The 490R uses Alnico II magnets and features pole-piece spacing suitable to the string spread at the neck position, while also being calibrated for balanced volume when matched with a hotter 498T in the bridge, a “Hot Alnico” design that uses a punchier Alnico V magnet and modified coil windings to provide even more oomph for rock lead work.
The new 2009 Limited Run Series Eye Guitar has also been designed for the pure functionality that a hard-gigging guitarist needs. Controls are a can’t-miss pairing of master volume and tone knobs, along with a three-way pickup selector switch. Hardware includes the time-tested Tune-o-matic bridge with stop bar tailpiece and Grover kidney button tuners, all chrome-plated. Finally, 22 frets, the legendary 24 3/4″ scale length and that classic rounded Gibson neck profile all make this one of the easiest players under the sun.
Only 350 of the guitars will be made, so get ’em while they’re red hot. Each new Eye Guitar comes with a Gibson USA hardshell case and special 2009 Limited Run Series certificate of authenticity.
Limited Run Series Eye Guitar Specs:
Made In: Nashville, TN USA
Body Wood: Mahogany
Neck Wood: Mahogany
Nut: Corian
Neck Joint: Set; Glued-in
Fingerboard: Ebony, no dots
Scale Length: 24-3/4″
Fingerboard Radius: 12″
Frets: 22
Machine Heads: Grover kidney button
Hardware: Chrome
Pickups: 490R neck, 498T bridge, with red powder-coated covers
Controls: One volume, one tone, three-way switch
Bridge: Tune-o-matic
Tailpiece: Stop bar
Includes: Hardshell case and 2009 Limited Run Series certificate of authenticity
This is a Press Release
Hi there. Yes, this guitar looks really strange. But it fits all together. Just a late 60 feeling teleported in a today environment.
I’ve got my eye guitar today for small money (555 euro = $740). Sound is great and playability is fine.
I’ve had mine for almost a year now and all I have to say is those of you who passed on this guitar – you missed out!
I got mine and LOVE IT!!!!
I too love this guitar and have ordered one. I don’t care what anyone else thinks of it. I bet she’ll play like a dream and sound sweet!
who the hell wrote this?
apparently no one is paying attention because the general opinion is that this guitar looks terrible. go on the gibson site and look at the comments below this guitar.
there is no good looks here. the guitar looks like a terrible looking SG knockoff.
I think that Gibson is once again ahead on its time, logically you people that wrote this comments don’t like this guitar. Well I like it and I think that if Gibson doesn’t create new and futuristic guitar we will be in 2100 with the same Les Paul SG and Strat style guitars. Wath hapened to the Corvus and to the Explorer is hapening to this guitar, in some years you all will thank Gibson for creating such inovating guitars. (sorry my english isn’t the best)
I belive when someone spells Gibson, Its a proud name and its know with its classic shapes, and each its own character and image! I belive this may cause a blur to that image!
Quit wasting time on gimmick guitars, Gibson, and stick to the tried and true Les Pauls and SG’s. While you are at it, dump that ugly batwing pickguard on the SG and go back to the small one only, the way SG’s were meant to look. Gibson is getting to be a HUGE disappointment, and a joke in the music world.
As a Gibson fan and player for 40 years I’m appalled how they have a limited run etc every few months. Catering to the collector and non-player. What makes this guitar cost so much other than the phony rarity. Go ahead Henry, you built the name up again, now ruin it. Top load controls, no inlays all save money for Gibson. I guess thats why it isnt 4K+. Fear not some fools will buy it. Really Gibson, quit breaking my heart with this stuff, make some affordable guitars.
Gibson should concentrate on building quality guitars the average player can afford to buy, not gimmicky new models like this $2497.00 waste of time.