Gibson Designer Guitars

The introduction of these models divided opinion. Some were in awe of their futuristic, mould-breaking design, while others cast them aside as too radical for serious musicians. One thing was certain however; Gibson weren't afraid to break the rules. 

Fast forward to 1963, and the Firebird makes it debut appearance. Inspired by the iconic tailfins of the American automobiles of the time, it was yet another bold step for the company, with its unique offset curves and weighty tone. While initially met with a degree of scepticism, the Flying V, Explorer and Firebird eventually became the trailblazing heroes of the Gibson line-up, now often referred to as the Designer range. 

Over the years, Gibson have released a number of variations of the Designer guitars. For the most part, they come loaded with dual humbucking pickups, and their body shapes are just as striking now as they were back then. As with many of Gibson's solid-body instruments, the Designer guitars are known for their rich and weighty tone that lends itself to blues and hard-rock, but can be tipped to either extreme if it calls for it. 

These striking instruments have been used by countless artists over the years, including James Hetfield (Metallica), The Edge (U2), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) and Jimi Hendrix among others - a testament to their timeless popularity.

For information on the Gibson 2019 range, click here - in the meantime, check out our selection of Gibson Designer guitars below!