Legendary Rock and Roll Icon Joan Jett Makes History as First Female with a
Gibson Electric Signature Model
NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 11 -- Gibson Guitar, the world's
premier musical instrument manufacturer and leader in music technology, has
announced the launch of the Joan Jett Signature Melody Maker guitar,
designed and produced in close cooperation with the rock legend herself.
The model pays tribute to the iconic Melody Maker Jett played on hits like
"I Love Rock N' Roll," and "Do You Wanna Touch Me" and, true to her
trailblazer status, marks the first Gibson electric signature model
designed in conjunction with a female artist.
"This is my guitar. Gibson was successfully able to replicate my custom
velvet hammer pick ups which have not been available for twenty years. It's
perfect for gigs as well as recording," says Jett. "For those of you
performing live, you may understand the value of being able to shave off
those split seconds between playing and interacting with the audience,
especially if you use your hands to communicate. I can move between the
killswitch, which mutes the guitar, and playing, and then back again
without a lot of in-between motion. With its no frills basic set up, it's a
perfect guitar for either an experienced player or someone just learning."
Gibson's Joan Jett Signature Melody Maker features a lightweight, slab
mahogany body with a White Worn finish. Handcrafted to the same specs as
Jett's original guitar, the slim-tapered neck profile is similar to the Les
Pauls and SGs of the mid to late 1960s. The fingerboard of the Melody Maker
is constructed from the highest grade of ebony on the planet, Jett's
personal choice for her signature Melody Maker, and the headstock features
Gibson's classic, silk-screened logo.
The classic, snarling growl of Jett's original Melody Maker is
accurately captured by a single Gibson Burstbucker 3 zebra humbucker,
slightly overwound with asymmetrical coils, unpolished Alnico II magnets,
and all the punch and power of an original Gibson PAF pickup. The tuners
are mini-Grovers with authentic "witch hat" knobs, exactly as they are on
Jett's guitar. A "kill" switch replaces the normal Gibson toggle switch,
and the body is outfitted with a period-correct black vinyl pickguard. The
guitar also includes such typical Melody Maker features as 24-inch scale
length and the standard Gibson Tune-o-matic and stopbar tailpiece.
"Joan Jett is a true icon of rock and roll. Since the beginning she has
been a groundbreaking artist and a trailblazer for women in the genre,"
said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. "Gibson is proud
to be working with such an influential guitar player."
Joan Jett has been a force in the world of music since the age of 15
when she co-founded the all-girl punk quintet The Runaways. After being
rejected by multiple labels for a record contract after the Runaways, she
formed Blackheart Records, making her the first major female artist to own
her own record label. With hits such as "I Love Rock n' Roll," "Bad
Reputation" and "Crimson and Clover," she has scored nine Top 40 hits and
eight Platinum and Gold albums. Joan Jett and The Blackhearts continue to
win over fans both new and old with their live shows, including a main
stage headliner spot on the 2006 Vans Warped Tour. Jett also currently
hosts her own show, "Joan Jett's Radio Revolution," on Sirius' Faction
(Channel 28).
Gibson Joan Jett Signature Melody Maker Specifications:
Body Style: "California" Body Shape
Body Species: Mahogany
Fingerboard Species: Ebony
Scale Length: 24 3/4"
Number of Frets: 22
Inlays: Dot
Pickups: One Burstbucker 3 Pickup (Zebra Coil) in the
Bridge position
Controls: Kill Switch Black Witch-hat knobs with Chrome
inserts
Neck Species: One Piece Mahogany Neck
Neck Profile: Rounded
Nut Width: 1.695"
Neck Join Location: 16
Truss Rod Cover: Joan Jett Signature on the Truss Rod Cover
Plating Finish: Chrome
Tailpiece: Chrome
Bridge: Chrome
Knobs: Black Witch-hat Knobs with Chrome Inserts
Tuners: Chrome Mini-Grover Special Tuners
MSRP: $839
About Gibson Guitar:
Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major
style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars,
mandolins, and banjos. Gibson's HD.6X-PRO Digital Guitar and the Gibson
Robot Guitar represent the biggest advances in electric guitar design in
over 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and headquartered in
Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.'s family of brands now includes
Epiphone, Dobro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron,
Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Oberheim, Sunshine Piano, Take Anywhere
Technology, Baldwin, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Hamilton, and Wurlitzer.
Visit Gibson's website at http://www.gibson.com or
http://www.gibson.com/press.
Contacts:
Caroline Galloway/Gibson Guitars/(440) 338-3469/
caroline.galloway@gibson.com
Maureen O'Connor/Rogers & Cowan/(310) 854-8116/
moconnor@rogersandcowan.com
See Also
