Gibson Guitar products to be a major part of musical equipment showcased at Musikmesse 2010

By Phyllis Pollack

Gibson, Epiphone, Kramer, Steinberger, Baldwin Piano and Wurlitzer will be demonstrating their newest products at Musikmesse 2010, the musical instruments confab that will be held in Frankfurt, Germany from March 24 through 27. Those looking for the newest Gibson products can go to Hall 4.1, Booth #E50 24-27, 2010 in Hall 4.1, and Booth #E50. The convention is the European comparison of Anaheim's yearly National Association of Music Merchandisers (NAMM show). Some of the most popular musicians from around the world will pass through Musikmesse to demonstrate products. This year, Musikmesse is celebrating its 27th year as the world’s leading international trade fair for musical instruments.

The entire Gibson family of brands will be represented in booths at Musikmesse, offering musicians and music retailers an opportunity to meet with company reps of a myriad of new models and products, a few of which include the newly introduced Gibson USA Slash Appetite Les Paul, and the newest Wurlitzer Digital Jukebox, the LYRA. The Wurlitzer company was started in Cincinnati in 1853 by Franz Rudolph Wurlitzer (1831-1914), moved to Chicago, and the trademark was later acquired by Gibson. The first coin-operated jukebox was invented in 1898, and it would come a long way. Building on years of tradition, along with Gibson technological innovations, Wurlitzer announces the new Wurlitzer LYRA digital jukebox. The LYRA generates access to millions of songs on the internet and allows you to listen to your favorite radio stations and stream live music online. Users can build their own playlists with the comfort of a fast-acting touch screen and backup music from their own CDs, DVDs or mobile devices, attachable through USB ports and 320 GB of memory which gives space for over 60,000 mp3s. Wurlitzer took the best jukebox in the world and updated it for a new millenium. With its ADAM ART technology, the Wurlitzer LYRA offers the highest in fidelity, encased within a compact and appealing design. With its modern design and operating features, the Wurlitzer LYRA is the ultimate music experience sonically and visually. Wurlitzer is famous for its Wurlitzer Peacock Jukebox and One More Time Jukebox, which have gone on to become some of the world’s best-selling jukeboxes of all time. The name "LYRA" comes from the ancient Greek stringed instrument, the lyre. The lyre is often associated with the musical mythological character Orpheus.

Joan Jett's song "I Love Rock And Roll" that has the lyrics, "Put another dime in the jukebox, baby," and that has even more of a special relevance this year, as her new signature Gibson Blackheart Melody Maker Guitar will be featured at Musikmesse 2010.This will mark her first signature guitar. The feature film she produced, named for her former band, the Seventies act, The Runaways, will open in theaters this Friday.

In honor of Les Paul, the grandfather of the electric guitar and inventor of multi-track recording, the innovator's legacy will also be felt in full force. Gibson USA’s additional offerings at Musikmesse will include the 2010 Les Paul Limited Edition Standard, made in honor of the late, great guitarist, Les Paul, who died on August 12, 2009.

In addition to Jett's Blackheart Melody Maker and Slash's Appetite Les Paul, Gibson USA will demo other artists' signature guitars, including the Sammy Hagar Red Rocker, AC/DC's Angus Young's Angus Young SG, and the Zakk Wylde BFG axe, as well as the Tribal V, Grabber Bass, Holy Explorer, SG Standard, SG Carved Top, SG Raw Power and many other traditional models that have proven to be the most popular guitars in history.

Gibson’s next generation of Robot Technologies, the Dusk Tiger, will be a highlight at Musikmesse this year, according to Gibson reps. The Dusk Tiger is a killer guitar with a look and construction that has never been seen before. Dusk Tiger is heralded by Gibson as the state of the art in electric guitars, adding to what the guitar can do by using the integration of pioneering technology and advanced design. The Dusk Tiger is not mass produced, but made in limited quantity worldwide.

Gibson Custom Shop has long offered some of the most collectible and limited guitars ever made. Those attending Musikmesse will see many guitars that will eventually greatly increase in worth as they become vintage instruments. The Gibson Custom Les Paul Axcess and 50th Anniversary Les Paul Reissue in several finishes are sure to draw attention from those at the confab. Other Gibson Custom offerings from the Nashville and Memphis factories will include the 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue, 1957 Les Paul Gold Top Vintage Original Spec model, Gibson Memphis’ ES-335 Dot Reissue, ES-355 Curly Maple and 1960 Slim Neck ES-335 Vintage Original Spec.

Gibson Acoustic, world renowned for excellence in craftsmanship and warm tones, will exhibit the widely noted J-200 and J-45, Gibson’s most popular acoustics, along with the Gibson Songwriter Deluxe and the iconic Hummingbird model. The first Hummingbird was introduced by Gibson fifty years ago. The Gibson Acoustic displays will also feature new signature models including the Keb Mo Bluesmaster, the Aaron Lewis Southern Jumbo Limited Edition model, the John Hiatt J-45 Model, and a look at the upcoming Brad Paisley J-45 Model, which will be released in the very near future. Gibson Acoustic guitars have been used in countless rock songs. Among the artists who have had signature J-200's are The Who's Pete Townshend, a smashing guitarist, in many ways. The first Gibson J-200 was produced in 1938. Jimmy Page played one on the trad tune "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You," which Led Zeppelin included on their first album.

Hummingbird models have been used by a wide range of recording artists, from Sheryl Crow to Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, who has famously played one on "Jumping Jack Flash." Richards has stated, "I used a Gibson Hummingbird acoustic tuned to open D, six string. Open D or open E, which is the same thing - same intervals - but it would be slackened down some for D. Then there was a capo on it, to get that really tight sound. And there was another guitar over the top of that, but tuned to Nashville tuning. I learned that from somebody in George Jones' band in San Antonio in 1964."

Epiphone will also exhibit the new Epiphone Electric Mandolin, the new Epiphone Les Paul Plustop PRO/FX and the Epiphone Masterbilt Cutaway Acoustic with electronics among many other models.

Epiphone's offerings continue with the new "Annihilation-V," made in cooperation with legendary Annihilator guitarist Jeff Waters. With the distinction of being ranked at #3 in Joel Mclver's 2009 book The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists, Jeff and his band "Annihilator" have been shredding audiences worldwide for years. At Musiikmesse, he will promote this axe that he refers to as "The Ultimate Metal Guitar!" Waters, a guitarist of the thrash metal band Annihilator and an Epiphone signature artist, will officially launch his own Jeff Waters Annihilator Epiphone model, by holding two appearances each day at the booth. Waters will be be signing autographs and meeting fans attending the confab.

For as long as there have been mandolins, despite the many tunings that are used among its players, there has always been the problem of unequal string pair volume. This problem becomes even more obvious while amplifying the sound an 8-string mandolin by using an ordinary microphone or monophonic pickup. Epiphone has solved this problem by creating with the world’s first mandolin that lets its owner adjust string pair volumes individually, by using Shadow Germany’s new Quad NanoMag™ pickup. Rod Stewart and The Faces' "Mandolin Wind," Led Zeppelin's "Going To California" and "Battle of Nevermore" are among just a small sample of the many songs that have made noted use of mandolin playing.

Since 1952, the Les Paul guitar has stood the test of time and been the choice of countless guitarists, from Les Paul himself to Jimmy Page to Slash. With its solid body and great sustain, today, Epiphone announces a new Les Paul model, the new Les Paul Plustop PRO/FX, which combines all the features and looks of a Les Paul but adds a double-locking Floyd Rose™ tremolo and coil-tapping for an amazing combination of crunch and versatility. Who would have ever expected that whammy added to a Les Paul?

Reaching back to the 1930's and their long heritage, the Epiphone Masterbilt line combines traditional construction methods and features with premium all solid tone woods to bring you a new "vintage" instrument with deep rich lows, glistening highs and just the right amount of mid toes. While many other guitars in this price class use pressed backs, spliced neck joints and even artificial wood backs and sides, every Masterbilt holds true to its all solid-wood promise. The solid wood offers more warmth to the sound of the guitar.

The newest member of the Masterbilt line is the DR-500MCE model, featuring an elegant rounded (Venetian) cutaway for easy upper-fret access and state-of-art electronics.

In its 150th year, Baldwin Piano is still making a strong presence in concert halls and stages throughout the world. Thousands of meticulous steps and only the finest materials go into the complex process of handcrafting of a Baldwin piano, carrying on the legacy of the world’s finest piano maker. Baldwin Piano will exhibit its new vertical models, the new B49 model and model B342 at Musikmesse 2010. The 52” vertical Baldwin model keyboard, popular in Europe and Asia will also be on display. Daily demonstrations will also place inside the booth. Baldwin Grand pianos on display will include the BD 152M Grand with player and 6’1” Grand (model 158) full size.

If a guest of Musikmesse is looking for the coolest, most desirable gear and apparel offered, they will need to stop at Gibson booth #E50. Gibson’s Lifestyle division will showcase the latest line of Gibson pickups, guitar straps, instrument care packages and replacement parts, along with gig bags and closed and open guitar cases that will be there. Some will be seen for the very first time at Musikmesse 2010.

New Gibson marketing items, such as hats and shirts will be displayed in a special section of the booth.

Gibson will have demonstrations and artist appearances each day of the show. Those have already been scheduled. Guests of Musikmesse will get the lucky chance to enter to win one of the daily drawings for a Gibson or Epiphone guitar while meeting many of the music industry’s most popular performing artists and songwriters that endorse Gibson products.

The special appearance schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, March 24, 2010:

9:30am-5:30pm Ongoing product demonstrations by product specialists

11:30am & 3pm Guest artist Kee Marcello

1:30pm & 4:30pm Epiphone artist Jeff Waters of Annihilator

Thursday, March 25, 2010:

9:30am–5:30pm Various product demonstrations throughout the day by certified product specialists

11:30am & 3pm Guest artist Kee Marcello

1:30pm & 4:30pm Epiphone artist Jeff Waters of Annihilator

Friday, March 26, 2010:

9:30am–5:30pm Various product demonstrations throughout the day by certified product specialists

11:30am & 3pm Guest artist Kee Marcello