GIBSON PREMIERES HANDCRAFTED IN NASHVILLE, TN
| CHAPTER 1: “WOOD” NARRATED BY PEPPER KEENAN For more than 50 years, Gibson electric guitars have been handcrafted in the heart of Music City—Nashville, Tennessee—where wood and steel meet heart and soul. Watch the first chapter in a four-part cinematic series exploring the origins of Gibson tone—from forest to stage.A Gibson artisan shapes a future guitar.Download assets for media use, credit Gibson: HERE. A lifelong musical companion, a Gibson guitar is built to sustain for generations. NASHVILLE, TN – Today, Gibson continues its year-long Handcrafted in Nashville, TN campaign with the premiere of Chapter 1: “Wood,” the first installment in a four-part video series exploring the craftsmanship, materials, and artistry behind Gibson electric guitars. This year-long marquee campaign celebrates the craftsmanship and innovation that drives Gibson and Gibson Custom electric guitar-making in the heart of Music City, where Gibson musical instruments begin a journey—one that will ultimately carry it from Nashville’s craftories to the world’s biggest stages, in addition to rehearsal rooms, recording studios, and homes all over the world. Narrated by Pepper Keenan of Corrosion of Conformity and Down, Chapter 1 “Wood” takes viewers to the very beginning of the Gibson story—long before the first note is played—exploring the essential role that tonewoods play in shaping the unmistakable sound of Gibson instruments. Watch Chapter 1: “Wood” HERE and explore all Gibson and Gibson Custom electric guitars HERE. For more than 50 years, Gibson electric guitars have been handcrafted in the heart of Music City—Nashville, Tennessee—where wood and steel meet heart and soul, yet the true origin of every instrument begins far beyond the craftory, in nature itself. As Pepper Keenan reflects in the film, “The story of a Gibson guitar begins long before you open the case…long before you strum that first chord. It begins with a tree—a tree that had already been growing for over a century.” From forest to stage, the careful selection of premium tonewoods forms the foundation of Gibson’s most iconic instruments—guitars designed not only for exceptional tone, but to endure beyond lifetimes. This commitment starts at the source, where Gibson works closely with trusted partners to responsibly procure materials while supporting the sustainability and long-term stewardship of the world’s forests, ensuring the future of guitar-making for generations to come. Every Gibson electric guitar is handcrafted in the USA and built to sustain—not only under the player’s fingers, but across decades as a future heirloom instrument. |
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| A Gibson artisan hand-sands a future SG guitar. The journey of a Gibson guitar from the forest to the stage begins here. Chapter 1: “Wood” spotlights the unique combinations of tonewoods that shape the sonic and visual identity of Gibson models such as the Les Paul™, SG™, and ES-335™, delivering the unmistakable signature tones that have provided the soundtrack to the past seven decades of popular music. From solid mahogany bodies to figured maple tops, every element is chosen for its tonal properties, character, and natural beauty. “This is a maple tree—figured maple is as unique as a fingerprint, with some of the most beautiful patterns in nature,” Keenan explains. “Maple also happens to combine especially well with mahogany—a magical recipe that has helped Gibson artists create some of the most iconic electric guitar tones in music history.” We don’t do things the easiest way or the fastest way. We do things the right way—the Gibson way. And that’s the Gibson difference.At Gibson’s Nashville craftories, skilled artisans transform raw materials into instruments using time-honored methods and an uncompromising attention to detail, where every carve, every grain pattern, and every hand-finished top reflects more than 130 years of craftsmanship rooted in the legacy of founder Orville Gibson. Through a deep commitment to both tradition and innovation, Gibson highlights the people and processes behind each instrument, as passionate teams work with premium materials and original tooling to create guitars designed to inspire generations of musicians. “Our craftspeople transform carefully chosen organic materials into living and breathing musical instruments,” says Keenan. “Each one has its own personality and soul.” Yet while the story begins with wood and craftsmanship, its most important chapter is ultimately written by the player. “The next chapter?” Keenan concludes. “That’s up to you.” Your Gibson. Your story. |
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| A Gibson artisan inspects the wood grain of a Les Paul. Chapter 1: “Wood” marks the next step in the Handcrafted in Nashville, TN, campaign, which continues throughout 2026 with episodic storytelling, exclusive video content, and new product releases celebrating the past, present, and future of Gibson electric guitars. |
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| A Gibson artisan meticulously carves a new shape. |
 A Gibson artisan routes pickup cavities with precision. A Gibson Les Paul’s beautiful wood grain. Upcoming Gibson Handcrafted in Nashville, TN chapters include: CHAPTER 2: “STEEL”JULY-SEPTEMBER 2026 This chapter spotlights the hardware and electronics that bring a Gibson electric guitar’s voice to life, from the latest innovations at the Gibson Pickup Shop to time-honored tooling from Kalamazoo, from presses and jigs to fixtures and forms, equipment that shaped instruments that became iconic in the hands of artists and carries a storied history of its own. Meet the builders who maintain and master these original tools and see how metal hardware and fretwork translate precision into playability, sustain, and tuning stability. CHAPTER 3: “HEART”OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2026 Chapter 3 runs from October through December and celebrates the people of Gibson, whose passion, skill, and care define every instrument. This chapter spotlights hand processes at the Gibson and Gibson Custom craftories in Nashville and showcases the people who bring your Gibson guitar to life. Their dedication, patience, and ear and eye for detail turn wood and steel into musical instruments with a unique voice and soul, forging a connection that begins in the workshop and continues in the hands of the player. CHAPTER 4: “SOUL”JANUARY–MARCH 2027 This chapter follows Gibson guitars as they leave the Nashville craftories and enter the hands of the players and artists all over the world. From couches and front porches to garages, dive bars, and the world’s biggest stages, hours of practice and miles on the road take wood and steel and forge a voice and a legacy, inspiring a whole new generation of players. Watch and share the Telly Award-winning global premiere video for the Handcrafted in Nashville, TN, campaign, showcasing the art and craftsmanship behind every Gibson electric guitar HERE. |
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| Gibson: GIBSON.COM | X | IG | FB | TT | GIBSON APP | GIBSON GARAGE NASHVILLE | GIBSON GARAGE LONDON | GIBSON RECORDS | GIBSON GIVES | GIBSON CERTIFIED VINTAGE | GIBSON LIFESTYLE |GIBSON TV EN ESPANOL | GIBSON TV Epiphone: EPIPHONE.COM | X | IG | FB | YT Kramer: KRAMERGUITARS.COM | X | IG | FB | YT MESA/Boogie: MESABOOGIE.COM | X | IG | FB KRK: KRKMUSIC.COM | X | IG | FB | YT Maestro: MAESTROELECTRONICS.COM | IG About Gibson:Gibson, the leading iconic guitar brand, has shaped the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers across genres for over 130 years. Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Gibson has a legacy of world-class craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships, and progressive product evolution that is unrivaled among musical instrument companies. The Gibson portfolio includes Gibson, the leading guitar brand, as well as many of the most beloved and recognizable music brands, including Epiphone, which has been on every stage since 1873, Kramer, the original MADE TO ROCK HARD guitar brand, MESA/Boogie, the home of tone, KRK, behind great music for over 30 years, and Maestro, the founder of effect pedals. Gibson is dedicated to quality, innovation, and sound excellence so that music lovers for generations to come will continue to experience music shaped by all Gibson brands. Explore more at Gibson.com, Gibson App, and on Gibson TV, follow us on Instagram, X and Facebook, and visit us at the Gibson Garage Nashville and the Gibson Garage London. |
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