Thursday, August 07, 2008

Gibson's Inspired by series - Kiefer Sutherland?

Posted by Jon in • Cool Guitars

Kiefer Sutherland KS335
Many of you may already be aware of the Gibson “Inspired By” series which includes such beautiful custom guitars such as the Peter Frampton Les Paul, the striking Elliot Easton SG and the insanely expensive Jimi Hendrix Flying V but I bet you would have never expected the Kiefer Sutherland KS336?

This is a fantastic looking instrument made with a carved Mahogany back and sides and a carved Maple top. It has a 1 piece Mahogany neck with a 22 fret Ebony fretboard and Pearl inlays. It has ‘57 Classic Plus Humbucking Pickups, Grover Tulip Tuners, a lightweight Aluminum Tailpiece and an ABR-1 bridge.
The guitar has only 1 finish available and that is the Gold finish you see in the photo, and why would you want anything else? Well just in case you do you could opt instead for a CS-336 which Musician’s Friend are selling for $3,099 and is a lot easier to get hold of!

Talking of Gibson’s “Inspired By” series I just received some information on a new addition. Gibson have just announced the Limited Edition Okuda Tamio Les Paul OT Special, bit of a mouthful but it is a very nice kind of retro looking guitar. So who is Okuda Tamio?

“Okuda formed the Rock / Pop band called UNICORN in his hometown Hiroshima in 1986, and made a major debut with the album “BOOM” from CBS/SONY label next year.  The band, for which he performed as vocal / guitar of the band, was very popular with their unique sense of music, and released 7 albums in total till they disbanded on September 1993.  Since then, he released solo-debut single “Ai no tame ni” in 1994, and achieved another success such as first ever live performance at Hiroshima municipal ballpark.  Also, he has been very active with works with other artists, for example, as producer of PuffyAmiYumi, and performance with other artists like InoueYosuiOkudaTamio, O.P. King, and The band has no name.  He released his 9th solo album “Fantastic OT9” last January.“

Okuda Tamio

Gibson have created this guitar with respect to the 20th anniversary of his professional career and influence on the Japanese music scene. The guitar is One piece light weight mahogany body made from a single piece of mahogany, an Okuda Tamio profile neck with white binding on the Rosewood fingerboard. It has an ABR-1 bridge and Bigsby Trem for that vintage look, 2 P-90 pickups and aged nickel hardware. Apparently there will be an extremely limited run of 25 called the “Special Pilot Run” which will have special accessories.

UPDATE: After Wookie from GuitarToyBox left a comment about Kiefer being a guitar collector I did a bit of research and found the following at RollingStone.com:
“Right now, though, he’s guiding me through his beloved collection of vintage guitars (a ‘59 Les Paul, a ‘67 Telecaster, a ‘68 ES335 and about fifty-five more) and saying guitar-nerd things like “See, this one’s got a Jimmy Page switcher, so I could have a double-coil pick-up here and a single coil here and reroute it all the way through. Just amazing tonal quality!““

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Pribek on 08/07 at 09:08 AM

Hmmm…I could see maybe, a cocktail inspired by Kiefer Sutherland but, a pricey guitar? makes as much sense as an ashtray on a motorcycle.

Jon on 08/07 at 09:26 AM

Haha, yeah exactly its so bizarre!! Nice though!

WookieGTB on 08/07 at 01:08 PM

As I mentioned on my site I really like the Okuda model. The KS model is not that far of a stretch. Good ol’ Kiefer is a guitar nut and has a huge collection of Gibsons.

Jon on 08/07 at 01:59 PM

Hi Wookie, I didn’t realise Kiefer was a guitar nut I’ll have to see if I can find some of his other guitars out!

guitar teacher on 08/08 at 12:02 AM

Man, they’re starting to stretch it by having actor inspired guitars. Maybe if they did a Kevin Bacon guitar, he actually plays.

I haven’t heard anything about Keif playing. Hmmm..

A Gilligan guitar would be sweet though. I’d have a nice pic of mary ann air brushed on the back wink

Jon on 08/08 at 08:11 AM

The Kevin Bacon guitar, that would have to be related to every guitar ever made somehow through 6 degrees of seperation?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Degrees_of_Kevin_Bacon

on 08/09 at 02:33 AM

Anyone with 60 guitars should have a few RixzRax

Jon on 08/09 at 07:58 AM

Haha, nice plug wink

Stratoblogster on 08/10 at 09:14 AM

I was searching Youtube for some evidence that Sutherland actually plays.  The closest was an interview where he’s holding it, and says that he “designed” it.  So now I get it—he doesn’t play, but he’s a luthier.

“Hi, my name’s Kiefer, and I’m a luthier.“

Everyone: “HI KIEFER!“

Jon on 08/10 at 09:24 AM

haha, I can’t say Kiefer without putting on a cockney accent for some reason! I saw one of these guitars in the window of Gallins guitar shop yesterday and I have to say it looks fantastic, maybe I’ll go and give it a test!

WookieGTB on 08/12 at 05:13 PM

Kiefer is a huge collector of Gibson guitars. I wish I had this collection. This is only a small part of it apperently.

http://www.gibson.com/Files/AllAccess/2007/Feature_Images/kiefer3.jpg

Jon on 08/16 at 11:57 AM

Wow that is a serious collection! I would be happy with just a few of his collection!!

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