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> Login to your account > RegisterRainbow chaser
From page 10 of Classic Rock Magazine December 2009
Cover of December 2009 issue.
Going against the solid-timber grain, Gibson's latest SG model also doesn't hold back on colour.
WHOA, MAN, DID anyone check what was in that last cup of tea?! With echoes of Eric Clapton's famous psychedelic SG, Gibson have unveiled the, frankly bonkers, Zoot Suit SG.
Once was the time that any self-respecting guitar nut would head for the hills at the mention of a laminated wood guitar —solid timber is where it's at MI ft quality guit ars, and SGs are typically solid mahogany—but the ZS proudly sports a sandwich construction of multiple birch layers. Each layer is just under 2mm thick and pre-stained a different colour before being bonded together and then contoured to reveal the rainbow of colour.
There are five colourways — rainbow as shown, black and red, black and natural, black and orange, red and blue—while in the engine room are a pair of clear-covered, ceramic-magnet Gibson 496R and 300T humbucking pickups. It's a powerful combination well used in rock guitars to kick out plenty of screamin' tones.
The rudimentary construction of the Zoot Suit SG helps keep the price down too just £899 if you fancy a walk on the wild side.
Check out all things Gibson at www.gibson.com ovickritplor, editor, quitarist magazine
SIGN OF THE TIMES
For more than 40 years the Gibson SG has been a rock'n'roll icon.
Noted Gibson SG players include Angus Young, Frank Zappa, Derek Trucks, Robb Krieger of The Doors and Tony lommi of Black Sabbath.
Perhaps the most famous SC, however, is the psychedelically painted one that belonged to Eric Clanton during his Cream days. Painted by a Dutch art collective know as The Fool (who similarly decorated a Fender bass for Cream's Jack Bruce, and also famously worked with The Beatles) the guitar later ended up with Todd Rundgren (pictured above with it), who owned and played it for much of the 70s, 80s and 90s.
