Gibson has partnered with Halestorm singer, songwriter, and electric guitar player Lzzy Hale to create a unique new signature model, the Explorerbird.
The premise of the model is fairly simple, but a first for Gibson nonetheless: a mahogany Explorer body and mahogany Explorer neck, fitted with the headstock of a Firebird.
That mahogany neck sports a 12" radius, 24.75" Indian rosewood fretboard with 22 gold medium jumbo frets, accompanied – in a swanky touch – by gold acrylic dot inlays.
Sounds come by way of a pair of 70s Tribute humbuckers with gold screws and rods, at the mercy of the standard Explorer control layout of two volume knobs, a master tone knob, and a three-way pickup switch.
Aside from the inlays, frets, and pickup screws and rods, there's plenty of gold to go around elsewhere on the Explorerbird. The Tune-O-Matic bridge with Stop Bar tailpiece, Grover Mini Rotomatic tuners, and even strap buttons are all also given a nice gold finish.
In another signature touch, the guitar's non-reverse Firebird truss rod cover also sports Hale’s signature.
“As synonymous as lipstick and leather, the Explorerbird brings two iconic worlds together,” Hale said of her new signature model in a statement. “This guitar is a statement and celebration of owning what makes you stand out. Because no one has ever made history by playing it safe.”
“The new Lzzy Hale Explorerbid is the result of two years of testing with Lzzy at the Gibson Lab, and on stage with Halestorm," added Gibson Brand President Cesar Gueikian. "We started with the idea of merging her favorite shape, the Explorer, with the iconic Gibson Firebird, and the result is this new guitar, in Cardinal Red. It sounds as epic as it looks!"
The Gibson Lzzy Hale Signature Explorerbird guitar is available now – in a Cardinal Red finish and with a Modern Series hardshell case included – for $2,799.
For more info on the model, visit gibson.com.
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