June 2009 \ Features \ Gallery: Gibson Moderne Through the Ages

Gallery: Gibson Moderne Through the Ages

by Rebecca Dirks

Tracing the evolution of the guitar world's biggest mystery: the Moderne
Premier Guitar June 2009
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The Gibson Moderne remains the undisputed biggest mystery in the history of guitar. To what extent did the original exist? Designs? Prototypes? Unused parts? Production models? In the upcoming June issue of Premier Guitar (watch for it online next week), we take a deeper look into the mystery, and into the differing theories behind the existence of the original. Until then, we're looking at some of the Modernes that unquestionably existed -- reissues, knock-offs and custom builds that pay tribute to the enigma that is the Moderne.

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Comments

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Randy
on 11/02/2009 		Check out Pearl Jam on youtube on Halloween 2009. Mike McCready can be seen playing a Gibson Moderne. Looks towards the end of this linked video for some good views. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e 0MtvJZU920
Stan
on 10/07/2009 		I just saw a youtube video of an interview with Rick Neilsen of Cheap Trick circa 1985 There is a Moderne in back ground and he even mentions that it is a Moderne and is exrtremely rare.
81 Firebird PHX
on 09/24/2009 		That black and white photo of Billy Gibbons' Moderne with the Les Paul headstock looks just like the Ed Roman Guyitars copy, right down to the pickguard swoops. It's on his Abstract Page or just do a search on Gumby. He was selling then for $3K until Gibson made him discontinue.
Joe
on 07/16/2009 		Wasn't there a Futura on display with no knobs at the 1957 or 58 NAMM show? There is a picture of some Gibson executives holding it.
Joe
on 07/16/2009 		I think it is better to NOT re-make the Moderne , the the few that are here will be THEE Modernes. Thus making these very collectible in the future . I own one all original with case along with Korina Futuras, Explorer & V.
tony lalor
on 07/09/2009 		Just Watched a new documentary concert called VH1 Storytellers ZZ Top, Billy Gibbons uses his Moderne for 2 songs, it has the odd shaped headstock like the diagrams, sounds good too !
Ronald Lynn Wood
on 05/31/2009 		Email from Gibson on friday: "As for the Moderne, we're not planning one anytime soon ... at least as far as I know."
Brian H.
on 05/29/2009 		Go to photobucket.com and look up doomedfuzz for pix of my Epiphone Moderne (before and after restoration). I bought it and spend a few months making it a player earlier this year. Great guitars that play really well.
Guitarmaniax
on 05/29/2009 		Moderne story number one: I was friends with the late Dan Armstrong for close to twenty years. He told me back in the days when he had his guitar shop in NYC (1960s) that a guy came in one day looking to sell a guitar. Dan looked at it and could tell it was absolutely something that had come out of the Gibson factory, but he thought the design was too unusual and odd shaped and he passed on it. Years later he saw the patent drawings and realized that it was likely a Moderne. Who Knew?

And about Billy G's book: I thought it was great except it was missing a couple things, namely the pink Strat that Jimi Hendrix gave him (which was stolen but later recovered) and the Moderne. ...but then I heard that this is only the FIRST book...
Jean-Francoi s
on 05/28/2009 		Man, those Modernes look fabulous! I bet they sound fantastic, too.

Why don't Gibson start making them again? That would rock! A reissue of the Moderne for the 21st century.



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