Gibson Announces New Collaborations

Gibson has announced new creative collaboration agreements with key boutique guitar makers and music inspired partners.

Gibson announced today that it has entered into multi-year collaboration agreements with Jimmy Wallace Guitars, Banker Custom Guitars and Echopark Guitars. Under these collaboration agreements, Gibson will give these key boutique builders and luthiers a license to use Gibson trademarks, including the Les Paul Body Shape Design® (U.S. Reg. No. 1782606), Explorer Body Shape Design® Trademark (U.S. Reg. No. 2053805), ES-335 Body Shape Design® Trademark (U.S. Reg. No. 2007277), Firebird Body Shape Design® (U.S. Reg. No. 4107670), Flying V Body Shape Design® Trademark (U.S. Reg. No. 2051790), Flying V Headstock® (U.S. Reg. No. 3976202), Headstock Design® (U.S. Reg. No. 1567052), FLYING V® (U.S. Reg. No. 1216644), FIREBIRD® (U.S. Reg. No. 5628009), EXPLORER® (U.S. Reg. No. 2641548), Firebird Headstock TM (collectively “Trademarks”).

“We are excited about these collaborations; Orville Gibson started as a boutique builder in 1894 in his workshop in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and these new collaborations are a way to pay tribute to Orville’s legacy in support of boutique builders and luthiers,” said Cesar Gueikian, chief merchant officer of Gibson Brands.

“I’m thrilled to reunite with Gibson through this exciting collaboration,” said Jimmy Wallace. “The opportunity granted to me by the new Gibson team brings authenticity back to Jimmy Wallace Guitars in a way I would have never imagined. I’m looking forward to the future with Gibson.”

“Gibson’s influence on the inception of electric guitar is deeply embedded in American history,” adds Matthew Hughes of Banker Custom Guitars. “We are honored and humbled to have the opportunity to partner with them and utilize their iconic electric guitar designs to further the legacy of quality, playability and artistry that has inspired the greatest music of generations past, present, and future.”

“Everything that is perfect about the instrument had already been developed by Gibson long before any of us got here!” says Gabriel Currie of Echopark Guitars. “My goal is to help preserve this legacy and take part in building inspiring instruments.”

Gibson has also announced that they have entered into multi-year collaboration agreements with Thalia Brands and Aviator Nation.

“Thalia and I have been longtime fans of Gibson,” says Chris Bradley, founder and CEO of Thalia Brands, Inc. “My favorite guitar is my 1938-Reissue Gibson SJ-200 and Thalia’s is her Epiphone Hummingbird. The opportunity to collaborate with Gibson to create co-branded capos, phone cases and other high-quality accessories is a dream come true for us. We have ambitious plans for the future as we extend our reach into other guitar accessory categories and this collaboration with Gibson will enable us to make even better products that Gibson Guitar fans will surely love.”