Monday, 4 June 2012

2006 Gibson Vegas Standard semi-hollowbody flat-top oddity

guitarz.blogspot.com:
The Gibson Vegas Standard was only produced for two years; I'm guessing it just wasn't traditional enough a Gibson for most guitarists' tastes. Whilst many of the features of the guitar are Gibson trademarks - the Trini Lopez "diamond" soundholes, the Firebird headstock - to have them embodied onto a single instrument was quite unusual. Even more unusual is the fact that the Vegas is a flat-top guitar and not an archtop as you would expect from a Gibson semi-hollowbody. In fact, I'm not 100% certain we should call this a semi-hollowbody because the construction is quite different. It's more of a "thinline" with a flat top mounted onto a chambered back, and as such has more in common with guitars such as the Fender Telecaster Thinline than to any other Gibson models. In fact, speaking of Fender, its slightly offset body shape make it look something like a slimmer Fender Starcaster (the original semi-hollowbody Starcaster that is, not the budget Strat knock-offs). The neck on this guitar does give the impression of being quite long as if this guitar might have a Fender-like 25.5" scale, but it must be an illusion caused by the small (for a Gibosn semi) body, for the scale length is Gibson's usual 24.75". It's a good looking guitar and proof that Gibson are not always content to live in the past and rely upon their historical designs.

Currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $1,399.

G L Wilson

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5 comments:

  1. Marshall_Will5:22 pm

    Also seen this ref'd to as the Vegas High Roller. Interesting to note, economically speaking, 2006 was Las Vegas' best year. It's been nothing but downhill ever since.

    That aside, this is a very sensible design and would have been their best attempt at stealing some of the Strat's market share. Guitar mfr's all too often think like CAR mfr's. If a model doesn't "catch fire" in the first year, they pull the plug. Someone needs to tell them guitaists need more time to get comfortable with anything new.

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    Replies
    1. Gavin Lloyd Wilson9:50 pm

      My impression was that the High Roller was a deluxe model. I could be wrong though.

      I'm not 100% sure but I thought I spied Paul McCartney's guitarist playing one of these at the Queen's Jubilee Concert in London last night.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous7:50 am

      No, this should be a Trini Lopez ES-335 ...

      https://goo.gl/Fn99Pe

      Delete
  2. greg cadman7:17 pm

    Vegas model ? Do you have to put money in the slots to play it?

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  3. Unknown2:15 pm

    I own a red High Roller, and it's my favorite all time guitar (I've owned 50 or so over the years). I play it a lot. Things I like are: 1) Simple controls 1 Vol, 1 Tone, 3pos Pick Up select). 2) Really light weight. 3) Great Tone and Power. 4) Looks Awesome!! Besides mine, I have never seen another one. A lot of younger guitar players, ie Late teens, and early 20s seem very attracted to it.

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