Billy Gibbons about his Moderne

[storngk]

Erlewine Moderne:

 

[bursty]

I'm a fan of the Explorer, the Futura and the Flying V and I (currently) have at least one of each but the Moderne is not for me; I'll pass.

I have seen ZZ Top perform live more times than pretty much any band over the course of years spanning mid 1970s through mid 2010s which covers ~40 years.

I'm glad for the Rev that he has all the killer fiddles he has and he certainly has them and I'm glad he has his Moderne(s).

As far as the head stocks pictured in post #12 I'm a fan of the 'hockey stick' for the Explorer but I currently have two of the split head stocks; one on an Explorer and the other on a Futura. The hockey stick offers freedom from potential tuning issues versus the split headstock and I'm used to playing Strats for 20 years so, the hockey stick concept aint a huge stretch.

The pointed head stock of the V offers likely the best tuning stability at least in my experience.

I can just imagine the headstock on a Moderne to some how be just a complete PITA.

 

[AA00475Bassman]

Just my uneducated subjective opinion - The Erlewine guitar the pickgaurd tells ms BS not the real deal , But what do I know Im still trying to figure out the new Forum sensation Thread ( Gibson R9 Authentication ) !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[darkwave]

Erlewine Moderne:

The only definitive difference I'm seeing here is the lack of pickup covers - and that can easily be changed. Maybe the position of the third knob? The quality of both pics leaves a lot to be desired, but the verbal description of the Erlewine guitar lead me to believe that the headstock shape and pickguard were unique modifications (and neither show up in the patent drawings). I was assuming the Gibbons one was either the same guitar, or a reproduction of the Erlewine.

I don't have the Gibbons book, but I've known of the Erlewine one for many years. Does anyone know what happened to the Erlewine one after it travelled to Japan?

- Douglas C.

 

[S. Weiger]

Just my uneducated subjective opinion - The Erlewine guitar the pickgaurd tells ms BS not the real deal , But what do I know Im still trying to figure out the new Forum sensation Thread ( Gibson R9 Authentication ) !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck with that!!!
And yes, that moderne is a joke IMO.

 

[Cody]

I first saw this in Tom Wheeler’s then-new book “American Guitars” (1982?).

I don’t believe it is real for a second. Exhibit A would be the cumbersome, ambitiously screwed pickguard. You’d have to dismantle the entire guitar to access pots and wiring.

 

[bursty]

I first saw this in Tom Wheeler’s then-new book “American Guitars” (1982?).

I don’t believe it is real for a second. Exhibit A would be the cumbersome, ambitiously screwed pickguard. You’d have to dismantle the entire guitar to access pots and wiring.



View attachment 24522

the guitar in that photo looks like the mid 1970s Ibanez 2469 model ....... Cheers .......

Ibanez 2469 Moderne - Google Search

 

[gmann]

He doesn’t have one IMO.

 

[storngk]

the guitar in that photo looks like the mid 1970s Ibanez 2469 model ....... Cheers .......

Ibanez 2469 Moderne - Google Search

The Black Moderne that Erlewine had predates the Ibanez. Ibanez made their copies after the black one found it's way to Japan.

 

[gretsch8217]

IIRC the b/w pic was dicussed here years ago.
Don't know where I got it from.

The colored pic was taken on a tour way back in Europe.

The B/W photo definitely looks like an Ibanez Futura. I have one and it's almost identical. The only difference that I can see is that the one in the photo looks like it's had an ABR-1 installed.

If Ibanez modeled their copy after the said elusive one that made it to Japan, that would make sense.

Although, one has to wonder why, when Gibson made the Modernes in the early 80's, did they decide to use such a small pickguard?

 

[William Payne]

People love to hear what they want to hear about these mythical guitars. I don't think there is much to this. He specifically says "We have SOMETHING" but that it has not been confirmed and that it has connections to Kalamazoo Michigan.

To me that doesn't translate into "It's real, I have one".

 

[EdF_PA]

That's what I'm thinking l
The hockey stick head of the Explorer is also not my favorite.
I like the pointed and the split better.

The Explorer headstock follows the contour of the extended lower bout, the V headstock is obviously needed for the arrowhead.
The Moderne headstock looks like you should be flipping burgers with it.

 

[akstrat61]

I doubt the Rev would outright lie. He said he has a guitar, not sure what it is. Nuff said.

 

[Phil 52]

As far as I know the color pic guitar is a replica, not a Gibson. He's had a bunch of guitars made by a luthier who's name escapes me, Gretsches, Tele's and others, all super light for easy touring.

That luthier is john Bolin from Boise, Idaho. Made also guitars for Keith and Ronnie, Joe Perry etc.

 

[Vics53]

People love to hear what they want to hear about these mythical guitars. I don't think there is much to this. He specifically says "We have SOMETHING" but that it has not been confirmed and that it has connections to Kalamazoo Michigan.

To me that doesn't translate into "It's real, I have one".

Exactly. "We have something." It might be and it might not be.

Billy G: "no one including me is willing to say this is it."

Kinda hard to say it's the real deal when there's nothing to compare it to.