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NEWS: What I think of the Gibson Sammy Hagar Red Rocker Les Paul
All valid points. It’s certainly true that Sammy has never been overly associated with Gibson in the past (although I remember seeing Chickenfoot live shots and thinking “Huh. So after years of using Gibson-like designs, Sammy’s finally rockin’ an actual Gibson”). But I think giving Sammy a signature Les Paul is a great idea. Consider my extremely well-thought out argument:
The man wrote mother&#%ing I Can’t Drive 55.
I rest my case.
“But Peter,” you say. “Sammy also wrote One Way To Rock, and that’s obviously a mistruth, if he has figured out a way to rock on a Yamaha, an Ernie Ball Music Man, a Dean, a Kramer, a Hamer and a Gibson. T’would seem he’s found at least six ways to rock.” To you I would say … um… Oh god, look behind you, it’s a giant spider!
*scampers for the exit*
From Gibson.com:
Through a career that spans stints with Ronnie Montrose, Van Halen, and his own prominent solo work, Sammy Hagar has been the force behind a total of 60 million record sales and countless righteous riffs, and when the Red Rocker rocks, he chooses to rock Gibson. Now, in celebration of Hagar’s mammoth new band Chickenfoot, and its self-titled debut album, Gibson USA introduces the Sammy Hagar Red Rocker Les Paul, a guitar with legendary appointments and a hot new look designed by the artist himself, all primed to stoke a new era in rock. A super-group comprised of Joe Satriani on lead guitar, Michael Anthony of Van Halen on bass, Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers on drums, and Hagar on guitar and vocals, Red Rocker is taking the rock world by storm, and the Sammy Hagar Red Rocker Les Paul is the perfect centerpiece for the conquest.
The Sammy Hagar Red Rocker Les Paul carries a pair of pickups selected by Sammy himself to suit his tonal requirements, both with a coverless black-and-cream “zebra coil” look that adds an extra dash of style to this model.
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If they hadn't included the Chickenfoot logo on the headstock, it'd actually be a really nice looking guitar. Unfortunately, that headstock is too much.
Yeah the headstock cheapens it a bit, but I guess they had to do something to set it apart from, say, a Custom Shop Les Paul in the same colour. In all honesty I'd probably prefer the Chickenfoot logo to be rotated and be about 50% the size, but meh, it's Sammy's sig model and there are dozens of other Les Paul models out there. It's not like they're not doing Les Paul Standards this year because Sammy's getting a limited edition sig.
Here's my assumption, the man wrote, "Crank up the drums, crank out the bass
Crank up my Les Paul in your face". After thirty years of singing that, he's entitled. That's my thinking anyway…
I own a Gibson LP and love it dearly… but for once I'd like to see a new Gibson guitar, something not from their history, but with that Gibson style. That would be interesting.
Peter: One more way to rock. You didn't mention the Washburn Red Rocker!
Yeah, putting the chickenfoot symbol on an LP headstock is pretty cheesy. LP's have an inherent elegance which doesn't permit such "stencil art" a la your local municipal roads dept.
*raises hand* Question. If Fender can make affordable American-made instruments and Carvin can run a fully-fledged custom shop that offers an American-made, fully equipped guitar with loads of top-shelf options for less than $1500 USD . . . why can't Gibson make even a Les Paul Special – basically a plank of wood with a bit of hardware and a neck stuck on it – for less than an arm, a leg, and half a soul? If ESP can crank out LTD Eclipses that are as good a LP-style guitar as you're likely to find for the money that have full binding, flame maple tops, etc. for $400 new, why do you have to shell out double that for the most basic, stripped-down, plain-looking Les Paul Studio that has a sticky neck?
*takes a deep breath*
Sorry – I'm just very frustrated with Gibson as a company. I'd very much like to go to their corporate HQ and apply boot to face liberally.
. . . Oh yeah! Sammy's Les Paul! I think it's pretty, except for the oversized Chickenfoot logo. Mind you, I really like the logo, but it would have been better as a 12th-fret inlay if you ask me. Other than that, I don't really know what to say. It's another Les Paul. I do agree that the man deserves a rockin' red signature guitar like this – I think he's pretty underrated overall. I've found that no matter what funk I'm in, I can turn up anything he's been a part of – a Van Hagar tune, something from his solo work, or a Chickenfoot song – and I will be smiling by the end of the song. Nobody else can do that, and it's no mean feat. So for that I say God bless Sammy Hagar and I hope he loves the guitar.
Also, another way to rock: In the video you posted touting him as one of the guitarists better than you think they are (which I totally agree with), he's rocking a red Jackson Rhoads.
. . . if you'll excuse me, I think I need to go learn to play "Mas Tequila".
I really like the color combination, and of course headstock..gibson les paul the truly beautiful guitar
thomas4th, you're awesome! I literally went on a rant expressing practically the same sentiments on my blog recently. Glad I'm not alone…