After months of wishing, hoping, and guessing, we can throw away our tea leaves and tarot cards. Gibson has announced what’s new in their 2018 lineup — and we like what we see so far.
Cryogenically Treated Frets
Gibson was the first guitar manufacturer to cryogenically freeze frets, starting in 2014. They’ve done it ever since and are continuing in 2018. Why make such a big deal about a feature that is simply being continued?
The cryogenic process subjects frets to temperatures below -300° F. That’s colder than the surface of Saturn — or Fargo. Then they let them gradually warm back up to room temperature. This NASA-developed process makes metals stronger without making them harder. Cryogenically treated frets feel like normal frets, but they are practically bulletproof. That means they’re more resistant to abrasive wear. They can handle the most aggressive string bending without breaking a sweat. In other words, even after years of heavy playing, you’ll probably never need a fret job on your Gibson.
Do you want proof? Gibson thought you might. That’s why they threw together a rig that automatically applied string bends to both standard and cryogenically treated frets. After 277,000 string bends, the standard frets showed four times the wear of the treated frets.
Gibson’s cryogenically treated frets deliver all the feel and playability of traditional frets, with the strength of an army tank.
New Finishes
When it comes to new guitar finishes for 2018, Gibson is all about letting the wood do the work. The new finishes fall into two categories, each designed to bring some flair to the wood’s natural grain patterns.
Transparent Colors
Gibson is rolling out four eye-catching transparent finishes: Cobalt Burst, Mojave Burst, Blood Orange Burst, and Autumn Shade. With these finishes, color is king, with vibrant tones jumping off the guitar. But a slightly closer look reveals the splendor of the natural wood grain patterns shining through all that color. The result is a cool blend of natural wood patterns and contemporary colors.
Fade Finishes
Gibson’s new fade finishes start bold on the edges and quickly fade to a soft tint across the body of the guitar. Available in Cobalt Fade, Heritage Cherry Fade, Mojave Fade, Blood Orange Fade, and Hot Pink Fade, these finishes look as comfortable as your favorite pair of jeans.
No matter which color you choose, Gibson’s model lines look like they will continue to be available in both Traditional (T) and High Performance (HP) versions.
New finishes, indestructible frets, and that good ol’ Gibson goodness are going to make 2018 a great year for Gibson fans. If you’re interested in buying your next Gibson guitar, be sure to call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer. They’ll be glad to help you pick the model that’s perfect for you. And by the way, September is Guitar Month at Sweetwater, and we still have plenty of ultra-cool 2017 Gibson models in stock and ready to rock.
