The Moderne: Own the Most Mythologized Gibson in Guitar History
The Gibson Moderne is arguably the greatest mystery in guitardom. As a member of Gibson’s historic Modernistic series of the late 1950s, the Moderne’s only rock-solid evidence for existence is on a Gibson patent form from 1958 — no officially authenticated examples have ever surfaced. Thus, the Gibson Custom 1957 Moderne Reissue is a “what if?” of sorts, re-creating the Moderne almost exactly as it would have appeared if Gibson had given the model the green light back in the late 1950s, only with a major tonewood twist: this guitar’s body and chunky ’50s neck both boast a mahogany construction instead of the classic korina composition found on the Moderne's Futuristic-series siblings. It’s a spec swap that imbues the mahogany Moderne with a dark and elegant aesthetic aura, along with the warm and midrange-rich bite of Gibson’s historic slab-bodied mahogany 6-strings. You’ll enjoy supremely authentic late-1950s sonics thanks to the 1957 Mahogany Moderne Reissue's CustomBucker pickups, which completely capture the lush warmth and dynamics of Gibson’s legendary PAF humbuckers. Lastly, it’s crowned with what’s colloquially referred to among Gibson historians as the "Gumby" headstock and fits with Kluson Single-ring reissue tuners. A reissue of a guitar that was perhaps never issued in the first place, the 1957 Mahogany Moderne Reissue only adds to the mystique of Gibson’s most elusive instrument.
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The legend of the Moderne
In the late 1950s, Gibson was firing on all cylinders with groundbreaking innovation after innovation. At the time, the company was helmed by the legendary Ted McCarty. It was under his leadership that the PAF humbucker, Tune-o-matic bridge, and Les Paul model (both in gold top and “Burst” forms) were developed. Still, Ted and Gibson had plenty of ideas that were frankly a bit too ahead of their time, a point best exemplified in the company’s Modernistic series of instruments. Today, the two most prominent members of the Modernistic series are the Flying V and Explorer models; while these are now undisputed Gibson classics, they were initially all but completely rejected by the guitarists of the time.
Original Flying V, Explorer, and Futura (the Explorer’s predecessor) models boast a nearly legendary status due to their scarcity. Still, the Gibson Moderne unquestionably trumps them all when it comes to 6-string mythology. In fact, there’s no hard evidence that a Gibson Moderne ever existed — a few Gibson sources claim that a few prototypes were built, but no authenticated examples have ever surfaced. A certain sharp-dressed man from one of the Lone Star State’s most treasured rock bands believes that he might have a true-blue example, but the truth is that the Moderne is a mystery that may never be solved. Thus, the Gibson Custom 1957 Mahogany Moderne Reissue largely re-creates the Moderne as it appeared on the company’s original patent documents, from the wild (even for Gibson Modernistic standards) swooping body to the “Gumby” headstock.
CustomBucker pickups deliver pure vintage PAF tone
Gibson’s CustomBucker pickups masterfully replicate the mighty “Patent Applied For” pickups the brand first introduced in the 1950s — pickups that forever changed the 6-string world with their rich, dynamic, and hum-canceling tone. In fact, the development of the PAF occurred right around the creation of Gibson’s Modernistic series, which explains why every model in the series featured a pair of these prestigious pickups. What about the tone? CustomBuckers perfectly capture the dynamic range and immaculate articulation of a true vintage PAF, breathing an authentic vintage voice into Gibson Custom’s 1957 Mahogany Moderne Reissue. From screaming dirt-laden lead runs to smoky overdriven licks to pure, clean warmth, CustomBucker pickups capture Gibson’s greatest golden-age tones to a T.
A mahogany-bodied masterwork
Instead of the lightly colored korina wood historically used on Gibson’s Modernistic-family guitars, this Moderne sports a premium mahogany body and mahogany neck. Instantly, the darker visuals of this tonewood lend the 1957 Mahogany Moderne a darker, more elegant visual vibe. Moreover, the slab mahogany solidbody formula found on this Moderne is accurate to the model’s original era. It is extensively utilized on Gibson’s Junior and Special models — instruments that many players prize for the warmth and midrange attack of their mahogany construction.
Gibson Custom 1957 Mahogany Moderne Reissue Features:
- A mahogany-clad twist on Gibson’s ever-mythologized Moderne model of the 1950s
- Mahogany body, crafted into a fast, swooping profile, offers a warm and resonant voice
- Chunky ’50s Vintage mahogany neck topped with an Indian rosewood fingerboard
- Ultra-accurate CustomBucker pickups capture the magic of the legendary PAF, loaded with aged Alnico III magnets and an unpotted construction
- Premium, vintage-accurate electronics include CTS pots and a phone book capacitor
- Gleaming gold hardware includes a Historic Reissue ABR-1 no-wire bridge and Kluson reissue single-ring tuners
- Historic “Gumby” headstock shape
- Natural VOS finish with VOS-finished hardware replicates the feel of a well-preserved vintage instrument
- Includes Historic Lifton reissue case
