Gibson reissuing the Ultratone?

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 17 Jan 2008 12:35 pm

I read a Gibson NAMM press release over on Harmony Central and it stated that Gibson is reissuing the Ultratone?

Really? Anyone have any info?

http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM08 ... itars.html

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 17 Jan 2008 1:14 pm

The terms ''shimmer and twang'' don't exactly make me want to save up the 2 grand it'll probably cost for a (no doubt, only) 6 stringer.

But, it'll keep us on our seats edge to see what they come out with.
At least they're thinking of steels again.

Chris Walke · Post by **Chris Walke** » 17 Jan 2008 1:29 pm

Not exactly clear on what this guitar is. They don't really say it's a steel guitar:

THE ULTRATONE
The new Gibson Ultratone takes inspiration both visually and sonically from an exciting period of guitar history in the '50s during the development of the lapsteel guitar and many of Gibson's most famous pickup designs. The Ultratone's new design "Steel 90" pickups combined with a unique combination of tone-woods and a 25.5" scale deliver an unparalleled shimmer and twang while it's art-deco appointments & futuristic top carve call back to a time of space-age design.

Is it a standard guitar with a design "inspired" by the art deco lap steels, or is it a very long scale lap steel?

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 17 Jan 2008 5:37 pm

You have a point...but if it's not a steel guitar, I don't know what would posess them to call the pickup a "Steel 90."

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 17 Jan 2008 8:35 pm

...it sure sounds like a reissue of the Ultratone lap steel. The new design "Steel 90" pickups are evidently reissues or re-interpretations of Gibson's P-90 pickup.

I'm skeptical. I am reminded of Fender’s current reissue lap steel.

Bill Creller · Post by **Bill Creller** » 17 Jan 2008 8:47 pm

If it really is a new lap steel, like mentioned above, the price should be "interesting"

Bill Leff · Post by **Bill Leff** » 18 Jan 2008 7:38 am

I just read the press release.

I'll take bets that this is NOT a lap steel...

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 18 Jan 2008 7:40 am

I'll take bets that it's an electric uke.

Ya know... Gibson tenor ukes from the the 30's and 40's are worth mega-bucks now. Keep your eyes peeled for them.

Chris Walke · Post by **Chris Walke** » 18 Jan 2008 7:59 am

Mark Eaton wrote:You have a point...but if it's not a steel guitar, I don't know what would posess them to call the pickup a "Steel 90."

Also a good point. But I think of guitar players putting horseshoe pickups on standard guitars for that tone. They could be marketing to country players ("shimmer & twang") or bottleneck players. I hope it's a lap steel, but I'm guessing not.

Nothing for us to do but speculate at this point. One thing I think we can all bet on is the probability of the high price.

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 18 Jan 2008 8:14 am

They had to say "Shimmer and Twang" to appeal to the country and blues bottleneck players.

Really, do you think the Gibson marketing department would OK ad-copy that read "as soft and mellow as moonlight on a blue lagoon".

First of all, you can't say the word "soft" and appeal to the male dominated Rock world. And have you ever been to a NAMM show? Mellow?

I'm sure the pickup on this new steel will be able to get "Hawaiian".

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 18 Jan 2008 8:14 am

I wonder if this is it?

.

Chris Walke · Post by **Chris Walke** » 18 Jan 2008 8:51 am

Tom Pettingill wrote:I wonder if this is it?

.

Wouldn't surprise me if that's the one.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 18 Jan 2008 11:07 am

...The Ultratone's new design "Steel 90" pickups

So the guitar has more than one pickup... right?

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 18 Jan 2008 1:08 pm

OK, so there is a carved top in the above photo, and an artsy looking smaller sized pickguard - but it's a major stretch for me to associate that six-string electric with the look of the original Gibson Ultratone lap steel.

And if Chris is indeed correct, then I'm not real sure why Gibson bothered to drum up the whole Ultratone vibe as a sales pitch - about one tenth of one percent of the potential customers for the six string in the photo would have any clue what a circa 1950 Ultratone lap steel is in the first place.

Steve Branscom · Post by **Steve Branscom** » 18 Jan 2008 5:43 pm

I read the press release and then it said to go to Gibson's web site but I couldn't find any mention of it on the website unless it's included in the Steinberger product line - space age- being the operative word. I couldn't get into the Product area of Steinberger to confirm.

Gerald Ross · Post by **Gerald Ross** » 18 Jan 2008 7:09 pm

If that red solid bodied guitar pictured above is the "New" Gibson Ultratone.

I say $:\$

Big F(*#)(*$ deal. How many Gibson corporate commitees had to OK that mediocre design? Give me a F#$(*) break.

I feel the same way whenever Fender brings out a "New" Stratocaster. They spend bucco advertising dollars on the "New" (fill in the current Rock star's name) custom Strat.

Don't get me started... and what about the auto industry. Come on... really, didn't you think by 2008 we would be driving cars that levitated above the highway? Four rubber tires? Internal combustion engine. Pathetic.

Where's my jetpack?

Jason Dumont · Post by **Jason Dumont** » 18 Jan 2008 7:38 pm

Well said,Gerald.
Couldn't agree more.

Mike Maddux · Post by **Mike Maddux** » 19 Jan 2008 1:52 am

Went to the Gibson booth today at NAMM to look for it and I didn't see it there. Ill contact my Gibson Rep next week and ask him.

Ron Whitfield · Post by **Ron Whitfield** » 19 Jan 2008 12:24 pm

Gerald, to put it perspective, even the newest jet packs have only 5 seconds more of air time possible than the one I saw demonstrated at the LA Expostion in '65!

These are the best of times, and the worst of times.
But it will soon all be over..., so grab yer guitar and old lady and get it on!

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 21 Jan 2008 12:06 pm

One of my favorite songs from the New Wave era was called "Rocket Pack"...

It's the 80's, so where's my rocket pack?

I've been wondering myself...

Loni Specter · Post by **Loni Specter** » 21 Jan 2008 12:30 pm

I'll find out about any Gibson steels. I never made it to their room at NAMM.
I did see two Dusenberg(Germany) lap steels in their booth! They had palm pedals too!

Max Laine · Post by **Max Laine** » 21 Jan 2008 5:18 pm

It's not a steel:
http://www.12fret.com/new/NAMM_2008_Gibson_pg.html

Mike Maddux · Post by **Mike Maddux** » 21 Jan 2008 6:37 pm

booooooooo

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 21 Jan 2008 8:44 pm

Big F(*#)(*$ deal.

I agree! It's the red guitar shown below.

Thank you Gibson for paying homage to this "exciting period of guitar history in the '50s during the development of the lapsteel guitar".

Richard Shatz · Post by **Richard Shatz** » 21 Jan 2008 10:14 pm

Cool thread.
Can't keep from iterating.
Very strange projections about what I guess some think will be a repro or new issue of one of the best lap steels of the Gibson postwar period.
My thought on this: WGAF.
If Gibson were to reissue an Ultratone or Century (the same thing), who would really care, or would anyone (of us) want to buy it. I guess I just said the same thing twice.
I'm good at echos.
Anyway the Ultratone series was just a beautifully designed and crafted solid piece of wood with a P90 pickup and the same hardware as any Gibson of the era in which it was produced.
That is really all that most lap steel guitars produced after WWII really were, except Rickenbacher.
I know there might be some other exceptions, but the fact is that Gibson produced more models with the same pups and dominated the market for many years. That's fine. I love Gibson lap steel guitars.
I guess I just can't conceive of Gibson creating and producing another Ultratone (lap steel). They were and are great instruments. They don't command much of a price on the market compared to some that don't look or sound nearly as good. The market for lap steel guitars, while continuing to evolve and mature, still doesn't give enough respect to the great looks and sound of the BR-1 or for that matter any of the entire BR series. Afterall, they are just different shaped chunks of wood with the same pups.

With the original 40s-60s Ultratones and Centuries selling for $4oo-800, what is the point of trying to sell something that really can't be at any better and certainly can't be any more useful to a professional or serious ameteur player for the same price or less?

I love the anticipation of new things to come I've read on this thread, but If I want to buy a new lap steel, a number of other names come to mind. They are not Gibson, Fender, Rickenbacher....................yet.

Oh yeah, in case you can't tell, I've had a few.