Paul Gilbert

Paul Gilbert is an American guitarist prominent in the instrumental guitar rock category as well as heavy metal and Neo-classical metal. Gilbert is also know for his work with Racer X, Mr. Big and playing on the 2007 G3 tour. Paul Gilbert has also been a guitar instructor and has penned columns in major guitar magazines like “Total Guitar” and has been periodic instructor at GIT (Guitar Institute of Technology) in Hollywood, CA.

Paul Gilbert got his start through Mike Varney, founder of Shrapnel Records, a company well know for promoting metal and instrumental guitar music. Racer X was formed in 1985 and produced heavy metal music with extremely technical and fast guitar solos by Paul Gilbert. Gilbert left Racer X in 1988.

In 1988 along with Billy Sheehan, Paul Gilbert formed Mr. Big. The band became a huge success in Japan and reached international recognition with their second album Lean Into It. Gilbert left Mr. Big in 1997 to pursue a solo career.

Paul Gilbert has been in a series of projects collaborating with Mike Portnoy, Dave LaRue and Daniel Gildenlöw playing in Beatle and Led Zeppelin tribute bands. Gilbert also reformed Racer X in 1999 and again achieved recognition in Japan for their efforts like Technical Difficulties and Superheroes.

Paul Gilbert works with Ibanez guitars and DiMarzio pickups and primarily uses the Ibanez PGM series guitars. Gilbert is also known for his sticker-covered “Dino” Ibanez RG750. In Jan 2009 Ibanez released a Paul Gilbert designed guitar named the “Fireman”, essentially a reverse Iceman with single coil pickups in a unique layout.