Gibson has announced a new line up guitars called the Raw Power series this past week at the Musikmesse (Europe’s NAMM) in Frankfurt, Germany.  The Raw Power series are stripped down, no-frills versions of classic Gibson guitars that are priced a bit more affordable for the everyday working man.   The new series is launching with the Les Paul Studio Raw Power and the SG Raw Power.    If the name seems familiar it’s because Gibson had a Raw Power series for a short time from 2000 - 2001.  These guitars might be Gibson’s version of the “Downturn Guitar“, with bad economy likely hurting sales, producing more affordable guitars might be a strategy to boost sales.  Full story…

The Gibson Les Paul Studio Raw Power features a solid maple body and top which produces a more articulate and brighter tone than the traditional mahogany Les Pauls.  The guitar also has a 22 fret maple fingerboard on a solid mahogany neck, a pair of ‘57 Classic pups and standard Les Paul controls, bridge and tuners.  The Les Paul Studio Raw Power comes in a variety of colors from Gold to Trans-Ebony to even Aquamarine and Platinum.

Gibson Les Paul Studio Raw Power

The Gibson SG Raw Power has a similar set of characteristics with a solid maple body, a three-piece solid maple neck and a 24 fret maple fretboard that should also produce a brighter tone than the mahogany version of the SG. Like the Raw Power LP, the SG will have Gibson’s ‘57 Classic humbuckers but without the covers.  Both guitars feature a satin finish.

With MSRP’s at $1,858 for the Les Paul and $1,664 for the SG it should put these guitars in around $1000 street - a much better price range for more players in today’s economy…assuming you can put up with the maple fretboard with a black headstock design.