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	Harmony Central Summer NAMM 2003 Coverage Nashville, Tennessee: July 18-20
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PRESS RELEASE
Gibson, Epi, Slingerland, Tobias, Baldwin to Show New Products at NAMM
July 15, 2003
Gibson Guitar's new instruments for summer NAMM will include signature guitars representing some of the world's greatest musicians, plus the return to U.S. production of the prestigious Slingerland drums and Tobias basses, and even the first Gibson piano, made by Gibson's Baldwin piano division.

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More detailed information on each product will be posted on Harmony Central when it's available, but for now, here's a sneak peak of what's to come at the Nashville show:

Gibson Custom, Art & Historic division is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2003 with four special models (one each quarter in limited edition of 30), featuring Diamond White Sparkle finish and highly engraved gold hardware. The CS-356, a highly ornamented version of its unique, routed semi-hollowbody design, is the Q3 model, joining the L-4 Thinline (Q1) and '68 Les Paul (Q2). Custom pays tribute to four influential guitarists with the Lee Roy Parnell CS-336, Joe Perry Signature Les Paul, the Allen Collins Explorer, and the Johnny A. Signature models. Stars of the highway also receive the Custom Shop treatment, with a Les Paul 50th Anniversary Corvette, a HUMMER H2 and a one-of-a-kind instrument to introduce the new Chevy SSR. The SSR guitar will be shown on the NAMM floor, along with other Gibson and Baldwin product at the Chevy Rock 'n' Roll Tour display. Custom honors the legendary Les Paul with a new Diamond/Flames Les Paul guitar, featuring relief carving on the top and special 3-D and hand-painted finishes. Additionally, Custom has also re-created Les Paul's 1941 homemade solidbody electric guitar, nicknamed The Log.

Baldwin Piano debuts the Gibson Studio Vertical piano, a 45-inch vertical sporting a flame maple upper frame with Gibson's famous cherry sunburst finish and other guitar-inspired appointments. In addition, Baldwin introduces the D.H. Baldwin line of verticals and a 5-foot-2-inch grand, which combine a new level of U.S.-made affordability with attractive, eco-friendly Lyptus wood finishes.

Epiphone introduces the Lynyrd Skynyrd Limited Edition Les Paul, which has previously been available only through a promotion for the band's 30th anniversary tour, and the Bob Marley Les Paul Special. With the help of the Trailer Park Troubadours, who will perform at an Epi party at Nashville's Havana Lounge, Epi will introduce the Airscreamer, a guitar with the body design of a classic silver-bullet Airstream trailer. Epi will also show a prototype for a Digital AlleyKat, which will use the digital technology developed by Gibson Labs.

Gibson Montana, Gibson's acoustic division in Bozeman, Mont., commemorates the music of 1930s blues legend Robert Johnson with a signature L-1, modeled after the small-bodied Gibson used by Johnson, plus a highly ornamented, limited-edition version of the historic model. The first Montana-produced Chet Atkins CE/CEC solidbody classical models will also be on display.

Gibson's Original Acoustic Instruments bluegrass division will introduced a signature mandolin from bluegrass/gospel great Doyle Lawson and a Dobro from former J.D. Crowe bandmember Phil Ledbetter. OAI will also debut an upgraded version of its popular new Hound Dog model, featuring "screen" soundholes and body binding.

Valley Arts, the newest division of Gibson, has replicated the customized guitar of Brent Mason, Nashville's top studio guitarist, and Mason will appear at the Gibson booth.

Slingerland Drums will show the first of a new line of U.S.-made Slingerlands, to be produced in Conway, Ark. Special appearances by local music students will highlight demonstrations at the booth.

Tobias Basses, return to U.S. production with new electronics designed by pickup guru Bill Bartolini. Tobias will show the first of the U.S.-made Tobias basses, produced in Conway, Ark.