I love these, I’ve played a few but am trying to locate a Banara smartwood. But, I read on a forum the scientists accidentally suggested Banara wood when it was lot rarer than they thought, and that’s why Gibson only made a few of these. I know they would probably want to keep it quiet if they accidentally used an endangered species for guitars, but I only really want one if its endangered.
They stopped making the Gibson Smartwood several years ago, so if you find one its in very limited supply. Gibson did keep a few of the less expensive woods in the product line, muira I think was one, and called it the Exotics or Exotic Woods. I think they may have separated with the Rainforest Alliance so won’t use the "smartwood" term anymore.
As far as a marketing exercise, they had some of their best builders during the early years of production, with fit and finish comparable to a custom shop guitar at a studio price.
But, to your question, I don’t know if its more expensive, that’s up to the marketplace supply and demand, but the Banara Smartwood is the rarest of all the Gibson Smartwood Guitars.
|
|
|
Gibson '57 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue Electric Guitar Antique Gold
$3,999.00
The '57 Les Paul Goldtop Reissue Electric Guitar is the quintessential Les Paul at its finest. It's Custom Shop crafted to be accurate to '57 specifications in every detail including the CTS pots and bumblebee capacitors. It was the first Paul to feature humbucking pickups, and this one comes equipped with BurstBuckers. Carved maple top, mahogany back, and one-piece mahogany neck with the '57 profile and the original extended tenon joint. It features binding on body and neck, nickel hardware, an original ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge, and the trademark antique gold finish. Includes Gibson Custom Shop hardshell case.
|
|
|
|
