For the past 128 years, Gibson – the iconic American instrument brand – has been synonymous with creating and shaping sound across genres of music and generations of players. Gibson Custom Shop is proud to partner with Sergio Valliín, guitarist of Maná, the rock band from Guadalajara, Mexico, one of the best-selling, and most successful Latin-American bands of all time with over 40 million records sold worldwide.
Gibson luthiers and Sergio have collaborated to create his first-ever Gibson signature guitar with the new Sergio Valliín 1955 Les Paul Goldtop from the Gibson Customer Shop Murphy Lab. The Sergio Valliín 1995 Les Paul Goldtop has been meticulously crafted for fans to experience Sergio’s beloved 1955 Les Paul Goldtop; the guitar is now available worldwide at authorized Gibson dealers and via www.Gibson.com.
“I feel thankful and honored, a Les Paul with my name, I just can’t believe it,” says Sergio Valliín. “This guitar is an extension of my hands and my soul. I remember seeing Les Paul play at a show in New York, I met him backstage, and he said, ‘if I stopped playing this guitar, I would die.’ I feel honored to be carrying on Les Paul’s legacy, and I thank Gibson for honoring not only my work, but also for recognizing the importance of Latin Music.
Sergio adds: “For Latin musicians, it’s so hard to imagine the idea of having a signature model, and I hope this is just the first of many, because there are so many amazing guitar players and musicians in Latin America who deserve their voices to be amplified and honored by a guitar brand that we all love so much.”
“This guitar is the result of a team led effort. It’s inspired by a 1955 Les Paul that I have, and the Gibson team worked hard to get the best guitar possible inspired by my own guitar,” Sergio continues. “It has a humbucker and a P-90, which multiplies the sonic spectrum. It has a Bigsby, which makes it a very versatile guitar. It’s lighter than a 50s Les Paul, but it carries a lot of power.”
“It’s exciting to bring this collaboration to fruition! We have been working with Sergio for some time and this signature Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab Les Paul was years in the making,” says Cesar Gueikian, Brand President, Gibson Brands. “Fans can see Sergio onstage with the guitar on Maná’s North American Tour and at the group’s residency at The Forum in Los Angeles from April-September.
“One of the most creative, talented, and virtuoso guitar players I have ever know, Sergio can play everything from classical style Spanish to the most melodic and soulful riffs, onto the most unimaginable killer solos,” Cesar continues. “He has influenced generations of players in Latin America, and around the world and has collaborated with some of the best guitarists in the world. Sergio has touched people’s lives and made Latin American music matter more than ever over their 40 year career, and today they’re stronger than ever.”