Harmony Central is pleased to award the Y2K Golden Axe Grand Prize to Gibson Corporation for the Millennium 1939 Super 400 reissue. Actually part of a three guitar set, this is Gibson’s way of commemorating the century in wood. The other two guitars that came with the set are the last 1959 Les Paul reissue made in 1999 and the first 1959 Les Paul reissue made in 2000. However, the guitar we are honoring is the Super 400. This guitar is the handy work of Gibson Custom Store guru Bruce Kunkel. The entire guitar is covered in etched and painted moments, icons, or historical figures from the century.
You have to be impressed by the amount of research that went into finding all these pictures in the first place. Then arranging all the pictures, placing them in a pleasing way on the body, and, of course, the actual act of etching and painting it all. No one at the Gibson booth could cross in front of this guitar without stopping and studying the intricate work on this guitar.
The neck inlay which read "The Twentieth Century" as well as the Gibson logos are done in 14k white gold. The back of the guitar displays a time line of the century in mother of pearl. The decade markers have the year written in the standard text font of the decade. You could sit and stare at this guitar for hours. The price of this guitar (or set of guitars) is $150,000 US making is not only the winner but the most expensive instrument in the entire Golden Axe Awards. If you would like to see how this guitar was created, go to www.gibson.com.
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