New Tommy Thayer Gibson "White Lightning" on the way?

[KissGuitar]

Hard to miss that Tommy was playing a Gibson Les Paul setup in his (now) famous "White Lightning" during the "Kiss Rocks Vegas" show that was taped in November 2014. Makes you wonder, if it was taped a year and a half ago whether this was just a one off of Thayer's Epi guitar.

I've seen Tommy play his Epi White Lightning in concert several times, not sure why he'd make up a Gibby to play on stage? If he was trying to promote his Epi, making up a Gibson replica seems kind of kick in the balls to the guys who bought Epi's IMO. Or at the very least, bad marketing.

Anyone heard anything?

(Note: clicking on the arrow on the photo won't play the video, these were screen captures I took from the video )

OT but a Kiss guitar question: I was also confused about Paul playing his Washburns again, did his contract with Ibanez lapse so quickly?

 

[AlanH]

I wouldn't worry too much.

It wouldn't surprise me if his Epiphones were made in the Gibson custom shop anyway. Anybody who buys a production line signature guitar of any make or brand is probably being a little misled since the pros are bound to be being supplied with custom shop made instruments.

 

[easton55]

Just a cash grab no matter which company it's coming out under. Most undeserving of a signature model player ever.

 

[jstarr]

Wow! It must be cool to have your own signature guitar when you play in a Kiss tribute band. Lucky guy.

 

[Lightningflash]

Just a cash grab no matter which company it's coming out under. Most undeserving of a signature model player ever.

Wasn't there a remake of one of the guys from Rammstein?

 

[Scream And Fly]

Yeah, I'm positive that Tommy Thayer uses Chinese-made Epiphones on stage. He even records with them too. Sure.

Anybody that buys that signature model and believes that is ignorant.

 

[Lefty Adams]

Jesus christ, another signature model? He ain't that good for godsake ..

 

[indeedido]

Meanwhile, backstage with Tommy...

 

[KissGuitar]

Meanwhile, backstage with Tommy...

LMAO, classic!!!

 

[Lightningflash]

Meanwhile, backstage with Tommy...

He must have had to take a "Deuce"!

 

[ajay]

Clearing his throat.

 

[jstarr]

Don't feel bad for Tommy. Eric Singer has to get dressed in the back of his Dodge Stratus.

 

[PreacherCruz]

Just a cash grab no matter which company it's coming out under. Most undeserving of a signature model player ever.

I tend to agree that he doesn't actually DESERVE an artists model sig. That doesn't change the fact that it's my favorite guitar out of a Gibson LP 50s Tribute, Epi LP Traditional Pro gold top and an Epi Tony Iommi SG..

They're all great guitars in their own rights but the White lightning is a thing of beauty that plays like butter.

Yeah, I'm positive that Tommy Thayer uses Chinese-made Epiphones on stage. He even records with them too. Sure.

Anybody that buys that signature model and believes that is ignorant.

Quite certain that he probably does what lots of other artists with sigs do, and plays a few songs here and there with it. OBVIOUSLY, he has better gear...

For those of us who don't have infinite resources, this guitar is a steal that can absolutely be used to record or gig with. I flat out love mine.

 

[jstarr]

they're all great guitars in their own rights but the white lightning is a thing of beauty that plays like margarine.

:d

 

[HistoricR0]

I think a Gibson Sig guitar for Thayer is a pipe dream for Thayer. That has to be a one-off guitar.

 

[Wilfred]

Funny how people feel that a signature model is a tribute of the company to the skills and historic importance of a guitar player. It's just a business decision.

Another thing, statistically we're all just average guitar players here. Who would say 'no' if asked to play guitar with KISS, and would you turn down the opportunity of a signature guitar model?

 

[HistoricR0]

Funny how people feel that a signature model is a tribute of the company to the skills and historic importance of a guitar player. It's just a business decision.

Another thing, statistically we're all just average guitar players here. Who would say 'no' if asked to play guitar with KISS, and would you turn down the opportunity of a signature guitar model?

It's nothing against Thayer, it's just that I think there is no market/demand for a $3K Gibson with Thayer's name on it.. Sure it looks cool, but that's not enough. If anything, I know guys that would like the way the Gibson version looked but would pass on it because it has Thayer's sig on it and only because his sig is on it.

 

[kevinpaul]

Gibson / Epiphone get these idiots basically sell stuff for them. The only one to help at all was Slash. The worst would be our hero Joe B. was to sell Epiphones. I saw one of his videos when he was explaining the different Les Pauls. He got all the way down to Epiphone, he said it was a nice guitar for kids. I have two and I been a grownup for a long time. When I was a kid those great Epiphones were so out of my reach, most kids would agree.

 

[LPJNoob]

Yeah, I'm positive that Tommy Thayer uses Chinese-made Epiphones on stage. He even records with them too. Sure.

Anybody that buys that signature model and believes that is ignorant.

Who cares where the Epi WLTTs are made, I'm not a TT fan at all, but those WLs are sick.

 

[easton55]

Funny how people feel that a signature model is a tribute of the company to the skills and historic importance of a guitar player. It's just a business decision.

Another thing, statistically we're all just average guitar players here. Who would say 'no' if asked to play guitar with KISS, and would you turn down the opportunity of a signature guitar model?

That is the definition of a signature model. Everyone understands it's a business decision too, without people buying, no company runs for long. They do what they can to keep running, and hopefully get bigger at the same time. But the very reason a signature model of any kind was started was to pay homage to the player it was named for and their ability to make it sing. And to make money at it as well obviously. But now that has gone to the wayside with virtually anyone being given a sig model strictly to make money. A great business decision, but not signature guitar worthy.