Gibson. It’s a prestigious name for every serious guitar player. Yet 4 years ago, South African shredders got a shock as the famed guitar brand disappeared from local instrument retail stores without an explanation or even a goodbye note.
Sadly, six string aficionados could no longer purchase Gibson guitars from stores nationwide and had to rely on overseas orders to get their fix; it need not be said that our local postal service probably did a good job in raping and pillaging more than a few packages and leaving many guitarists unhappy and frustrated at this situation.
Bringing Back The Power
However, Marshall Music’s flagship store in Woodmead heeded the calls from virtuosos countrywide and decided to do everything in their power to get Gibson back on our shores – and guess what? They succeeded and are now the official and exclusive dealers for the brand in SA.
In other words, as licensed dealers, they are able to sell the guitars at the same competitive prices as the online and overseas retailers and supply you with the Gibson of your dreams – after all, choosing a guitar is a very personal experience and you shouldn’t just settle for any old piece of wood.
Additionally, if you stay far away from the store (but still within the borders of South Africa), don’t sweat; you can order the guitars directly from them and they’ll ship it to you and cough up for the courier fees.
Celebrate Good Times
To celebrate the awesome news of this illustrious partnership, Marshall Music Woodmead threw a bash at Tanz Café in Fourways, Johannesburg, on the 25th of January 2011. The venue was painted red that night as the party was ignited by enthusiasts, guitar collectors, party goers and local rock stars, such as Prime Circle, Wonderboom, Watershed and Chromium, who use and abuse Gibsons on a regular basis.
Also, on the night, a raffle was held and a prized Gibson Les Paul got handed out to one lucky winner, who must probably be polishing that guitar and posturing like Slash from Guns ‘n’ Roses every day since. Arno Carstens and Flies (a cover band featuring the members of Just Jinjer) provided the entertainment for the evening and churned out some quality rock ‘n’ roll with the mandatory “local is lekker” flavour. At the end of the evening, the performers further thrilled the audience by unexpectedly joining forces for an impromptu jam session right on stage.
Interestingly enough, amidst the sound of music, it was worth noting that the artists also used Gibson guitars for their performances – Arno strummed along on the J-200, while Flies’ Gavin Morein let his fingers do the talking on the Gibson Les Paul model.
The Future Of Gibson In South Africa
After such a smashing event, Marshall Music Woodmead’s resident guitar specialist Stuart Goodwin explains that this was only the beginning of great things to come from the partnership between Marshall Music and Gibson. “Marshall Music Woodmead are the first official dealers. The next one will be Marshall Music Cape Town; they’ll be holding a launch in about a month or two, so look out for a big party in Cape Town. We’re also hosting the Gibson Acoustic competition every Tuesday night at Tanz Café, which is a competition for singers/songwriters to showcase their skills. The first prize will be a R20 000 Gibson acoustic guitar.”
When Orville Gibson started manufacturing mandolins in the late 1890s, no one could’ve predicted that down the line he’d be instrumental in creating not just a recognisable brand, but a cultural icon. Even though Gibson was gone for a while here, it was never forgotten. In fact, you know how the saying goes: “absence only makes the heart grow fonder”.
Remember, Marshall Music Woodmead is the only official dealer of Gibson in South Africa, at the time of writing, so if you want to purchase one, you’ll have to chat directly to them.
Marshall Music Woodmead
Tel: 011 804 1362
Written By : Sergio Pereira
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