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The Latest Breaking News from Jim DeCola

“One of the most distinctive looking guitar designs ever”: Gibson’s 1965 Firebird Platypus was the oddball model that marked a moment of transition for the guitar giant – now it’s been revived

Gibson was constantly tweaking the Firebird design during the 1960s, and the Platypus variant comes from the epicenter of that trial-and-error period

“When we brought it back, we wanted to do it in a way that we’ve never done before – at least not since 1965”: Gibson resurrects a vintage unicorn with the return of the Firebird Platypus

“When we brought it back, we wanted to do it in a way that we’ve never done before – at least not since 1965”: Gibson resurrects a vintage unicorn with the return of the Firebird Platypus

Gibson's Jim DeCola describes it as a "best of" Firebird and it comes loaded with a pair of "historically accurate" Firebird mini-humbuckers

“A vibrant update to an all-time classic”: By popular demand, Gibson gives the ES-335 its Custom Color refresh

“A vibrant update to an all-time classic”: By popular demand, Gibson gives the ES-335 its Custom Color refresh

Spearmint, Watermelon, Ocean Blue, Blood Moon Burst, the ES-335 and its AAA figured maple siblings have never looked so bright

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“Modding for dummies? Well, some of you more experienced guitar tinkerers might be having a chuckle, but this levels the playing field”: How Gibson’s Quick Connect pickups are the Les Paul mod pretty much anyone can do – no soldering required

As Gibson finally adds some Quick Connect pickups to its Pickup Shop lineup, we revisit this simple no-solder method to mod your Modern guitar

“We went back to the dressing room. He said, ‘Yeah, it stays in tune great! But if you could make it a little slinkier’”: Gibson’s master luthier Jim DeCola reveals the Leo Fender-inspired mods he made to Randy Rhoads’ guitar just hours before showtime

DeCola was still only a teenager in 1982 but he had already had a reputation for being able to work magic on a tremolo system, which he duly did on Rhoads' iconic polka-dotted Sandoval V

Does your acoustic guitar never sound properly in tune? This may solve it once and for all

Intonation is about trusting a process on elimination with the factors that can affect the pitch of your instrument

Want to change your guitar's humbuckers and upgrade your tone but don't know where to start? These guides prove changing pickups doesn't need to be stressful

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“This is an intensely crafted ‘Super Guitar’ with a separate piezo output…”: Dweezil Zappa’s huge gear auction is full of utterly unique guitars, including his Hot Rats Gibson Les Paul, a Madonna-clad Jackson and a true one-off custom PRS

“This is an intensely crafted ‘Super Guitar’ with a separate piezo output…”: Dweezil Zappa’s huge gear auction is full of utterly unique guitars, including his Hot Rats Gibson Les Paul, a Madonna-clad Jackson and a true one-off custom PRS

The inimitable Zappa is selling off some of his most unusual and prized guitar possessions in order to raise funds for his forthcoming tour dates

If you're restringing your acoustic guitar for the first time there's one thing you might need to avoid doing

If you're restringing your acoustic guitar for the first time there's one thing you might need to avoid doing

These tips will show you the way

Loose knobs? How to deal with your guitar's most easily overlooked issues

Loose knobs? How to deal with your guitar's most easily overlooked issues

Gibson Master Luthier Jim DeCola knows how to solve control mechanical control knob, output jack and pickup switch issues

Does your guitar sound out of tune, even though you just tuned it? You might need to make these extra adjustments

Does your guitar sound out of tune, even though you just tuned it? You might need to make these extra adjustments

A Master Luthier shows you how to set your intonation

"It sounds simple enough, but it's not so simple" – are you cleaning your guitar the right way? Master Luthier Jim DeCola can show you how

"It sounds simple enough, but it's not so simple" – are you cleaning your guitar the right way? Master Luthier Jim DeCola can show you how

How to avoid adding scratches

Gibson Master Luthier Jim DeCola has made a brilliant, simple tool to help set up an acoustic guitar – and you can make one too

Gibson Master Luthier Jim DeCola has made a brilliant, simple tool to help set up an acoustic guitar – and you can make one too

Is your acoustic's action too high? You need to see this

“It’s a lower price point, but it’s not cheap and there’s no apologies with this guitar”: Gibson’s Les Paul Modern Lite offers a slimline take on the iconic LP – and the lowest priced all-mahogany, two-pickup build in the USA line

“It’s a lower price point, but it’s not cheap and there’s no apologies with this guitar”: Gibson’s Les Paul Modern Lite offers a slimline take on the iconic LP – and the lowest priced all-mahogany, two-pickup build in the USA line

A new Gibson USA Les Paul (with two humbuckers) for under $1,500? We’re interested…

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Kramer’s Eruption humbucker aims to bottle Eddie Van Halen’s iconic ’80s guitar tone with the help of his former luthier Jim DeCola

Get a humbucker befitting the 'brown sound' in Gibson’s latest pickup shop drop

Jason Becker is selling the guitar Eddie Van Halen gave him in their emotional first meeting

The Peavey Wolfgang is one of the first 100 produced – and was signed and played by the late great guitar god during his 1996 visit to Becker’s house

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