Gibson has unveiled its new Tom Petty signature SJ-200 Wildflower acoustic guitar.
First announced during the Believe in Music show in January, the SJ-200 Wildflower is based on Petty's own SJ-200 (though a different SJ-200 Wildflower was custom-made by Gibson as a one-off build for Petty in the early '90s, around the time of his classic solo album, Wildflowers.)
The acoustic features a AAA Sitka spruce top, figured quilted maple back and sides, and a flamed maple neck.
Sonically, it packs an LR Baggs VTC under-saddle pickup with soundhole-mounted volume and tone controls. It's also fitted with Grover Imperial tuners.
The unique visual appointments on the guitar include the 'Wildflower' logo in mother of pearl on the headstock, a “You belong among the wildflowers” lyric decal on the back of the headstock, and Petty’s signature engraved on the double pickguard.
“It is so incredible to see the SJ-200 design our Dad worked on so long ago, lovingly brought to fruition with his long-time guitar tech and friend Alan Weidel and the craftsmen and women at Gibson guitars," Adria Petty – the late singer/songwriter's daughter – said.
"There has been much effort made to make certain this guitar lives up to Tom’s musical standards and the specs he wanted for a best-in-class instrument. Alan Weidel has put this instrument through its paces as he has with all Tom Petty signature guitar models.
"Tom played the SJ-200 while writing and recording Wildflowers and to us it is an honor and a privilege to have Gibson launch this instrument to celebrate his musical masterpiece. That way others can make what my Dad called 'the big jangle' a reference to that gorgeous, big, SJ-200 acoustic sound he loved.
We hope fans and members of the music community alike enjoy this beautiful instrument as much as we do. It is a beautiful tribute to him.”
The Gibson Tom Petty SJ-200 Wildflower acoustic guitar is available now – in an Antique Natural finish – for $9,999. It will be limited to just 100 examples, each hand-built in the company's Acoustic Custom Shop in Bozeman, Montana.
For more info on the guitar, stop by gibson.com.
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