Figure 1 - The Dave Grohl DG-335.

2007 has seen a wide range of guitars leave the Gibson factory doors; from the standard instruments that are the companys bread and butter, to limited-number special-edition instruments: the Guitar of the Week range, numerous historical reissues, and of course the Inspired By range.

This is a series of instruments “inspired by and built to the exact specifications of passionate musicians and artists” - among them are Les Pauls (John Lennon and Warren Haynes), Flying Vs (Jimi Hendrix and Zakk Wylde) and three thinlines; the Roy Orbison ES-335, Keither Sutherland  ES-336 and best of all the Dave Grohl DG-335.

So its a 335? Not quite……

Dave Grohl likes his Gibsons; Firebirds, RDs and of course his cherry red Trini Lopez Standard which he has played for some time.

It is this guitar that the DG-335 is based on, and of course both are basically 1960s ES-335s; a one-piece mahogany neck, maple top, back and rims, and the central maple block that makes this guitar semi-solid. Differences are largely cosmetic: firebird-style headstock (with six-on-a-side tuners), split diamond inlays, and the diamond shaped sound holes.

Figure 2 - Also available in Ebony…

So what did Dave Grohl want from his Inspired By guitar? Well the obvious change is the striking pelham blue colour; a traditional Gibson finish, but scarcely used. The other changes are in the hardware. A stop tailpiece and Gibson burstbucker humbuckers.

Dimensions, materials and construction are all unchanged.

• Body: Laminated maple top, back, rims.  White binding. Diamond soundholes.
• Neck: Mahogany. 50s rounded neck profile.
• Fingerboard: rosewood with split diamond inlay and white binding.
• Frets: 22
• Scale: 24-3/4″
• Width at nut: 1-11/16″
• Hardware: ABR-1 bridge with stop tailpiece. Chrome plated.
• Pickups: Burstbucker 1 (neck); Burstbucker 2 (bridge).
• Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way selector switch.
• Finishes: Pelham blue, Ebony.

This truly is a special guitar. Dave has been playing his since the summer, and they are at last available to the guitar-buying public.

• Gibson Inspired By Dave Grohl DG-335 Electric Guitar
• Foo Fighters website
• Gibson ‘Inspired By’

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