New Gibson Custom Brian May SJ-200 12-String Acoustic Guitar

Gibson unveiled the new Gibson Custom Brian May SJ-200 12-String Acoustic Guitar at a special event that marked the beginning of the Gibson Garage Fest. The guitar, Brian May’s first model with the brand, is now available at Gibson Garage London, Nashville, and online.

During the presentation, Sir Brian May wowed the audience with performances of Love Of My Life by Queen and So Sad (to Watch Good Love Go Bad) by The Everly Brothers, as well as Love Token from his album Back to the Light. Singer-songwriter Arielle was a special guest and shared the stage with May. The event also featured an interview moderated by Leona Graham from Absolute Radio, where May discussed the creation of the model and his passion for astronomy.

Regarding the Gibson SJ-200 12-String, Brian May stated:

It’s a dream come true. It has an incredible presence and a wide, beautiful sound. Gibson has done a spectacular job. Most importantly, it sounds huge.

May also emphasized the importance of Gibson Garage London: "When we started with Queen, there were no venues like this where you could perform without a record deal. Spaces like this can make all the difference".

Among the attendees were Jason Momoa, Neil Murray (ex-Whitesnake), and Dave 'Bucket' Colwell (Bad Company).

The Gibson SJ-200 12-String pays tribute to May’s contribution to rock and his passion for astronomy. Handmade in Bozeman, Montana, it features AAA rosewood binding and back, a Sitka spruce top in Vintage Sunburst finish, and an AAA maple neck with a Rounded profile. It includes eight-pointed star inlays in mother-of-pearl, golden Grover Mini Rotomatic tuners, and a moustache-style rosewood bridge. Its pickguard boasts a planetary design created by May. The strings are arranged in reverse order, achieving a distinctive sound. Equipped with Fishman Matrix electronics, it’s ready for both stage and studio. Only 100 units have been produced.

The Gibson Garage Fest also features an exhibition of the EB-1 Violin bass by Jack Bruce (Cream) and a charity event with guitars signed by Johnny Marr for Teenage Cancer Trust. In addition, on February 22, an acoustic festival took place at Gibson Garage London with artists such as Campbell King, Rachel Croft, and Seb Lowe.

Gibson Garage London, opened a year ago by Jimmy Page, Brian May, and Tony Iommi, is the brand’s first establishment outside the USA and offers more than 300 electric and acoustic guitars for testing, as well as a wide range of Gibson, Epiphone, and Kramer products.