Gibson teams up with Queen's Brian May to launch a 12-string acoustic guitar

Queen legend Brian May and Gibson have teamed up for a new limited-edition SJ-200 12-string acoustic guitar. Only one hundred of these guitars will be made available worldwide.

This collaboration between Gibson, the 130-year-old legendary instrument manufacturer, and Sir Brian is both special and rare.

On the afternoon of February 18, Gibson hosted a special event to launch the Gibson Custom Brian May SJ-200 12-String acoustic guitar and the Garage Feast, a week-long series of events celebrating the first anniversary of the Gibson Garage London.

Gibson x Sir Brian May collaboration: Unveiling more details

Along with launching the limited-edition guitar and celebrating the Gibson Garage London, Sir Brian also surprised guests with a performance on the 12-string acoustic. His set included the iconic cover of So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad) and the Queen's Love of My Life.

The performance was accompanied by the special guest Arielle, a guitarist, singer, and songwriter. She performed her songs Magick Again, Devil’s Disguise, and Weakness For You before dueting with Brian on Love Token and So Sad.

The launch event was followed by an interview with Sir Brian, where he spoke in detail about the creation of the special guitar, the Queen songs he has written on the acoustic guitar, his connection to astronomy, and more.

On the collaboration with Gibson for the SJ-200 12-String guitar. He said:

''It’s a dream come true, as soon as I held the guitar, I thought this is what I need. It has such presence and such a beautiful breadth of sound. Gibson has done the most beautiful job, it has the lovely solar system on it, including Mercury, but the most important thing is it sounds massive.''

He continued:

''It’s very traditional, old-school technology, not made with AI or mechanized in any way. I take fantastic pride in it and I’m very honored to have worked with Gibson.''

''From the days when I used to gaze enviously at the guitar catalogs, sitting there with my dad, I wish he was here to see this amazing fusion of the collaboration we’ve made.''

The launch event was attended by several special guests, including guitarist Dave ‘Bucket’ Colwell, actor Jason Momoa, and Neil Murray, the former Whitesnake bassist.

What makes the SJ-200 12-string unique?

The SJ-200 12-string guitar is made from high-quality materials. The back and sides of this guitar are crafted from AAA rosewood, known for its rich tone. The top is crafted from AAA Sitka spruce, which helps create a warm and clear sound and features a vintage sunburst finish.

The neck is AAA maple-built and has a rounded profile. The fretboard is rosewood and has 8-point star inlays made from agoya shells. The headstock has another 8-point star inlay, a gold Grover mini Rotomatic tuning machine, and a Gibson logo in mother-of-pearl.

The bridge is made of solid rosewood and has four 1960s-style agoya inlays. The guitar also comes equipped with Fishman Matrix pickup for amplification, making it easy to use on stage or in the studio.

Availability and price

The SJ-200 12-string acoustic guitar is available on Gibson's official website, the Gibson Garage in Nashville and London, and other authorized Gibson dealers. It retails for $7,999. You can also purchase this guitar from independent sellers on Reverb.

Fans are eagerly anticipating more details about Sir Brian May’s collaboration with Gibson and are excited to hear the music that will feature this exceptional 12-string guitar.