Japanese rockers B’z, Tak Matsumoto Signature Guitar from Gibson
Another Signature Guitar For Asia’s Foremost Guitarist;
Best known as the guitarist, songwriter and producer of Japanese rockers B’z, Tak Matsumoto is renowned as Asia’s foremost guitarist. The duo, which includes vocalist Koshi Inaba, holds the record for consecutive #1 singles on Japan’s Oricon Singles Chart, having sent a whopping 46 hits to the top since the band’s formation in 1988, and is equally known for its dynamic live shows, including a sold-out North American tour in 2011. In addition, Tak has pursued a successful solo career, joined forces with artists such as Steve Vai, Chad Smith and Jack Blades, and won a Grammy alongside Larry Carlton for Best Pop Instrumental Album for their 2010 release Take Your Pick. Tak’s worldwide success has spawned the release of seven Gibson signature models, the latest of which—and arguably the most elegant—is the new Tak Matsumoto DC Custom from the Gibson Custom Shop. This guitar follows Tak’s preferred offset double-cutaway take on the hallowed Les Paul, and dresses up the package in the elegant Custom attire as conceived by Les Paul and Ted McCarty in 1954. As such, the Tak Matsumoto DC Custom wears a hand-sprayed, high-gloss nitrocellulose finish in Ebony with traditional Custom appointments such as mother-of-pearl block fingerboard inlays, multi-ply body binding, gold hardware and mother-of-pearl split-diamond headstock logo. It’s a fitting tribute to Tak Matsumoto’s considerable achievements in the music world, and an inspiring instrument to take your own playing to new heights.
The Tak Matsumoto DC Custom begins with the time-tested pairing of a solid, one-piece mahogany body joined to a carved plain maple top. The marriage of unchambered lightweight mahogany and solid maple blends the depth, richness, sustain and cutting power that has made Les Pauls legendary for 60 years. A one-piece, quarter-sawn mahogany neck is carved to Tak’s preferred profile, measuring .845″ at the 1st fret and .945″ at the 12th. A lusciously dark fingerboard made from Richlite®, an extremely durable fabricated material composed of cellulose fiber and phenolic resin, offers the look, feel and tone of ebony in a totally sustainable package. Tak’s unique offset double-cutaway design provides an outstanding twist on the classic formula, adding excellent playing balance and uninhibited upper-fret access to the legendary Les Paul tone, while giving the guitar a sleek contemporary look.
A pair of Gibson’s finest high-performance PAF-style humbucking pickups takes the Tak Matsumoto DC Custom right over the top. The BurstBucker #2 in the neck position and BurstBucker #3 in the bridge are made with genuine Alnico V magnets and wound with 42-AWG enamel-coated wire for classic creamy warm lead tones and punchy cutting crunch as desired. This calibrated set offers an excellent output balance, with a little more grind in the bridge position for scorching solos, while keeping the neck pickup smooth and clear. According to Tak’s preference, the pickups are routed through a traditional three-way toggle switch and independent volume controls, with a single master tone control. The classic pairing of gold-plated ABR-1 bridge and lightweight aluminum stopbar tailpiece work toward excellent sustain in partnership with a PLEK-cut Corian™ nut. Gold-plated vintage-style tuners with green keys present a classic touch, while genuine Schaller™ straplocks keep your guitar safe through the wildest on-stage antics. Each Tak Matsumoto DC Custom includes a black Custom Shop hardshell case, a Certificate of Authenticity, owner’s manual and adjustment literature, and is covered by Gibson’s Limited Lifetime Warranty and 24/7/365 Customer Service.
Thanks to Gibson for this report.