Guitar Journal: $99,999 Gibson SJ-200 Monarch
Spinal Tap get hottest humbucker on the planet and Blackstar announce lightweight 100-watt cab!
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This week, we look at the $99,999 Gibson acoustic guitar made using gold, diamonds, and Brazilian rosewood. Plus, we look at the news that Seymour Duncan’s custom shop has wound a pickup for Spinal Tap! Finally, Blackstar has just released a new 100-watt cabinet, and it’s lightweight, so it won’t break your back.
Guitar Journal
$99,999 Gibson
Gibson has once again set a new standard for luxury in the music world with the release of the SJ-200 Monarch #100, a one-of-a-kind acoustic guitar that marries unparalleled craftsmanship with lavish opulence.
Priced at a staggering $99,999, this one-off instrument transcends a mere acoustic guitar to become a true work of art, adorned with real gold, genuine diamonds, and highly sought-after Brazilian rosewood.
Watch the video below for all the juicy details and the thought behind this extravagant beast of an acoustic!
SJ-200 Monarch #100
Crafted by a team of master luthiers (with over 160 years of combined experience between them) at the Gibson Custom Shop in Bozeman, Montana, the SJ-200 Monarch #100 is arguably the most lavish acoustic guitar the iconic brand has ever produced.
The top is made from select AAA Sitka spruce, known for its superior resonance, while the back and sides feature stunning Brazilian rosewood, sourced from the exclusive Gibson Custom Wood Library. Then the neck is a two-piece AAA maple with Indian rosewood stringers for structural stability.
Diamonds & Gold
The headstock alone is a marvel of meticulous artistry. It features a hand-engraved crown inlay set with nine natural diamonds, each 0.1 carats, and is topped with a single 0.25-carat diamond. All of this is housed within a setting of 1.2 ounces of solid 18K gold. The headstock is complemented by open-gear Waverly tuners with hand-engraved buttons, adding to its bespoke appeal.
The body is outlined with 14K gold rope binding and double-width abalone purfling, creating a striking visual contrast. The Brazilian rosewood fretboard is adorned with mother-of-pearl and abalone Monarch Crown inlays, while the Brazilian rosewood “Moustache” bridge is set with real diamonds in its gold end pins.
Gibson Garage Exclusive
Available exclusively at the Gibson Garage in Nashville, it comes with a special commemorative plaque signed by the master luthiers who built it. Only $99,999, so a bargain!
Seymour Duncan Spinal Tap
In a tribute to the upcoming release of Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, Seymour Duncan’s custom shop has created a unique electric guitar pickup that might just be the most powerful active humbucker ever made.
Super Hot Humbucker!
This one-of-one design celebrates the highly anticipated return of the legendary mockumentary and its enduring legacy in rock history.
Seymour Duncan has delivered exactly that with a unique humbucker designed for the new Spinal Tap film. This custom pickup boasts an “eye-watering, earth-shattering” 111k DCR (DC resistance) reading.
For context, the company’s own SH-8 Invader, a famously high-output passive humbucker, clocks in at a mere 16.6k DCR for the bridge position.
In a recent Instagram post, Seymour Duncan confirmed the pickup’s absurd output. “Our Custom Shop wound this humbucker to deliver an eye-watering, earth-shattering 111k DCR – because of course, it had to go to (one hundred and) eleven!” the post read. “And yes, that means it’s louder. In fact, it has one of the highest outputs of any passive humbucker, ever!”
This one pickup could be the hottest humbucker on the planet!
Blackstar St James 112 Cab
Blackstar has introduced the St. James 112, a new 1×12 cabinet that they state redefines portability without sacrificing power.
This road-ready cab delivers a full 100 Watts of tone in a surprisingly lightweight design, weighing in at just 12.8kg. It follows the same lightweight build as the St James 100-watt amp range and even has the same illuminated Blackstar St. James logo.
Celestion Powered
Developed in close collaboration with Celestion UK, the St. James 112 features an exclusive G12Z Zephyr High Power speaker. This custom creation combines traditional ferrite magnet construction with modern, lightweight engineering to deliver a powerful, uncompromising sound.
The secret to its featherlight build is its construction from candlenut plywood, a material that Blackstar has pioneered in the guitar world for its exceptional durability. This, they say, makes the St. James 112 tough enough for the road, rehearsals, or the studio.
Its 16 Ohm input ensures universal compatibility, and its compact size makes it the perfect partner for a wide range of amps. Perfect for guitarists on the move who need power without having to drag around a massive 2×12 or 4×12 cab.
MSRP – TBC
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