HOG TURNS FIFTY

HOME GUITARS FROM HOG 50 OWNERS

*a pictorial story by Bob Martin* I've been a HOG customer for over forty years. My first visit was in 1970 or so. When I saw all the guitars, I was in AWE. I played a 1969 Gibson Les Paul Custom at the time that belonged to a friend of mine (his parents bought it at the HOG, I later bought it from him), so I've been a HOG customer, albeit an indirect one, right from the start. Over time I'd add many Les Pauls (and other axes) from the House Of Guitars to my collection. And to this day, walking into the HOG is still a completely mind blowing experience. Real guitar players work there and they know their stuff. I was and still am in love with them. Over the years, I've probably spent better than $50K in that store. Not all THAT much when you consider that it's been a 40 year run. I am probably about to spend more. Yep, there's a Les Paul that I want. Maybe a couple of Les Paul's that I want. As an example of WHY I love them, I dropped in the other day and Bruce and Curt showed me what they were doing with Historic Les Pauls for their 50th anniversary. I was floored. They've got Gibson making some of THE BEST Historic Les Pauls ever for their 50th. They've picked out special wood - got the lightest necks and bodies, the most beautifully figured tops and they are matching the tops to custom finishes based on some of the coolest Les Paul's ever made. I wanted some photos so I could document this momentous occasion. I'll confess that I am also making a decision about which I might want to invest in. You see, my 60th anniversary (of my life - birthday and all that) happens in August 2014 and I don't see why the HOG and I shouldn't celebrate together. Curt gave me some photos from the factory. I shot three guitars in the studio. And I got Bruce to talk to me on video about what they are doing. SO... without more words to get in the way, here's a fan page of pure Les Paul desire... I want to offer my sincerest congratulations to the HOG for being the greatest music store in the known universe (or any other) for the past 50 years. Armand and Bruce (and Curt) - you have my undying thanks. You are official LOUD OLD GUYS!	Meet the HOGburst. To me, THIS is the perfect finish for a Les Paul. BUT, we are jumping the gun. Let's see some more wood... Gibson has a section on their Facebook page about the HOG50. Check it out: CLICK HERE!
BELOW: They keep coming...the latest HOG50th in gorgeous Dirty Lemon! Arrived August 15, 2014 Here's a HOG50th in beautiful HOGBURST! Arrived August 11, 2014
It all begins with the wood...
ABOVE: "Kits" of wood are bundled, ready to be crafted into Les Pauls, and include... BELOW: The HOG boys traveled to Nashville to hand pick all the wood for these HOG50 Les Pauls. Each one of these glued-up, bookmatched tops is a number one entry in some LP Lover's book. And each is picked with an eye toward the color that will work best with the figure of the wood. Pictured are some of the tops starting to be finished. Every step was approved by the House Of Guitars.





BELOW: HOG50s approved, finished and ready to ship from Gibson...
BELOW: HOG50s approved, finished and ready to ship from Gibson...




	About playing them... I've owned a bunch of Historic Series Les Pauls. They've ranged from good to great. But I have to say, in a completely unbiased way (I neither work for the HOG nor am getting anything in return for putting this page up) that THIS run is the best run of Historics I've played yet. EVERY guitar is a masterpiece. The feel, the sound, the resonance - all of it - combine to make these the best batch of LPs I've ever had my hands on. Well done, HOG! Um...before you fall in love, note that many of these are already sold...
BELOW: Curt let me shoot some photos of the three guitars they have in a special display case inside the HOG. Almost as much as playing them, I love looking at these beautiful instruments....
BELOW: Bruce Schaubroeck talks about working with Gibson to produce these wonderful instruments ABOVE: Curt holds my favorite HOGburst out in the beautiful Rochester, NY summer sunshine BELOW: Gibson's Facebook Entry about the HOG50th! More photos of HOG50s! : Click here for some shots provided by owners of HOG50s. This one isn't assigned to an owner... yet... Here is yours truly checking out the above guitar... Bookmark this page. As I get more info about the HOG50th, I'll be posting! © Bob Martin 2014 BONUS! Here's a HOG Commercial from 1978!