Sir Brian May put aside his PhD studies to become the legendary lead guitarist of Queen. After decades of worldwide fame with his distinctive sound and celebrated guitar work, he finished his dissertation and received a doctorate in astrophysics in 2007. The Brian May SJ-200 12-String honors Sir Brian’s contribution to rock music and his deep passion for astronomy. The Gibson SJ-200 in 12-string form is a rare instrument, and this one is particularly special. It features an AAA rosewood back and sides, an AAA Sitka spruce top with a Vintage Sunburst finish, and a 2-piece AAA maple neck with a Rounded profile, walnut stringer, and a rosewood fretboard with agoya shell 8-point star inlays. The headstock also features an 8-point agoya shell star inlay, along with the Gibson logo in mother-of-pearl and gold Grover® Mini Rotomatic® tuning machines. The Moustache™ bridge is solid rosewood with four 60s-style agoya inlays. The planetary-themed pickguard was designed by Sir Brian May and further reinforces the astronomy motif. The strings are mounted in reverse order, with the thicker strings at the top, followed by the octave strings beneath, giving it a distinctive sound that’s unlike other Gibson 12-string acoustic models. Fishman® Matrix® electronics make this guitar stage and studio-ready from the moment you take it out of the included hardshell case. Only 100 of these exceptional instruments have been crafted by the expert luthiers of the Gibson Custom Shop in Bozeman, Montana. It’s an instrument that is worthy of a guitarist who not only became a star but who continues to avidly study them.
