15 months later, that Mustaine- and Gibson-branded acoustic has arrived at last in the form of the Gibson Dave Mustaine Songwriter.
With multiple appearances from Megadeth mascot Vic Rattlehead and 24 frets – the first ever Gibson acoustic guitar, mind you, with a 24-fret fingerboard – this isn't your dad's Songwriter model, so let's take a closer look.
For starters, the Dave Mustaine Songwriter is built with a walnut body thinner than that of a normal Songwriter. Likewise, it also features a pronounced cutaway for easy upper-fret access.
Its 24.75" scale mahogany neck sports an ebony fretboard with the aforementioned two dozen frets and mother of pearl teeth inlays.
Sonically, the acoustic is outfitted with a high-output LR Baggs VTC under-saddle pickup with soundhole-mounted volume and tone controls. Grover Rotomatic tuners, and a TUSQ nut, saddle, and bridge pins, meanwhile, headline the hardware lineup.
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Vic Rattlehead makes appearances on both the guitar's pickguard and headstock, with Mustaine's signature also gracing the truss rod cover.
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The Gibson Dave Mustaine Songwriter is available now – in an ebony finish and with a hardshell case included – for $4,499. A limited-edition, autographed version of the guitar – identical but for a certificate of authenticity and Mustaine's signature on the soundhole label – is also available, for $4,999.
Jackson is an Associate Editor at GuitarWorld.com. He’s been writing and editing stories about new gear, technique and guitar-driven music both old and new since 2014, and has also written extensively on the same topics for Guitar Player. Elsewhere, his album reviews and essays have appeared in Louder and Unrecorded. Though open to music of all kinds, his greatest love has always been indie, and everything that falls under its massive umbrella. To that end, you can find him on Twitter crowing about whatever great new guitar band you need to drop everything to hear right now.