Gibson expands its line of signature acoustics with the luxurious Tom Petty SJ-200 Wildflower
Based on Petty's own SJ-200, the ornate acoustic will be limited to just 100 examples
First teased during the virtual Believe in Music show in January, Gibson has detailed and launched its new Tom Petty SJ-200 Wildflower acoustic guitar.
Though the original SJ-200 Wildflower was a one-off custom model Gibson made for Petty in the early 90s – around the time of his classic solo album, Wildflowers – this ornate acoustic is based on Petty's own, original SJ-200, and will be limited to just 100 examples, each hand-built in the company's Acoustic Custom Shop in Bozeman, Montana.
Like its SJ-200 brethren, the Tom Petty SJ-200 Wildflower boasts a AAA Sitka spruce top, figured quilted maple back and sides, and a flamed maple neck.
Sonically, the acoustic comes equipped with an LR Baggs VTC under-saddle pickup with soundhole-mounted volume and tone controls. It's also fitted with Grover Imperial tuners.
The SJ-200 Wildflower has a number of unique visual appointments, including the 'Wildflower' logo in mother of pearl on the headstock, a “You belong among the wildflowers” lyric decal on the back of the headstock and Petty’s signature engraved on the double pickguard.
As one would expect with a limited, Custom Shop Gibson, the Tom Petty SJ-200 Wildflower ain't a bargain bin item, sporting a $9,999 price tag.
The guitar – which comes with a custom 'Wildflower' case – follows the Orianthi SJ-200 in Gibson's 2021 line of signature acoustics, with a Noel Gallagher signature J-150 seemingly not too far on the horizon.
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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.
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