Gibson pays tribute to a blues pioneer with the new Slim Harpo "Lovell" ES-330
The late blues guitarist's signature Gibson sports Dogear P-90s and a Vintage Sunset Burst finish
First announced – with little accompanying information – during the NAMM/Believe in Music show in January, Gibson has unveiled the new Slim Harpo "Lovell" ES-330 electric guitar.
The author of blues standards like I'm a King Bee, Baby Scratch My Back and Rainin' in My Heart, Harpo left an indelible mark on the development of blues and rock before his death in 1970. His songs have been covered by The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, The Kinks and countless others.
You can hear Keb’ Mo’, a blues guitar master in his own right, discuss Harpo's work and legacy in the video below.
Harpo's signature ES-330 features a three-ply maple/poplar/maple top, back and sides with spruce bracing, a mahogany neck with a rounded C profile and a rosewood fretboard with small block inlays.
An ABR-1 bridge with a trapeze tailpiece and Vintage Deluxe tuners with white buttons also come standard on the guitar, while sounds come by way of Dogear P-90 pickups with hand-wired controls and Orange Drop capacitors.
A custom “Lovell” logo on the back of the guitar's headstock honors Lovell Moore, Harpo's wife, manager and the co-writer of some of his most enduring songs.
The Gibson Slim Harpo Lovell ES-330 is available now, in a Vintage Sunset Burst finish, and will set you back $2,999.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
For more on the guitar, head on over to Gibson.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**
Join now for unlimited access
US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year
UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year
Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
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.
“As a guitar collector, when you get the opportunity to buy one of your heroes’ guitars, you must do it”: Stone Sour guitarist Josh Rand’s guitar collection is an ode to the gods of ’80s shred – but he’s putting some of his prize pieces up for sale
“Reveal coming soon”: At long lost, is Gibson finally working on James Hetfield signature guitars?