ELECTRONIC PRESS KIT

ELECTRONIC PRESS KITMusikmese 2013

Hall 4.0 Aisle F67

MinETune Press Release

For immediate release

Gibson Min-ETune™ Tunes Guitars Automatically with Speed and Accuracy

Frankfurt Musikmesse, April 9, 2013—Gibson’s Min-ETune™ is a novel, compact “robot tuning” system that lets guitarists spend more time playing and less time tuning.

The battery-powered Min-ETune (80 to 100 tunings per charge) mounts unobtrusively on the back of a guitar’s headstock, and is invisible from the front. Simply choose from 12 popular tunings or six user-programmable custom tunings, push a button, and strum—within seconds, the guitar is tuned. (Min-ETune-equipped guitars can also be tuned manually.) Ambient noise levels don’t matter; Min-ETune senses string tension, and is immune to loud bandmates.A Min-ETune-equipped guitar looks the same, feels the same, and plays the same as a standard guitar. Most importantly, it sounds the same: Other tuning systems digitally synthesize the sound of a tuned string, but Min-ETune physically turns the tuners to retain the pure string sound—with no latency, change in tone, or limitations to sustain. What you play is what you hear.In the studio, robot tuning saves time, and avoids having to redo parts due to tuning issues. Live, audiences no longer have to endure lengthy tunings, and alternate tunings become a practical reality—no need for multiple guitars. Min-ETune is applicable to guitarists of all levels, from professionals for whom time is money, to beginners who want to spend their time playing instead of tuning.Min-ETune is currently available for eleven popular Les Paul and SG guitars styles, from traditional to Future Tribute models. For more information on Min-ETune in eight languages, please visit http://www2.gibson.com/Products/min-etune.aspx

While long associated for creating iconic guitars, the Gibson family of brands now includes such tech giants as Onkyo, Stanton, Cerwin Vega!, KRK and most recently TEAC, as well as Baldwin Pianos, Slingerland Drums, Epiphone Guitars, and many others. Featured at this year’s Musikmesse, is Gibson’s innovative MinETune™ auto-tuning system which is being hailed by professionals as a game-changing hi-tech wonder that tunes your guitar in seconds and eliminates the need to switch guitars during a performance to get a different sound by switching to alternate tunings.

Facebook.com/GibsonGuitar @GibsonGuitar

Gibson Music InnovationTechnology, Sound and Lifestyle Unite

Join us at the Gibson booth (Hall 4.1 Aisle F67) to discover where technology, sound and lifestyle unite! You’ll see demonstrations of the new hi-tech wonder MinETune™ the new auto tune system that tunes your guitar so you don’t have to. There will be appearances by well-known artists such as Rudolf Schenker who will be signing his new signature guitar, The Brew, a blues rock bank from the UK, German singer and song writer Finn Martin, Nick Howard, winner of the German version of the television show, The Voice, Kuddel of the German punk band Die Toten Hosen, the Berlin Indy rap band, The Love Buelow and Matt Heafy, an Epiphone artist.

2013 been designated as the year of Les Paul, the avid inventor, expert player, creative sound engineer, and long-time partner of Gibson Guitars. Be a part of music history as we showcase the entire Les Paul collection. Also on tap – the launch of the limited-edition Joe Perry of Aerosmith signature model which was also used by Slash of Guns and Roses.

Throughout the show, guests will have the chance to win our legacy Gibson guitars along with other prizes and giveaways. We look forward to seeing you! Thank you in advance for taking the time to stop by and celebrate our past, present and very exciting future. If you would like to schedule an interview please contact Fred Yager at fred.yager@gibson.com.

See you soon!

We Cordially Invite You

Gibson’s Lineup at Musikmesse The revolutionary MinETUNE will be on display and the world’s heaviest metal band perform Frankfurt, Germany – Gibson and its family of brands returns to the spotlight at the annual Musikmesse, April 9-13th 2013 with a spectacular performance by the newest Gibson artist Compressorhead, the world’s heavist metal band. Long celebrated for creating iconic guitars, the ever-growing Gibson family of brands will be on display at the Gibson booth (Hall 4.1, aisle F67), showcasing both vintage and evolutionary musical instruments as well as our new MinETune self-tuning mechanism that tunes your guitar so you have more time to play. Legacy favorites continue to be the essence of Gibson, and 2013 will celebrate the anniversary of Les Paul—showcasing the traditional models as well as custom, studio and Collector’s Choice models that have become a symbol of Rock ‘N Roll in its purest form. Other models being unveiled include the Joe Perry 1959 Les Paul, which was also a favorite of Guns and Roses guitarist Slash.

Artist Appearances Thursday : The Brew (blues rock band from UK)

Friday & Saturday: Finn Martin (German singer/songwriter)

Saturday: Nick Howard (UK singer/songwriter and winner of the German The Voice)

Saturday: Matt Heafy (Trivium) Epiphone signature artist

Saturday : Kuddel (Die Toten Hosen)

Saturday: The Love Buelow

Gibson introduces the Min-ETune, a tuning system for everyone.

Spend less time tuning and more time rocking — your world will sound better. Play with Min-ETune’s possibilities and tune in to your creativity. Gibson’s innovative Min-ETune is available on a wide range of guitars so you can find one that is just right for you.

Min-ETune

Business in the Front– Party in the Back

Still A Classic Gibson!Min-ETune is a small compact battery powered tuning unit attached to the back of the guitar —a mighty enhancement to an already great instrument. No need for screws, wiring or routing. In fact, the system is hardly visible from the front of the guitar. You can adjust the tuning pegs manually or turn on the Min-ETune to choose from 12 popular tunings or program 6 of your own.

Always In Tune!A guitar with Min-ETune looks the same, feels the same, plays the same and rocks the same — it’s just always in tune. Perfect for home, studio and gigging — it even adjusts your guitar's tunings to match other instruments' with the reference tuning feature. Rock longer with the fast and accurate Min-ETune, quickly tuning your guitar 80 to 100 times on one charge.

In Perfect Harmony!Digital tuners that emulate open tunings are available, BUT because the Min-ETune physically turns the tuners, the system is always natural. There is no delay, no dampening and no dead sound — just the natural vibration of guitar strings in total harmony with the amp producing ringing harmonics and powerful sustain.

Connect With Your Rockability!Min-ETune is available for the guitar you want and style of music you choose to play. In the mood for some retro rockabilly? Get the Les Paul ‘50s Tribute with Min-ETune. Digging the quintessential Les Paul but prefer a slim neck? Get rocking with the Les Paul ‘60s Tribute with Min-ETune. Want to get heavy? Try the SG ‘70s Tribute with Dirty Fingers and Min-ETune. Looking for edgy and modern? You will love the playability and speed of the Future Tribute. No matter what your taste, one thing is for sure — the 2013 Gibsons with Min-ETune will up your coolness on every tune.

EverywhereIn the StudioWhen laying down tracks, everything must be perfectly in tune — especially when dealing with punch ins/outs and recording loops. With a normal tuning system, it takes a considerable amount of time to maintain this threshold of accuracy. With Min-ETune you stay perfectly in tune, so you can make better use of your time and capture that next big hit.

On StageDoes your setlist consist of pop songs in E Standard, grunge songs in Drop D, an alt metal song in D Standard, and a blues song in open G with bottle slide? There is no need to drag along 4 guitars to the gig with Min-ETune. Quickly switch tunings between songs with just a few strums. And it doesn’t matter how loud your bandmates are, Min-ETune automatically adjusts by sensing the tension of the strings, and dials in to perfect tune with an isolated piezo pickup that is immune to outside noise.

When WritingSometimes songwriting happens right where the inspiration hits you — in the back of a tour bus, on the balcony of your city apartment or around a campfire. With Min-ETune, changing the tuning is easy, and almost instantly a single guitar opens up the entire world of musical expression. So when the muse strikes and you create that unique song, save the tuning in the programmable bank of the system for safe keeping.

Take the famed Onkyo sound on the road with ES-HF300 and ES-FC300 On-Ear Headphones. Your passion for music is reflected in the aluminum driver housing, its shape referencing the volume control on our iconic audio components. The single-arm design creates a clean, elegant profile accentuated with brushed and burnished aluminum. Soft leatherette earpads and headband make for comfortable listening, but that's just the beginning: two 40 mm (1 9/16˝) titanium drivers, bass reflex sub-chambers, and rigid construction combine to present a wonderfully clear stereo image. These headphones handle everything from Mendelssohn to metal, with deep-reaching bass and a detailed mid-range-testament to the long hours spent tuning the drivers to perfection. The flat elastomer cable design of the ES-FC300 resists knots and tangles while the ES-HF300 include an audiophile-grade copper cable, which provides almost perfect conductivity for superior sound quality. Protected by transparent elastomer to insulate against touch noise, the one-piece cable has gold-plated connections and is the perfect length for travel. Details such as the flat-folding design and detachable cable make it easier to enjoy component-quality audio

ONKYO – Sound Travels

ES-F

C300

ES-HF300

On-Ear type: ES-FC30040mm Titanium DriverAluminum PlateAluminum Housing CoverDetachable ConnectorFlat Cable Included

On-Ear type ES-HF30040mm Titanium DriverAluminum PlateAluminum Housing CoverDetachable ConnectorAudiophile Quality Cable Included

About Gibson

The Gibson family of premium brands encompasses pro audio, sound reinforcement, consumer electronics, DJ gear, and of course, America’s most iconic guitars. Known for both quality and innovation, Gibson’s classic guitars such as the Les Paul, ES-335, Firebird, and Flying V have powered countless rock, blues, country, and jazz recordings—and are endorsed by an artist roster that’s a veritable who’s who of the music world. Gibson has also pioneered technologies such as automated tuning, wireless control for musicians, the Magic specification for digital audio/data transmission, and more. Headquartered in Nashville, TN, Gibson will celebrate its 120th anniversary in 2014. For more information, please visit www.gibson.com.

Henry JuszkiewiczHenry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar Corp., grew up in Rochester, NY. With a passion for music and superior academic skills, he enrolled at the General Motors Institute in Flint, MI, a five year co-op engineering college. Sponsored by GM's Delco division, he gained experience in a variety of different jobs at Delco's 6,000-employee electronic components plant in Rochester. Putting his musical skills to work, he worked his way through school playing guitar - a Gibson, of course - in various rock bands playing for parties and weddings. After graduating with honors, he worked at Delco Products for two years as product manager while studying for an MBA in night school at the University of Rochester. He completed his MBA at Harvard University on a General Motors Fellowship.

Juszkiewicz then joined the New York firm of Neiderhoffer, Cross and Zeckhauser, Inc., a pioneer in the area of middle-market deals, where he rose to the position of executive vice president of mergers and acquisitions. He left the firm in 1981 and, with two former Harvard classmates (David Berryman and Gary Zebrowski), acquired Phi Technologies of Oklahoma City. Within one month he turned the struggling technology firm into a highly profitable company.

In 1986, Juszkiewicz and his partners acquired the faltering Gibson guitar operation from the Norlin corporation. Juszkiewicz's aggressive management style again effected an immediate turnaround, and Gibson became profitable within a month's time. With creative and innovative marketing tactics he concentrated on the consumer rather than the retailer - a reflection of his personal experience as a guitar player. Refocusing the company on achieving the highest possible standards of quality and customer service, he drove Gibson from the brink of closing to a company that has regained worldwide respect with annual average growth of 20 percent over the last decade.

Henry JuszkiewiczJuszkiewicz is a committed supporter of The Rainforest Alliance and conservation. A member of the Society of International Business Fellows and others, Juszkiewicz continues his commitment to a better world through his active participation in organizations such as Nordoff-Robbins, which provides music therapy for severely handicapped children, to the T.J. Martell Fund for Leukemia Research, The Environmental Defense Fund, Teenage Cancer Trust and leads numerous philanthropic endeavors under the Gibson Foundation banner. He is a board member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, a board member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, a board member of the Rainforest Alliance and a board member of the We Are Family Foundation. He is a co-founder of Music Rising, a campaign to help aid musicians, schools and churches of the Gulf Coast and is active in the Clinton Global Initiative and numerous environmental causes. He is the recipient of numerous awards, honors and extensive media coverage.

Juszkiewicz began fulfilling his vision of Gibson as a full-line, global musical instrument company by acquiring other instrument companies, establishing a Gibson-owned European distribution center with joint-venture distributors, and acquiring manufacturing facilities in China. He dedicated a standalone division to R&D, resulting in the introduction of the worlds first digital guitar, the HD.6X Pro and most recently, the Gibson Robot Guitar, both which represent the biggest advance in guitar technology since the invention of the electric guitar over 70 years ago. He continues to expand the company worldwide with new consumer electronics accessories, the acquisition of the Wurlitzer Jukebox company and several other facilities in China.

Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and banjos. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Maestro, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Echoplex, Electar, Flatiron, Slingerland, Valley Arts, Maestro, Oberheim, Sunshine Piano Take Anywhere Technology, Baldwin, J&C Fischer, Chickering, Hamilton, and Wurlitzer.

Henry Juszkiewicz resides with his wife and children in Nashville.

David BerrymanDavid Berryman is president of Gibson Guitar Corp., parent company of an entire family of world-renowned musical instrument brands, including Gibson guitars, banjos and mandolins, Epiphone fretted instruments, Dobro® resonator guitars and Baldwin pianos. Dave has had oversight of the Gibson Foundation since 2008, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Gibson Foundation, is on the Executive Board of TJ Martell Foundation /

Nashville, Chairman of the International Business Council of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce and a member of the District Export Council of the US Dept. of Commerce.

Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, Berryman studied finance and accounting at Boston College, graduating in 1974. After three years as a CPA for Price Waterhouse & Co., he earned an MBA from Harvard. In 1981 he teamed up with former Harvard classmates Henry

Juszkiewicz and Gary Zebrowski to acquire Phi Technologies of Oklahoma City. They turned the struggling technology firm into a highly profitable company in their first month of ownership. Seeking

high growth through acquisitions, they acquired Gibson and Epiphone (which had been the fretted instrument division of Norlin Industries) in 1986. One of the most-respected names in the fretted instrument world since 1894, Gibson’s reputation had fallen in the 1970s. With Berryman as president and Juskiewicz as chairman, the new owners immediately restored Gibson’s prestige and profitability.

Since 1992, Berryman has also headed Gibson’s Epiphone division, which encompasses all of the company’s import activity. Under Berryman’s leadership, Epiphone instruments became the most highly respected import brand, earning a reputation for the best combination of quality and value. By 1999, with Epiphone firmly established with its own identity and artist base separate from Gibson, Berryman expanded Gibson’s import business by implementing an internet-only sales arm, MusicYo, to deal in a variety of brands, including Kramer, Steinberger and Maestro. In 2002, Berryman secured greater control of Epiphone’s manufacturing sources through Gibson’s pioneering acquisition of an instrument factory in Qingdao, China. The division further expanded in 2004 with the addition of Baldwin Piano’s import brands, Wurlitzer and Hamilton, and once again a reliable supply of instruments was secured by a partnership with a Chinese manufacturer.

Through Dave Berryman’s efforts, Gibson’s Epiphone division has grown from an obscure line of import products to become a worldwide force in the musical instrument inudstry and a vital part of Gibson Guitar Corp.’s continued growth.

The Gibson FamilyCerwin-Vega! Inc. is a leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of loudspeakers for the home and professional audio markets. Designed in the pursuit of dynamic, accurate sound reproduction since 1954, Cerwin-Vega! products are distributed throughout the world via a network of distributors and dealers in more than 75 countries.facebook.com/CerwinVegaLoudSpeakers@CerwinVegaHome @CerwinVegaPro

KRK Systems is a leading provider of accurate and reliable monitors and control room solutions. Founded in 1986, KRK has remained true to its mission of providing and developing products that meet the needs of its customers. During that time, KRK's studio monitors, subwoofers, headphones and accessories have become synonymous with quality design and unparalleled performance. With a wide range of monitoring systems, available in multiple sizes and configurations, KRK offers products that meet the diverse needs of professionals and audio enthusiasts across the globe.facebook.com/KRKSystems@KRKSYS

Stanton is an industry leader in the design and manufacture of professional audio products for DJs. Founded in 1946 by Walter O. Stanton, the inventor of an easily replaceable phonograph stylus, Stanton Magnetics has grown from being one of the first American companies to make and sell magnetic cartridges to offering a complete line of DJ products, which include turntables, high-performance cartridges, CD players, DJ mixers, accessories and digital controllers. facebook.com/StantonDJ@StantonDJ4LF

Les Paul, a true legend of popular music, had one of the most successful and diverse careers in the history of entertainment. During his 80 years on stage, screen and in the studio, Paul was a solo performer, jazz bandleader, virtuoso guitarist, radio personality, TV star, engineer, producer and inventor.

But Les is probably best known for the solid body guitar that bears his name.

Les Paul and Gibson Guitars first collaborated 60 years ago, and the guitars that followed have represented the most successful partnership between artist and manufacturer in the history of the electric guitar.

In honor of the occasion, Gibson USA is celebrating a year-long tribute—2013 The Year of Les Paul—with a run of special Les Paul and SG ’50s, ’60s, ’70s and Future Tribute models, while rolling out great new specs and features for its full range of Les Paul and SG guitars.

Check out the 2013 The Year of Les Paul site to discover more about Les’s fascinating story.

And, in keeping with Les Paul’s legacy of innovation, Gibson’s exclusive new Min-ETune™ tuning system is available on many 2013 guitars straight from the factory, as Gibson roars into the 21 st century.

2013 The Year of Les Paul

Dream Big, Rock Hard

Music RisingMusic Rising is a campaign that was launched in 2005 as a post-Katrina effort to rescue and preserve the musical culture of the Central Gulf region of the United States by replacing the musical instruments lost or destroyed in the deluge. The program was founded by U2's The Edge, legendary producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz. To date Music Rising has replaced more than 3000 instruments to individual musicians and 10s of thousands more to schools and churches, impacting more than 250,000 people. GuitarTownGuitarTown Project, a public arts project that features 10-foot tall fiberglass Gibson Les Paul or Chet Atkins model guitars was launched in April 2004. The guitar sculptures are artistically designed by local and nationally acclaimed visual artists and displayed throughout Nashville in front of the city's landmarks and businesses. Many guitar sculptures are partnered with a country music celebrity and backed by a corporate sponsor. The GuitarTown Project has united the Nashville art, music and business communities behind the cause of raising money for four worthy charitable organizations: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The DISTRICT, and the United Way of Nashville. Click here to see all Gibson Guitartowns!

SoundwavesThe Perfect Blend of Art, Music and Technology Benefiting Gibson Foundation CharitiesGibson Foundation is the official partner of the "Soundwaves" project with renowned British artist, Tim Wakefield. Tim developed the process of capturing the sound images of iconic songs off a soundboard, manipulating and colorizing them through a computerized process, and transferring them to large 40"x40" canvas. The art work is then signed by Tim and the artist who either wrote or performed the song and auctioned off to benefit Gibson Foundation charities. Some of the artworks that have been created and signed by the performers and musicians include: Paul McCartney, Band on the Run; Gregg Allman, Midnight Rider; Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Gone, Gone, Gone; Tina Turner, Private Dancer; Eric Clapton, River of Tears; Jay Z, Empire State of Mind ; Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here; Rod Stewart, Maggie Mae; Dolly Parton, Jolene and dozens more.

Gibson Foundation

KRUGER PR

Fred YagerGibson

fred.yager@gibson.com615.319.9060

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