Gibson 1993 Starburst Elite 100th Anniversary Trans Amber

Gibson 1993. Starburst Elite 100th Anniversary in Trans Amber Finish.

Only 23 built in 1993.

2 Piece Solid Quilt Maple Top.

2 Piece Solid Flame Maple Back.

Solid Flame Maple Sides.

5 Piece Neck with 3 Piece Flame Maple and 2 Rosewood Stripes.

Ebony Fretboard with Multi Stars of various sizes in MOP Inlays.

Full Binding on Top, Back, Neck and Headstock.

Ebony Bridge.

Gold Sealed Tuners.

Fishman Preamp.

#90284026.

Built from 1992 to 1994, the Gibson Starburst Standard uses a cutaway mini-Jumbo body built of Maple, and as its name suggests features arrays of star shaped inlays. This model was popular, and Jorma Kaukonen apparently had several that he used regularly, including the blue-finished model in the Homespun Tapes clip.

The Gibson Starburst was a model produced for a short time in limited numbers in Bozeman, Montana and was designed chiefly by Ren Ferguson. Intended to mark the 100th anniversary of Orville Gibson’s first guitar sales, the Starburst aims towards players who need to amplify their guitars. The top and back are highly figured maple, while the sides and neck are solid Maple. The fingerboard and bridge are Rosewood or Ebony on the Elite models. And importantly, there’s a factory stock pickup system installed with controls on the bass side near the heel.

The story is that the Gibson Starburst was quite popular, with 946 sold in 1992, their introductory year.

Gibson intended to keep producing them, but in 1993, an up and coming builder in Stevensville, Maryland (PRS)..... unexpectedly purchased much of the available figured Maple.

Gibson could not resupply in sufficient quantity, and were forced to cease production of the model.