Description
The Gibson Custom 1957 Mahogany Moderne Reissue in Antique Natural is a guitar born of myth, mystery, and pure imagination. Often called the "lost" member of Gibson's futuristic "Modernist" trio, the Moderne was designed to shake up tradition back in the late '50s-alongside the Flying V and Explorer-but it never officially saw production. While patent drawings and rumors of a few prototypes surfaced, no authenticated original has ever been found, making the Moderne one of the most elusive and intriguing instruments in guitar history.
This reissue brings that legend to life in the most accessible and player-focused way yet. Crafted entirely from mahogany instead of the original Korina, this version offers a warmer, thicker tonal response that makes it an excellent fit for rock, blues, or anything that benefits from a dense midrange growl. Gibson Custom has captured every detail from the historic blueprints, down to the original "Gumby" headstock, raised Gibson logo, and swooping asymmetry that makes the Moderne so visually arresting.
Under the hood, you get a pair of unpotted Custombucker Alnico 3 pickups, delivering raw, vintage-voiced clarity with just the right amount of grit. Controls are wired old-school style with CTS pots and a phone book capacitor, giving you precise control over your tone and volume. The ABR-1 no-wire bridge and aluminum stop bar tailpiece provide rock-solid stability and sustain, while Kluson single-ring tuners and aged gold VOS hardware round out the vintage vibe.
Playability is effortless thanks to the 50s Vintage neck profile, which fills the hand in all the right ways. Paired with a rosewood fretboard and 22 reissue frets, the neck feels familiar and fast. It's the kind of neck that makes you want to dig in, get expressive, and just play. The Antique Natural finish showcases the mahogany grain beautifully and gives this Moderne a distinctly vintage feel without trying too hard.
At Cream City Music, we love instruments that carry stories-and few guitars come with more lore than the Moderne. The 1957 Mahogany Moderne Reissue is your chance to own a piece of Gibson legend; not just a guitar, but a conversation starter, a performance powerhouse, and a nod to one of the coolest "what ifs" in electric guitar history.
Specifications:
- Material: Mahogany
- Neck: Mahogany
- Profile: 50s Vintage
- Nut width: 1.687" / 42.85mm
- Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood
- Scale length: 24.75" / 628.65mm
- Number of frets: 22
- Nut: Nylon
- Inlay: Cellulose Dot
- Bridge: Historic Reissue ABR-1 No-Wire
- Tailpiece: Aluminum Stop Bar
- Tuners: Kluson Single Ring Reissue
- Plating: Gold VOS
- Control Knobs: True Historic Bleach White Top Hat with Dial Pointer
- Neck pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3 (Unpotted)
- Bridge pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3 (Unpotted)
- Controls: 2 Volume, 1 Tone; 500k CTS Vintage Taper Potentiometers, Phone Book Capacitor
- Case: Lifton Historic Reissue Brown Hardshell with Pink Interior
Sku: 57MMANVOGH1
