Gibson Charlie Starr Les Paul Junior, Frontman for Southern Rock Group Blackberry Smoke Receives His First Signature Guitar, a Tribute to His Beloved 1956 Original

Charlie Starr

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Southern rock royalty, Charlie Starr frontman for Blackberry Smoke partners with Gibson to recreate his favorite guitar, an exceptional 1956 Les Paul Junior.

NASHVILLE, TN (June 11, 2024) As it celebrates 130 years of music history, Gibson, the iconic global instrument brand, is proud to announce it has partnered with Charlie Starr, frontman, singer-songwriter, and guitarist, for the Southern rock group Blackberry Smoke. Today, Gibson unveiled the new Charlie Starr Les Paul™ Junior, a tribute to his much-loved 1956 model made from digital scans of his original guitar. The Charlie Starr Les Paul Junior from Gibson is now available worldwide at authorized Gibson dealers and on www.gibson.com.

Charlie Starr often uses a Les Paul Junior for studio recordings and live performances with his group Blackberry Smoke. Throughout his career, his affinity for the Les Paul Junior has contributed to his signature guitar tone and playing style, adding to the band’s unique sound. The Gibson Charlie Starr Les Paul Junior authentically reproduces Charlie’s go-to Junior. It features a mahogany neck with a 50s neck profile that was digitally scanned and replicated from Charlie’s favorite Les Paul Junior, a custom-designed overwound P-90 pickup, and an adjustable Wraparound bridge with locking studs. It comes packed in a Historic Les Paul Junior “Gator Skin” hardshell case and includes a Charlie Starr Signature Ceramic Slide and Hey Ya’ll sticker, complete with Charlie’s original misspelling. The Gibson Charlie Starr Les Paul Junior is available in Dark Walnut and Ebony, and only 250 guitars will be made in each color.

Charlie Starr

Charlie Starr Les Paul Junior from Gibson

Watch/share the new interview below with Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke on the Gibson Gear Guide as Charlie and host Dinesh Lekraj talk about his love of Gibson Les Paul Juniors, and Charlie shows off exactly how he gets that unique slide sound and his bending and slide techniques that separate the country style of guitar from the Southern-rock-styled sound; watch the full episode HERE, skip to his new Gibson Charlie Starr Les Paul Junior signature guitar HERE.

Fans can also take a deep dive into the fine vintage guitar collection Charlie has amassed in his world travels in this episode of the Gibson TV series “The Collection” with host Mark Agnesi, HERE.

Click on the above images to play the interviews.

Hailing from Lanett, AL, Charlie Starr, the lead vocalist, and guitarist for the Southern rock band Blackberry Smoke was born into a musical family. His grandfather was in a well-known gospel band, his grandmother played mandolin and piano and his father, an accomplished guitarist, introduced him to the instrument that would lead to his career in music.

Playing guitar became one of Starr’s passions early in life, in addition to writing and singing. In December 2017, Starr was named as one of Music Radar’s top 23 guitarists, a list that includes “rock guitar gods” including Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones, Slash of Guns N’ Roses, and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, among others.

The critically acclaimed Georgia-based band Blackberry Smoke, which features Starr, Brandon Still, guitarist/vocalist Paul Jackson, bassist/vocalist Richard Turner and the late drummer Brit Turner has amassed a loyal fanbase over the past two decades. The group’s last five full-length albums have achieved great chart success, including 2021’s You Hear Georgia, which reached #1 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk Albums chart.

Blackberry Smoke released their new album Be Right Here, earlier this year via Thirty Tigers HERE. For Be Right Here, the group re-teamed once again with GRAMMY-Award winning producer Dave Cobb, and crafted music that’s raw and immediate-sounding. For the latest news on Blackberry Smoke, visit: https://www.blackberrysmoke.com.

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