John Lennon signature guitars by Gibson and Epiphone

Forty years after the Beatles arrived in America, kicking off the British Invasion and revolutionizing popular music, Gibson Guitar honors John Lennon's artistry and influence with a wide offering of Lennon models. The signature models, all approved by Lennon's widow Yoko Ono, are based on the Gibson J-160E and the Epiphone Casino models that Lennon is so closely identified with, and they range from a limited edition replica collection to regular production guitars. Gibson Montana, the company's acoustic division, has replicated the three different versions of the J-160E acoustic/electric flat top guitar that Lennon bought in 1962. The instruments feature the original sunburst finish, a psychedelic paint finish that Lennon commissioned in 1967, and the 1969 version after he'd stripped the finish and drawn a picture of himself and Yoko. Lennon played his J-160E on the Beatles' first hit "Love Me Do" and it was by his side in the Amsterdam Hilton during his and Yoko's 'Bed-In' honeymoon in 1968. Gibson makes the trio of replica guitars in extremely limited numbers offers them only as a set. Lennon's original is on display at the Rock'N Roll Hall of Fame. Gibson Montana also produces the John Lennon J-160E Peace model, based on the 1969 version but without Lennon's drawings on the top. The J-160E features Gibson's round-shouldered body style, along with a pickups so that it can be played acoustically or electrically. One of the new Peace models is currently being considered for permanent display at the Amsterdam Hilton, where it will remain as a tribute to Lennon. Epiphone, part of the Gibson musical family, offers two versions of Lennon's Epiphone Casino electric model, the '1965' with original sunburst finish and the 'Revolution' with stripped finish and other modifications made by Lennon in 1968. Epiphone has just announced the availability of only 25 low-numbered pairs of the two Lennon Casinos. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the John Lennon Scholarship Fund to support music education.