Today Friday, January 15, 2021, a not particularly cold winter day, we were greeted by the Gibson Les Paul Special (Bob Marley signature custom shop) of Bunna.
I must say that the one who was particularly uncomfortable in coming to meet us as we crossed the small canal separating his house was Bunna himself, while Gibson was quiet in his case, probably having a warm drink.
This was not the first time we had met Bunna; in fact, we know him well, so we were not surprised by his classic humility and helpfulness.
Always a pleasant person to meet, unlike the initial opinion we had of his Gibson.
VIDEO INTERVIEW HERE (Only Italian Language): https://youtu.be/-id9sPhD3C0
THE BUNNA’S KINGDOM
We set up and were escorted to a small room; his and his instrumentation’s realm, a small but very cozy room. The first thing we notice is the picture of the certificate of authenticity of the Gibson , certifying that it really belongs to the limited number from which it came (200 copies in the world).
Because you should know that her “majesty” was born in 2002, after Tom Murphy a luthier hired by the Gibson copied her directly from Mr. Marley ‘s original guitar, creating only 200 copies in his image, and she is number 99.
Perhaps it is this particularity that makes her a bit, pass me the term, “blustery,” and our first meeting with her, after Bunna introduced her to us, I must say was not the most pleasant.
At first, she did not seem very enthusiastic to us; in fact, for the most part during the interview she kept to herself without ever getting into the thick of the conversation.
But we are aware that he belongs to a different social class, and that perhaps unlike other guitars he can “afford” some little royal whimsy.
BOB MARLEY SIGNATURE
Bunna tells us what their story is; he buys it between 2008 and 2010 from “Merula,” a renowned huge musical instrument store in Piedmont at a price (as indeed it is worth) relevant, let’s say above the average Gibson Les Pauls.
They have been together ever since, keeping each other company between tours and Africa Unite recording sessions, and I don’t think I’m lying by saying, Italy’s most significant and important band in the Reggae music scene.
I didn’t think it was possible after meeting her, in fact I thought it would be different given her “associal” attitude, but in some sessions Bunna tells us that she “even” gets other musicians in the band to play for her, when she barely gets us to touch her!
THE GUITARS
I think one of the funniest parts of our meeting (at least for me), was when Bunna introduces us to his other guitars. One in particular describes it with pleasure and enthusiasm, also because it was created/modified by her own hands, and it is precisely at that moment that Gibson seems annoyed and offended by the subject.
Perhaps due to the fact that she is no longer the center of attention? or maybe because Bunna doesn’t present it with the same emphasis in which he is presenting his creature!, who knows! the fact is that a small “evil” laugh escapes me as I turn to observe her. I think she clearly perceived my pleasure so much that from then on she will no longer address me with the “pickguard”!.
WEAPON GUITAR
Strange and peculiar is the guitar created and modified by Bunna, back in the days when his passion for reggae and music was not yet a profession, so between carpentry work and other things he dabbled in building a few instruments.
The cue and the idea come from Peter Tosh‘s, a guitar shaped like a rifle complete with a trigger, I don’t really remember what year it was but the fact is that Bunna still looks after it with the respect it deserves.
The others presented to me are no less, not because of workmanship or social class (as Gibson believes and gives importance to), but because of the emotional value they represent to Bunna; a Cort Steinberger model, a Yamaha acoustics with which he composes the Africa pieces and some of the bass; and you Bunna He also plays this instrument.
NOT ONLY GUITARS
The bass he played with during the Bluebeaters period, a Epiphone model Hofner 500/1 Paul Mccartney, but especially the Steinberger Spirit XT-25 Standard that he received for his birthday from Paolo Baldini, former Africa bassist and a great friend of Bunna.
Before we leave, we introduce to the Gibson with surprise a twin sister, but from a different father, and we bid farewell to her and Bunna‘s realm, with the hope of seeing both her and him soon on stage and on the cover of a new Africa album.
Last interesting note, as we are about to leave we all say goodbye, Bunna, the Yamaha , the “Rifle,” the Cort and the bass, but guess who went back inside her case without even giving us a glance? his majesty the Gibson!
LA GIBSON LES PAUL SPECIAL (Number one)
Gibson celebrated the late Bob Marley with this limited edition, Bob Marley Les Paul Special, a “signature” built to the exact specifications of his guitar on display at the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston, Jamaica. The mahogany solidbody guitar from Gibson’s Custom Shop, Art & Historic division replicates a number of unique finishes including white brand binding on the headstock and fingerboard-now yellowed with time-and small mother-of-pearl block inlays similar to a mid-1960s ES-335.
Gibson duplicates these features as well as the aluminum pickguard and the aluminum football-shaped switch washer around the 3-way switch. A carefully aged Cherry finish as well as marks and scratches copied from the original instrument complete the look and feel of the original guitar; Marley ‘s signature appears on the headstock. Bunna ‘s guitar is #99 of the only 200 ever made.
SPECIFICATIONS
- PRODUCT YEAR 2003
- MODEL Les Paul Bob Marley Limited Edition
- SERIAL #BM-099
- BODY TYPE(S) Medium, Les Paul-style, Solid Body
- BACK & SIDES Mahogany
- TOP Mahogany
- NECK WOOD Mahogany
- BRIDGE Gibson Stop Tailpiece
- FINGERBOARD Rosewood
- FINGERBOARD BINDINGS Ivoroid
- FRET MARKERS MOP Block
- FRETS TO BODY 22
- HEADPLATE None
- HEADSTOCK INLAY Builder Logo
- BODY BINDINGS None
- CUTAWAY Single
- PICKGUARD Aluminum
- PICKUP2 P-90s, 3 way toggle. 2 Vol, 2 Tone
- BODY LENGTH 17.25 in
- UPPER BOUT 9 in
- LOWER BOUT 12.875 in
- BODY DEPTH HEEL 2 in.
- BODY DEPTH TAIL 2 in.
- SCALE LENGTH 24.625 in
- SCALE LENGTH (MM) 625,475 mm
- NUT WIDTH 1.63 in
- NUT WIDTH (MM) 41.4 mm
- STRING SPACING 2 in
- STRING SPACING (MM) 50.8 mm
In the Gallery below, in addition to the photos of Bunna with the instruments, you can see the acoustic guitar that he uses to compose the songs of Africa, the “Self Made” guitar built and modified by him in the likeness of Peter Tosh‘s “rifle” model complete with a trigger, and the Basses.
Leave a Reply
Stay connected