I recently interviewed Brian Ray of Paul McCartney's live band. He's a guitarist, taking over bass duties as Macca playes piano or guitar. He's a real nice guy.
After starting with a P (*) and some vintage Guilds M-85 he played two Gibson SG basses, then two Jack Casady's and currently a black Epiphone EB-3 (long scale) with a white guard and a white one with a black guard. It matches his black-ish Gibson SG signature. I asked him where they're made, because they aren't stock colours. He didn't really knew. I asked a friend at Gibson's, who just told me that Gibson has two prototype builders who do some 'custom' work, but it aren't the CS guys. They get in some Epiphone bodies and necks without lacquering and they finish them and ad Gibson hardware and electronics. Quite interesting.
(*) After Brian wanted to play a Höfner at his first who, Macca made clear Höfners where 'his thing'
And I had to share this:
I e-mailed Gibson's publicity department. The short version:
Me: Do you have high resolution pictures of Brian Ray?
Gibson: Don't you mean Brian May?
Me: No, Brian Ray who playes Epiphone basses, has his own Gibson Signature guitar and plays with McCartney.
Waiting on an answer now
