The “Nashville Sound” must have rubbed off on Megadeth‘s Dave Mustaine, who’s lived in Music City for almost a decade now. This week, the bandleader known for heavy metal guitar playing unveiled his signature acoustic, the Gibson Dave Mustaine Songwriter.
An acoustic guitar built to Mustaine’s specifications, the axe is unlike most standard acoustics with its metal-minded 24-fret neck — the first ever installed on a Gibson acoustic — and a body cutaway to easier access upper frets. Not to mention Megadeth’s Vic Rattlehead mascot represented in its ornate pickguard design.
Take a closer look at the new guitar down below.
The Dave Mustaine Songwriter in ebony finish also features mother of pearl teeth inlays, Grover Rotomatic tuners, a TUSQ nut, saddle and bridge pins, and an LR Baggs VTC under-saddle pickup with volume and tone controls. A Gibson hardshell case is included.
But this isn’t the first Gibson Mustaine model. In December 2021, Gibson released the inaugural for-sale versions of Mustaine’s signature instruments with the Tennessee-based guitar manufacturer. However, the limited run of the debut axe — the Mustaine Gibson Flying V EXP electric guitar — is already sold out, according to Gibson’s website.
Mustaine revealed he had switched his guitar endorsement to Gibson last year. Around that time, he previewed the Flying V EXP and three other Gibson Dave Mustaine guitars —a green Rust in Peace edition Flying V, the Mustaine Flying V Vanguard and the acoustic.
The new Mustaine acoustic is available to purchase for $4,499.00. A version signed by the rocker is also available. Mustaine previously endorsed guitar makers Dean, ESP and Jackson.
From Gibson:
Part of the Dave Mustaine Collection, the new Dave Mustaine Songwriter in ebony is the first 24-fret neck ever installed on a Gibson acoustic guitar. With a slightly thinner walnut body, the Dave Mustaine Songwriter guitar features a cutaway for easy access to the upper frets. An extremely limited edition version of the Dave Mustaine Songwriter in ebony signed by Dave Mustaine is also available.