Treasure map! This YouTuber tracked down the legendary Gibson map guitar used in the ‘American-made, world-played’ campaign

Gibson's 1983 catalog cover, featuring the prototype USA map guitar
(Image credit: Gibson)

Regular viewers of The Trogly’s Guitar Show on YouTube will know that host and rare guitar collector Austin has long harbored dreams of finding the original Gibson map guitar. Now – thanks to an incredibly lucky break – the collector says he has finally secured it. 

The legendary prototype instrument was shaped to emulate the US mainland and formed the centerpiece of the Gibson’s 1980s ‘American-made, world-played’ ad campaign.

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Matt Parker
Features Editor, GuitarWorld.com

Matt is Features Editor for GuitarWorld.com. Before that he spent 10 years as a freelance music journalist, interviewing artists for the likes of Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, MusicRadar, NME.com, DJ Mag and Electronic Sound. In 2020, he launched CreativeMoney.co.uk, which aims to share the ideas that make creative lifestyles more sustainable. He plays guitar, but should not be allowed near your delay pedals.