Gibson’s Les Paul headphones take design cues from the iconic guitar

Gibson's fitness-minded headphones may get most of the attention here at CES, but venture inside the company's tent, and you'll discover another line of cans. And these are much more in line with what I'd expect from the guitar maker. In fact, the inspiration comes from the Les Paul: an iconic guitar that debuted in the '50s and named for the musician who first endorsed it. It's still a popular choice for pickers. Later this year, Gibson will equip Les Paul owners and admirers with a new series of headphones that get their aesthetics from the design of the classic axe. Just like the guitar, there will be a range of choices, including Standard (over-ear) and SG (on-ear) models that pack regular, Lightning and wireless connectivity.

The outside of the earcups are covered with wood to pay the most striking homage to the instrument, and to complete the look, gold and silver accents recall the tuners, bridge and other hardware. There's plenty of leather and stitching too, and inside, more gold (or chrome, depending on the color palette) encircles a "G" for a bit of added flair. You can custom order a Les Paul guitar from Gibson in a range of finishes, and I'm told you'll be able to do so with these headphones as well. So, in theory, if you splurge for a unique instrument, you can get some beautiful earwear to match it. These may sound like a bit of a gimmick, but anyone who's into guitars, as I am, is sure to find them quite striking.

I had a brief listen to the SG on-ear model, and they're surprisingly good. It's easy to expect something like this to be disappointing, but these certainly were not. Of course, it's hard to judge with just a few minutes and a limited track selection, however, I'd definitely give these another look. Just like the Trainer sport headphones, the earpads are removable and attach with magnets -- should the need to take them off arise. Again, there's no definite schedule for a release, other than "later this year," and pricing details are still being worked out, too. If you're looking to grab a custom pair though, you may want to start setting funds aside now.

Filed under: Portable Audio/Video