Peter Frampton’s “Phenix” guitar is the stuff of legend and now aspiring ax-slingers everywhere can get one of their own, with the new “Phenix” Les Paul Custom VOS guitar from Gibson Custom Shop.
The storied guitar-makers are marking 127 years in business by celebrating the iconic models of the Golden Era while leaning into the future with inspiring new instruments.
“My brand-new Gibson Les Paul Custom VOS has arrived, and boy is it good,” says Frampton. “I couldn’t be more pleased with the look and sound. Gibson has gone that extra mile in every area to make this feel and sound the closest to my original, storied Phenix Les Paul Custom guitar. The neck and weight of this mahogany guitar will amaze you at how great it feels and how light it is (and it’s even a hair lighter than the Phenix).”
Peter’s Les Paul Custom aka “Phenix” is the iconic guitar that is both heard and pictured on the cover of the classic 1976 album Frampton Comes Alive!. The beloved guitar was long thought to be lost in a cargo plane crash in 1980, miraculously, the guitar survived the crash in the tail of the plane and 31 years later, it was returned to Frampton and nicknamed the “Phenix.”
Photo: Courtesy of Gibson
The Gibson Custom Shop has teamed with Frampton to recreate the Peter Frampton “Phenix” Les Paul Custom VOS which has all of the Les Paul Custom cosmetic appointments in place, including a weight-relieved, ultra-lightweight mahogany body, gold hardware, and Grover tuners, Schaller Strap Locks, and three open coil Custom humbuckers.
The Phenix also makes an appearance on Frampton’s new instrumental covers album, Frampton Forgets The Words, where the Grammy-winning guitarist and singer brings his virtuosic guitar playing to songs by David Bowie, George Harrison, Stevie Wonder, Lenny Kravitz, and more.
“My guitar is also a voice and I have always enjoyed playing my favorite vocal lines that we all know and love. These tracks are my great band and me paying tribute to the original creators of this wonderful music.”
Buy or stream Frampton Forgets The Words.