Neal Schon's 1977 Gibson Les Paul Pro Deluxe
Musician
Neal Schon
(American, born 1954)
Maker
Gibson
(American, founded 1902)
Date1977
ClassificationsMusic
DescriptionNeal Schon's 1977 Gibson Les Paul Pro Deluxe, serial number 06 115596, in black finish. The guitar is signed by Schon on the back of the headstock in silver ink with a yellow Ferrari sticker on the back of the body. In a white flight case with "JOURNEY / NIGHTMARE INC / SAN FRANCISCO U.S.A." stencil. It was his go-to guitar and can been seen on some of the biggest stages and venues. Modified to Neal's specifications. According to Neal, this is the first Les Paul to have a Floyd Rose tremolo and locking nut installed. The electronics have been changed to an active circuit and a battery compartment has been routed in the back. Neal had two toggle switches added on top between the knobs. No repairs have been detected. The original frets show moderate wear and may have been dressed.
Schon used this guitar on Journey's chart-topping album Escape (1981), including on the songs "Don't Stop Believin'," "Stone in Love," and "Who's Crying Now." Schon also used this guitar on the subsequent Escape Tour, whose November 1981 Houston stop was originally broadcast on MTV then turned into a best-selling DVD in 2005.
Schon later recalled: "When I heard the final mix of 'Don't Stop Believin',' I turned around to everybody, and I go, 'Man, you know what? This song has something else. Honestly, that song has the weirdest and most unique arrangement ever. It goes verse, then into the guitar solo -- the little breakdown that's more like a symphony. I actually learned it by listening to symphonies, that triplet that speeds up. It sounded like a train. And that pushed [Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain] to write the lyrics, because it reminded them of a train. So the guitar solo actually came before the lyrics did."
Neal Schon (b. 1954) is an American musician who is best known as the lead guitarist in the band Journey. Prior to forming Journey, Schon began playing with Carlos Santana at age 17. In 1973, Schon and Greg Rolie formed the band Golden Gate Rhythm Section, which soon changed its name to Journey. Journey started as a jazz fusion band, before hiring lead vocalist Steve Perry in 1977 - which saw a change in their musical direction. They saw the peak of their popularity with the albums Escape (1982) and Frontiers (1983).
Journey went on hiatus in 1987 and Schon formed the supergroup Bad English, who released two albums. As Journey reformed in the 1990s, Schon returned to the band. He has remained its only founding member well into the 21st century.
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