The early 1980s saw the release of a number new guitars, and some reissues of older ones. The newer models hitting the market from mid '81 to mid '82 were featured at the 1982 Atlanta NAMM show with corresponding publicity sheets printed to publicise them. Each sheet had the tag "Making History. Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow" - a line that would continue into the next years promotions too. Some of these guitars were commercially more successful than others; the ultra-affordable Sonex-180 Deluxe was a big hit, as were the Victory basses; the Victory MV guitars less-so.
The two re-issue models shown were received with much applause: the limited edition 30th anniversary Les Paul Standard was not strictly a reissue, taking elements from numerous Les Pauls that had preceded it, but the Heritage Flying V was really the first accurate reissue of the guitar - no other issue had the unique combination of Korina wood, gold plated hardware, through-body stringing and a 17° headstock pitch.
Each flyer consisted a single sheet with one folded panel (two in the case of the Victory) containing model specifications. Some of these images (minus the specifications) were also placed as advertisements in guitar magazines. Click the thumbnails to see the full images.
There's no substitute for Victory
1982 flyer for the Gibson Victory bass and Victory Multi-Voice guitar
the Victory bass production started slightly earlier than the MV guitars, but both models were already shipping long before the Atlanta show.
Classic Gibson
1982 flyer for the Gibson Chet Atkins classic electric guitar. Chet demonstrated this guitar at Atlanta, where it was received as a "show stopper".
Vintage Voltage
1982 flyer for the Gibson 30th anniversary Les Paul Standard guitar.
Airborne Again
1982 flyer for the Gibson Flying V guitar. Production of the Korina-bodied Flying V was delayed due to difficulties in sourcing the wood from Africa; though production had begun by late '82.
Rock Hard at a Price that's Rock Bottom
1982 flyer for the Gibson Sonex Deluxe guitar. The only model shown here to have been available at the previous years show... but in the finiancial climate of the time, definitely one to promote.
$8249
$7500
$3499
$1550
$4295
$6500
$10000
$7999
$4500
$5000