History of the Cobra

[enr1co]

Hey Tom,

Some Friday lite questions...

Since being introduced to your great guitars just ~10 years ago, have seen numerous refinements, innovative features along with the newer and innovative models like the Crowdster, Atom and most recently, the Bulldog!

My favorite has come to be the Cobra.

What year did you introduce the Cobra and what was the basis for its naming?

Inquiring minds need to know...:)

[Pietro]

If I recall, Tom designed the Cobra "for himself" on his own personal tone-quest. What I'd like to know is, do you look at that guitar now as just a step closer to the Atom, which is what you basically play these days?

I think my favorite (I haven't played an Atom yet, hope to play one soon) is also the Cobra, hollow specifically, and I'm so thankful to have one.

[tom]

december of '92 was the first, showed them at namm '93.
i grew up playing teles and les pauls. cobras were my first step at getting the best of both. still may be the best hybrid but does lean harder to the fenderish feel side. the name came for the most beautiful car ever made, the ac cobra that shelby tuned to ridiculousness(in a good way).
when we first showed the cobra people didn't know how to look at it, like what is this double hb tele? while i was thinking of it as a stepping stone(isn't everything), it has found a great place in the sonic landscape and stands very nicely on it's own now. i think for many people it's the perfect guitar.
the atom and ct were steps closer to gibsonland without losing the feel were known for.
these days i tote a short t and a proto hollow atom ct with a bigsby to most gigs and can be happy with either. but the bigsby's allure is strong and usually wins. i also am most comfortable with the extra body mass to the right on the atom body when it hangs on me.

[enr1co]

Ahhh, should have guessed the car connection :cool:

[marzzz]

Other than electronics and the neck joint, has the Cobra changed much since it was introduced? I almost bought one back in '94, but felt it was too tele/twangy/fender-ish, while the one I have now (late 08) has a nice thick, even tone.

[tom]

neck joint, stainless frets, bfts, indian rosewood fingerboard would all be new on the 08. we have also been getting more consistently light mahogany for the past 4-5 years. if the 94 was really heavy that would explain brighter harder tone. 94 would have been brazilian fb too, that can be harder and brighter sounding.

[SonicGator]

Any thoughts Tom of a CT Cobra? :o

[tom]

probably not, never liked the look of carved t's or s's.

[marzzz]

neck joint, stainless frets, bfts, indian rosewood fingerboard would all be new on the 08. we have also been getting more consistently light mahogany for the past 4-5 years. if the 94 was really heavy that would explain brighter harder tone. 94 would have been brazilian fb too, that can be harder and brighter sounding.I can't remember if the '94 was heavy, but it did have quite the twang to it that I distinctly remember (and that my '08 doesn't have). The '08 is solid, but very light- my prior G&L ASAT Deluxe was much heavier in comparison, and for a good guitar it didn't come close to the Cobra. Obviously the wood made a huge difference with regard to tone, and once again proves heavier is not always better.

[jdblackwell]

Tom, any chance on seeing a picture or hearing the full spec on the proto Atom CT w/Bisby and the Shorty T?