Triumph and Gibson Augment DGR Prizes

After putting up a special Triumph-themed Gibson guitar and Gibson-themed Triumph Bonneville as a major fundraiser prize for the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, the companies have turned the amp up to 11.

Now they are offering three signed guitars as runner-up prizes for the 10th annual event on May 22. In the past nine years more than 100,000 riders in over 900 cities across the world have raised more than $US31 million for men’s mental health and prostate cancer awareness.

The major prize this year is a 1959 Legends Custom Edition Gibson Les Paul with Triumph design details and a 1959 Legends Custom Edition T120 Bonneville with Gibson design references.

The guitar has a hand-coach-lined pickguard inspired by the Bonneville’s trademark engine fins, and etched pick-up covers, branded truss rod cover and reissue switch backplate.

Triumph’s Bonneville T120 Gibson tribute features a hand-painted sunburst paint scheme like the Gibson with black painted guitar neck and headstock shape, edged with hand-painted coach lining, plus a host of branded touches.

They form the major prize for the best fundraiser at this year’s Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, a global charity for men’s mental health and prostate cancer awareness and fundraising.

The collaboration makes a lot of sense as many old rockers love their Bonnevilles and probably suffer from prostate issues!

And late last year Triumph Motorcycles announced it will continue its nine-year association with DGR for five more years.

Now, the companies have turned their amps up to 11 to offer more prizes for the DGR.

The three additional guitars are each signed by a famous musician, and each with a custom painted guitar case inspired by a legendary Triumph rider. The “Saints of Speed” custom guitar cases will be painted by the world-renowned guitar artist James Willis.

Gentlefolk Prize (open to participants raising over $US250)

• Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ J-200 guitar, signed by American country music star Big Kenny
• Custom Triumph-inspired “Saints of Speed” guitar case, painted by James Willis

Highest Team Triumph Global Fundraiser

• Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ SG Standard guitar, signed by Canadian musician Clayton Bellamy of The Road Hammers
• Custom Triumph-inspired “Saints of Speed” guitar case, painted by James Willis

Spirit of ’59 Prize (open to participants raising over $US59)

• Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ 1959 Les Paul Standard guitar, signed by English rock legend, Billy Duffy of The Cult
• Custom Triumph-inspired “Saints of Speed” guitar case, painted by James Willis

Donated to support The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, in its global charity efforts to raise awareness and funds in support of men’s mental health and prostate cancer, each of the Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ guitars pays homage to a Gibson music legend and each comes with the signature details and features that made them famous.

The custom hard case that comes with each guitar will be painted by famed Nashville guitar artist, James Willis, as part of a new “Saints of Speed” numbered series of custom cases, each commemorating a legendary Triumph rider. Willis is a multi-bike Triumph owner and will be participating in this year’s Gentleman’s Ride on his Scrambler 1200 XC motorcycle.

Further celebrating the connection between music and motorcycles, the guitars will be signed by musicians that are also passionate riders, each participating in this year’s Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride. The Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ J-200 will be signed by American country music artist Big Kenny, of Big & Rich. The Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ SG Standard will be signed by Canadian recording artist Clayton Bellamy of The Road Hammers. The Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ 1959 Les Paul Standard will be signed by English rock musician Billy Duffy of The Cult.

These additional prizes allow the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride to further support fundraising across the world by rewarding fundraisers in unique categories, including the annual Gentlefolk prize, eligible for participants which raise over $US250. New prize categories for 2022 will be the Spirit of ’59 category, for any rider which raises over $US59, and the Team Triumph prize, for the highest fundraiser that has joined the official Triumph team or a Triumph dealership’s fundraising team.

Gibson Guitars and Triumph Legends Custom Cases

• Numbered “Saints of Speed” series custom guitar cases, each commemorating a legendary Triumph rider of the winner’s choosing, will be hand painted by famed Nashville guitar artist James Willis.
• The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-200 is a stunning homage to the King of the Flat-Tops – the world-famous Gibson™ SJ-200. Since its introduction in 1937 it has been the choice of “singing cowboys” like Tex Ritter and Gene Autry, as well as folk, rock and country royalty, including Emmylou Harris, Elvis, Jimmy Page, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, The Edge, and many more. Featuring a Super Jumbo non-cutaway solid figured maple body, solid Sitka spruce top, and two-piece maple neck with a mahogany centre strip, the Epiphone J-200 is built with all solid woods for outstanding tone. The visual elements have always been a big part of the J-200’s appeal, and the Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-200 includes a Moustache™ bridge with curved block inlays, Crown headstock inlay and Graduated Crown mother of pearl fingerboard inlays, and a J-200 style pickguard with two-colour graphics.
• The Epiphone SG Standard from the new Inspired by Gibson Collection, recreates the legendary 1960s classic that powered the first generation of hard rock and heavy metal bands including The Who, Cream, AC/DC, and Black Sabbath. The guitar features the historic SG profile with “batwing” pickguard, a pair of Epiphone’s Alnico Classic PRO humbuckers, and 18:1 ratio Epiphone Deluxe Tuners. This Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Original model also has the Kalamazoo headstock, rolled neck for a comfortable feel, GraphTech NuBone nut, era-appropriate wiring, and CTS pots. Optional hardshell or EpiLite Case is available.
• Made in partnership with the Gibson Custom Shop, the Limited Edition 1959 Les Paul Standard is Epiphone’s stunning recreation of the rare vintage classic. Featuring a mahogany body with a maple top with a AAA figured maple veneer, comfortable 1959 hand-rolled neck profile with long neck tenon, aged finish, Gibson USA BurstBucker 2 & 3 humbucking pickups, Switchcraft selector switch and output jack, CTS pots, 50s era wiring, Mallory capacitors, non-beveled pickguard, new Epiphone Deluxe vintage tuners, and a vintage-style brown hard case. It also comes with an Epiphone Limited Edition metal medallion toggle switchplate.

Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride Prize Summary

Highest Global Fundraiser

• ‘1959 Legends’ custom edition Triumph Bonneville T120 motorcycle and Gibson Les Paul Standard Reissue guitar
• Hedon x DGR Kingpin Helmet
• ELF Prize Pack

2^nd Highest Global Fundraiser

• Triumph Thruxton RS motorcycle
• Hedon x DGR Hedonist Helmet
• ELF Prize Pack

3^rd Highest Global Fundraiser

• Triumph Speed Twin 1200 motorcycle
• Hedon x DGR Hedonist Helmet
• ELF Prize Pack

Gentlefolk Competition 1^st Prize (open to participants raising over $US250)

• Triumph Bonneville Bobber motorcycle
• Hedon x DGR Hedonist Helmet

Gentlefolk Competition 2^nd Prize (open to participants raising over $US250)

• Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ J-200 guitar, signed by country artist Big Kenny
• Custom Triumph-inspired “Saints of Speed” guitar case, painted by artist James Willis

Highest Team Triumph Global Fundraiser (includes Triumph Dealer fundraising teams)

• Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ SG Standard guitar, signed by Canadian artist Clayton Bellamy
• Custom Triumph-inspired “Saints of Speed” guitar case, painted by artist James Willis

Spirit of ’59 Prize (open to participants raising over $US59)

• Epiphone ‘Inspired by Gibson’ 1959 Les Paul Standard guitar, signed by English rock legend, Billy Duffy of The Cult
• Custom Triumph-inspired “Saints of Speed” guitar case, painted by artist James Willis

a global charity for men’s mental health and prostate cancer awareness and fundraising.