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United States Paul Gilbert is an American hard rock and heavy metal guitarist, recognized as a co-founder of the band Mr. Big and a member of Racer X, renowned for his technical proficiency and instructional work.
Phonak, a global provider of hearing solutions, announced legendary guitarist Paul Gilbert as its official Global Brand Ambassador. This partnership highlights Gilbert's role in promoting hearing health.
Paul Gilbert has been a long-standing Ibanez artist, praising the brand's diversity and openness to collaboration. He has designed several signature models, including the PGM series and the 'Fireman' guitars. 2015 marked his 30-year partnership with Ibanez, celebrated with the PGM333 anniversary model.
Paul Gilbert uses DiMarzio EJ Neck and Tone Zone pickups in his guitars.
Paul Gilbert endorses Direct Sound extreme isolation headphones, specifically using the EX-29 model, to help prevent tinnitus and noise-induced hearing loss from loud music exposure.
In 2020, Paul Gilbert collaborated with JHS Pedals to release the 'PG-14' tube-like distortion pedal.
Paul Gilbert is a long-time user of Ernie Ball strings, utilizing various gauges from Extra Slinky (.08-.38) to Power Slinky (.11-.48).
Gilbert currently uses several variations of Dunlop Tortex .50mm, .60mm, and .73mm picks, preferring thin picks for their tone and pick scratches.
Paul Gilbert serves as the Rock Guitar instructor for ArtistWorks, an online music school, and launched the Online Rock Guitar School with Paul Gilbert as part of their Guitar Campus in May 2012.
Paul Brandon Gilbert, born on November 6, 1966, in Carbondale, Illinois, began his musical journey at age six. By 15, he was performing in local clubs with his band Tau Zero and gained early recognition in Guitar Player magazine. In 1984, Gilbert moved to Los Angeles to attend the Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT), quickly establishing himself as a local legend due to his advanced and fast alternate picking technique. He became a GIT instructor in 1985 and shortly after, co-founded Racer X in 1985. The band, heavily influenced by Judas Priest, allowed Gilbert to showcase his fast-driven solos and advanced technique, earning him a reputation as one of the world’s fastest guitarists. He gained further recognition with remarkably technical pieces such as ‘Technical Difficulties’ and ‘Scarified.’
In 1988, Gilbert co-founded Mr. Big with bassist Billy Sheehan. The band achieved significant international success with their second studio album, “Lean into It,” released in 1991, featuring the hit acoustic ballad “To Be with You,” which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. After Mr. Big disbanded in 1996, Gilbert embarked on a prolific solo career, releasing numerous albums and engaging in various collaborations and guest appearances. He later rejoined Mr. Big for reunion tours starting in 2009, resulting in new albums like “What If…” (2011) and “Defying Gravity” (2017). His career also includes extensive instructional work, authoring sections in Total Guitar magazine, teaching at GIT, and releasing instructional videos, further solidifying his influence in the guitar community.
Throughout his career, Gilbert has consistently been recognized for his skill; he was voted fourth-best on Guitar One magazine’s 2007 “Top 10 Greatest Guitar Shredders of All Time” and ranked in Guitar World’s 2008 list of “50 Fastest Guitarists of All Time.” Loudwire Magazine also highly rated him, listing him as number one in “10 Stupidly Fast Guitarists in Metal.” Gilbert’s diverse musical interests span pop, rock, metal, blues, and funk, and he is known for combining fast picking with legato techniques. He has also been involved in tribute acts for bands such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Who, and Rush, showcasing his versatility and deep appreciation for musical history.
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