It’s Labor Day—a celebration of all the hard work you do—and whether you’re a full-time musician or a weekend warrior, it’s the perfect time to kick back with some inspiring gear that’ll have your bandmates asking “Whoa, where’d you get that?”
If you’ve been following Guitar Center Riffs, you know that every major holiday, we load in a collection of Guitar Center-exclusive gear our merchants have conceived in partnership with some of your favorite brands. And if you’re new to our tradition of introducing awesome fresh gear you can only find here, welcome to the fun—you’re bound to find something unique and exciting that speaks to your style.
In this guide, we’ve compiled a rundown of all our Labor Day exclusives, along with some insights from our merchants and product marketers across each category, explaining the conception of each product, what makes it special and why it’d be a great addition to your rig. Relax and enjoy what we’re serving up this Labor Day weekend.
Table of Contents
Exclusive Guitars
Exclusive Drums
Exclusive Accessories
Take Off Work—Kick Up Your Tone
Exclusive Guitars
Pictured: Gibson Les Paul Studio Metallic in Goldtop
Gibson Les Paul Studio Metallic
Why We’re Worked Up About It: Flaunting the luxurious “breathability” of nitrocellulose, these LP Studios are a glittering feast of the eyes—along with that old-school Burstbucker Pro bite.
Things to Consider:
- Two exclusive nitro finishes available: Metallic Gold and Metallic Silver
- Coil tapping dishes out some vintage-style vibes
- Fewer than 200 available—get yours while you can
Shop Now: Gibson Les Paul Studio Metallic in Silverburst
Jerry Banegas: The new Les Paul Studio Metallic models bring high-end finishes—once reserved for premium models—to the more accessible Studio platform. Now available exclusively at Guitar Center in iconic Goldtop and bold Silverburst, these guitars deliver premium looks at an unbeatable value. With classic Les Paul tone and modern playability, this exclusive run brings stage-ready style to every player.
Martin GPC Special X Series HPL in White
Why We’re Worked Up About It: The very first all-white X Series from Martin, this snowy cutaway tinsels with gold accents to accompany its golden tone.
Things to Consider:
- Available in all stores, but at very limited quantities
- Surprisingly accessible price
- Scalloped X-bracing helps make your guitar lighter and louder
Shop Now: Martin GPC X Series White HPL Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Wayne Phillip: With High Pressure Laminate, Martin can create virtually any color or pattern—so we asked for an all-white Grand Performance cutaway. Unlike painted finishes, HPL avoids the challenges of keeping a white finish pristine during the painting process other guitars would receive, while delivering the X Series’ signature tone and exceptional durability. This Guitar Center exclusive in white stands out for its look, sound and toughness in any climate.
Exclusive Drums
Pictured: TAMA Starclassic Nebula Mappa Burl Fade Shell Pack
DW Performance Series Tiger Eye Shell Pack
Why We’re Worked Up About It: It’s natural, it’s stunning and it’s got all the aesthetic and tonal elegance you’d expect from a North American maple HVX shell design.
Things to Consider:
- Very limited run of 55 shell packs and 100 snares total
- 14" snares offered in various depths
- Top-notch materials and build mean it’s on the pricier end of the scale
Shop Now: DW Performance Series Tiger Eye Shell Pack
Davis Savage: Over the past year or so, I’ve been working with the folks at DW to add some cool new finishes into the Performance catalog—a journey that began with our Ocean Galaxy lineup and brings us here now to this latest addition. To be perfectly honest, when the team at DW came to us with this new and extremely unique wrap option, I turned it down. It must’ve been a bad swatch photo, because they decided to make a sample kit anyway, and I think these turned out to be absolutely amazing! With the legendary sound of DW’s maple shell, the Tiger Eye lineup works in just about any musical situation you can throw it in, and it’s got the looks to match too. There are also matching snares in 5.5", 6.5". and 8", so you can really complete the look and make it your own.
TAMA Starclassic Nebula Mappa Burl Fade Shell Pack
Why We’re Worked Up About It: With its hauntingly beautiful multicolor finish atop a mappa burl veneer, these drums are destined to mesmerize.
Things to Consider:
- Hybrid American black walnut/birch shells
- Shell packs in a 5-piece configutation
- Extremely limited quantities of shell packs available—and only 150 matching Nebula Mappa Burl Fade snares
Shop Now: TAMA Starclassic Nebula Mappa Burl Fade Shell Pack with 22" Bass Drum
DS: TAMA is always on the cutting edge with their finish designs, and this Nebula Fade finish is the perfect example of that. When it debuted nearly a year ago in celebration of their 50th anniversary, we couldn’t get enough of it. So much so, we sold out of that version before it even went live! Because we loved it so much, we asked them if they would do another run and now—back by popular demand—we have a slightly less limited rerelease of that dreamy 50th anniversary drum set. This one comes with chrome hardware, so it’s easy to pair with another snare you might have. And of course, the musical and thunderous tones of their legendary walnut/birch formula create magic every time. With only 75 made it won’t be around forever, so grab one before we sell out again!
Exclusive Accessories
Pictured: Livewired Braided Colored Cables
Livewire Colored Cables
Why We’re Worked Up About It: Don’t just settle for any guitar cable—add a splash of color to send off summer—and make it last.
Things to Consider:
- Highly durable instrument cables with a braided design—20' XLR cables and 3" Patch Cables are also available.
- Offered in various colors to suit your setup
- They lend a hit of style—as well as practical uniqueness to tell apart from your other cables or your bandmates’
Shop Now: Livewire Braided Instrument Cable in Plum Distortion
Danny Schnair: Livewire Colored Cables are a perfect blend of style and value—offering vibrant new colors with the same pro-level build quality as top brands, but at a price that makes upgrading your rig easy. As a Guitar Center exclusive, they let players express their individuality without compromising performance.
Take Off Work—Kick Up Your Tone
Work hard, play harder this Labor Day. Whether you’re an acoustic or electric six-stringer, drummer, singer, producer or engineer, we’ve got you covered with something special you can only find here. Step into your local Guitar Center store or chat with one of our expert Gear Advisers, who can set you up with a limited-edition, Guitar Center-exclusive future rarity.