There are two types of leaders: those who direct from the office and those who lead from the stage. Cesar Gueikian, President and CEO of Gibson Guitars, belongs to the latter. He is not just the visionary who revitalized a legendary brand; he is a formidable guitarist—an artist who wields the same guitars as his ambassadors and shares the creative fire with them.
When we set out to create a piece for him, we knew it couldn’t be a simple corporate gift. It had to be a dialogue between artists. A tribute from masters of glass to a master of music and business.
The Connection in a San Telmo Workshop
The story didn’t begin in a boardroom, but in a San Telmo hostel, through a connection with his brother, our friend Christian Gueikian. Knowing that Cesar, the leader of Gibson, would be visiting Argentina, the challenge was immediate: how do we create an object that lives up to not only the CEO but the musician?
The answer was clear: the piece had to possess the same complexity, soul, and attention to detail as a custom-made Gibson Les Paul.
Forging a Piece Worthy of a Master
We chose our most iconic design, the Extreme Glass, as our canvas. But it needed its own voice. That’s when Eli Moreno, with the precision of a luthier, engraved an image onto the glass using the pointillism technique. It wasn’t just personalization; it was adding “calibration” and “soul” to the piece—a handcrafted process to achieve a unique tone.
The result was an object that wasn’t just seen; it was felt. A glass that, like a great guitar, becomes an extension of the hand that holds it.
Recognition Among Peers
Cesar Gueikian’s response via WhatsApp to Lanchi was that of one artist recognizing the work of another. It wasn’t a simple “thank you”; it was a gesture of appreciation for detail and dedication.
However, the true moment of connection came with his second message, which validated our mission:
“Could you make me 30 glasses?”
It wasn’t a request for merchandising. It was a commission from a musician for his bandmates, for his inner circle. Those 30 glasses were destined for the hands of the same giants he shares the stage with: Slash, Kirk Hammett, Adam Jones…
It was an artist choosing the work of other artists to honor his peers.
When Art Recognizes Art
The story of this collaboration is a testament to a principle that governs both Gibson and Green Glass: excellence is non-negotiable. It was an honor and a privilege to create a piece worthy of a leader who understands not just business, but the universal language of art, passion, and rock and roll.
Cesar Gueikian didn’t just receive a glass. He received our deepest respect, materialized in glass.
Reference Data:
- Official Website of Cesar Gueikian: https://gueikian.com/
- Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gueikian/
