GIBSON manufactured the HOWARD ROBERTS ARTIST between 1976 and 1981

GIBSON manufactured the Howard Roberts Custom between 1973 and 1981. It was an archtop with an oval soundhole like the Howard Roberts Artist but less expensive appointments: it a rosewood fingerboard and chrome finished hardware. The tailpiece has a black "Howard Roberts" name plate and the overall design was based on the Epiphone Howard Roberts models of the 1960s, but with a different pick-up, laminated top, and somewhat heavier in weight. A two pick-up version was also available in the late 1970s.

Production of the HOWARD ROBERTS FUSION III began in 1979, stopped in 2003, began again in 2005 and it is still available as of 2007. The body has laminated maple top, back, and sides with multi-ply binding on top and single-ply binding on back. The 1-piece maple neck has 22 fret ebony fingerboard with pearloid dot inlays and single-ply binding. The scale length is 24 3/4 inches.Available in ebony, natural (since 2002), vintage sunburst, cherry, or fireburst (discontinued in 1994) finishes.