Gibson SG
Manufacturer	Gibson
Period	1961–present
Construction
Body type	Solid
Neck joint	Set-in, bolt-on for some entry level models
Scale	24.75"
Woods
Body	Mahogany (some models feature maple tops), birch laminate, maple
Neck	Mahogany, birch laminate, maple
Fretboard	Rosewood, ebony, maple
Hardware
Bridge	Hardtail (Tune-O-Matic), Gibson Vibrato
Pickup(s)	1, 2 or 3 Humbuckers; 1 or 2 P-90s; certain entry-level versions had smaller single coil pickups.
Colors available
Heritage Cherry, Natural, Walnut, Mahogany, Classic White, Ebony and various specialty colors and bursts.

The Gibson SG is a model of solid-bodied electric guitar that was introduced in 1961 by Gibson, and remains in production, with many variations on the initial design available today. Gibson claims that the SG Standard is their best selling model of all time, even surpassing the Les Paul. ^[1]

Origins [edit]

In 1961, Gibson Les Paul sales were significantly lower than in previous years. The following year, the Les Paul was given a thinner, flat-topped mahogany body, and had a double cutaway which made the upper frets more accessible. The neck joint was moved by three frets to further ease access to the upper frets. The simpler body construction significantly reduced production costs, and the new Les Paul, with its slender neck profile and small heel was advertised as having the "fastest neck in the world". Although the new guitar was popular, Les Paul himself did not care for the new design, and requested the removal of his name from the new model. He remained under contract to Gibson, however, and he was photographed with the new model several times.

Gibson honored Les Paul's request, and the new model was renamed "SG", which stood for 'Solid Guitar'. Les Paul's name was officially deleted in 1961, but the SG continued to feature Les Paul nameplates and truss rod covers until the end of 1963.

Gibson also releases lower-cost, internationally sourced versions of the SG through their subsidiary Epiphone.

Because of its popularity and vintage heritage, the body style of the SG is often copied by other manufacturers, although much less frequently than the Les Paul and the Fender Stratocaster.

Design [edit]

The SG generally has a solid mahogany body, with a black "bat-wing" pickguard. The 24.75" scale mahogany neck joins the body at the 19th fret. The SG's set neck is shallower than the Gibson Les Paul's, but features the traditional Gibson combination of two humbucker pickups and a Tune-o-matic bridge assembly (or vibrato tailpiece, depending on the model).

The SG Standard features pearl trapezoid fretboard inlays, as well as fretboard binding and inlaid "Gibson" logo; the SG Special omits these features, instead using cheaper white dot inlays and a silk-screened logo. The Standard has a volume and a tone control for each individual pickup, and a three-way switch that allows the player to select either the bridge pickup, the neck pickup, or both together. The SG does not include switching to coil tap the humbuckers in stock form.

Some models use body woods other than mahogany; examples include the Swamp Ash SG Special and SG Voodoo, the 2009 Raw Power, and some walnut bodied 1970s models. High-end models occasionally sport decorative maple caps, carved tops, and gold hardware.

Models and variations [edit]

1962 Les Paul Standard (SG Standard)

1963 SG Custom

2007 SG '61 reissue

2007 SG '61 reissue

SG Special

SG Pro

SG Junior

At the launch of the SG in 1961, Gibson offered four variants of the SG; the SG Junior (a stripped-down version of the standard, analogous to the Les Paul Junior), the SG Special, the SG Standard, and the top-of-the-line SG Custom.

SG Faded Special
(batwing pickguard)

---

SG Supreme ⇒

However, Gibson's current core variants as of 2010 are the SG Standard and the SG Special. Over the years, Gibson has offered many variations of the SG, and continues to manufacture special editions, including models such as the Special and Faded Special, Supreme, Artist Signature SGs, Menace, and Gothic, as well as the premium-priced VOS reissues of the sixties SG Standard and Custom.

Models produced between 1961 and 1965 have the original small pickguard; in 1966 the guitar was redesigned slightly with a different neck joint, and the modern larger semi-symmetrical "batwing" pickguard first appeared in 1966. This design continued until 1971, when variations of the SG were sold with a raised Les Paul style pickguard and a front-mounted control plate. The low-end SG-100 and the P-90 equipped SG-200 appeared during this time, as well as the luxurious SG Pro and SG Deluxe guitars. Vibrato (tremolo arm) tailpieces were also introduced as options.

In 1972 the design went back to the original style pickguard and rear-mounted controls but with the neck now set further into the body, joining roughly at the 20th fret. By the end of the seventies, the SG models returned to the original sixties styling, and modern (1991–present) standard and special models have mostly returned to the 1967-1969 styling and construction, with a few exceptions; various reissues and other models of the SG still retain the original 1961-1967 styling.

In 1979, a low cost SG made of walnut wood was introduced called "The SG." It had a clear finish and a low grade, streaked ebony fingerboard and was accompanied by a low cost "Les Paul" and "ES 335" type guitars. "The Paul" was also made from walnut, but "The ES" was made out of solid mahogany (rather than the semi-solid body they usually produced). All three guitars were discontinued after about a year, replaced by the "firebrand" series, again made of mahogany.

In 1980, the first SG manufactured with "active" factory pickups was introduced. Gibson experimented with an SG that included the same Moog active electronics that had previously been used in another Gibson model, the RD Artist. The resulting SG had a slightly thicker body to accommodate the extra circuitry, and was dubbed the “Gibson SG-R1.” The SG-R1 was renamed the “SG Artist” in 1981, and was discontinued shortly afterwards. Approximately 200 active SGs were produced.

In 2008, Gibson introduced the Robot SG, which feature a motorized tuning system developed by Tronical. Limited-edition variants include the SG Robot Special and the limited-edition Robot SG LTD. The Robot system was designed to be convenient for players who need to frequently change tunings, without requiring them to manually tune or carry several guitars; however, they also carry a significant price premium.

In 2009, Gibson introduced the Raw Power line of SGs, which have an all-maple body, unbound maple neck and fretboard, and unique colors not previously seen in SGs. These models are priced between the entry-level Specials and the more expensive Standards. 2009 also brought the Guitar Center-exclusive SG Standard with Coil Taps available in both 50s and 60s style necks.

Gibson's EB-3, EB-0, EDS-1275, and later model of Melody Maker and Kalamazoo also shared or once shared SG-shaped bodies, but these are not the members of the SG family.

Epiphone also offers a range of value-priced models, including a model with 1960s styling, sold as the G-400.^[2] These models feature simpler construction and a lower build quality than their Gibson counterparts, although they also implement a number of features missing from production Gibson models; examples include the 22" scale SG Express,^[3] the metal-oriented Prophecy line (equipped with high-output humbuckers and unique inlays), and a replica of the Gibson EDS-1275, popularized by Jimmy Page.^[4]

Unique SGs [edit]

Eric Clapton's The Fool(replica)

Tony Iommi's SG

• Eric Clapton used a 1964 Gibson SG Standard^[5] starting in 1967 while in Cream. This guitar was known as the "Fool" guitar, as it was painted by the Dutch artists known collectively as The Fool. In spring 1968, the SG was loaned to Jackie Lomax, an associate of George Harrison. The "Fool" was later sold to Todd Rundgren for $500 before eventually being sold to a private collector for about $500,000.
• Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath owns several custom-made black left-handed Gibson SGs with white cross-shaped fretboard inlays. Epiphone produces a similar guitar as the Tony Iommi G-400.^[6] Iommi's original SG (used on the early Sabbath albums) was a cherry red, left-handed 1965 SG Special with P-90 pickups.
• John Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service used a custom Gibson SG with custom pickguards in the shape of bat-like figures, as well as the fret board being customized with unique patterns.

Angus Young SG model

• Angus Young of AC/DC occasionally uses a custom-made SG with lightning-bolt inlays however, the original was made by Jaydee guitars. Since then, Angus has collaborated with Gibson to make the Angus Young SG which features a custom-designed Humbucker in the bridge position, a '57 Classic in the neck position and the lightning-bolt inlays.
• Music Machine did a limited run of 20 Stinger SG's in 2003. 10 were standards and 10 were customs.
• Mike Ness of Social Distortion played a black SG in the late 70's and early 80's, with the Social Distortion logo on it, as well as a white Joan Jett and the Blackhearts bumper sticker. It can be seen on the cover of the compilation album Mainliner: Wreckage From the Past.
• In 1992, the Gibson Custom Shop introduced a "premium plus" reissue of the '67 SG. There was an estimated run of 100 of these instruments. It included 3 '57 humbuckers, ABR-1 bridge, ebony fingerboard, slim tapered neck and a mother of pearl block. There were no certificates issued from Gibson on this particular run.

SG versus the Les Paul [edit]

The SG has a thinner body than the Les Paul, and is much lighter as a result. However, owing to the body's light weight, the SG is infamous for being "neck heavy". The lighter, thinner, one layer body means the SG, unlike the Les Paul, is particularly applicable for harmonic feedback playing techniques. The SG's neck profile is typically shallower than that of the Les Paul, though this varies between production years and individual guitars. The SG also lacks the carved maple top and body binding of the Les Paul. Unlike the Les Paul's neck, which joins the body at the 16th fret, the SG's neck joins the body at the 22nd fret, which allows easier access to higher frets. Despite the differences in body design, both models share similar electronics and controls. In terms of sound, the SG is often described as having more "bite" than a Les Paul, but lacking in low end.

Notable SG users [edit]

See also [edit]

A Gibson SG with a Peavey amplifier

• Gibson Les Paul
• Gibson SG Special
• Gibson SG Junior
• Gibson EB-0
• Gibson EB-3
• Gibson EDS-1275
• Epiphone G-400

References [edit]

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gibson SG

• Gibson website
• Details on SGs used by Pete Townshend
• BBC News item regarding George Harrison's Gibson SG