Gibson’s SG offerings are a little more varied, but that’s not to say they don’t pay homage to their roots. They’ve struck the perfect balance between modern variation and old-school mojo. Originally introduced in the 1960s as a variety of Les Paul, it soon adopted its own name (‘SG’ standing for Solid Guitar) and went on to become a true legend of the guitar world. It’s since taken many forms, but remains one of the most popular guitars in the world.
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- Now, with these both being Gibson guitars, they actually share a lot of similar traits.
- This guitar is beautifully finished, expertly crafted and a must-have for players looking for an SG on a budget.
- This change still left a slight recess where the change from body to neck was visible, but by 1969, the body was extended even further and the heel was smoothed, rounded, and gave a consistent look to the SG.
- We live and breathe everything guitar and bass related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides.
- On that note, if anyone needs us, we’ll be fumbling our way through the entirety of Back In Black.
Of course, Gibson has many iconic models in their diverse catalog, from the punk-ready Junior to the bluesy ES-335. Still, no models are quite as legendary as the formidable Les Paul and the devilish SG. These musical legends have used the SG’s fierce mid-range bark to create some of the most recognizable tones of all time. Luckily, if you fancy following in the footsteps of rock royalty, now is the time, as the guitar giant is producing some of the best Gibson SGs ever, with more configurations than you can shake your devil horns at. The SG Special is one of the more unique SG models on offer, combining snarling P90 pickups with eye-catching finishes and a wraparound bridge. The result is a less-is-more spin on the SG blueprint, perfect for players looking for something a little different.
How to Choose the Best SG Guitar
From the godfather of heavy metal, Tony Iommi to Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Frank Zappa and Brent Hinds, the SG’s iconic mid-range bark works in just about any musical situation. Whether it’s classic rock, the blues, or high-octane modern metal, the Les Paul’s rich tone and near-infinite sustain allow it to adapt to any genre. Despite still bearing the Les Paul moniker, Les wasn’t that enamored with this pointy new axe and the redesigned Les Paul would eventually get a name change in 1963. From this point on, this guitar would be known as the “SG” – which stands for solid guitar.
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A more remote option worth checking out is the Changi Museum & Chapel, which features stories collected from the POWs of the Japanese Occupation and a replica of the Changi Murals painted by a POW. The Singapore River was once the historic center of Singapore in its early entrepôt trading days, and it’s the nexus from which the city expanded as it prospered. The warehouses that stored goods along the river banks have since been converted into some of Singapore’s top nightlife districts.
It gives the appearance of a guitar kept in a case under the bed for decades. Heavy aging simulates a life on the road with the scars of 50+ years of use and abuse. It didn’t help that he was heading toward semi-retirement with a divorce on the horizon. Sometime in 1963, “Les Paul” vanished from the headstock; two letters replaced it on the truss rod cover—SG. The most common neck shapes on the SG are the fan favorite, SlimTaper or the slightly chunkier Rounded profile. When it comes to selecting the best Gibson SG for you, the first thing to consider is budget.
As the name suggests, this is the Standard but based on the earliest SG iterations. This includes an almost-like-for-like recreation, as well as two unique Vibrola tremolo-armed models. PAF-style Burstbucker pickups, Mahogany trans finish – the definitive SG. Epiphone’s SG selection combines original designs with classics inspired by Gibson themselves. Options like the SG Special VE offer great looks, lightweight playability and affordability. While the price makes it a very valuable beginner electric allocative efficiency guitar, you only need to play it to see it’s far more than that.
This places SGs made at the end of the ‘60s as less desirable than those earlier models, but overall still excellent guitars. Their popularity was boosted further with the massive cultural impact of Woodstock ‘69, where both Pete Townshend of The Who and Carlos Santana gave legendary performances, both playing SG specials. ‘69 also saw the introduction of a three-piece layered wood neck, as opposed to the one piece that preceded it.
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It all interests him, from the history of acoustic guitars, to the latest Bluetooth headphones, to his (ever-growing) collection of vinyl records. As with any guitar, your personal connection with the instrument is what matters most. It’s hard to say what is the best year to buy an SG from, and which years you must certainly avoid, because everybody and their playing style is different. At the tail end of 1969, Gibson’s parent company CMI (Chicago Musical Instruments) was taken over by ECL, a South American brewing conglomerate. It was still run by CMI, through ECL, up until 1974, where it became a subsidiary of Norlin Musical Instruments. Norlin immediately sought to make cost-cutting and modernizing changes to the production of all Gibson guitars, the SG included.
Gibson Tony Iommi SG Special
It features BurstBucker Pro pickups made with stronger magnets—Alnico V vs. Alnico II— that are fatter and edgier than a vintage P.A.F, and altogether quieter, too. A 24-fret neck makes the SG Modern a best-bet for metal and hard rock; its asymmetrical profile follows the natural contours of your hand for playing comfort. The compound radius ebony fingerboard is rounder by the nut for chording ease, but flatter at higher registers for soloing speed. Based in Nashville, the Gibson Custom Shop creates instruments made to exacting detail by the company’s most skilled luthiers. Some upper-end models offer unique finish options, hardware matches, one-off designs and more. In any case, with a Gibson Custom SG, you’ll own the best of the best.
Today Gibson makes a slew of SG models, from historic reissues that capture the magic of the original to contemporary versions that are perfect for modern shredders. The Gibson SG Standard ’61 Faded Maestro is essentially the same guitar as our top pick, but this time in a “faded” finish. After a very short period of time, this satin nitrocellulose lacquer will start to look played in, giving the SG a vintage feel – something that would take years on the full gloss version. As you’d expect, the SG Standard ’61 follows the tried and tested formula that made the initial guitars so beloved. The SlimTaper mahogany neck is a joy to play, while the bound rosewood fingerboard has beautifully rolled edges, making it one of the most comfortable necks Gibson presents.
Now, while it’s fair to say that this duo of guitars are two sides of the same Gibson-shaped coin, they do offer their own unique spin on the dual humbucker formula you’ve come to expect from the Nashville guitar titan. Epiphone’s Modern Collection pairs classic style examples of itemized deductions with player-friendly features like faster necks and updated fits and finishes. Her guitar might have appeared angelic, but when it came to the gospels, she rocked them raw. The Gibson Custom 60th Anniversary 1961 SG Les Paul Custom VOS is a revelation in classic white with gold hardware. Move the Sideways Vibrola bar out of the way if you’re not feeling it, but when the spirit hits you, you have to shake that thing. Gibson has made artist models guitars since 1927’s Nick Lucas Special.
The 1963 Les Paul SG Custom with Maestro Vibrola stands out as a pinnacle of vintage-inspired craftsmanship. Of course, this instrument plays exceptionally well thanks to the SlimTaper one-piece mahogany neck with bound ebony 12” fretboard with Medium Jump frets. Wired with CTS pots, Mallory caps, and a Switchcraft toggle switch, this instrument promises an authentic vintage experience. The Gibson SG Standard ’61 replicates the first SG-style guitar out of the gate. That includes a mahogany body, mahogany neck and rosewood fretboard with acrylic trapezoid inlays.
We’ve always loved a black SG, believing that the sleek, dark hues and high gloss finish complement the SG’s bevelled edges and countless contours, and this Epiphone is no exception. While this finish may not be nitrocellulose like its big brother, it does have a rather impressive shine, resulting in an expensive look for this budget-friendly instrument. Due to the high demand for both SGs and Les Pauls, the company was manufacturing guitars at a high rate and level of quality.
If you change the Ship-To country, some orall of the items in your cart may not ship to thenew destination. Daryl is also a fully qualified sound engineer, holding a first-class Bachelor’s degree in Creative Sound Production from the University of Abertay. So, if you are looking for a no-nonsense approach to the SG design, then you’ll most definitely want to grab the Gibson SG Junior. Okay, so now we turn to see what the folks over at the Gibson Custom shop have been cooking up. Top of the line in ’63 – and today – this Custom Shop reissue has been painstakingly recreated using Gibson’s traditional building methods and is easily one of the best Gibson guitars money can buy. Coming from Gibson’s aptly named Original Collection, the SG Standard ’61 comes in a few slight variations.