10 Facts You Didn't Know About the Gibson SG

The Gibson SG has a very interesting history! It is one of the most interesting guitars of the entire Gibson lineup!

The Gibson SG is an icon for many guitarists! Despite this model being associated directly with rock, it is used by a multitude of guitarists who play in other styles of music. The Gibson SG model started its history by completely replacing its predecessor, the Gibson Les Paul! Gibson's sales, particularly of the well-known Gibson Les Paul model, were, to put it mildly, frightening in the late 50s and early 60s, and the company was on the verge of collapse, so a decision was made to update the company's assortment with a "thin" line of guitars. Although this was partly due to market trends, as is always the case with Gibson, it featured a unique design that set it apart from its peers for many decades. 

Thin, light, and with a fast neck, the guitar immediately found its fans and created a sales boom for the company; it was called a "hellraiser" back in those days. 

Here are 10 facts about the Gibson SG that you might not have known:

1. Although production of the Gibson SG guitar was launched in 1961, the world only knew it by that name in 1963, because in 1961 it was released under the name Gibson Les Paul (this was a replacement for the Gibson Les Paul).

2. There are several stories regarding the change of the Les Paul inscription to SG: one tells that Les Paul himself was not enthusiastic about the new shape of the Gibson Les Paul (SG) and considered it dishonest to put his name on this model, as he did not support it 100%. The Gibson company itself claims that SGs were produced with the Les Paul inscription only because a lot of truss rod covers for the LP had been made, and the SGs were issued with the LP inscription until those covers ran out. In any case, the SG remains a wonderful guitar :) 

3. At the time of the launch of the Gibson SG production, there were 4 full versions with different configurations: Gibson SG Standard with nickel or chrome PAF humbuckers, the Gibson SG Junior with one P90 pickup, and the Gibson SG Special with a pair of P90s, while the fourth model was made only on order - it carried 3 PAF humbuckers with gold-plated covers, which was the most expensive model. 

 

4. Early Gibson SGs without broken headstocks are as rare as hen's teeth. The SG neck was marketed as the "fastest in the world" at the time; it was slimmer than the Les Paul neck, which made it even more vulnerable. In 1961, there were so many broken headstocks that the Gibson firm decided to "reinforce" the neck in 1962 and make it a little thicker. Later, they added a so-called "volute" - a bump on the headstock, to prevent the neck from breaking. As a result, it turned out that Gibson SG 1961 models with intact necks are almost impossible to find, even for the most avid collectors, and if such ones exist, they cost a fortune! 

5. The Gibson SG established itself as a guitar for hard rock, but why? It's all in the pickups; they were made with higher output, and the tone was "thick," rich, and powerful, especially with overdrive! In combination with the guitar's construction, which weighed significantly less than the Gibson Les Paul, the fast neck, and the powerful humbuckers - the guitar delivers a rock tone! In addition, the horns of the Gibson SG look like the devil's horns >:] 

6. The Gibson SG is the best-selling model of the company for its entire existence! But the most sought-after guitars are still the Gibson Les Paul Standard from 1958 - 1960; these are the most expensive guitars in the world, because only 1700 units were produced, and very few remain intact. For example, in the first three years, 6000 Gibson SGs were made.

7. One of the rarest Gibson SGs ever created was the SG-R1. It featured an active circuit designed by Moog and had a slightly arched body top. The series was discontinued in 1980; only about 200 units of this guitar were made at that time. They cost as much as an expensive car...

8. The most expensive Gibson SG - George Harrison and John Lennon’s ’64 model - was sold at auction for $570 000.

This guitar was almost the primary guitar of John Lennon and George Harrison and was often used in live performances by the Beatles, as well as during the recording of the White Album and the album Revolver.

9. Gibson SGs, due to fewer hassles with carving and shaping and without a maple top, unlike the LP, cost less but sound no worse :) around 1000-1300 dollars you can buy an icon of guitar building! Not bad, right?

10. Despite the fact that the Derek Trucks’s ’61 re-issue SG looks like it has a tremolo, it is actually a hardtail, and the changes were made only for a "metal" look. 

The SG is universal, iconic, easy to play, and looks incredibly cool :)