In 2023 Gibson introduced a slew of vibrant new color options to the stopbar model, including Silver Mist, Pelham Blue and Translucent Teal among other eye-catching finishes. One of the most exciting guitars in this collection is the 1961 Les Paul SG Standard, a collaboration between Epiphone and Gibson Custom. It has a 2-piece mahogany body—there’s no veneer here—with deeper bevels; the mahogany neck has hand-rolled fretboard edges, making it turbotax live feel as comfortable as an old baseball glove. One of the joys of a vintage SG is that the humbuckers didn’t always have a matching number of windings. That’s repeated on this Epiphone—the neck Burstbucker is medium output, while the bridge is overwound and hotter.
Gibson itself has a long history, complete with various changes of leadership and designs. During these turbulent years, the manufacturing standards of the SG fluctuated, meaning models from some eras are more desirable than others. The SG (standing for ‘solid-body guitar’) is Gibson’s best-selling model – ever. It has been in production ever since its inception, with various modifications and changes over the years.
While it sticks to the typical mahogany body of the original, it forgoes the mahogany neck for maple, resulting in a different feel – that said, it’s arguably a stronger design. Gibson have have injected the Standard model with a new lease of life to keep it rocking for years to come. Versatile specs including a Mahogany double-bill, plus Gibson’s 490 pickups for added bite compared to PAF-style pickups. Admittedly, this is a very minor qualm, and a slight adjustment of the presence control on your amplifier would quickly rectify the issue.
Gibson SG vs Gibson Les Paul: A brief history
Burstbucker 61R/T pickups have unbalanced coils, matching vintage humbuckers that were wound without a counter. Expect an edgier top end and an overall brighter sound—think “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC—Burstbuckers can scream. This SG is available with a stopbar tailpiece, or two different vibrato systems.
You can’t miss the bigger batwing pickguard, or the 490R/T humbuckers that conjure the rock-oriented aggressive tones of the late ’60s. This SG Standard comes with Grover Rotomatic tuners and a Nashville bridge, offering a fuller range of saddle movement for enhanced intonation. As with the Standard ’61 model, in late 2023 Gibson introduced a host of new color options including a striking Cardinal Red Burst, classic TV Yellow and always eye-catching Pelham Blue Burst. Due to where the neck joins the body, the SG grants you access to all 22 frets with almost no obstructions. This can lead the SG to feel a little off-kilter, as though the neck is way longer than a normal Gibson. With major types of recording transactions effortless playability and a fierce, fiery tone, this Epiphone SG delivers the larger-than-life sound of a rock icon with the added bonus of a modest price tag.
For us, it’s the perfect balance between not too thin and too narrow, which results in a very enjoyable playing experience. While it feels nothing like our SG Standard, it’s a dead ringer for our Gibson ’61 Special reissue. The SG Tribute from Gibson’s Modern Collection delivers the huge rock tones you’ve come to expect from the SG, just at a more affordable price. Boasting open-coil 490R and 490T humbucking pickups, a maple neck and a satin nitrocellulose finish this SG is a steal at this price. From their drop-dead gorgeous looks, gut-punching tone and effortless playability, these guitars are as much a part of the genre as leather jackets, questionable tattoos and too much drinking.
Best Gibson SGs: Product guide
Sometimes a vintage Gibson SG can be worth its weight in gold, especially if all the specs are correct. Before offering up an instrument, we thoroughly inspect it to spot repairs, modifications, refinishes or anything not original. But keep in mind that a guitar doesn’t have to be 100% original to play and sound superb. Our vintage team is just as excited about SGs as you; rest assured that we’ll do the work to ensure that there are no surprises. The Epiphone SG Special (P-90) sports a pair of soapbar-style single coils that are wax-potted and made with vintage-spec’d braided, two-conductor wire.
Modern touches include high-ratio Epiphone deluxe tuners and a neck with rolled edges for comfort. While you might not want to tune down to C# and play with leather thimbles, the Gibson Tony Iommi SG Special is one way to capture that Sabbath sound. Based on his highly-modified original, it comes with a pair of high-output P-90s and a rounded profile bound mahogany neck. It’s instant “War Pigs,” making this signature Tony Iommi guitar a great one for ’70s-style hard rock. The Gibson SG Modern breaks the mold with an AA flame maple top, a feature normally found on Les Paul Standard.
Who Plays an SG?
In 1958, Gibson made small but important updates to the Les Paul Junior and TV models, adding rounded double cutaways. Other designs that year were more radical, like the futuristic Explorer and Flying V, but Gibson only shipped 19 and 81 respectively in 1958 and discontinued both models in 1959. Some are loaded with the retro-sounding 60s Burstbuckers, while others opt for the Alnico 3 Custombuckers, modern Burstbucker Pro + or even P-90s.
Okay, so let’s finally get into the main points of difference between these two classic guitars, starting with the construction. Now, with these both being Gibson guitars, they actually share a lot of similar traits. The Epiphone SG Standard ’60s takes inspiration from the debut 1961 Gibson Les Paul/SG.
- Coming loaded with a set of the Epiphone Alnico Classic Pro humbuckers – with CTS pots – this guitar delivers all the filthy mid-range you demand from an SG and more!
- A major positive upgrade, however, was the switch in 1973 from the old ‘side-to-side’ Maestro vibrato to the Bigsby, a popular and reliable tremolo arm.
- In late ‘66, early ‘67, changes began to be made to the SG following the departure of Ted McCarty.
- This dual P-90 classic from Gibson’s distinctly retro Original Collection now comes in a choice of four ’60s-style gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finishes – Faded Pelham Blue, Vintage Sparkling Burgundy, Vintage Cherry and Ebony.
This invariably changed the tonality of the guitar, with many claiming the sound became fatter, with more mid-range frequencies now accessible. These models sold well, and inspired the release of further variations such as the SG TV, the SG Junior, and the SG Special. The SG specials were finished in the classic cherry red that has become synonymous with the model, and the slightly less popular cream version. The SG began its official life as two different models – the SG Standard and the SG Custom. The custom was especially high-end, featuring gold plated hardware, pearl inlays, and three pickups. This change in design meant these new models were significantly faster and therefore cheaper to produce.
The duo of soapbar P-90s provides a broad base of tone with a virtually endless array of further possibilities available via the guitar’s hand-wired volume and tone controls. While its flashier, flame-topped brother is often thought of as the poster child for the brand, the SG has an enduring presence in the Gibson catalog, having never been out of production since it hit the scene in 1961. Today the Gibson SG’s legacy is celebrated with a slew of era-specific reissues, modern updates and affordable variations – meaning there’s most definitely an SG out there for everyone. As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel.
The SG Special Satin E1 has a lightweight poplar body with a mahogany veneer, plus the same set of scorching pickups. Whether it’s a first guitar, couch guitar, backup, or one to mod or ease the transition from acoustic to electric, these Epiphones have a remarkable value. The AC/DC rocker plays (and slays) a ’68 SG with larger-than-life tones. Epiphone’s SG Standard is just as capable with Alnico Classic PRO pickups that get grittier at higher volumes. Young’s wicked vibrato comes from his hands, not hardware; this SG keeps strings stable with a LockTone Stop Bar and tune-o-matic bridge.
If you are looking for a full-fat sound with plenty of body and sustain, then the LP is the guitar for you. The SG has noticeably less low-end, but what it lacks in bass frequencies, it more than makes up for in mid-range bark. Ideal for cutting through dense mixes, the SG has become very popular with players who need to be heard over hard-hitting drums, thunderous bass and a maxed-out rhythm guitar. In ’61, Gibson made the radical decision to completely redesign the LP from the ground up, transforming their singlecut staple into the devil-horned double-cutaway guitar we now call the SG. The guitar was a hit and Gibson now had a formidable foe to the Stratocaster, which had become exceptionally popular in recent years. If you dislike the sheen of a new instrument but don’t want to go the full relic route, this is the SG to get.