Gibson SG

The Gibson SG is a model of solid-bodied electric guitar.

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In mid 1960, the Gibson Guitar Corporation felt that the Les Paul signature model, introduced in 1952, had outlived its usefulness, and decided to change the design. The new guitar was officially issued in the 1961 model year as a Les Paul signature model. The new design was intended to compete with the double cutaway Fender Stratocaster. Les Paul's endorsement contract with Gibson lapsed in 1962, and the guitar was renamed the 'SG,' (an abbreviation for 'solid guitar,' according to Gibson's website) by the end of the 1963 model year. The 1961-63 Custom models did not say 'SG',

Related Topics:
1960 - Gibson Guitar Corporation - Les Paul - 1952 - 1961 - Fender Stratocaster - 1962 - 1963

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but they did, however have a Les Paul signature between the neck and the neck pickup. The Standards have a Les Paul engraved truss rod cover from '61 to early '63. Models produced between 1961 and 1965 have a smaller pickguard; most standard models produced after 1965 have the large pickguard, which wraps around the pickups on the guitar body (though re-issues and variants of the small pickguard SG are still available).

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Like the Les Paul model, the SG was available in Standard and Custom models. The SG shape was also offered in a Junior model similar to the Les Paul Junior before it. This model had a single "dogear" P-90 pickup and and an optional vibrato system. The SG Special was introduced not long after, which featured two P-90 pickups and the optional vibrato. The SG Special was the guitar of choice for Pete Townshend of The Who during the "Tommy" era. Carlos Santana also played an SG Special at Woodstock in 1969.

Related Topics:
Pete Townshend - The Who - Tommy - Carlos Santana

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Physically, the SG has a shallower body than the Les Paul, and thus is much lighter; the neck profile is also typically shallower, although this varies from year to year and guitar to guitar. The body is made entirely of mahogany, and does not have the curved, maple top section of the earlier design; neither does it have the accompanying binding. Perhaps the most striking visual difference is that the SG is a double-cutaway instrument. The standard SG shares the basic electrical layout (twin humbuckers with dedicated tone and volume controls, three position selector switch) with the standard Les Paul.

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The SG series sounds different from the Les Paul series, but not inferior in the least. While the original Les Paul was designed as primarily a jazz guitar, the SG lent itself more easily to the rock 'n' roll of the immediate pre-Beatles era, and later, to the distorted rhythm sound of heavy rock. It's a more woody, yet treblier guitar that has a fine balance of tones. The SG series has remained popular since its introduction, even though the original Les Paul series was reintroduced in the late 1960s.

Related Topics:
Jazz - Rock 'n' roll - Beatles - Heavy rock

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Gibson now offers many variations and finishes on the basic SG body style, including models such as Voodoo, Special, Supreme, Angus Young Special, Faded, and Gothic.

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Famous players of the SG include George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Robby Krieger,

Related Topics:
George Harrison - Eric Clapton - Robby Krieger

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Pete Townshend, Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Garcia, Frank Zappa, Frank Marino, Mick Box, Angus Young, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Page, Tony Iommi, Bill Frisell, Daron Malakian,Billy Lunn, Keith Richards, Hank Williams, Jr., Link Wray, Gary Rossington, Dave McPherson, Glenn Tipton, K.K. Downing, John Frusciante, Carlos Santana, Pepper Keenan, Woody Weatherman,

Related Topics:
Pete Townshend - Jimi Hendrix - Jerry Garcia - Frank Zappa - Frank Marino - Mick Box - Angus Young - Buddy Guy - Jimmy Page - Tony Iommi - Bill Frisell - Daron Malakian - Billy Lunn - Keith Richards - Hank Williams, Jr. - Link Wray - Gary Rossington - Dave McPherson - Glenn Tipton - K.K. Downing - John Frusciante - Carlos Santana - Pepper Keenan - Woody Weatherman

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John McLaughlin, Mike Oldfield, Layne Staley, Mikko Viljami Lindström, Adrian Smith, Mikael Åkerfeldt, Kim Thayil, Daniel Johns, Ed Kuepper, Ian MacKaye, Eddie Vedder, Bernard Sumner and Moby.

Related Topics:
John McLaughlin - Mike Oldfield - Layne Staley - Mikko Viljami Lindström - Adrian Smith - Mikael Åkerfeldt - Kim Thayil - Daniel Johns - Ed Kuepper - Ian MacKaye - Eddie Vedder - Bernard Sumner - Moby

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