Part devil, part classic, the Gibson SG Standard is the best selling Gibson guitar of all time and features a '50s rounded neck, Gibson 490R and 498T pickups and a mahogany body.
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The SG Standard -- a radically designed beast even by today's MTV and Internet desensitized standards -- was set forth to be a complete replacement for the Gibson Les Paul. In 1961, Gibson worked to reinvent their brand and image, and the SG Standard was the fruit of that labor. Evidently they were onto something, as the SG body style has remained in production since that first run, making the SG Standard the best-selling Gibson guitar of all time.
Classic SG Specifications
The features found in the Gibson SG Standard are a well thought-out combination of form, function, and ferocity. Though one might argue that a jazz cat could get down on an SG, you'd be hard-pressed to find many notable ones that do. These guitars are really a rock guitarist's dream, and were designed from day one with that in mind. The mahogany body and neck combined with a bound rosewood fretboard coalesce to create beautiful tones rich in sustain, especially expressive in the upper-mids with complex overtones, topped off with a touch of class thanks to the trapezoidal fretboard inlays. The dual volume knobs, dual tone knobs, and 3-way selector switch allow you to play tonal wizard with the controls, and the rounded profile on the 24 and 3/4-inch scale neck with 1 and 11/16-inch nut width are exactly what you need to turn this guitar into your scepter of sound. Finally, the chrome tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece add enough stability for even the heaviest of shredders.
Check out this video from Gibson showcasing the SG Standard:
Extras, Extras, Read All About 'Em!
What would an American-made Gibson be without a way to get it to and from the gig? As you might expect, the SG Standard includes a hardshell Gibson case, with a silkscreened Gibson logo adorning the top. With a guitar as affordable as this SG is, one might think that Gibson skimped on the electronics, but skimp they did not: this guitar includes Gibson 490R and 498T pickups in the neck and bridge positions, respectively. Have you ever heard of a little thing called PAFs? Well, these are as close as you're going to get to their creamy, biting tone without gutting that priceless '59 Les Paul Standard at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Finally, each SG Standard comes laced up with a fresh set of Gibson Brite Wires, gauged .010-.046, perfect for grimy leads and colorful chording.
Features:
- Hot 490R humbucker at neck and 498T at bridge -- outstanding rock pickups
- Classic SG design with comfortable body and excellent upper-fret access
- Mahogany body and neck connected with sturdy tenon joint
- Gibson tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
- Grover kluson-style green tuners
- Included hardshell case
Legendary Guitars for Legendary Players
Angus Young of AC/DC fame (who is so readily identified with the SG that he even had his own signature model developed) might be the most recognizable face in the SG-toting crowd, but he is certainly not alone. Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Robby Kreiger of the Doors, Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, Frank Zappa, Eric Clapton during his Cream years, Pete Townsend of The Who, Elliot Easton of the Cars, Thom Yorke of Radiohead... all SG devotees during all or parts of their career. That's a list that really speaks for itself.
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Body Body Style: SG
Body Species: Mahogany
Hardware Plating Finish: Chrome
Tailpiece: Gibson Stop Bar
Bridge: Gibson Tune-O-Matic
Tuners: Grover Kluson Style Green Keys
Electronics Neck Pickup: 490R
Bridge Pickup: 498T
Pickup Covers: Yes
Controls: 2 Volume - 2 Tone - 3-Way Toggle
Control Knobs: Black Tophats with Silver Inserts
Control Pocket Cover: Black Molded
Special Features: Quick-Connect Control Pocket Assembly
Neck Species: Mahogany
Nut: Corian
Nut Width: Standard Gibson: 1.695" +/- .050"
Headstock Inlay: Mother of Pearl Gibson Logo + Holly
Instantly recognizable. The backbone of rock and roll. The ultimate conduit between the music in your head and the sound coming out of your amp. Gibson's best-selling SG Standard shatters all perceptions of what an electric guitar can -- and should -- be. The slim, lightweight mahogany body; unmistakable twin cutaways, pointed horns and beveled edges; the fastest neck in the business; a pair of Gibson's screamin' humbucker pickups -- all irresistible features coveted by some of the greatest guitar players of all-time. Various SG models have been played on-stage by the likes of Pete Townshend, Angus Young, Tony Iommi, Robby Krieger, Chris Robinson, Alex Lifeson, Derek Trucks, Elliot Easton, Jim James, Jeff Tweedy, Moby, Keith Urban, Nick Jonas, Rocco DeLuca. The list is unbelievable. When will you add your name to the list?
Available Finishes
Take your pick between two gorgeous, time-honored finishes -- Heritage Cherry or Ebony -- both of which are applied by hand in a process that demands several coats and many hours. Unlike a lot of of our competitors, who settle for a polyurethane finish, Gibson opts for a nitrocellulose finish that will encourage the natural vibration of the instrument for a purer tone. In addition, a nitro finish is very porous and actually gets thinner over time. That way your guitar's wood can breathe and age beautifully.
Exquisite mother-of pearl and acrylic inlays make this guitar a knock-out
Among other key distinctions, the SG Standard stands out from its no-frills kid sister, the SG Special, because of the fine mother-of-pearl Gibson logo and holly inlays that decorate its headstock. The SG Standard also boasts figured acrylic trapezoid inlays along its rosewood fingerboard.
A meaty neck profile with elegant fingerboard binding
The most distinguishable neck of all-time. The traditional '50s neck profile on the SG Standard is hand-sanded by American craftsmen to give you a comfortably thick, round profile that emulates the neck shapes of the iconic late '50s Gibson models. The cherry on top is the stunning antique cream binding that runs along the fingerboard.
Hot chrome pickups dole out a searing modern sound
Gibson's 490R and 498T pickups ("R" for rhythm and "T" for treble) are Gibson's most versatile pickups. These covered humbuckers give you the tonal characteristics of an original PAF, but with a slight increase in upper mid-range response. The Gibson 498T bridge pickup is the perfect complement for the 490R, giving you a hotter sound with emphasis on mid-ranges and highs.
Resonant set-neck construction leaves our competitors in the dust
Better tone, better sustain and no loose or misaligned necks. That's what distinguishes the neck of the SG Standard from those of most of our competitors, who opt for bolt-on necks. The neck on the SG Standard is glued on by hand to ensure maximum contact between the neck and body. This allows the neck and body of your guitar to function as a single, incredibly resonant unit.
'50s Rounded Neck Profile
No guitar neck profiles are more distinguishable than the neck profiles employed on the Gibson models of today. The more traditional '50s neck profile--found on the SG Standard--is the thicker, rounder, more time-honored profile, emulating the neck shapes of the iconic late '50s Gibson models. The neck is machined in Gibson's rough mill using wood shapers to make the initial cuts. But once the fingerboard gets glued on, the rest--including the final sanding--is done by hand. That means there are no two necks with the exact same dimensions. So while it still has the basic characteristics of its respective profile, each neck will be slightly different, with a distinct but traditional feel.
Set-Neck Construction
Like all classic Gibson guitars, the necks on Les Pauls and SGs are distinguished by one of the more traditional features that have always set them apart--a glued neck joint. Gluing the neck to the body of the guitar ensures a "wood-to-wood" contact, no air space in the neck cavity, and maximum contact between the neck and body, allowing the neck and body to function as a single unit. The result? Better tone, better sustain, and no loose or misaligned necks.
GIBSON'S 490R AND 498T PICKUPS
The mid to late 1960s saw the emergence of a very different type of music coming from the clubs of England. This new genre's players were demanding more powerful amplifiers with increased volume outputs to satisfy their sonic explorations. This led to a call for a more versatile pickup, and Gibson answered the call with the 490T and 490R pickups ("T" for treble, and "R" for rhythm), humbuckers with the tonal characteristics of an original PAF, but with a slight increase in upper mid-range response. The Gibson 498T bridge pickup is the 490's ideal complement. Taking the 490 one step further, the 498 swaps the Alnico II magnet to an Alnico V, thus making it slightly hotter with emphasis on mid-ranges and highs. The pole pieces on the 498T are also aligned a little further apart to accommodate the spacing of the strings at the bridge, which is different than the spacing of the strings at the neck.
Solid Mahogany Body
Probably the most central of all SG features is its solid mahogany body. The mahogany goes through the same rigorous selection process as all of Gibson's woods, and is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson's team of skilled wood experts before it enters the factories. Inside the Gibson factories, humidity is maintained at 45 percent, and the temperature at 70 degrees. This ensures all woods are dried to a level of "equilibrium," where the moisture content does not change during the manufacturing process. This guarantees tight-fitting joints and no expansion, and controls the shrinkage and warping of the woods, in addition to reducing the weight. It also improves the woods' machinability and finishing properties. Consistent moisture content means that the SG will respond evenly to temperature and humidity changes long after it leaves the factory.
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"You can't go wrong with an SG - I love my new girl!!"
Sound:
Of all the electric solid body guitars I have owned or borrowed during my career as a live performer, with the exception of a Les Paul, the SG leaves all the rest in the dust. In fact I was shopping for a Les Paul Standard with the asymmetrical neck (my favorite Gibson neck), but remembered how much my shoulder hurt after a gig playing a Les Paul. My SG Standard is 7.5 pounds, and honesty, even it begins to get heavy after a while, so this was the right choice for me as far as Les Paul vs. SG weight goes. The other thing that I really prefer with the SG compared to the LP is the double cutaway. Access to the upper frets is very comfortable on my hand.
I am blown away with the sound of the SG, even unplugged. Between two pickups and four knobs combined with a good amp, the SG is easily the only guitar I need. I play mostly covers so as you guys and gals know, a working cover band's repertoire runs the gamut of necessary tones. Sweet clean sounds, in your face crunchy Angus Young "tear 'em a new one" sounds, even all the different pop stuff we have to play. I am and always have been a rocker and my SG has become my holy grail of guitars.
Feature:
Accessories included a hard shell case lined with thick white plush. I really like how snug the guitar fits into the mold of the plush. You have to gently push the guitar into the mold, so you have some peace of mind knowing that the case is not going to let the SG move at all while you're hauling her back and forth to gigs and rehearsals. Other than that, just the warranty and a little booklet were included.
If tuners could be considered an accessory, I would prefer something a little more secure than the "Grover Kluson Style Green Keys" (according to Gibson's specs) even though the tuners have "Gibson Deluxe" imprinted on them. From a strictly cosmetic view, I would prefer either chrome or pearloid tuners, but that's just me.
The pickups are much better than I expected. Lots of versatility between the 490R neck pickup and the 498T bridge pickup. Who knows, I may swap out hotter pickups in the future, but these two really kick ass. All the chrome hardware is gorgeous.
Ease of Use:
There is a bit of a learning curve with the sounds you can get out of this baby. But isn't that part of the fun?? I tend to use both pickups on most sounds, and honestly, am still dinking around with tones. Controls are quite user friendly.
I love, love, love the neck. Prior to test driving the Les Paul's, I was sure I would prefer a 60's slim neck, since my hands are smaller than most men's (yes, female player her), and wow, was I wrong! The 50's profile neck is perfect and it really feels like it was custom made for my hand. Like I said, the only other Gibson neck I liked was the asymmetrical neck on the 2008 Les Paul Standard, and that would have been kick ass to have on the SG, but I am happy with the 50's profile. Definitely check out the necks before you buy.
Quality:
There are no photos that do this axe any justice; you just have to go see one in person. The contoured beveling is freakling amazing. Mine is the heritage cherry with beautiful grain on the mahogany.
Here's something I didn't know, and from reading some of the online forums, other people didn't know: solid mahogany does not mean one slab of mahogany. In other words, my SG body is actually two pieces glued together. About 3/4 of the body is one piece, and then of course the other piece is about 1/4 of the body. Gibson did a hell of a job matching the grain in the front of the guitar, and on the back the seam is somewhat noticeable in bright light. I did not see this in the store and should have taken the SG outside to get a better look in the sunlight. I didn't even notice it until the second day after I purchased the SG, and it really bothered me at first, because I thought I got an "irregular" guitar. Turns out after speaking to a Gibson rep, only the SG's made in the Customer Shop are made of one piece or slab of mahogany. Once I learned that from Gibson, I got over it and now it doesn't bother me. It does bother me that Gibson doesn't specify this in the specs. It should say two-piece or multi piece body. I guess some owners have SG Standards that are made up of three pieces. The reason I've been told is that this type of mahogany is getting harder to come by, and their excuse was they were trying to be a "green" company. Hmmm...
One of the top hat control knobs was kind of off kilter but I had a tech straighten it out.
Other than these issues, it is a beautiful handmade instrument.
Value:
I lucked out and got a killer price due to buying it two days before 2010, and took advantage of year end inventory clearance. But, I still think the online pricing you will find is priced reasonably, especially considering this is a handmande guitar, and made here in the USA.
Manufacturer Support:
I contacted Gibson twice about the one-slab vs. multi slab issue, once by phone and once by email. Here's the email I received:
Thank you for writing, and congratulations on your new guitar! SG Standard models will have multi-piece bodies. One-piece body SG models will usually only be found on Custom Shop and Historic Reissue models. You can view our SG Standard on our web page, which shows the 2-piece body: http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/SG/Gibson-USA/SG-Standard.aspx
Thank you for the inquiry, and I hope this helps!
Best regards,
Benton Cummings
Gibson Customer Service
1-800-4GIBSON
service@gibson.com
You can fill out your warranty information online instead of sending in the little card that comes with the SG.
Oh, and I love the thick Tennessee accent of the rep I spoke with!
The Wow Factor:
Like I said above, the streamlined contoured beveling around the outline of the body is quite seductive. The SG feels great against my body when standing. I found myself resting my left hand inside the bottom "horn" when not playing. I love the design, the color, the woodgrain, the curves, etc. By the way, I think she looks more like a bat than a devil, but, that's just me.
Overall:
The SG with the quilted maple top would be SWEET, but completely out of my price range. Maybe a Les Paul in the future. If I lost it or it was stolen (yes, I have had this happen and it sucks ass) I would replace her. The most I like about it: the neck; the least I like about is: the tuners.
Style of Music: All types of covers, mostly rock
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"My life as an SG - by Mark Twain"
Sound:
I've found this guitar as one of the "go to" guitars while recording. It has a natural rythym sound that, when paired next to a Fender, make most any rawk song complete. I've personally used it on over 5 records as both a rythym and lead guitar, and find myself using it all the time. Next to my G&L ASAT Classic (READ: Telecaster), I use it the most - over my 1978 Les Paul Custom AND my 2 American Fender Strat Standard guitars.
The neck is shallow, yet wide, which makes playing a bit easier than most Fenders because there's more room between each string for your fingers to rest. The action is great, fast, and the output is hot - but not over the top. What a great guitar!
Feature:
How good can features get on a guitar? 2 volume, 2 tone, and a 3-way switch. It does what you need
Quality:
The finish and the quality is excellent. Many of the expensive Gibsons have a carved maple top, which adds a bit of a punch (and quite a bit of $$$). This guitar has a simple Mahogany body. Although simple, it's suprisingly light, easy to play, and feels "solid".
Value:
Gibsons, as a whole, are quality. That quality does not come without a price tag.
Manufacturer Support:
I'm not thrilled with Gibson support. When I've called with questions or needed info with ordering parts, I seem to get nowhere. For parts, they give you a list of aftermarket parts manufactures (Stuart McDonald, ect). For pre-sales questions, I get the impression that there is some guessing done on their part. I don't really get the feeling that I'm talking to someone who knows the guitars I'm asking about. The warranty is not transferable, so if you buy it, love it and keep it. But if you buy a used one, you're pretty much on your own.
The Wow Factor:
The SG feels like home. I'm not too wrapped up in guitar cosmetics, but the simple SG Standard looks great. Single-ply binding on the neck, the traditional Gibson headstock, and the 2 horns that give the guitar a "rock-n-roll" look.
Overall:
If my SG was ever lost or stolen, I'd go out and get another. It doesn't need any mods - sounds great out of the box. I personally would get the action lowered a hair, but other than that, it's exactly what I need in a guitar. I think it's necessary. Of all the Gibsons I see people I play with or work with, I think the SG is the most underrated of all Gibsons. Don't get me wrong - it's pretty popular, but I think it lives in the shadow of the Les Paul. As far as I'm concerned, the SG is a necessity.
Style of Music: Rock, Alt-Country, and blues
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