| Gibson SG Special | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Gibson |
| Period | 1961–present |
| Construction | |
| Body type | Solid |
| Neck joint | Set |
| Scale | 24.75" |
| Woods | |
| Body | Mahogany |
| Neck | Mahogany |
| Fretboard | 22 fret - Ebony or Rosewood |
| Hardware | |
| Bridge | Fixed |
| Pickup(s) | Original/Classic: P-90 Humbucker model: 490T (bridge) / 490R (neck) |
| Colors available | |
| Cherry, white, brown (P90 models); cherry, ebony, worn cherry, worn brown (current) | |
The Gibson SG Special is an electric guitar made by Gibson that has been manufactured since 1961.
Contents |
The SG Special was between the Junior and Standard model and was introduced concurrent with the Junior. It featured two P-90 pickups with either a stoptail bridge or an optional tremolo arm. On this mid-level SG model, Gibson kept the neck binding but used dot inlays in place of the trapezoid position markers of the standard model and did not use the crown inlay on the headstock. With various minor changes, this model was produced through 1990. This model resurrected in 1995 as the SG Classic.
The influence of the P90 equipped SG's of the late 60's and later reissues (such as the SG classic - a modern reissue of the late 60's SG Special) have spanned the rock genre and have notably been played by the likes of Pete Townshend (The Who: late 60's SG Specials), Allison Robertson (The Donna's - Gold Medal: SG Classic with rare Walnut finish), Davey Lane (The Pictures, You Am I: SG Classic finished in Cherry), Billy Lunn (The Subways: SG Special finished in Black) and Carlos Santana (Santana: SG Special finished in Dark Cherry)
Recent models of the Gibson SG Special represent a value oriented model in their product line-up. Typically, it does not include the stylized neck binding of other models, or mother-of-pearl, trapezoid fret inlays. The wraparound stoptail bridge has been replaced with Gibson's standard Tune-O-Matic arrangement on the Classic and Special reissues, while the reissue of the Junior retains the original one-piece bridge. Most SG Specials (like their Standard counterpart) have a volume and tone knob for each pickup and a 3-way selector switch. From 1983 to 1988, a simpler three-knob model was produced. Gibson has taken cost one step further with the faded series which has a more rough and lesser finished stained body.
The SG shown in photo is likely a 1998 thru 2001 SG Special Limited Edition and shown with ebony fingerboard,gold hardware and a limited run Creme color