They’re wired with CTS pots, Mallory caps, Switchcraft output jack and toggle. The Modern Collection’s Gibson SG Standard incorporates elements of an original ’66 in its build. The neck has a rounder profile than early model SGs; it joins the body at the 19th fret for enhanced stability.
Now, while you have the choice of either the Maestro Vibrola or Sideways Vibrola, we’ve decided to showcase the Tune-O-Matic version, as we believe it will appeal to the vast majority of players.
Best SG Models for Beginners
This collector greene county guitar is beautifully finished, expertly crafted and a must-have for players looking for an SG on a budget. On that note, if anyone needs us, we’ll be fumbling our way through the entirety of Back In Black. Our team comprises of music enthusiasts across the globe with extensive teaching, studio and live playing experience. Shortages meant that in order to keep up with production targets, changes had to be made once again to the design of the SG (and other models).
Gibson USA SG Standard
It featured a thinner flat-top body, a double-cutaway with contours, and a shifted neck joint for improved upper fret access. When two or more pieces of wood are properly affixed, no tonal quality is lost, and the neck is in fact stronger. The key message here is that under pressure from Norlin, Gibson workers had less time to spend on each instrument, to try and keep up with increased production demands. This may be why Gibson guitars from this era, and three-piece necks in general, have a bad reputation.
Gibson 1963 Les Paul SG Custom Reissue
Original units were fussy; fortunately, Gibson has re-engineered this Vibrola so that strings faithfully return to pitch. The nickel-plated tailpiece cover has an Art Deco look that would fit right on the Chrysler Building. The Maestro Vibrola is a mid-60s fulcrum-based design with a simpler—but just as effective—mechanism.
Museum lovers will rejoice at Singapore’s array of well-maintained and cutting-edge national museums that showcase the country’s culture and history. Completing the look are the famous “bat-wing pickguard”, trapezoid inlays, vintage style Epiphone deluxe tuners, and of course, the revised Epiphone headstock. All of these elements combine to make a gorgeous-looking guitar that is more than the sum of its parts. While this SG comes in three color options, Heritage Cherry, Alpine White and Ebony, we were excited to see that our review example arrived in a wickedly pitch-black finish.
If you want the SG look, feel and tone but don’t want to spend a fortune, the Tribute series is most definitely for you. Of course, if even that is a little too much, there are affordable Epiphone options as well. We all know that the Gibson SG is a hard rock staple, with the likes of AC/DC axeman, Angus Young and the godfather of heavy metal, Tony Iommi relying on the SG to bring power to their iconic riffs.
Sixty years after its introduction, the SG has become one of Gibson’s best-selling electric guitar of all time—and for good reason. Lighter and thinner than a Les Paul Standard or Custom, it’s a nimbler instrument and decidedly less complicated—it ditches the carved top in favor of a more utilitarian design. Introduced in 1961 as the Les Paul Standard and in 1963 as the SG Standard (more on that later), the SG, or “Solid Guitar,” has produced some of the most vital sounds of all time. This guide will help you cut through the clutter to find the best SG for you. The majority of the guitars on this list fall under the vintage reissue category, but that’s not to say that all Gibson SGs are stuffy old six-strings that can’t shred. The bold Gibson SG Modern proves that this horned devil can deliver a contemporary playing experience.
Gibson was three months from going out of business when Norlin sold it to Henry E. Juszkiewicz, David H. Berryman, and Gary A. Zebrowski in 1986. The new owners wanted to end the culture of low-production values and high turnover, and sought to bring the prestige back to Gibson. Around 1965, chrome hardware replaced the previously used nickel fittings. Gibson would continue accrual accounting concepts and examples for business to rework and refine the Les Paul over the next few years, but unfortunately, the model just wasn’t selling as well as they had hoped – something that’s incomprehensible from our modern viewpoint. Our product catalog varies by country due to manufacturerrestrictions.
- At the same time, Les was advised not to sign a new contract with Gibson while in the middle of a messy divorce, and eventually, the Les Paul name would be removed from the new guitars.
- Further down, Clarke Quay is home to trendier clubs and watering holes; if you keep going, Robertson Quay offers a quieter enclave with a cluster of nice dining establishments and cafes.
- Luckily there is now a more affordable Gibson USA version, which makes this iconic guitar available to everyone.
- 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.
National Gallery SingaporeArrow
It was more ergonomic (if slightly demonic), especially with horns dyed Cherry Red. The body was thinner and lighter than the ’59 Les Paul Standard or Custom; it had a slimmer profile neck that joined the body at the 22nd fret, putting every note within reach. Gibson began manufacturing the two-pickup Les Paul Standard and the three-pickup Les Paul Custom in late 1960; they hit the market in 1961.
If you are in the market for the best SG, Gibson SG Standard ’61 has to be at the top of your must-try list. At the opposite end of the spectrum, we have the Gibson 1963 Les Paul SG Custom Reissue. Gibson has recreated the striking beauty of this early ’60s SG – specifically the last year the Les Paul name was used for this model – resulting in a guitar that will transport you back in time with a single strum.
To mitigate these issues, layering and chambering procedures were introduced. They did this through a return to high-quality materials, classic build specifications, and minor design changes, such as moving the neck position back to its original location away from the pickups. Another change that occurred toward the end of 1966 was the introduction of a much larger scratchplate that had the pickups fixed to it, rather than mounted into the body of the guitar. This wasn’t implemented across all models, however, until the end of the decade.
Now, if you are looking for the SG charm on a budget, the Gibson SG Tribute is the axe for you. The Tribute takes the SG back to basics with either a Vintage Cherry Satin or Natural Walnut Satin finish, a rounded maple neck and open-coil 490R and 490T pickups. Okay, it may not be the most traditionally constructed SG, but it certainly captures the spirit of this beloved guitar – and all while keeping the cost to a minimum. As space for natural landscapes and wildlife is scarce in Singapore, the Mandai Wildlife Reserve up north offers the best way to experience animal encounters in a controlled environment.