Gibson SG 61 Re-issue Electric Guitar, Heritage Cherry Review
Gibson SG 61 Re-issue Electric Guitar, Heritage Cherry Feature
- '60s Slim-Taper Neck Profile
- 57 Classic Pickups
- Solid Mahogany Body
- 22-Fret Rosewood Fingerboards
- Trapezoid Inlays
- 60s Slim-Taper Neck Profile
The Gibson SG: The Guitar That Started a Revolution.
The light bulb. Television and radio. The microwave oven. Gibson's SG Standard--all inspirations of genius that transformed the way we live. Gibson's redesign of the Les Paul in 1960 was a bold move. But it paid off big time. It announced a new, radical electric guitar design for Gibson, and the world. It also inspired a rebellious generation of ideas and music rarely experienced before, and certainly not since. Today, that same radical design--and restless spirit--lives on in Gibson's celebrated SG line. The Gibson SG '61 Reissue pays tribute to this revolutionary guitar. It's all there, in all its original glory. Transform your playing. Revolutionize your life. Buy the Gibson SG '61 Reissue today and experience your own uprising firsthand.
The Gibson SG '61 Reissue Features a '60s Slim-Taper Neck Profile
No guitar neck profiles are more distinguishable than the neck profiles employed on the Gibson models of today. The '60s neck profile--found on the SG '61 Reissue--is the more modern, slim-tapered neck most commonly associated with the Les Paul and SG models of the early 1960s. 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.
Trapezoid Inlays
The classic trapezoid inlay is one of the most distinguishable features of many traditional Gibson models, including the SG. A figured, swirl acrylic gives these inlays that classic "pearl" look. They are inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps and doesn't require the use of fillers.
TWO '57 Classic Pickups
Among the qualities that make Gibson's original "Patent Applied For" humbucking pickups so unique are the subtle variations between coil windings. For the first few years of their production--1955 to 1961--Gibson's PAF humbuckers were wound using imprecise machines, resulting in pickups with slightly different output and tone, desirable to players who wanted to mix and match and explore a complete spectrum of tonal possibilities. The '57 Classic and '57 Classic Plus pickups are the result of Gibson's drive to capture and recreate this renowned characteristic. Introduced in 1992, the '57 Classic provides warm, full tone with a balanced response, packing that classic Gibson PAF humbucker crunch. The '57 Classic Plus is the perfect bridge-position companion to the '57 Classic, inspired by those original PAFs that received a few extra turns of wire. Both are made by Gibson to the exact same specs as the original PAFs, including Alnico II magnets, nickel-plated pole pieces, nickel slugs, maple spacers, and vintage-style, two-conductor braided wiring. Instead of enamel-coated wiring, Gibson added poly-coated wiring--which improves consistency by eliminating thin or thick spots on the wire--and wax potting, which removes all internal air space and any chance of microphonic feedback.
Solid Mahogany Body
Probably the most central of all SG features is its solid mahogany body. The SG's slim mahogany body indulges players with a weight-reduced guitar alternative, with absolutely no compromises in tone, sustain, or performance. 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.
Set-Neck Construction
Like all classic Gibson guitars, the necks on 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.
The Gibson Logo
The most innovative and revolutionary stringed instruments of all time have carried the name Gibson--the Les Paul, the ES-335, the Explorer, the Flying V, the SG. The list goes on and on. There is no mistaking the classic, hand-crafted mother of pearl logo, inlayed into a pressed fiber-head veneer that is then glued to the face of the mahogany headstock. A thin coat of lacquer finishes the process. It is the most recognizable logo in all of music, representing more than a century of originality and excellence. There is simply no equal. The Gibson SG '61 Reissue Electric Guitar is so light, comfortable, and playable you won't want to put it down. Features a slim-tapered neck, sculpted double-cutaway mahogany body, exclusive Gibson '57 classic humbucking pickups at the neck and bridge, and 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with trapezoid inlays. Relive some of the greatest moments of rock 'n' roll with a one-piece bound mahogany neck, Tune-O-Matic bridge, stopbar tailpiece, and chrome hardware. Includes Gibson hardshell case.A Little SG History In 1961, the Les Paul was redesigned with a thinner body and 2 sharp cutaway horns making the upper frets more accessible while lowering production costs. The new guitar was popular, but Les Paul the guitarist did not like it and asked to have his name removed. Gibson renamed the model the "SG" which was short for "solid guitar". Though Les Paul's name was officially removed from the model in 1961, the plastic Les Paul nameplates (positioned between the rhythm pickup and fingerboard) were in abundance in the Gibson factory and SG models having these nameplates were built and sold by Gibson up to end of 1963. SGs have been the choice of world-class artists such as Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton, Tony Iommi, and Angus Young..
