Axes – Gibson SG

In 1972 I traded my Rickenbacker 331 LightShow for a 1969 Gibson SG, complete with a tremolo arm. I really liked this axe because it was easy to play and the humbuckers’ sustain was more than I had ever experienced from previous guitars.

Here’s what I found out about this guitar. Because the Les Paul guitar was not selling well in 1960 the Gibson guys decided to try a new body style. This one was thinner and had two sharp cutaway horns allowing you to play 24 frets clear of the body because the neck joint was moved up. Because the neck was thin and the joint flush with the body the new guitar was advertised as having the “fastest neck in the world” and, in Gibson’s favor, cost less to produce than the Les Paul.

This new Les Paul was popular with all but Les Paul himself who wanted his name taken off the guitar. Not wishing to offend its big name Gibson renamed the model the “SG, “short for “solid guitar.” However, Les Paul’s name appeared on the guitar up to 1963.

Because of it’s solid mahogany body and neck the vibrations were consistent from the machine heads to the tailpiece. When you play it without amplification you can feel the vibrations more than you can on an unamplified Les Paul or Stratocaster. That was why I got great sustain from the guitar without the effects kicking in.

Jimmy Page used a double-neck SG, 6 string and 12 string for Stairway to Heaven and the SG style of twin-neck has been the standard ever since.