Gibson SG Special
Encyclopedia
The Gibson SG Special is an electric guitar
made by Gibson
that has been manufactured since 1961.
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)
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
made by Gibson
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
that has been manufactured since 1961.
Origins
The SG Special was between the JuniorGibson SG Junior
The Gibson SG Junior was a solid-bodied electric guitar manufactured by Gibson from the early 1960s to the late 60s. Like its earlier sister, the Gibson Les Paul Junior, it had been created for sale to anyone who wanted Gibson quality for a cheap price. It is known for its single P-90 treble...
and Standard
Gibson SG
At the launch of the SG in 1961, Gibson offered four variants of the SG; the SG Junior , the SG Special, the SG Standard, and the top-of-the-line SG Custom. However, Gibson's current core variants as of 2010 are the SG Standard and the SG Special...
model and was introduced concurrent with the Junior. It featured two P-90
P-90
The P-90 is a single coil electric guitar pickup produced by Gibson since 1946. Having a more complex architecture and larger dimensions than Fender's single coils, it is occasionally mistaken for a humbucker.- History :...
pickups with either a stoptail bridge
Stoptail bridge
A stoptail bridge used on a solid body electric guitar or archtop guitar is a specialized kind of fixed hard-tail 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
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
(The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
: late 60's SG Specials), Allison Robertson
Allison Robertson
Allison Rae Robertson is the guitarist for rock band The Donnas.-Early life:Allison Robertson was born on August 26, 1979, in North Hollywood, California. She comes from a very musical family. Her father is musician Baxter Robertson who wrote the track "Feel The Night" on the Karate Kid Soundtrack...
(The Donna's - Gold Medal: SG Classic with rare Walnut finish), Davey Lane
Davey Lane
David Lane, also known as Davey Lane , is an Australian musician, lead guitarist of You Am I , and frontman of The Pictures...
(The Pictures
The Pictures
The Pictures are an Australian alternative rock band based in Melbourne, Victoria. The band is led by Davey Lane, the lead guitarist of Australian alternative rock band You Am I. To date, the Pictures have released two studio albums, as well as three EPs...
, You Am I
You Am I
You Am I are an Australian alternative rock band, fronted by vocalist/guitarist and main songwriter Tim Rogers. They were the first Australian band to have three albums successively debut at #1 on the ARIA Charts, and are renowned for their live performances.-History:Tim Rogers formed the first...
: SG Classic finished in Cherry), Billy Lunn (The Subways
The Subways
The Subways are an English alternative rock / indie rock band. Their debut album, Young For Eternity, was released on 4 July 2005 in the UK and February 14, 2006 in the U.S. Their second album, All or Nothing, was released on 30 June 2008 and their third album Money and Celebrity debuted on the...
: SG Special finished in Black) and Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
(Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
: SG Special finished in Dark Cherry)