Here for sale we have a Gibson Custom, Art & Historic '61 SG Special VOS in VOS Cherry Red Finish. Made in the USA in 2000, this guitar comes from one of the early iterations of what is today called the Gibson Custom Shop. Whilst Gibson have long been producing 'custom' special orders for customers & artists, it wasn't until late 1993 that a dedicated division was set up. Originally, the Custom, Art & Historic division produced historic reissues alongside special versions of USA line guitars that included unique features not available elsewhere. By 1996 the first Artist models were produced, beginning with the Joe Perry Les Paul & Ace Frehley in '97 which both went on to enjoy Gibson USA production runs. In 2007, Gibson renamed the division to simply 'Gibson Custom', simplifying its name but continuing to develop the finest & most exclusive instruments that Gibson offers.
The SG Special was introduced in 1961, and featured in the range between the SG Junior & Standard models. Designed to be affordable, the SG Special kept the neck binding of the Standard but lost the trapezoid inlays and headstock crown emblem. Additionally, the instrument featured a compensated wrap-tail bridge and a pair of P-90 pickups. With independent volume & tone controls, the SG Special could be thought of as a full-featured SG without the bells & whistles. This made it an exceptionally popular instrument, which has remained in almost continuous production since its introduction, save for a short pause in '71/72 when the model was re-named as the SG Pro. Indeed, one of the most famous SG Special players was Pete Townshend of The Who.
The Mahogany neck plays very well, with a moderately large profile which might be described as a 'D' shape thanks to the slightly flattened area to the centre rear. This results in a smooth and responsive playing experience across the register, well suited to a wide range of playing styles & techniques. There is plenty of substance to the neck to sustain a firm grip when chord playing, yet with the flat centre rear, lead players are also well accommodated. With the traditional 12" radius, the fingerboard is practical for any player, with the Rosewood providing a smooth, durable and comfortable playing surface.
Amplified, the pair of Gibson P-90 pickups deliver unique & unmistakeable tones by the bucket load. P-90s can be thought of as over-wound single-coils, meaning that they retain the sparkling clarity associated with singles, yet they deliver thick and full-bodied overdrive & distortion tones when driving the amp. Many guitarists think of the P-90 as the best of both worlds, and with this SG it's easy to see why. Retaining the traditional independent volume & tone controls means that there are plenty of sonic options right on the guitar- perfect for the working musician who needs their instrument to be ready for wherever the gig takes them.
Please be aware that for international buyers import fees are not included in our postage and packaging cost, this only covers the cost of the guitar being sent to you. Import fees will be charged by Customs upon the guitar's arrival in the recipient country. Due to Brexit, this also applies to EU buyers. We advise checking the total import cost with Customs as this is not information we are able to accurately provide.