Gibson SG Standard '61

The Gibson SG Standard '61 Faded reimagines one of electric guitar's most iconic designs with period-correct specifications and a worn-in aesthetic. When Gibson retired the Les Paul® in 1961, the SG emerged as a boldly modern alternative—lighter, faster-necked, and beloved by lead players ever since. This model stays faithful to those early-1960s originals: solid mahogany body with the signature double-cutaway outline, deeply contoured body scarfing, and twin horns. The faded nitrocellulose lacquer finish delivers authentic vintage character without the wait, paired with genuine playability credentials that make it equally at home in the studio or on stage.

The mahogany neck features Gibson's SlimTaper® profile and a bound rosewood fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and classic trapezoid inlays. A 12" fretboard radius balances first-position chord work with clean high-register lead passages, while the 22nd-fret neck joint provides full fretboard access—a defining feature for lead players. Two 60s Burstbucker® humbuckers with unbalanced coils and Alnico 5 magnets deliver the characterful, harmonically open tone of original Patent Applied For designs, with added clarity and expressiveness when driven. Individual volume and tone controls use audio-taper potentiometers and hand-wired Orange Drop® capacitors for extensive tonal shaping. An ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic® bridge, aluminium Stop Bar tailpiece, Graph Tech® nut, and nickel-plated Vintage Deluxe tuners with Keystone buttons ensure reliable tuning stability and classic tone. A Gibson hardshell case is included.

The SG Standard '61 Faded appeals to players seeking authentic 1960s voicing and ergonomics without compromise—bedroom producers benefit from its balanced, articulate pickup response across gain stages, whilst touring musicians value the proven reliability and iconic silhouette that's defined generations of rock, blues, and alternative music. Its 628.65 mm scale length and fast neck make rapid position shifts and extended runs intuitive, whilst the 43.053 mm Graph Tech nut width suits both fingerstyle and pick-driven approaches.