History

• The original Gibson SG was created and sold in 1961. It was a direct competitor to the Fender Stratocaster, which, at the time, was the best-selling electric guitar on the market. Although the Gibson Les Paul was a great seller and was its signature guitar, Gibson felt it needed a thinner-bodied guitar to compete with the Strat's fast neck; this guitar was the SG, which stands for "Solid Guitar." That original guitar was dubbed the SG Standard, but differs from what is known as the SG Standard today.
  
  

Significance

• With its fast neck and less-pronounced heel joint, the SG was created for fast styles of playing and the demands of modern musicians. The tone of the guitar is unique, and the original's pickups were something that many guitar players of the 1960s truly enjoyed. It changed the face of rock music and continues to do so in its many models including the SG Standard and the SG '61 Reissue.
  
  

Features

• The SG '61 Reissue is a replica of the original SG Standard released in 1961. It includes original features such as a slim-taper neck for fast playing, a smaller pick guard and smaller pickups than the more modern versions including the SG Standard. The SG Standard of today includes a fatter neck as well as larger pickups. The body of modern SG's is often made of two pieces of wood glued together, whereas the SG '61 is one solid piece. The biggest aesthetic difference between the two is that the SG Standard has a large pick guard that encompasses the pickups.
  
  

Prices

• The SG '61 Reissue retails for $3299 and sells for about $2300 at music stores, local and online. This includes a hard shell case to protect the guitar while traveling or on tour. The SG Standard retails for $2500 and sells for about $1600 and also includes a hard shell case. The Standard comes in a few colors including heritage cherry and black, whereas the SG '61 comes in heritage red only.
  
  

Considerations

• There are a few things to consider when you decide to buy an SG, whether it is an SG '61 Reissue or an SG Standard. The tonal differs are subtle as the Standard has a fuller sound due to its humbuckers and their construction, but the neck on the '61 Reissue is faster and can be better for lead players. Both are high-quality American-made instruments with a full, rich history and sound.