The Gibson SG guitar, a celebrated solidbody electric guitar, emerged in 1961 as a successor to the Les Paul model, initially launched in 1952. Facing increasing competition from brands like Fender and Gretsch, Gibson sought to innovate. Fender’s guitars, known for their cost-effectiveness and bolt-on neck construction using single slabs of tonewood, contrasted with the traditional craftsmanship of the Les Paul. The Les Paul, embodying Gibson’s legacy in acoustic guitars, mandolins, and banjos, featured a solid mahogany body with a hand-carved maple top and a set neck. While representing high quality, the Les Paul’s complex construction led to higher production expenses, prompting a need for a more streamlined design.
Enter the SG, short for “Solid Guitar.” This new model featured a thinner mahogany body, omitting the maple cap, and introduced a double-cutaway design with sharper “devil’s horn” points. Maintaining the set-neck construction, the SG offered enhanced upper fret access by joining the neck at the 19th fret compared to the Les Paul’s 16th. The result was a lighter guitar providing improved playability and a modern, symmetrical aesthetic. Initially marketed as the “Les Paul,” the guitar’s namesake requested his name be removed due to his dissatisfaction with the redesign. Subsequently, it was rebranded simply as the SG and has been continuously produced ever since, favored by iconic musicians such as Frank Zappa, Carlos Santana, Pete Townshend of The Who, and Robby Krieger of The Doors. The SG’s influence extended through Eric Clapton’s legendary Cream-era SG, later owned by Todd Rundgren, Mike Nesmith of The Monkees, and most notably, Angus Young of AC/DC and Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, all synonymous with their SG guitars.
Today, the SG’s popularity endures, and Epiphone SG guitars carry on Gibson’s tradition of quality craftsmanship at a more accessible price point. The Epiphone Limited Edition 50th Anniversary 1961 SG reissue exemplifies this, featuring a set neck, P-90 single-coil pickups, and the historically accurate TV Yellow finish, originally intended to minimize glare from early television cameras. The Epiphone G-400 model, another SG variant, includes a set neck, Tune-O-Matic bridge, a 24.75″ scale length, and is available in worn brown or cherry finishes. For players seeking different specifications, the Epiphone G-310 offers an alder body with a bolt-on mahogany neck, while the Epiphone SG-Special incorporates a unique killswitch in the tone pot for distinctive staccato effects.
In conclusion, the Epiphone SG guitar line delivers the powerful sound and iconic playability that established the Gibson SG’s reputation, but at a fraction of the cost. For guitarists seeking the legendary SG experience without the premium price tag, the Sg Epiphone Guitar presents an undeniable value proposition. Embrace the legacy and grab an SG today.
