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Gibson SG Standard '61 - Vintage Cherry

Solidbody Electric Guitar with Mahogany Body and Neck, Plek'd Rosewood Fretboard, and 2 Humbucking Pickups - Vintage Cherry
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Gibson SG Standard '61 - Vintage Cherry
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Be the Next Guitar Hero with the Gibson SG Standard ’61

Immortalized by Santana at Woodstock and smashed onstage by Townshend, the Gibson SG is a rock icon. Gibson’s Nashville-made SG Standard ’61 reissue takes you back to the first model year of the legendary solidbody electric guitar — small pickguard, vintage cherry finish, and all. The Gibson SG Standard ’61 reissue is spec’d with a pair of toneful humbuckers; a fast, comfortable SlimTaper neck; and a bound, Plek’d rosewood fretboard with action that’s almost nonexistent. The SG’s lightweight mahogany body delivers great sustain and no pain, even if you play all night. And the worn nitro finish looks and feels great while enhancing the tone of this legendary rock machine. Own your piece of rock history: the Gibson SG Standard ’61.

Burstbucker pickups deliver timeless humbucker tone

When it comes to capturing that classic Gibson tone, nothing beats the sound of 60s Burstbucker pickups. You’ll love the tight low end, complex midrange, and sweet highs you’ll get out of these pickups — it’s everything you expect when you pick up a Gibson! That’s because 60s Burstbucker pickups were designed to re-create the sound of original 1960s-era humbuckers to perfection. So if you want the iconic tone of a classic Gibson SG, the SG Standard ’61 is the guitar for you.

SlimTaper neck carve and Plek’d frets for optimized playability

Comfort and playability were two of Gibson’s primary concerns when they were designing the SG Standard ’61. You’ll be delighted by how well this guitar’s fast, early-’60s SlimTaper neck profile comfortably fits your hand. For your playing pleasure, the rosewood fingerboard is buffed to silky smoothness and bound so no fret ends impede your dexterity. The frets are dressed to perfection using a Plek Pro machine for optimized playability. Typically reserved for top-dollar custom guitars, this process levels the frets with pinpoint precision, providing you with the most playable fretboard you’re likely to own.

Nitro finish for the look and feel of a classic

The SG Standard ’61 wears a gorgeous gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Nitro finishes — standard back in the day — are significantly thinner than today’s polyurethane finishes, allowing the guitar to “breathe.” Nitro finishes not only look vintage-y wonderful, but they also enhance the instrument’s tonal qualities. This guitar has the look (and feel) of a lovingly cared-for classic — one that will only improve with age.

Gibson SG Standard ’61 Solidbody Electric Guitar Features:

  • Comfortable, lightweight, iconic doubled-horned mahogany body
  • Fast mahogany SlimTaper neck with rosewood fingerboard and 22 frets
  • Plek’d frets for effortless playability
  • 24.75-inch scale length; 1.695-inch-wide Tektoid nut
  • Pickups: 60s Burstbucker (neck), 60s Burstbucker (bridge)
  • Aluminum Nashville Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece
  • Classic black top hat knobs
  • Vintage Deluxe tuners with keystone buttons
  • Nickel-plated hardware
  • 2 volume, 2 tone controls; 3-way toggle pickup selector

Why Buy Your Guitar from Sweetwater?

See how Sweetwater goes to great lengths to give you the very best online guitar buying experience. From our online Guitar Gallery that allows you to see and select the exact instrument you want to our 55-point Inspection process and our in-house guitar techs, we take the guesswork out of buying your next guitar online.

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Tech Specs

  • General
  • Number of Strings 6
  • Left-/Right-handed Right-handed
  • Body
  • Body Type Solidbody
  • Body Shape SG Standard '61
  • Body Material Mahogany
  • Body Finish Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
  • Color Vintage Cherry
  • Neck
  • Neck Material Mahogany
  • Neck Shape Slim Taper
  • Neck Joint Set Neck
  • Radius 12"
  • Fingerboard Material Rosewood
  • Fingerboard Inlay Acrylic Trapezoids
  • Number of Frets 22, Medium Jumbo
  • Scale Length 24.75"
  • Nut Width 1.695"
  • Nut Material Graph Tech
  • Hardware
  • Bridge/Tailpiece ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic with Stopbar
  • Tuners Vintage Deluxe
  • Electronics
  • Neck Pickup Gibson 60s Burstbucker Humbucker
  • Bridge Pickup Gibson 60s Burstbucker Humbucker
  • Controls 2 x volume, 2 x tone
  • Switching 3-way toggle pickup switch
  • Miscellaneous
  • Strings Gibson, .010-.046
  • Case/Gig Bag Hardshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: SG6100VENH1

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Unbelievable!!

Gibson, I am giving you a 5 star on my SG standard 61. I can't believe how it came. Action is perfect. I have no tuning issues and came out of the case flawless. This guitar is amazing.. I play it through a
Marshall DSL 40 and it just blows me away.

Sweetwater never fails me. Thanks Jimmy for taking care of my needs, you guys are awesome.
Rated 5/5

Worth the extra money

If you're trying to decide between getting this one and the regular standard, spend the extra $. Upgraded wiring, hard case, and much better pickups. I can't stress enough how good these pickups are. This guitar came set up extremely well. Very happy with my purchase. I guarantee you the other online shops don't quality check like Sweetwater does. I also like that they show you pics of each guitar as well as weight so you can choose the exact one you want.
Rated 5/5

I love this Gibson SG Standard '61 - Vintage Cherry guitar. Sweetwater's Alden Debee is a great Sales Engineer and friend.

I love this Gibson SG Standard '61 - Vintage Cherry guitar. Sweetwater's Alden Debee is a great Sales Engineer and friend. He's helped me with every question I've had. From setting up my peddle board to selecting guitars.
Music background: A lifetime of music
Rated 5/5

Gibson 61' SG Standard

Wow, absolutely gorgeous! The QA on this guitar exceeded my expectations (honestly). The extra care taken on packaging couldn't be better on Sweetwater's end as well. My guitar was delivered in temperatures at 18 below zero. I let it sit a couple of days in its box. When I pulled it out and inspected it... guitar was still in tune (hahaha), set up was perfect, and the finish looks better in person. I'd planned on swapping out pickups ahead of time. I've changed my mind after playing it. These 60's Burstbuckers are as good as it gets (for unpotted A5's). Also- it was a bonus to get the brown classic Gibson case with it. If you guy's plan on having premium gear delivered through mail (Fender/Gibson USA and Custom Shop, etc)... go with Sweetwater for your source please (or you may be rolling the dice).
Music background: Drums and Guitar since 1986. Professional Drummer.
Rated 5/5

Such a great playing and sounding guitar

I've lusted for this guitar since I played it in a local store a few years ago. It just felt right. It plays so easily and just sounds amazing. Get a leather or similar strap if you play standing up to avoid the neck dive. I got the Gibson leather strap, and it works great. I love my Strat Pro, my Tele Ultra, and now this SG. All are different and it's completely overkill for me to have all three, but this SG is different enough from the others that I play differently on it.

I would buy this again in a heartbeat. Shout out to Bryan Campbell, my sales engineer. He's always given me unbiased recommendations and he has my loyalty.

From rockers to jazz cats, there are generations of guitarists right here at Sweetwater who swear by Gibson guitars. Not only do they make many of the most iconic solidbody electric guitars of all time - the Les Paul, the SG, the Flying V - but they also produce classic hollowbody and semi-hollowbody models and some of the most iconic acoustic guitars on the planet. We play them all! Our close relationship with Gibson often allows us to stock exclusive models and rare finds, and we're always happy to turn players and collectors on to the gems in the Sweetwater Guitar Gallery. We also have access to all the latest Gibson hardware, and the Sweetwater Guitar Repair Shop has upgraded countless guitars with their top-of-the-line humbuckers, classic P-90s, and more.

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