Image: risastla, CC BY-SA 2.0 — via Wikimedia Commons
Gibson SG Special
| Category | Strings (electric guitar) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | USA |
| Classification | electric guitar |
| Wikipedia | en.wikipedia.org |
| Wikidata | Q5559394 |
Overview
The Gibson SG Special is a stripped-down member of the Gibson SG family. It shares the SG’s thin mahogany double-cutaway body and slim neck but trims away some of the ornamentation of the SG Standard — dot fretboard inlays replace trapezoids, and the controls and hardware are simplified. Pickups have varied across eras, most commonly P-90s in earlier versions and humbuckers in later production.
Origin & History
Gibson introduced the SG body shape in 1961 as a redesigned Les Paul. The Special designation had already been used on Les Paul Specials with P-90s and two cutaways, and this feature set transferred naturally to the new SG line. Through the 1960s the SG Special was offered with two P-90 pickups and a simple wrap-around or stop-tail bridge. Production was paused and revived multiple times, with humbucker-equipped versions dominating from the late 1970s onward. The line has continued with periodic reissues of the P-90 configuration for players seeking the gritty voice of the originals.
How It’s Played
An SG Special is played like any SG — the lightweight body hangs high on a strap, the slim neck supports fast fingerwork, and the deep double cutaway gives easy access to the upper frets. P-90 versions offer a bright, aggressive voice that sits between a single-coil and a humbucker, useful for blues, rock, and punk. Humbucker versions deliver the thicker, rounder tone associated with classic Gibson hard-rock playing.
Cultural Significance
The SG Special has been the affordable, working-player’s SG across several decades. P-90-equipped examples were popular with 1970s and 1990s rock players seeking a rawer voice than the Standard, and the model has appeared on stage with Carlos Santana, among others, via Hard Rock Cafe displays. Its place in the SG hierarchy — below the Standard and Custom — has kept it a recurring entry point into the Gibson line.
Related Instruments
- Gibson SG Junior – the single-pickup sibling
- Gibson Les Paul Special – the Les Paul counterpart
- – the mid-tier SG
- Gibson Les Paul Doublecut – a related double-cutaway lineage
- Gibson The Paul – a no-frills Gibson relative
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between the SG Special and the SG Standard?
The Special has dot inlays and simpler appointments; the Standard has trapezoid inlays and a crown headstock inlay.
Does the SG Special use P-90s or humbuckers?
Both have been offered. Early examples typically used P-90s; later production usually features humbuckers.
Is the SG Special a budget model?
It sits below the SG Standard in Gibson’s lineup but is a full USA-built instrument, not an entry-level import.
Image: Carlos Santana’s Gibson SG Special, Hard Rock Cafe Cairo, photo by risastla, CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
