The Gibson SG Standard '61 Faded
In 1961, Gibson temporarily retired the Les Paul and introduced a boldly new solidbody design. It came to be known as the SG, short for "solid guitar," and it quickly became an icon that shaped music across decades and genres. The SG Standard '61 Faded brings back the essential design elements of those celebrated early-60s originals. It pairs them with a faded finish that gives the guitar a warm, broken-in look and the feel of an instrument that has been a trusted companion for years. It's classic SG tone, look, and playability, built in the USA with the craftsmanship that defines Gibson.

Iconic Double-Cutaway Design
The SG Standard '61 Faded has a solid mahogany body with the instantly recognizable double-cutaway SG outline. That includes deeply contoured body scarfing and the twin pointed horns that have defined the model since its debut. A faded Vintage Cherry nitrocellulose lacquer finish gives it a satin, played-in feel and lets the mahogany breathe for a resonant, lively tone. In keeping with early SG tradition, the guitar has a 5-ply teardrop pickguard instead of the larger "batwing" guard found on later models. It's a clean, period-correct detail that sets the '61 apart.
Fast, Comfortable Playability
The mahogany neck is carved with Gibson's fast, comfortable SlimTaper profile and joins the body at the 22nd fret. That gives you unhindered access to the entire fingerboard, a hallmark that has long made the SG a favorite among lead players. The bound rosewood fingerboard carries 22 medium jumbo frets and classic acrylic trapezoid inlays. Its 12" radius feels natural for first-position chords and lets bends and lead lines higher up the neck ring cleanly without fretting out. The 24.75" scale length and 1.695" nut width add to the familiar, easy Gibson feel. A Graph Tech nut and Vintage Deluxe tuners with Keystone buttons keep everything stable and in tune.
60s Burstbuckers and Vintage-Correct Hardware
The guitar's voice comes from a pair of 60s Burstbucker humbuckers. They're built with historically correct unbalanced coils and Alnico 5 magnets inspired by early Patent Applied For designs. The pair delivers an open, harmonically rich voice with enhanced clarity and a sweet, expressive edge when pushed into overdrive. Individual volume and tone controls for each pickup use audio taper potentiometers and hand-wired Orange Drop capacitors, so you get a wide, musical range of tonal shaping. Nickel-plated hardware includes an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge and aluminum Stop Bar tailpiece for classic tone and reliable performance. Black Top Hat knobs with silver reflectors complete the vintage-correct look. A Gibson hardshell case is included for secure storage and transport.
Why We Love This
Our Gear Experts reach for the SG Standard '61 Faded when a player wants authentic early-60s SG tone and feel with a broken-in vibe right out of the case. The 60s Burstbuckers deliver open, PAF-inspired clarity that snarls when pushed, the SlimTaper neck is fast and comfortable, and the 22nd-fret neck joint opens up the whole fretboard. It's a genuine American-made Gibson classic that begs to be played hard, night after night, on any stage.
Features:
- Solid mahogany body with classic double-cutaway SG shape
- Faded Vintage Cherry nitrocellulose lacquer finish
- Mahogany neck with SlimTaper profile
- 22nd-fret neck joint for full fretboard access
- Bound rosewood fingerboard with acrylic trapezoid inlays and 22 medium jumbo frets
- Pair of 60s Burstbucker humbuckers with Alnico 5 magnets
- Hand-wired controls with Orange Drop capacitors and audio taper pots
- ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge and aluminum Stop Bar tailpiece
- Vintage Deluxe tuners with Keystone buttons and Graph Tech nut
- Period-correct 5-ply teardrop pickguard; Gibson hardshell case included