Here for sale we have a Gibson Custom, Art & Historic '61 SG Special VOS in VOS Cherry Red Finish. Made in the USA in 2000, this guitar comes from one of the early iterations of what is today called the Gibson Custom Shop. Whilst Gibson have long been producing 'custom' special orders for customers & artists, it wasn't until late 1993 that a dedicated division was set up. Originally, the Custom, Art & Historic division produced historic reissues alongside special versions of USA line guitars that included unique features not available elsewhere. By 1996 the first Artist models were produced, beginning with the Joe Perry Les Paul & Ace Frehley in '97 which both went on to enjoy Gibson USA production runs. In 2007, Gibson renamed the division to simply 'Gibson Custom', simplifying its name but continuing to develop the finest & most exclusive instruments that Gibson offers. 

The SG Special was introduced in 1961, and featured in the range between the SG Junior & Standard models. Designed to be affordable, the SG Special kept the neck binding of the Standard but lost the trapezoid inlays and headstock crown emblem. Additionally, the instrument featured a compensated wrap-tail bridge and a pair of P-90 pickups. With independent volume & tone controls, the SG Special could be thought of as a full-featured SG without the bells & whistles. This made it an exceptionally popular instrument, which has remained in almost continuous production since its introduction, save for a short pause in '71/72 when the model was re-named as the SG Pro. Indeed, one of the most famous SG Special players was Pete Townshend of The Who. 

The Mahogany neck plays very well, with a moderately large profile which might be described as a 'D' shape thanks to the slightly flattened area to the centre rear. This results in a smooth and responsive playing experience across the register, well suited to a wide range of playing styles & techniques. There is plenty of substance to the neck to sustain a firm grip when chord playing, yet with the flat centre rear, lead players are also well accommodated. With the traditional 12" radius, the fingerboard is practical for any player, with the Rosewood providing a smooth, durable and comfortable playing surface. 

Amplified, the pair of Gibson P-90 pickups deliver unique & unmistakeable tones by the bucket load. P-90s can be thought of as over-wound single-coils, meaning that they retain the sparkling clarity associated with singles, yet they deliver thick and full-bodied overdrive & distortion tones when driving the amp. Many guitarists think of the P-90 as the best of both worlds, and with this SG it's easy to see why. Retaining the traditional independent volume & tone controls means that there are plenty of sonic options right on the guitar- perfect for the working musician who needs their instrument to be ready for wherever the gig takes them. 

Brand- Gibson

Model- Custom, Art & Historic '61 SG Special VOS

Finish- VOS Cherry Red

Year- 2000

Made In- USA

Body- Mahogany

Fingerboard- Rosewood

Fingerboard Radius- 12"

Frets- 22

Scale Length- 24.75"

Nut Width- 1.689"

Pickups- 2x Gibson Custom P-90s

Controls- 3-Way Toggle Switch, Neck Volume, Neck Tone, Bridge Volume, Bridge Tone

Luthier Report

Our ID: 1091026249050

Weight: 6.8lbs  

Serial: 065721

Aesthetic Condition:

Headstock: Overall very good condition. Light to mild scratching is visible at the front face under direct light, as is common with gloss finishes. This is most notable at the bass side between the 6th E & A string winding posts. Light indentations are present to the edges of the headstock, notably between the G and B winding posts, only visible under direct light at certain angles. The rear face shows indentation and screw holes where the original tuners were fitted.

Neck: Overall very good condition. Light indentations to the rear of the neck are concentrated mostly to the middle register between frets 5-9, which can be lightly felt in the playing position. The binding shows light discoloration to both sides, as is common with nitrocellulose finishes.

Body: Overall very good condition. Light to mild indentation is consistent across all aspects of the body, most notably at the bottom edge of the lower bout and at the bass side of the bridge. These have lightly pierced the finish. Light to mild scratching to all aspects of the body is visible under direct light, as is common with high gloss finishes. This is most notable to the rear face consistent with buckle rash.

Condition of Frets:

The frets demonstrate mild signs of use, not affecting playability. Light denting of the frets is present in the early register, with light flattening throughout. There is moderate material remaining for any future fret work the new owner may wish to perform.

Current Set Up:

Truss Rod: Fully functional. Truss rod tool (5/16" socket) not included.

Hardware: Overall good condition. The original tuning machines have been replaced with a set of Gotoh locking tuners. The pickup covers show mild cracking and sinking at the centre. These have been tested and should not worsen through regular use. The pickup covers also show wear and markings from contact with the strings, most notably the bridge pickup. All of the metal hardware displays light to mild tarnishing and moderate tooling marks, notably to the bridge adjustment screws.

Structural: No concerns or issues to note.

Height of the string from the 12th Fret-1.5mm - Bass 2mm

Please be aware that the action on a guitar may move slightly in transit and this measurement is the current height.

Strings on Guitar - 10-46

Electrics: Fully functional.

Case & Accessories

Original Gibson Custom hard case

Fully functional and very good condition. Mild tearing of the tolex is present to the exterior. The latches display light tarnishing. COA included. 

Please be aware that for international buyers import fees are not included in our postage and packaging cost, this only covers the cost of the guitar being sent to you. Import fees will be charged by Customs upon the guitar's arrival in the recipient country. Due to Brexit, this also applies to EU buyers. We advise checking the total import cost with Customs as this is not information we are able to accurately provide.