In 1961, the Gibson Les Paul Junior model morphed into what we now know as the SG body shape, a sharp double-cutaway guitar which was a drastic departure from the original Les Paul design. The all mahogany SG Junior sported a single bridge position P-90 pickup, wraparound tailpiece, and an unbound rosewood fretboard with dot inlays. Models from 1961 and the first half of 1962 actually say "Les Paul Model" on the headstock, even though Les Paul himself had no input into the design of the guitar.

While seemingly never mentioned in a catalog, Gibson also built and shipped a number of SG Junior models with a factory vibrola tailpiece.

Notable SG Players:  Tony Iommi, Angus Young, Derek Trucks, Jeff Tweedy