SG Junior 1961 Gary Moore Style Relic Guitar

VL Guitars – 1961 SG Junior Style Relic Guitar

Handcrafted | Aged Nitrocellulose Finish | Luthier Built

This is a VL Guitars 1961 SG Junior style guitar, inspired by the legendary instrument associated with Gary Moore. Each guitar is individually handcrafted with a strong focus on vintage accuracy, tone, and feel, capturing the raw character that made early SG Juniors such iconic rock and blues instruments.

The body is made from solid mahogany, carved to the correct early-60s SG Junior dimensions with the classic thin, lightweight construction that gives these guitars their distinctive resonance and sustain. It is finished in 100% nitrocellulose lacquer, applied in thin coats and then carefully hand-aged (relic’d) to recreate the natural wear and visual character of a well-played early-60s instrument.

The mahogany neck features a comfortable early ’60s slim profile, paired with a Rosewood fingerboard and vintage-correct 12” radius, offering a fast and responsive playing feel. The frets are leveled, crowned, and polished by hand, and the instrument receives a full professional setup for optimal playability and stability.

All construction details follow traditional early-1960s Gibson® specifications, including the correct neck pitch and vintage-style neck joint (tenon) used on original instruments. The guitar also features the original vintage headstock angle, rather than the reduced angle used on many modern reissues. These details contribute not only to the authentic appearance but also to the proper string tension, resonance, and playing response associated with early SG models.

Electronics are kept true to the original concept: a single vintage-style P-90 pickup, delivering the aggressive midrange, clarity, and dynamic response that define the classic 1961 SG Junior tone—perfect for blues, rock, and expressive lead playing.

The guitar is fitted with vintage-style hardware, including a wraparound bridge, allowing for excellent resonance, sustain, and direct string-to-body transfer.

At VL Guitars, we specialize in vintage-inspired and relic instruments, combining traditional lutherie methods with careful attention to historical details. The result is an instrument with authentic character, vintage vibe, and professional reliability, ready for both stage and studio use.

Each instrument includes:

• 1-year written warranty
• Individual serial number and documentation
• Professional setup
• Matching hard case for safe storage and transpor