A Very Special (and Affordable) Re-creation of the First SG

The Gibson SG made its debut in 1961. In an interesting turn of events, this coincided with a hiatus in the production of the Les Paul, which had been a staple of Gibson’s lineup since its introduction nine years earlier. The new SG design certainly turned heads with its radical body contours and distinctive “devil horns,” but here’s the kicker for trivia buffs: it bore Les Paul’s name engraved on the truss rod plate. This was a whole new instrument, however, and it would eventually be re-badged the SG (which, rather intuitively, stood for “solid guitar”) for the ’64 model year. The SG would go on to rock greatness, with vintage models (particularly the ’61) commanding lofty prices in today’s used market. But you don’t have to spend a fortune to own one of these legendary solidbody electric guitars. Crafted in collaboration with the Gibson Custom Shop, the Epiphone 1961 Les Paul SG Standard delivers the tone, playability, and looks of this coveted classic at a price any guitarist can afford. Complete with a luscious, vintage-inspired finish, fine appointments, and a vintage-style hardshell case, the Epiphone 1961 Les Paul SG Standard is must-have for all SG fans.

Packed with performance and historically inspired details

The Epiphone 1961 Les Paul SG Standard features a sleek, 2-piece solid mahogany, double-cutaway body with exhaustively researched Custom Shop Historic beveling. It’s fitted with the famously wicked-fast SlimTaper SG 1-piece mahogany neck capped by an Indian laurel fingerboard with single-ply cream binding and iconic pearloid Trapezoid inlays. It bears a historically inspired long pickguard, an Epiphone LockTone Tune-o-matic bridge with a Stop Bar tailpiece, and Epiphone Deluxe tuners with a double-ring design. In the electronics department, a pair of Gibson BurstBucker pickups and premium parts serve up the sound that helped launch a rock revolution.

Epic tone from BurstBucker pickups

For colossal tone, the Epiphone 1961 Les Paul SG Standard is spec’d with genuine Gibson BurstBucker pickups. A top choice among guitarists here , BurstBuckers will let you nail chimey country licks as easily as you dial in searing rock overdrive. Catnip for tube amplifiers, the BurstBuckers in the Epiphone ’61 Les Paul SG Standard deliver spot-on tone for everything from warm jazz to dirty blues to scorching fusion, and even metal. With BurstBucker 2 (neck) and BurstBucker 3 (bridge) pickups wired to premium CTS potentiometers and Mallory capacitors, you’ll have a formidable tone arsenal with nearly endless sound-shaping control at your fingertips.

Epiphone 1961 Les Paul SG Standard Features:

• 2-piece solid mahogany body
• 1-piece Mahogany SlimTaper "C"-profile neck
• Indian laurel fingerboard, single-ply cream binding, pearloid Trapezoid inlays
• Neck pickup: Gibson BurstBucker 2
• Bridge pickup: Gibson BurstBucker 3
• 2 Volume, 2 Tone, CTS potentiometers, Mallory capacitors
• Epiphone LockTone Tune-o-matic bridge
• Epiphone LockTone Stop Bar tailpiece
• Black Top Hat knobs with Inserts
• Epiphone Deluxe tuners, double ring
• Graph Tech nut; nickel plated hardware
• Hardshell case included

Tech Specs

• GENERAL
• Number of Strings6
• Left-/Right-handedRight-handed
• BODY
• Body TypeSolidbody
• Body Shape1961 Les Paul SG Standard
• Body Material2-Piece Mahogany
• Body FinishAged Gloss
• ColorSixties Cherry
• NECK
• Neck Material1-Piece Mahogany
• Neck ShapeSlimTaper C
• Neck JointSet Neck
• Radius12"
• Fingerboard MaterialIndian Laurel
• Fingerboard InlayPearloid Trapezoids
• Number of Frets22, Medium Jumbo
• Scale Length24.75"
• Nut Width1.693"
• Nut MaterialGraph Tech
• HARDWARE
• Bridge/TailpieceEpiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic Bridge with Stopbar Tailpiece
• TunersEpiphone Deluxe
• ELECTRONICS
• Neck PickupGibson BurstBucker 2 Humbucker
• Bridge PickupGibson BurstBucker 3 Humbucker
• Controls2 x volume, 2 x tone
• Switching3-way toggle pickup switch
• MISCELLANEOUS
• StringsGibson, .010-.046
• Case/Gig BagHardshell Case