Description
This Gibson SG Special Cherry Red represents a particularly fascinating example of Gibson’s late Sixties production, a guitar that even before being played manages to tell its own story through its look, the signs of aging and a truly impressive stage presence.
The body is original and retains the original Cherry Red finish, which has now matured into a color rich in nuances and character. It is a lived-in guitar, with that authentic appearance that cannot be artificially recreated: it exudes rock’n’roll and has that charm typical of instruments that have truly gone through decades of music.
The serial number dates the instrument back to 1967, according to the dating reported by True Vintage Guitars. The electronics are made up of two original P-90s, capable of restoring the open, dynamic and aggressive character that made the SG Specials of this period famous. The code 1376929 is present on the potentiometers: only one is completely legible and indicates the 29th week of 1969, testifying to the presence of components attributable to the same era.
The handle deserves a special mention. The profile is important, full and decidedly substantial: a “fat” handle that fills the hand well and immediately gives a great feeling of solidity and stability. It has an almost material presence under the fingers, capable of perceiving all the substance of the instrument and creating a very direct relationship with the guitar during performance. It is one of those tools that, once held, immediately convey consistency and safety.
The guitar retains the characteristic original Batwing Pickguard, on which there are four small holes near the pickups. They are aesthetic details to consider when evaluating the instrument, but at the same time they tell its story and contribute to the personality of an SG that was created first and foremost to be played. The knobs and mechanics are original.
From a construction point of view it still presents the typical characteristics of SGs prior to the Seventies: there is no scroll on the back of the headstock nor the wording “Made in USA”, elements that Gibson will introduce later.
And it is precisely here that this SG shows its double soul. On the one hand it possesses the charm, originality and historical provenance necessary to interest the collector; on the other hand it is an extraordinary player, a guitar with a lot of substance, born to be picked up and carried on stage. The P-90s deliver a lively, three-dimensional and incredibly responsive sound, while the large neck helps create a feeling of solidity that accompanies every note.
It sounds stellar and has a stage look that’s hard to ignore. The small aesthetic details present do not compromise its charm, but rather contribute to making it an authentic, lived-in guitar with a very strong personality.
It is a vintage Gibson capable of satisfying both the collector and the most demanding musician: an instrument that does not simply want to be preserved, but which still invites us to be played today, turn up the volume and do what an SG Special has always been built for.
The guitar is supplied with the original Polverini case.
Available at Guitar Sauce in Italy, it represents an interesting opportunity for those looking for a vintage and collectible Gibson SG from the 1960s with the character, charm and authentic attitude of a true rock’n’roll instrument.