Historic Re-creation of a Classic Rock Machine
Gibson’s SG Special is the classic rock machine that drove the powerful sound of Woodstock-era bands like Santana and The Who. The Gibson Custom 1963 SG Special Reissue Ultra-Light Aged celebrates an earlier incarnation of this lean, mean workhorse in a gorgeous and historically accurate reissue, replete with period-correct construction methods, specs, and measurements. This masterful rendition of the classic solidbody electric guitar that rocked the music world in its most influential decade honors its coveted progenitors in a meticulous re-creation handcrafted by Gibson’s Custom Shop luthiers with fastidious attention to prototypical detail, top-shelf tonewoods, and a sumptuous Murphy Lab-aged finish that gives you the look and feel of a cherished vintage treasure.
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Artfully aged in Gibson Custom Shop’s Murphy Lab
Under the leadership of Master Artisan Tom Murphy, Gibson Custom Shop’s Murphy Lab performs one specific function: to craft artfully aged instruments using the most cutting-edge tools available. These guitars are targeted to one of four distinct levels of age and wear, ranging from Ultra-Light to Ultra-Heavy. This 1963 SG Special Reissue features Ultra-Light aging, with unique lacquer checking but minimal playing wear. It’s as if the guitar spent most of its life in its case. VOS patina hardware puts the final touch on this exquisite instrument.
The P-90: dare to sound different
This Gibson Custom ’63 SG Special Reissue is fitted with a pair Gibson Custom Shop P-90 pickups. We have many fiercely loyal P-90 fans here at Sweetwater. These guitarists know that the P-90 offers a unique tonal palette that is distinct from — and complements — humbuckers and traditional single-coils. One of the first first successful single-coil pickups, the P-90 can be heard on countless iconic recordings. With its biting treble and high output, the P-90 cleans up nicely when you roll back your guitar’s volume pot. It’s an amazingly versatile pickup with its own brand of grit — a bit brighter, leaner, and less refined than a humbucker, and almost as hot. Hit your amp hard, and the P-90 really wails. Plugged into a proper high-gain tube amp, you can elicit grind, sizzle, bark, and bite that would be impossible with humbuckers — or with other single-coils, for that matter.
Handcrafted by Gibson’s elite luthiers
Painstakingly handcrafted by Gibson’s elite luthiers in the company’s Nashville Custom Shop using only the finest materials, the 1963 SG Special Reissue — like every Gibson Custom guitar — is optimized for playability before leaving the factory. The fingerboard is polished and beveled with rolled edges, then given the Plek Pro treatment. Plek Pro is a state-of-the-art, computer-guided process that analyzes neck relief and the height of the nut and bridge. The machine then scans, levels, and dresses your guitar’s frets to a microscopic level of accuracy for perfect intonation and ideal action with no fret buzz, loss of sustain, or fretting out when bending strings. This guitar’s Plek’d frets ensure that every note in every position rings true and clear with unblemished tone.
Gibson Custom 1963 SG Special Reissue Lightning Bar Ultra-Light Aged Electric Guitar Features:
- Superb Murphy Lab Ultra-Light Aged finish and VOS patina nickel-plated hardware
- Prototypical fine details and hide-glue fit construction
- 1-piece solid mahogany body
- 1-piece mahogany neck, 1961 authentic Thin D-Shape
- Indian rosewood fingerboard, pearloid dot inlays
- 2 Custom Soapbar P-90 single-coil pickups
- 3-way toggle switch; 2 volume, 2 tone controls; CTS audio taper pots and Bumblebee capacitors
- Kluson single-line tuners with white buttons
- Black Top Hat knobs with silver inserts
- Handcrafted in Gibson’s Nashville Custom Shop
- Hardshell case included
