Jaw-dropping Reissue of a Rock 'n' Roll Icon
For the 1963 SG Special Reissue, Gibson traveled back in time to the early days of this legendary guitar. At its inception, the essential elements were in place: the richly toned all-mahogany body, the comfortable and quick mahogany neck, the in-your-face tone, and, of course, the signature body shape which has become visually synonymous with rock 'n' roll. The 1963 SG Special Reissue includes period-specific details that heap on the vintage character, including a 1961 authentic Thin D-Shape neck with a hide glue fit for increased resonance, an old-school Lightning Bar wraparound tailpiece, hand-wired electronics, and custom soapbar P-90 pickups — a favorite of guitarists at Sweetwater. Check out the 1963 SG Special Reissue from Gibson and put your hands on a piece of Rock 'n' Roll history!
Related Videos: 1963 SG Special Reissue Lightning Bar VOS - Cherry Red
Legendary guitar with a distinctive design
It’s hard to believe, but, in 1961, Gibson discontinued the original Les Paul guitar and replaced it with the SG, which initially bore the Les Paul name. But Les himself wasn’t a fan of that, so the guitar was renamed SG, which stood for… solid guitar! A few years later, Gibson started making the original Les Pauls again, but the SG proved so popular they continued producing them. The reason is easy to understand. It has a distinctive look and delivers a classic sound with all the thick, fat tone you could ever want. Though it’s often thought of as the archetypal rock guitar, the SG is used across all genres of music; from jazz to fusion, metal, prog, and beyond.
Robust one-piece mahogany construction
The Gibson 1963 SG Special's one-piece mahogany body has a lush and warm character with incredible depth and solid rock 'n' roll tone. The hand-filling 1961 authentic Thin D-Shape neck further enriches the SG Special's sonic character, and it’s capped with an Indian rosewood fingerboard that imparts complex overtones and sparkling highs.
P-90 pickups: dare to sound different
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. Gibson’s first successful single-coil pickup, the P-90, can be heard on countless classic 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 wails. Plugged into a proper high-gain tube amp, you can elicit grind, sizzle, and bark that would be impossible with humbuckers — or with other single-coils, for that matter. To hear P-90s brilliantly deployed in historical context, check out Santana’s fiery Woodstock performance or the Who’s masterful Live at Leeds album.
Vintage Original Sheen finish, for the look and feel of a classic
Gibson Custom's Vintage Original Sheen finish option comes standard on Custom Shop Historic Reissue models. The VOS finish package includes lightly aged parts that imparts an authentic vintage patina. The nitrocellulose finished it buffed to a light matte appearance, giving a look and feel of a guitar that has been lovingly played and cared for over the years.
Gibson Custom 1963 SG Special Reissue Features:
- Mahogany body and 1961 authentic Thin D-Shape neck with hide glue fit
- Rosewood fingerboard, 12" radius, Pearloid dot inlays
- 24.75" scale length; 22 medium-jumbo frets
- Custom Soapbar P-90 pickups
- Lightning bar wraparound tailpiece
- Kluson single line tuners with white buttons
- Hand-wired electronics and black top hat knobs with silver inserts
- Single-action truss rod
- Vintage Original Sheen finish package with light matte nitrocellulose and aged hardware
- Custom shop hardshell case included
