Epiphone 1961 Les Paul SG Standard - Aged Sixties Cherry Reviews

Extremely pleased with my '61 SG Standard. The satin finish makes the neck seem slick as glass and the Gibson pickups are super hot and sound great. Seemed like the neck was a mile long compared to my Les Paul initially, but having open access all the way to last fret is incredible. I can literally wrap my thumb and fingers around the neck at the 24th fret. Having now adjusted to the SG, the Les Paul feels short. Was not a fan of the pink interior on the case, but the guitar fits super snug and it stays closed most of the time anyway - LOL. Super happy with my purchase and the frienldy customer service at Sweet Water.

I've had this guitar for about three weeks now and I love it. After it arrived I waited the suggested 24 hours before taking it out and playing it. This SG is lightweight, the fit and finish is just about flawless (I really do like the satin/matte type poly finish, and the color is great), and the only adjustment I had to do was to raise the bridge pickup a touch to balance out with the neck. Even the strings that came with mine are pretty good and I'll wait a while before I change them. The fretboard is a nice dark color and although it's Laurel, it looks and feels pretty much identical to rosewood (an endangered species now anyway). The Burstbuckers sound terrific: roll back the tone on the neck pickup and it absolutely nails that famous Clapton Cream-era "woman tone". This guitar has the articulation and clarity of a Fender single coil guitar, but with a snarl and ballsiness that you'll only get from an SG. I actually think this is pretty much a Gibson minus the nitro finish, rosewood fretboard and the name on the headstock. It sounds better than the $ Gibson SG Standard with the 490 pickups. The clean tones on this guitar are absolutely beautiful. I would suggest playing it through your tube amp of choice to really do the guitar justice. Plus it comes with a hard case. In conclusion, another shout out to sales engineer Brady Langefels.

I was always a Les Paul guy. I believe that has officially changed, at least a little. Since 2020 I've been following Epiphones product lines closely and I purchased a 2020 60's LP Classic, then an ES-335, and then last year I pulled the trigger on this. Let's just say I no longer reach for either of those guitars very often. The pickups sound great, the neck feels great, the weight is quite low and it just feels like a quality instrument. This is definitely a keeper for me, I have zero plans to ever stop playing it!

I shopped quite a while for this SG purchase. It's turned out very well. This is going to sound like a commercial, but it's just as it is. In my opinion, this is exactly what you expect a guitar purchase to be.

The usual super fast shipping by Sweetwater. Absolutely outstanding handling as always. I ordered a pedal at the same time. The guitar itself was double-boxed. So, guitar-in-case in a box, that box in a second box, then nicely packed into a third box with the pedal. Awesome.

Epiphone comes up with really excellent models now and then, and this one really got my attention. Check the specs on this model, they're loaded with goodness and just a few bucks more. Picking it out, the best looking one happened to be the lightest as well at 6.3lb. It seems like the folks at Epiphone are taking the collaboration with Gibson Custom to heart. This guitar is really well done, from concept to execution.

There's usually a few minor tweaks to be done when a guitar arrives, but not this one. Not sure if it's just an awesome build by Epiphone or Matt R. at Sweetwater going the extra mile on the 55 point check, but this guitar out of the box has a near perfect set up. ...and intonated! Except that the G was 5 cent sharp at the 12th fret. But that was it for needed adjustment. It is a G string after all.

Cosmetically, it arrived practically flawless. Satin finish is beautiful and very well done all over. Inlays and binding are well done. Fretboard edges (bound) are slightly rounded, which is nice. No ridge where the binding meets the finish, just a clean straight edge. The slightest sign of a tool mark, at the base of the neck where the finish has been scraped off the fretboard binding, but only so much as you can see it's been done and it's nothing you'd complain about, so minor. By the time I was done looking this guitar over, I was really trying to find something, and that was the only thing I can mention. Very,very nice.

Overall build quality is excellent. Components and trim are installed straight and even, all screws are straight, nothing loose or over tightened. Case quality is the same, very good.

Tuners are very good, without slack and all six are of even and equal tension. Nut cut is very good. Fretwork is superb. With relatively low action, there's no buzzing or dead frets. Frets are smooth, not gritty. All fret ends are smooth. Knobs are installed on pots with zero set at 3 o'clock. Pots work well and sound clean when turned.

Gibson Burstbuckers sound fantastic. They're really the only reason needed to buy this guitar. With the overall high quality workmanship that's gone into the rest of the guitar, they're the icing in the cake. This SG feels good in my hands and is easy to play. Satin finish on the neck, not even the thought of stickiness. Really a great, keeper guitar. Well worth the price.

just recieved my sg today i was expecting a guitar a little better than my old epiphone sg400 pro with probuckers that i did sell didnt like it very much.so onto the inspired by gibson 61 sg the color was much darker than the pictures i wanted a bright red one but it was almost burgundy but i was shocked how nice it looked reminded me of angus older sg that was burgundy.so i was very happy with this color angus all the way.i tuned it up hit the a chord and wow it sounds just like a gibson no joke.i have a gibson les paul standard and this sg holds up to it but the sg is its own sound its brighter crunchy.so i tried the cleans and i was amazed at the clean tone too.the neck pickup is smooth and warm.the bridge pickup is acdc all the way the pickups are gibson burstbuckers 2 and 3.im just as impressed by it as my les paul.its is its own beast very unique i think.plus it comes with a beautiful high qaulity case with pink soft inside and it locks too.if you need help picking the color you want ask for nate derusha he will help you all the way.i have no fear buying online from sweetwater they stand up for there gear.btw you can play metallica on it too or blues jazz rock anything it can do it.

Both my sons had Gibson SG's… nice guitars, but I didn't like them. Something about the Gibson neck I just couldn't, ahem, come to grips with… when I got my hands on THIS guitar I was sold… the neck was fantastic… the playability and tones are both awesome. My sons sold their Gibson's off, I've still got my Epi and I use it a lot. Not slamming Gibson, they make great guitars. I'm just glad that Epiphone came out with this guitar so I could finally enjoy playing the SG. Value wise this is hard to beat as well… but, it's the playability and sound that made this a keeper for me. I would advise PLEK'ing any Epiphone you buy… it's money well spent.

My teenager loves the vintage rock sound. He played a lot of SGs for about 6 months, both new and used Gibson and Epiphone models including some very old Gibsons. He likes the old ones and reproductions the best. This was a great choice, the pickups and hardcase are so worth it, massive upgrade from his Squire Strat (which is great for beginners!). He loved being able to pick which guitar we bought based on the color and wood grains.

I've been playing Fender guitars since I was 14 years old, now for about 20 years, just for comparison's sake, and this is my first Epiphone. I've always wanted an SG since high school, and I got to say, this thing does NOT disappoint. It feels amazing, from the weight and balance of the body to the amazing neck! I feel like I've never had an easier time jamming. I got mine back in February and haven't put it down since. The sounds I can get from this beauty range from twangy strat-style clean to thick/dark overdrive. I also opted to get my guitar Plek'd, and I got to say, it was worth every penny. Not to mention the beautiful case it comes with!!! Thank you, Jason (Sales Engineer) and Sweetwater!!! I am in LOVE with this guitar and hope to have it for many years to come. This just makes me want to explore the other Gibson-inspired Epiphone guitars like the Les Paul and that SWEET Korina Explorer! Saving up for one of those next! :)

I couldn't wait to open my new guitar but I read the sticker asking me to wait 24 hrs before opening and I did. The case is beautiful. The guitar is awesome! It sounds like you would expect it to which is great. The electronics are first class! If you're thinking about purchasing one, you will not regret it!

When I first saw these announced I was interested. I've had a few different SG's (amongst other Gibson's) and my main axe is a '71 LP. I had to wait for them to become available stock and when I got the e mail that they were in I bought one immediately, even though I usually would never consider buying a guitar that I haven't actually played. I'm here to tell you folks, this guitar is the real deal! Beautiful finish. Well balanced. It just looks great. When it arrived I pulled it out of the box and gave it a quick tune up. I was ecstatic. It played beautifully because of the 55 point inspection/set up done by Sweetwater. What a great service! The guitar plays wonderfully. As a matter of fact I sat and played it for over an hour without even plugging it in and it sounded killer. Sustain for days. When I finally got around to plugging it in I was taken to rock n roll heaven. Ballsy, full throated rock tones that you dream of. I won't blather on and on but I will say this. If you're looking to get an SG do not hesitate to get one if these. It plays like it costs far more than it does. You won't be disappointed. Thanks Nick at Sweetwater for hooking me up with this beauty. She'll be sticking around for a while.

I was thinking of getting my first SG when I decided to look at Sweetwater.com. For the price, the specs and quality are pretty amazing on this bad boy. The Gibson pickups deliver all of the choice guitar tone words you can expect from an SG!

As good as a Gibson imo decent balance pickups are professional level same slim taper neck as my Gibsons. Nothing wrong with Chinese craftsmanship great build quality would buy again.

This s overall a great guitar. If you are a fan of SGs this is a must have. The case is second to none and played great right out of the box.

Very well built. The neck on mine is very thin, extremely comfortable & easy to play. Fretwork is flawless. And I love having unrestricted access to the entire fretboard (neck heel is at the 21st fret).
I really wanted to dislike the tuners as I prefer the chrome look but these are smooth and sensitive so I probably won't change them.
All electronics are premium Gibson. Burstbuckers sound awesome through a Marshall tube amp. They really shine when the gain is turned up. It is the genuine sound of classic rock & roll. The cleans (through a Fender amp) are full bodied and well balanced. This guitar can do rhythm, lead and everything in between, and does it better than any other Epi (and many Gibsons) I've ever seen - and I've seen plenty.
A little pricey for an Epiphone? - Maybe, but the quality is better than a budget an/or second-hand Gibson. Second hand Gibson SGs in this price range (yes, I looked... a lot) don't have Burstbuckers, slim-taper necks and a neck heel at the 21st fret. If you're on the fence over this (like I was) just get it before they're gone. This is a premium guitar and they will not get much cheaper in the aftermarket once this series is no longer available.

From the looks all the way to the Vintage tone! Epiphone knocked this one out of the park and who cares if the body isn't American the internals are true American electronics! the guitar sounds pretty close to the Gibson 61' SG. sustainability is incredible! Like I said if you are a fan of SG's and want one at almost half the cost this is the one! And btw Abraham was my salesman went above and beyond to make sure I got the right one I'm sure the rest of the team is great but definitely ask for this man he will help you find your guitar!

Recently got this Guitar from Sweetwater Music. The Guitar was very well packed to start with!!! Box indicated Fragile each side, and even Up as well. The whole order was a very smooth transaction!!! Jay was Very Helpful as well as another Sweetwater Rep!!! The Guitar Plays Very Well, and was cleaned, tuned, and ready to go when I opened it. Nice Action, Great Sound all around, excellent sustain, super tones from the Gibson pickups and solid body/hardware!!! It feels better than the Gibson version and sounds better!! Playing thru a Marshall TSL 122 and using a processor at different times. Either way I have owned several SG's, both Gibson and Epiphone and I'm not disappointed with this Excellent Guitar!!! I Love the Satin Finish as well, easier to play on the guitar neck!!! Thanks Sweetwater, for a Beautiful, Very Well Playing 61!!!

Picked one up at the local shop. Full sound, blends well with my single coil guitars when recording. Neck finish has good glide.

Epiphone in conjunction with the Gibson Custom Shop has hit a grand slam with this guitar. It is a faithful reproduction of the '61 SG/Les Paul with accurate body beveling, a beautiful VOS type soft gloss finish and USA Gibson Burstbucker pickups,CTS pots, Switchcraft switching and Mallory capacitors. Even details like double rings on the tuners were not overlooked. The vintage hardshell case tops off what is an amazing value. You get vintage Mojo at an accessible price. Bravo Epiphone!

This guitar is the closest you will get to the Gibson '61 SG for less than half the price. It just may be the best SG I've had (and I've had Gibson's). The only thing that sets the Epi apart from the Gibson is the satin finish (which I kinda prefer anyway)! I bonded with this one right away. It looks good and sounds awesome, and it just feels right. The fretwork is excellent and feels comfortable to play. The Indian laurel fingerboard looks good on mine. I don't like the light brown color some of them have, but mine looks more like rosewood. If you get one from Sweetwater, you can see pics of actual guitars to pick from! I recommend buying from Sweetwater due to their attention to customer service. Received my guitar promptly, packed securely and in perfect condition, and received texts and e-mail follow-ups. Get one while you can!
Oh yeah, the vintage-like brown and pink case is cool too!

Colin at The Guitaristas on YouTube reviewed the Epiphone SG Standard 61. I was impressed with the guitar, so as soon as I saw it at Sweetwater I contacted my Rep.
I had been put off by the ole stand-by negatives of the SG's, Neck Dive, it isn't a Les Paul, (but this one is…) they don't stay in tune, etc… I'm glad Colin convinced me to give the Epi SG a try.
The guitar arrived in perfect condition. After a quick tune, which it wasn't far from being "in", I gave it a few strums in each PU configuration.
I'm a beginner, ( But I've bought some nice guitars Fender Am Pro II Tele and Strat, Vintera 60's modified Strat, PRS Vela S2 semi hollow, Reverend Six Gun HPP & Flatroc RB, Gretsch Tri-Five, and a Gibson Les Paul Tribute that is getting MLA PU's) running through a Roland Blues Cube Hot, that's my disclosure of skill and equipment. The tones coming from the guitar and out of that lil amp were exactly what I have been looking for, vibrant, bluesy, Southern Classic, AC/DC magical tones are what I'm hearing at this point. I feel the guitar vibrate in my fret hand as I play the notes, the whole guitar sings.
Needless to say, the Epiphone SG Standard 61 has become one of my favorites to practice on. This guitar's clean tones give me confidence in my practice, which makes practice more enjoyable, and that encouraged me to practice more. Can't wait to put my pedal board together.
I'm giving the guitar 5 stars but honestly Epiphone, the guitar, the Sweetwater staff and Colin at The Guitaristas deserve a Spinal Tap 11 on the job well done scale.

Fantastic guitar I wanted a SG for a long time, glad I waited for this one!

I have had this guitar for a few weeks. I was hesitant to purchase the guitar because of all of the stories about bad fret work on the guitars. I can attest that this is a great guitar and it is a great alternative to buying a Gibson. The best explanation I can offer is this, this guitar is for people who like Gibson specs but Don have Gibson money. Do yourself a favor and buy one, it won't disappoint.

My title is not a slam. My 1st guitar was a 82 the Sg and I've had a gibson LP custom as I have a gibson LP now. Gibson just have an aroma like one can smell the wood this doesn't have that aroma but this guitar is as perfect as humanely possible. Mine is flawless I spent an hr looking for QC errors this is nicer than one of my gibsons was. I'm 67yrs old my hands are very rough but this guitar is so smooth, the neck is awesome the fret board flawless. Thank you Gibson/Epiphone and thank you Sweetwater

Yes theguitarsounds good and feels great. The neck breaks easy, and cracks with time. For a $ I want my guitarsto last more then a few months before the damage shows.