Origins and 1961 Redesign
Gibson launched the SG line in 1961 to replace the Les Paul model, shifting to a thinner, double-cutaway mahogany body with pointed horns for improved upper-fret access and reduced weight.
Evolution Through the Decades
Early SG Standards featured PAF humbuckers until 1965, followed by Patent Number and then ceramic-magnet pickups in the 1970s; the model was reissued in the 1980s and 1990s with period-correct specs before the current USA-made version adopted the 1961 neck profile and hot-routed electronics.
Notable Artists and Signature Sounds
Angus Young recorded AC/DC's high-gain rhythm tracks on a 1968 SG Standard, while Tony Iommi used modified SGs for Black Sabbath's down-tuned riffs; other players such as Pete Townshend and Robby Krieger helped cement its place in classic rock.
