Here for your delectation is a very early, wide nut (43mm) 1965, ‘64 spec, Gibson SG Standard in stunning cherry red.

Designed to take on the Fender Stratocaster with a lighter body and a different feeling neck, the modified Les Paul came into being in 1960/61 to be quickly excommunicated by its namesake and received the moniker SG (solid guitar) by 1963. On the way there had been some design improvements. The neck tenon was amended making the guitar more stable and less prone to breaks and the sideways vibrato was replaced with the Maestro ‘Lyre’ version which worked far better. Many consider this to be the best version of the guitar.

This guitar is quite the stunner. The body is in very nice shape and the top has retained some of its cherry finish having faded a little. There are a few dings here and there but nothing too serious at all (take a look at the pics in the gallery). The grain of the mahogany is wonderfully showcased. The back has faded slightly less and as with the front has the odd dink.

The neck, like the body, has a few minor dings and has faded somewhat. The fretboard shows some signs of wear and the frets have plenty of life left in them. The face of the headstock has chipped a little and the exposed section has been coloured in with a sharpie. Also worthy of note are the tuners. All are correct and represent the transition from single line to double line Klusons during this period and the way in which Gibson used the parts they had around to complete orders.

The hardware has dulled but shows very little signs of corrosion.

Electrically everything looks correct with all the pot-codes reading early 1965 though the week has been obscured on all of them. No solder joints look to have been disturbed. The neck pickup looks to have had the cover removed at some stage with the bridge pickup being undisturbed.

The guitar comes with its correct black hardshell case with orange lining, which just like the guitar is also in pretty nice condition.

As soon as you pick this guitar up you realise why you need an SG in your life. The profile of the neck is so instantly comfortable, quite a way from the wide, thin feel of earlier models. Tonally, the SG really brings quite a unique perspective on the twin humbucker combination. The smoothness of the neck pickup with the bite of the bridge and never too woofy. Like any Gibson from this period and earlier, there is such a scope to the sound, a notion that was lost with later incarnations from the venerable manufacturer.

If you’re searching for an SG for the collection then you cannot go wrong with this one. Grab it before it gets away…