TOMMY IOMMI’S “MONKEY” GETS A CUSTOM SHOP CLONE

Those who take their Sabbath like their coffee will be tolling the bell of doom in celebration with the news that Gibson has launched an Artist Series replica of Tony Iommi’s iconic 1964 SG Special. Nicknamed “Monkey”, and featuring a sticker depicting the eponymous primate just below the bridge, the new SG Special is the Holy Grail of electric guitars in Black Sabbath history.

Besides its mahogany body and set neck, the Monkey features a pair of handmade pickups, which were wound by an apprentice of the late guru John Birch. It has been aged with a zero fret as per Iommi’s original, and sports the same stop tailpiece bushings and routing holes where the original tune-o-matic bridge and tailpiece would have been removed.‡

The Gibson Custom Shop has created 50 of these guitars,‡with 25 righthanded‡and‡25 left (like the original). Each comes signed and numbered by‡Iommi, and inside the custom 1960s coffin case, you’ll find an exclusive replica of‡Iommi’s silver cross necklace‡and leather touring guitar strap. WORDS: JONATHAN HORSLEY