SG Standard
Better the devil you know...
You probably think that the Les Paul Standard is the biggest selling Gibson of all time… Well, you’d actually be wrong. The SG Standard has been kicking its older sibling’s ass in finding good homes for decades. Of course, that iconic double-cutaway design was originally the replacement for the poorly-selling single-cut Les Paul. It was only officially renamed the SG in 1963.
The SG Standard we have in our possession nails the vibe of the 1964 model. That year, the SG was spec’d with a slightly chubbier neck than the super slim efforts of the previous three years. Don’t, er, fret. We’re not talking baseball bats here. The ‘rounded’ profile filling out our palm is still quite slim. It just happens to hit a sweet spot between shallow and deep that should please most players.
In classic SG style, the body and neck of this model are cut from
lightweight mahogany. This guitar weighs a mere 3kg (aka 6.10lb). The flawlessly applied nitrocellulose finish will age beautifully over the next few years. The hardware should keep its looks. Chrome is the Keanu Reeves of hardware finishes. Come back in a decade and it’ll probably look exactly the same.
Playability is impressive. The rosewood fingerboard plays host to 22 beautifully-finished medium jumbo frets and a low action accommodated by the 305mm (12") radius. Upper fret access has always been great on the SG Standard. The deep ‘devil horn’ cutaways and shallow neck heel keep well out of your way.
Plugging in, the 490T and 490R ‘Modern Classic’ humbuckers deliver all the trademark warmth and bite we expect. The SG has more of a snarl than a Les Paul in the bridge position. Listen to SG fans like Paul Weller, Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi and, of course, Angus Young of AC/DC. Their tone is all about aggression, and punching your licks and riffs through a mix. That’s what the SG Standard does best. Those guys would love this 2019 model.
With build quality, tone and playability of this high standard, the SG Standard is sure to be topping Gibson’s sales figures for years to come.
The 490T and 490R humbuckers deliver all the trademark warmth and bite we expect