The SG Standard was introduced in 1961, slotting above the SG Special and below the SG Custom. It has been one of the longest-lasting variants of the SG, only shortly being replaced by the SG Deluxe from mid-1971 to mid-1972. As they transitioned back from the Deluxe, there were some models with a mixture of features from both.
In 1986, a '60s style reissue model called the SG-62 was slotted between the Standard and Custom in the lineup.
In 2016, the Standard was split into two variants; the T (Traditional) and HP (High Performance). For 2019, the Standard HP became a standalone model called the SG High Performance, while two new variants of the Standard were introduced, called the Standard Tribute and Standard '61. However, in May 2019, the Standard Tribute became a standalone model called the SG Tribute.
The Batwing pickguard design debuted in early-to-mid 1966. Production of this design continued through most of 1971, seemingly overlapping somewhat with the SG Deluxe that replaced it.
After a short hiatus, being replaced by the Deluxe, the transition back to the Standard began mid-1972 as the last Deluxe parts were being used up. The first change was moving the control cavity cover to the back of the body again. Then, the pickguard changed to something similar to the early '60s Angel Wing style, but with less of a curve for the cutaway, which was fixed before the cutaway beveling returned (or possibly, pickguards were cut by hand as they worked on creating a new template; there is variation in pickguard shape at this time). Some examples even have holes left behind from Les Paul style pickguards that were going to be mounted on them. Other features like knobs and pickups are essentially randomly grabbed from parts bins and may not transition in a linear fashion. Embossed pickup covers were used on both T-Tops and Super Humbuckers at first. Once the cutaway beveling and neck angle return, it can again be considered a Standard and not a transitional model.
The Standard officially returns in the October 1972 price list as the last few feature changes transition in; a return of the angled neck and cutaway beveling. Some examples may still have T-Tops until early 1973. By 1973, the Gibson logo changes to a more rounded style and the headstock tapers more at the waist.
Note: The early/mid 1973–early 1975 models with Ebony fretboards were not limited edition models, despite what some books claim. This was listed as standard specification in Gibson's catalog for those years.
1973:
$425
$440 (Bigsby)
January 1974:
$440 USD
£269 GBP (Cherry)
£275 GBP (Walnut)
+£18 GBP (Bigsby)
May 1974-1975:
$465
$479 (Bigsby)
$544 (Bigsby Palm Pedal)
$439 (Satin Walnut)
£321 GBP
1976
March: $485
$499 (Bigsby)
June: $499 (Walnut, Cherry)
$519 (Bigsby: Walnut, Cherry)
$479 (Satin Walnut)
$499 (Bigsby: Satin Walnut)
$529 (White, Tobacco Sunburst)
$549 (Bigsby: White)
1977:
$539 (Walnut, Cherry)
$559 (Bigsby: Walnut, Cherry)
$519 (Satin Walnut)
$539 (Bigsby: Satin Walnut)
1974
$569 (White, Tobacco Sunburst)
$589 (Bigsby: White)
1978:
$589 (All gloss finishes)
$569 (Satin Walnut)
$639 (Lefty, Cherry & Walnut)
1979:
$629 (All gloss finishes)
$609 (Satin Walnut)
$679 (Left-Handed)
+$20 (Add Bigsby)
Body:
Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish
Neck:
3-pc laminated Honduran Mahogany
.800" / 1.00" profile
Set-in construction
3 degree angle
Titebond glue
Joins body at 18th fret
Indian Rosewood fretboard (1972–early 1973, early 1975–1979)
Mother of Pearl small block inlays
12" radius
1978
Ebony fretboard (early/mid 1973–early 1975)
Mother of Pearl small block inlays
12" radius
Volute
Large Open Book headstock
Resin impregnated fiberboard veneer
Inlaid Mother of Pearl Gibson logo
Thinner font (1973–early 1977)
Thicker, squared font (1972–early 1973, 1976–1979)
Bridge pickup closer to bridge (mid/late 1974–1979)
3-way switch
2 Vol, 2 Tone
CTS 500k pots (Late 1972–June 1973)
CTS 300k pots (July 1973–1979)
100k tone (1976–1979)
Ceramic "disk" capacitors
Hardware:
Chrome Hardware
Schaller M-6 tuning machines
1:12 ratio
Chrome Keystone buttons
"Gibson" engraved
Grover Rotomatic tuning machines (sporadic use)
1:14 ratio
Chrome Keystone buttons
"Milk Bottle" style
1977, Walnut finish
5-ply "Angel Wing" pickguard
Bell shaped truss rod cover
2-ply b/w (1972–1975)
Blank
Un-beveled
2-ply b/w with "S-G" hot-stamp (mid 1974–1979)
Beveled edges (sporadic use)
Tighter spacing (mid 1974–early 1976)
Wider spacing (early 1976–1979)
Single-ply black (sporadic use)
Witch Hat knobs (late 1972)
Black Speed knobs
Pointers (1973–mid 1976)
"Goof Hider"
Schaller "Harmonica" Tune-O-Matic bridge
Aluminum stopbar tailpiece (1972-1975)
Zamak stopbar tailpiece (1975-1979)
"Goof hiders" (sporadic use)
Used around pickup rings & tailpiece posts
Optional aluminum Bigsby vibrola
"Gibson" engraved
Finishes:
Cherry
Walnut
Natural (1972-1975)
Tobacco Sunburst (1974–1979)
White (1976–1979)
Satin Walnut (1976–1979)
1980–1991[]
1980 Walnut
The main changes with this generation were the return of the 1 11/16" nut width, moving the switch and the relocating the output jack to the side of the body. (Note: these changes actually occurred in late 1979, in preparation for the 1980 model year. However, left-handed models used the old layout, nut width and Harmonica bridge until as late as 1982.) The bridge was also changed from the Harmonica to the Nashville design and the binding on the neck became thicker. In 1981, the crown inlay was moved back upward to where it was positioned from 1961–1966. 1984 saw the introduction of tuning machines designed by Schaller to mimic the look of Klusons. Throughout the entire year of 1984, examples can be found with either Tarbacks or Shaws as the transition was undergone. Similarly, there is overlap between Shaws and Originals in 1987.
This body style was produced until mid–1991 as it was replaced with the new Batwing-style Standard that same year.
1980: $679 MSRP
1981: $749 MSRP
1982-1983:
$799 MSRP (Wine Red, Ebony)
$884 MSRP (Walnut, Ivory, Tobacco Sunburst)
$899 MSRP (Left-handed)
1984-1986:
$699 MSRP
$749 MSRP (Left-handed)
1990: $749 MSRP (Candy Red, TV Yellow, Candy Blue, Silver)
This redesign occurred about halfway through 1991 and returned the neck inset to its pre-1971 depth. While the controls were returned to the pre-1980 layout, the knobs are positioned further inboard than previously. This can help distinguish other models that use this body design from ones that use the '61 Reissue body, which has the knobs closer to the edge of the body. Some early examples infrequently used the old squared font Gibson logo inlay. This redesign also changes the headstock shape to the narrow SP-1 design and moves the crown inlay down again to its post-1966 location. The Heritage Cherry finish was a darker red for most of the 1990s, and lightened up around the new millennium.
Note: 1994 models used a different serial number format of "YY######" to celebrate Gibson's Centennial Anniversary. It reverted back in 1995 to the standard Gibson USA format.
Historic 1961 Les Paul / SG Standard Reissue (2000–Present)[]
These models are produced in smaller numbers (less than 1,000 per year) by the Custom Shop, to vintage-accurate specs. This ground-up redesign included deeper beveling with tapered horns, a new neck profile, wide beveled plastics and a more accurate headstock shape including a real Holly veneer, among other changes. Because there were so many different heel designs in the early 1960s, this model randomly uses one of two different heel designs, either a smooth overlap or a hard stepped overlap. Certificates of authenticity were introduced in 2002. One inaccuracy that has yet to be addressed is the neck being set at the bottom of the 22nd fret, instead of at the top of the fret like it was in 1961. This results in the pickguard sitting higher than it should, and the bottom point of the pickguard hanging over the edge of the body.
Originally, it was offered with aged hardware as an extra cost option. In 2006, they introduced the "V.O.S." (Vintage Original Spec) treatment with a lightly dulled finish and aged hardware as the standard treatment, with the gloss finish and hardware becoming optional for extra cost. In 2007, the use of aniline dye was ended because of complaints of color bleed onto the binding. However, aniline dye returned in 2013 for historical accuracy. Since 2014, as a part of Gibson's "Made 2 Measure" program, this model can be custom ordered with almost any option desired (even with a Batwing pickguard) and different levels of aging. In 2019, the new 1964 SG Standard Reissue effectively replaced the Maestro vibrola option, and the standard Faded Cherry finish was replaced with Cherry Red.
2005:
$2,349 Street (Faded Cherry)
$2,449 Street (Faded Cherry w/ Maestro)
$2,749 Street (T.V. Yellow)
2006:
$2,599 Street (Faded Cherry, VOS)
$2,699 Street (Faded Cherry w/ Maestro, VOS)
$2,899-$2,999 Street (Faded Cherry w Maestro, Gloss)
$2,799-$2,999 Street (T.V. Yellow & Classic White, VOS)
$3,299 Street (T.V. Yellow & Classic White, Gloss)
2007–2008:
$2,699 Street (Faded Cherry, VOS)
$2,899 Street (Faded Cherry w/ Maestro, VOS)
$2,999 Street (T.V. Yellow & Classic White, VOS)
$3,199 Street (Faded Cherry w/ Maestro, Gloss)
$3,199 Street (T.V. Yellow & Classic White, Gloss)
$3,299 Street (T.V. Yellow & Classic White w/ Maestro, VOS)
$3,399 Street (Faded Cherry, Gloss, Left-handed)
2009–2012:
$2,999 Street (Faded Cherry, VOS)
$3,099 Street (Faded Cherry w/ Maestro, VOS)
$3,299 Street (Faded Cherry, Gloss)
$3,399 Street (Faded Cherry, Gloss, Left-handed)
$3,399 Street (T.V. Yellow & Classic White, VOS)
$3,499 Street (Faded Cherry w/ Maestro, Gloss)
$3,499 Street (T.V. & C.W. w/ Maestro, VOS)
$2,750 Street (F.C. VOS, 2013 clearance)
$2,599 Street (F.C. VOS, 2014 clearance)
$2,299 Street (Maestro, Dent/Scratch discount)
2013:
$3,299 Street (VOS)
$3,499 Street (w/ Maestro)
$2,999 Street (VOS, 2014 clearance)
$2,449 Street (Maestro, Dent/Scratch)
2014:
$3,499 Street (VOS)
$3,699 Street (VOS, Maestro)
2015:
$3,999 Street (VOS)
$3,999 Street (Maestro)
$3,399 Street (VOS Cherry, price drop)
$3,649 Street (VOS Classic White, price drop)
$3,699 Street (Maestro, price drop)
2016–2018:
$4,499 Street (VOS)
$5,099 Street (VOS, Maestro)
$3,999 Street (VOS, 2019 clearance)
2019-2021: $4,199 Street (VOS)
2022-Present: $4,299 Street (VOS)
$4,099 Street (Gloss Demo)
$5,499 Street (Murphy Lab Ultra Light Aged, Antique Polaris White)
$5,699 Street (Murphy Lab Ultra Light Aged, Antique Olive Drab)
This redesign brought most of the specifications from the discontinued '61 Reissue to the Standard, such as the '57 Classics, Slim Taper neck, beveling, heel design, pickguard shape and control placement, only excluding the wide headstock and Nickel hardware.
$1,299 Street
$800 Street (Clearance Sale)
$1,499 Street (Min-E-Tune)
$1,349 Street (Min-E-Tune, Heritage Cherry, Clearance Sale)
$1,199 Street (Min-E-Tune, Classic White, Clearance Sale)
This model year would represent the first time Gibson ever used a compound radius fretboard on an SG, as well as the first time Mother of Pearl was used for the trapezoid inlays on an SG Standard (however, the small block inlays used from 1972-1985 were Mother of Pearl). The Plekking process was improved for this year as well.
This redesign has a mixture of features from previous models, with the beveling, knob placement and heel shape of the 1991–2012 model but the Angel Wing pickguard and Slim Taper neck of the '61 Reissue.
This model returns the body design and features of the discontinued '61 Reissue, with the exception of the wide headstock and '57 Classics. A Faded version (w/Maestro) was released in October 2022.
2019-2021:
$1,799 Street
$1,999 (w/ Vibrola)
2022:
$1,999 Street
$2,199 Street (w/ Vibrola)
$2,399 Street (w/ Vibrola, July-December)
$2,199 Street (Faded w/ Vibrola)
2023:
$1,999 Street
$2,199 Street (Faded w/ Vibrola)
$2,399 Street (w/ Sideways Vibrola)
$2,499 Street (w/ Maestro Vibrola)
Avg. weight: 6.5 lbs.
Avg. weight w/ Vibrola: 7 lbs.
Body:
Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
Grade A Mahogany (Translucent finishes)
'61 Reissue beveling
Angled heel
Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish
Satin sheen, no grain filler (Faded)
Neck:
1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
Set-in construction
3 degree angle
Franklin Titebond 50 glue
Joins body at 22nd fret
'61 Reissue style heel
1961 Slim Taper D profile (.810" / .910")
Faded
Indian Rosewood fretboard
Acrylic Trapezoid inlays
12" radius
Grade A Rosewood
Narrow Open Book headstock
Resin impregnated fiberboard veneer
Inlaid Mother of Pearl Gibson logo
Inlaid Mother of Pearl crown
Lower placement (2019- Aug. 2022)
Higher placement (Sept. 2022-Present)
"Made in U.S.A." stamp
17o pitch
22 medium-jumbo frets
Leveled by Plek machine
24 9/16" scale
TekToid self-lubricating nut (Sept. 2018 – May 2019)
Cut by Plek machine
Graph Tech nut
Cut by Plek machine
1 11/16" nut width
Binding:
Neck, single-ply
Cream color
Fret-edge binding
Thicker style
Rolled edges
Electronics:
Two Burstbucker '61 Humbuckers
AlNiCo V magnets
7.74k ohms D.C.R.
Uncovered (Faded)
3-way switch
2 Vol, 2 Tone
Sept. 2018 – May 2019:
CTS 300k volume, linear
CTS 500k tone, audio
"Quick-Connect" circuit board
May 2019 – Present:
CTS 300k volume, audio
CTS 500k tone, audio
Orange Drop caps
Hardware:
Nickel Hardware
Grover "Gibson Deluxe" tuning machines
1:14 ratio
Yellow Keystone buttons
Manufactured by Ping
5-ply "Angel Wing" pickguard
Bell shaped truss rod cover
2-ply b/w
"SG" hot-stamp (Sept. 2018 – May 2019)
Blank
Black Reflector knobs
Switch ring not mounted (Sept. 2018 – May 2019)
Aluminum ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge
Set into bushings
Aluminum stopbar tailpiece
Optional Maestro Vibrola
Optional Sideways Vibrola
Aged Cherry w/ Gold hardware
Finishes:
Vintage Cherry
Ebony (2021-2022 Gibson website exclusive)
Tobacco Sunburst (2023 GC/MF exclusive)
Limited Runs:
Aged Cherry (2022-2023 AMS/Zzounds exclusive)
Gold hardware
$2,099 Street
Custom Colors Series (2023)
Translucent Teal
TV Yellow
Pelham Blue Burst
Cardinal Red Burst
Silver Mist
Classic White
Historic 1964 SG Standard Reissue (2019–Present)[]
Like every Historic Collection model since 2014, this is available to be customized through the Made 2 Measure program.
Guitar Center exclusive. Same specs as Historic SG Standard except Grover Rotomatic tuners and lightly aged finish (pre-dating VOS option). Contrary to some internet rumors, it is otherwise no different from the standard Historic. $1,999 - $2,499 Street
