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This 1961 Gibson SG Sounds So Sweet! Mason Stoops Unleashes the Tone

This 1961 Gibson SG Sounds So Sweet! Mason Stoops Unleashes the Tone
Michael Molenda

Get enveloped in the sound of a vintage 1961 Gibson SG Standard—released the very same year Gibson president Ted McCarty introduced the model.

1961 Gibson Les Paul SG Typical Specs

  • Mahogany, double-cutaway body
  • Slim mahogany neck
  • Bound rosewood fingerboard
  • 22 medium-jumbo frets
  • Two PAF humbuckers

Mason Stoops on Why It Says "Les Paul" on the Headstock

“Everyone was into this guitar—except Les Paul. It was originally called a Les Paul because Gibson had a deal with him for having a signature solidbody guitar. After some back and forth, Gibson agreed to take his name off the model and sell it as a brand new guitar.

“Unfortunately, they didn’t have a name for it, and in the Gibson catalog up to that point, it was just marked as the “SG”—which stood for Solid Guitar. That ended up being the name that stuck. So, the ‘Gibson SG’ was where this guitar was going, but at that point in time, it was still technically a Les Paul.”

Continue Your Vintage Gear Expedition

Michael Molenda

Michael Molenda is a content strategist, editor and writer for Guitar Center, where he has worked since 2022. He is the longest-serving Editor in Chief of Guitar Player (1997-2018), and former Editorial Director of Bass Player, EQ, Keyboard, Electronic Musician, Gig and Modern Drummer. A guitarist, drummer, bassist and producer, Mike co-owned three pro recording studios in San Francisco, and performs with Surf Monster and The Trouble With Monkeys.

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