Gibson SG Standard '61, Faded Vintage Cherry Satin

A timeless SG for every generation, reimagined with a faded finish and 60s Burstbucker pickups The SG™ Standard ’61 Faded revives the essential design elements that cemented the SG as a true icon, inspiring players and shaping music across decades and genres. When the Les Paul™ model was temporarily retired in 1961, Gibson introduced a boldly new solidbody design that would come to be known as the SG™, short for “solid guitar.” The SG Standard ’61 Faded stays true to the look and feel of those celebrated early-1960s originals. Its solid mahogany body features the instantly recognizable double-cutaway SG outline, complete with deeply contoured body scarfing and twin horns that have defined the model since its inception.

Finished in faded nitrocellulose lacquer, it delivers a warm, broken-in appearance and the tactile feel of an instrument that’s been a trusted companion for years. The mahogany neck is carved with a fast, comfortable SlimTaper™ profile and topped with a bound rosewood fretboard fitted with 22 medium jumbo frets and classic acrylic trapezoid inlays. With a 12” fretboard radius, it offers a natural feel for first-position chords while allowing lead passages higher up the neck to ring cleanly without fretting out. The neck joint at the 22nd fret provides unhindered access across the entire fretboard, a hallmark that has long made the SG a favorite among lead players.

In keeping with early SG tradition, the SG Standard ’61 Faded features a 5-ply, teardrop-shaped pickguard, rather than the larger “batwing” guard found on later iterations. Nickel-plated hardware includes an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic™ bridge paired with an aluminum Stop Bar tailpiece, delivering classic tone and reliable performance. Vintage Deluxe tuners with Keystone buttons work alongside a Graph Tech® nut to maintain excellent tuning stability. At the heart of the guitar is a set of 60s Burstbucker™ humbuckers, built with historically correct unbalanced coils and Alnico 5 magnets.

Together, they produce an open, harmonically rich voice inspired by early Patent Applied For designs, with enhanced clarity and a sweet, expressive edge when pushed into overdrive. Individual volume and tone controls for each pickup, using audio􀀀taper potentiometers and hand-wired Orange Drop® capacitors, provide a wide and musical range of tonal shaping. Black Top Hat knobs with silver reflectors complete the vintage􀀀correct look. Delivering the unmistakable SG sound, exceptional playability, and the craftsmanship that defines American-made Gibson instruments, the SG Standard ’61 Faded continues a legacy that has resonated with players worldwide for generations. A Gibson hardshell case is included for secure storage and transport.

Body
Shape: SG 61
Body Material: Mahogany

Neck
Neck Material: Mahogany
Profile: Slim Taper
Nut Width: 43.053mm
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Scale Length: 628.65mm
Number of Frets: 22
Nut Material: Graph Tech
Inlay: Acrylic Trapezoids

Hardware
Bridge: ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Knobs:
Tailpiece: Aluminum Stop Bar
Tuners: Vintage Deluxe with Keystone Buttons
Plating: Nickel

Electronics
Neck Pickup: 60s Burstbucker
Bridge Pickup: 60s Burstbucker
Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, Hand-wired with Orange Drop Capacitors