Gibson SG Special Guitar Review

The Gibson SG brand has made a name for itself in the hard rock and metal genres as a must have for any musician serious in delving into this style of play. It has a very fierce look only matched by fiercer sound. There are dozens of different versions of it, ranging from entry level all the way up to virtuoso level. In this article, I'll review the high end Gibson SG Special. Let's take a look to see what it offers potential buyers.

Features: The body of the SG Special is made of mahogany, which helps give Gibsons a sound best compared to the wood's actual look, that is, deep rich and ranging from very light to very dark. There are two finishes available including "Ferrari Red", and "Ebony". Both have a glossed solid finish which isn't particularly fancy but is sharp nonetheless. The neck is made of mahogany as well, and is set into the body of the SG with a thin joint. The fretboard, meanwhile, is made of rosewood and has twenty two frets with pearloid dot inlays. All of the hardware on the SG Special, including the pickup covers, input jack, and Tune-O-Matic bridge, is chrome. The only exceptions are the tuning heads, which are plastic. Electronically, the Gibson SG Special has tow Alnico humbucking pickups, two volume and two tone control knobs, and a three way selector switch.

Playability: The SG is probaby the most user friendly model Gibson has to offer. The body is much thinner and lighter than most others, such as the Les Paul, making it easier to play standing up. Additionally, the double cutaways and thinner neck joint allow for better high fret access than others in the Gibson line. The only thing about the SG Special that may need some getting used to is the thickness of the neck, which can be tough for musicians with smaller hands.

Sound: The SG Special, despite its reputation for the hard rock and metal genres, is surprisingly versatile. Don't get me wrong, it still screams with the best of them. But these pickups are very similar to those used on Les Paul models, meaning you'll be able to get some nice pure rhythm and clean tones with the SG Special.

Overall: This guitar, as should be expected judging by the price, is solid all the way around. It has a dedicated user base that continues to grow, and for good reason. You can find the Gibson SG Special in music stores for about $1,250.