Gibson SG Deluxe Walnut 1971
Gibson SG Deluxe, walnut finish, made in USA 1971. It was a beautiful time for music in 1971: Led Zeppelin IV, Carole King's Tapestry and The Who's Who's Next all dropped that year, among many other terrific records. Over at Gibson HQ a year before, the mini-humbucker equipped Les Paul Deluxe and the quirkily re-styled SG Deluxe were released. The SG Deluxe added a factory installed Gibson branded Bigsby tailpiece, a brass tone block under the bridge and a more LP-flavoured pickguard into the equation, all new ideas in SG land. It's really fun to play: the slim neck sits nicely in the hands, it balances well sitting or standing, it holds tune nicely and has plenty of natural resonance. The Bigsby adds a bit of top end breath and zing to the sound, sharpening up the attack a little bit and giving your notes some punch and snap. The patent number stamped pickups from this era are colloquially known as T-Tops, and they're some of the most sought after vintage humbuckers going around. It's a great sound: the neck pickup is smooth, creamy and fat, with a glassy top end a very tight and tuneful bass. It's warm without being vague or muffled. The bridge pickup is more square sounding, with an abundance of midrange kick and a great balance between snarly edge and wide complexity. The finish has aged pretty gracefully, so it's covered in checking lines and natural play wear but hasn't suffered anything too nasty. The other visual details like the big headstock, mini-block inlays, smoky chrome hardware and funky guard give this a real 70s specific look, it's very cool. There's a lot to like here, and at well under half what you're likely to pay for a Strat or Les Paul from the same year, it's a very fun way to add a proper vintage piece to your stash.
Model: Gibson SG Deluxe
Made: USA, pot dates 1971, Kalamazoo factory
Serial: 636389
Finish: walnut, originally gloss, nitro
Body: Honduran mahogany
Neck: 3-piece Honduran mahogany, Indian rosewood fretboard, 24.75" scale, 12" radius, 41mm nut, 51mm wide at 12th, 20mm deep at 1st fret, 28mm deep at 12th
Weight: 3.460kg
Mods: bridge pickup appears to have been re-wound, some pickup surround screws replaced, tone capacitors replaced, tuners replaced
Pickups: Gibson T-Top humbucker x2
Accessories: new DCM soft case
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has scuffs and dents on the end as well as a couple of chips on the corners, as well as scuffs and dimples on the edges and some filled holes from previous tuners, widespread checking and some dimples on the back and some checking, scuffs, fading and dimples on the front. The clear coat over the inlaid crown and logo is peeling off. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, plenty of rub wear and some minor scuffs and dimples on the back only. The back has a decent dent on the top horn, some bald patches along the top bevel and middle of the body, surface scratches near the neck join and in the middle of the body, dimples and scuffs around the elbow area, back edge, bottom corner and bottom edge and widespread checking lines. The sides have a bald patch and some dents and scuffs on the top horn, some dents, rub wear, balding and dimples in the elbow area, dimples scuffs and balding near the jack and on the back edge and some rub wear and dimples on the bottom horn. The front has a minor repaired crack on the bass side of the neck pickup, rub wear in the elbow area and below the guard, play wear on the guard and horns and checking lines, dimples and scuffs all over the body.
Overall: good condition (6.5/10)
Playing condition notes: action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 10/52 Moonshiners strings.
Fret Life: 7/10, minor wear only, the original fretwire is a wide but short size, it's playing well with no major buzz issues