Gibson SG Junior Cherry 1968
Gibson SG Junior, cherry red, made in USA 1968. Does it get much cooler than this? The SG Junior launched in 1961 as a stripped-down take on the new body shape, before morphing to this 'batwing guard' form in 1966 and eventually being discontinued in 1971. This is a classic example of the batwing era Junior, and it's such a joy in the hands. At 3.1kg, it's super light, but it still manages to balance well. The neck is a moderate C style shape: not as fat as the early 60s models, but not as skinny as a 70s SG... just right, really. The rosewood board and well-played neck look and feel outstanding, it's very convincing. The body suffered a blow at some point and has a visible repair around the thin walls of the control cavity, but it's been very tidily executed several decades ago and would honestly be easily missed from a couple of feet away. The body rings like a bell: super loud unplugged with a very responsive feel. Plug it in, and it gets better: the thing sounds so huge. Big chords get a wild width, with a harmonically bursting midrange adding detail and complexity while still letting every single note have it's own space. Lead lines come out with an expressive, nuanced voice and a gooey sustain, it's an addictive sound. The finish is doing all the right things: a bit of fading, some checking, a bit of wear... the Custom Shop relic jobs just aren't the same, there's nothing like the real thing. Can I get a 'hell yeah'?
Model: Gibson SG Junior
Made: USA. 1968
Serial: 952790
Finish: cherry, gloss nitro
Body: mahogany
Neck: mahogany, rosewood fretboard, 9.5" radius, 24.75 scale, moderate C shape
Weight: 3.125kg
Mods: tuners replaced, truss cover replaced, frets replaced, minor body crack repaired (see condition notes)
Pickups: Gibson P-90 single coil
Accessories: non-original brown/pink Gibson hard case
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has scuffs and dimples on the end, scuffs on both edges, a bald patch on the back near the end, fade marks from previous tuners and checking, scuffs around the posts and a bald patch in the top treble side corner on the front. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, a couple of minor chips in the clearcoat and some dimples and rub wear on the back only. The back has scuffs on the top horn, surface scratches and dimples on the bottom horn, dimples in the elbow area, a surface scratch near the rear strap pins and evidence of a repaired crack around the cavity in the bottom corner. The sides have scuffs and dimples on the top horn, elbow area, back edge and bottom corner, as well as some checking lines and scuffs on the bottom horn. The body has a repaired crack visible on the back and sides around the cavity, which didn't get as far as the front of the guitar, but the repair lines are visible on the back and sides at opposite ends of the control cavity from near the jack to near the volume knob. The front has dimples and scuffs on the top horn, dimples in the elbow area, back edge and near the knobs, widespread checking behind the bridge and on the bottom horn, as well as play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: good condition (7/10)
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: 8/10, minor wear only