In 1961, Gibson decided to totally revamp the design of the Les Paul model. The 1960 Les Paul sales lagged behind numbers for 1959, so hoping to attract more interest, Gibson cooked up a creative new shape that lended easier access into the upper register. The flattop, double-cutaway solid Mahogany body they introduced was very different from the earlier Les Paul design. Its contours and sharp points on the cutaways were unlike anything made before, and its slender neck profile with small heel and access all the way up to the 22nd fret was advertised as the "fastest neck in the world." This body shape was so radically different from the Les Paul that it needed its own name. Since then, the SG (short for "Solid Guitar") has been a staple of the Gibson line, capturing the attention of guitarists far and wide.
The SG Standard model carries on the tradition of the 1960s. By 2005, it had two pickguard-mounted humbuckers in the style of the late-'60s and Trapezoid inlays on the fingerboard just like a Les Paul. But what sets the SG Standard apart is the classic Gibson flowerpot inlay on the peghead, which accents the sharp points of the cutaways perfectly. There is something about the SG that just screams attitude.
This 2005 SG Standard looks just right in its Cherry finish with a bound fingerboard and late-'60s style large pickguard that matches the points perfectly. Outfitted with Gibson-USA humbuckers, this SG Standard covers a wide range of tones, and the iconic double-cutaway body makes every single fret easy to reach. While many SGs have narrow pencil-thin necks, this SG Standard has a 1-11/16" nut width and a full-feeling neck profile. Outfitted with quality hardware including Kluson tuners with Keystone buttons, this Gibson is a reliable, hard-working axe that will deliver night after night.
This 2005 Gibson SG Standard shows some signs of play and use, but it is pretty dang clean for a 20-year-old used guitar. There are some minor bumps around the edges, and a few spots around the input jack (near misses with an instrument cable?). Like a lot of Gibsons from this era, the lacquer is cracked around the inlays on the headstock. The previous owner switch the strap buttons out for buttons that fit Dunlop StrapLoks. It has low action with minimal fretwear, and it includes its original hardshell case, which is every bit as clean as the guitar.