FS - 1961 Gibson SG Special - Original Vintage - Collectors Grade

Adipsia

For sale is my lovely, all original 1961 - first year - Gibson SG Special.

This guitar has had the very lightest of wear in its 57 year life, but shows no signs of fading, checking or buckle-rash. There is one small mark in-front of the top-horn but everything else is pretty much pristine. Very little fret-wear and no re-fretting. She came to me via George Gruhn in Nashville who had her in his collection before she made her way across the pond.

She comes with her original case - the smell of which evokes unspoken stories from her past - and includes the original cable and even original strings, although these are now in their 1961 Gibson wrappers rather than on the guitar. The term closet-classic is often used and abused, but totally applies to this guitar.

Based upon looks and condition she could easily be a 2017 Custom-Shop guitar... but you’ll know that she isn’t when you plug her in and compare. The pots all work smoothly with no major step-changes that you feel and hear in modern replicas.

 1186 of these guitars were built in 1961. Many will have been lost over the past half-century and of those that do remain many are battle-scarred and re-worked. This is one of a handful that are close to perfect.

 Sale price : £6,750

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vettahead

Dear Lord!!!

bodhi

Wow!!

SRich

I know we're just past Easter (and I don't like to be blasphemous), but did this just appear from a cave in Jerusalem recently?............

The_Whisper_Thief

Oh man, what a piece of history. She is cleaner than Django's TS-9

fretfinder

Adipsia said: For sale is my lovely, all original 1961 - first year - Gibson SG Special.

https://photos.smugmug.com/TTPGP/Guitars/Gibson-SG-Special-Cherry-1961/i-7NwHQmS/0/9c1f431e/L/untitled shoot-082-L.jpg

Looks lovely does that! It’s well out of my budget sadly, but GLWTS.

It’s hard to tell but in the second last pic it looks like the frets are over the binding and that there’s no nibs. Is that how they were done back then?

lespaulcustom76

That´s one for Joe Bonamosa

Lovely guitar!

Adipsia

lespaulcustom76 said:

That´s one for Joe Bonamosa

Lovely guitar!

Ironically it has a Joe Bonamassa connection. The guy who bought it from George Gruhn now owns Joe Bonamassa's 'Spot'. 

Adipsia

fretfinder said:
It’s hard to tell but in the second last pic it looks like the frets are over the binding and that there’s no nibs. Is that how they were done back then?

http://s1341.photobucket.com/user/petermarshall/media/SG nibs_zpsbxhbcvcb.jpg.html

This is how they were done back then.

KickTheHabit

fretfinder said:

Adipsia said: For sale is my lovely, all original 1961 - first year - Gibson SG Special.

https://photos.smugmug.com/TTPGP/Guitars/Gibson-SG-Special-Cherry-1961/i-7NwHQmS/0/9c1f431e/L/untitled shoot-082-L.jpg

Looks lovely does that! It’s well out of my budget sadly, but GLWTS.

It’s hard to tell but in the second last pic it looks like the frets are over the binding and that there’s no nibs. Is that how they were done back then?

Refret?
she is a beauty ... 

Adipsia

KickTheHabit said:

fretfinder said:

Adipsia said: For sale is my lovely, all original 1961 - first year - Gibson SG Special.

https://photos.smugmug.com/TTPGP/Guitars/Gibson-SG-Special-Cherry-1961/i-7NwHQmS/0/9c1f431e/L/untitled shoot-082-L.jpg

Looks lovely does that! It’s well out of my budget sadly, but GLWTS.

It’s hard to tell but in the second last pic it looks like the frets are over the binding and that there’s no nibs. Is that how they were done back then?

Refret?
she is a beauty ... 

No re-fret...

PC1971

Breathtaking. :-O

ourmaninthenorth

This one come from Paris? 

It is joyous by the way. 

May I wish you every success with your sale. 

Brize

Adipsia said:

No re-fret...

Ahem.

Adipsia

ourmaninthenorth said:

This one come from Paris? 

It is joyous by the way. 

May I wish you every success with your sale. 

Oui.

DrSpock

Any interest in a trade or looking for cash?

usedtobe

Nice.

johnl

Looks lovely - that definitely has had a refret at some point though hasn't it?

Strangefan

johnl said:

Looks lovely - that definitely has had a refret at some point though hasn't it?

Citation please  

Philly_Q

I had a '64 SG Special, very similar although in nowhere near such good condition, and with the later style of bridge.

Looking at that price makes me wince at how little I sold it for.

DrSpock

Asking price and selling price are 2 different things!