❌SOLD❌ Gibson SG Custom Walnut, 1971

The Gibson SG Custom began its career as a radically re-worked version of the Les Paul Custom, along with the SG Standard. Gibson was faced with poor sales of the original single-cut Les Paul model, and in 1960 began to introduce a much lighter double-cutaway version that allowed unrestricted access to all of the neck. By 1963, the endorsement relationship between Les Paul and Gibson ended, and these guitars were re-named SG.

Seen here is a Walnut finish, 1971 Gibson Les Paul Custom with stock Maestro Vibrola, recently serviced and ready to go. Finish wear is relatively light, with a worn spot on the back of the neck and a few small dents around the sharper body edges. Fret wear is minimal; this guitar was professionally refretted some time ago, extending the fret tops to the edge of the binding. The neck set is good, with space to lower the bridge if desired and still have break-over to the Vibrola’s string bar.

This Gibson SG Custom Walnut dates to 1971, during the Norlin era, and was built at the historic Kalamazoo, Michigan shops. It sports a gloss Walnut stain finish over the Mahogany body and neck. Like Les Paul Custom models, the Ebony fingerboard bound and has Mother of Pearl block position markers. The headstock is also bound, with the Custom style split-diamond Mother of Pearl inlay and Gibson logo. During this period, many Gibson necks had a Volute at the transition from the neck to the head, for strength.

Gibson SG Custom hardware is generally gold-plated and includes unbranded Gibson Deluxe tuners with metal tulip-style buttons (the D tuner shaft is slightly bent), Maestro Vibrola tailpiece (with arm) and ABR-1 bridge, three humbucking pickups and the cream ‘Bat Wing’ style pickguard introduced in mid 1965.

Gibson’s three-pickup wiring uses a three-way switch, and allows selection of neck or bridge pickup in the ‘outer’ positions, or bridge plus middle pickup in the center switch position. In some configurations, the middle pickup is out of phase with the other two, thinning the sound.

Some time ago the wiring on this Gibson SG Custom was modified, and it has just been restored to its original layout at The Twelfth Fret Repair Shop. A mini-toggle switch had been located at the lower end of the ‘Bat Wing’ pickguard, directly over a wiring channel so there was no routing done. The pickguard hole has been filled.

The original hard shell case is included, in worn condition.