❌SOLD❌Gibson SG Deluxe Cobalt Fade, 2013

Over the years, there have been a few guitars with the Gibson SG Deluxe name, but this one from 2013 is perhaps the most genuinely Deluxe.

Sporting a flamed Maple top on a Mahogany body, a Mahogany neck with bound headstock and bound Indian Rosewood fingerboard and split-diamond inlays, the 2013 Gibson SG Deluxe also featured three ’57 Classic pickups with some new wiring. And, there is a Bigsby B5 fitted as stock, plus locking Grover Roto-Matic tuners at the head.

To wrap it all up, there were four new finishes: Orange Burst, Red Fade, Lime Burst, and the Cobalt Fade pictured here. It’s a really striking, good looking instrument.

The new wiring centers around how the middle pickup is dealt with. Traditionally, Gibson has used a three-position switch on two and three pickup guitars; on a three-pickup model, the switch positions were usually limited to neck, neck and middle, and bridge. Here, Gibson has used what was called a ‘TogPot’. This three-position switch has a unique feature where the toggle lever is a volume control for the middle pickup! This allows for many new tonal variations. Unfortunately, the TogPot seems to be out of production and so over time an alternate part and wiring layout may have to be substituted.

This really good looking example is in very good, clean condition with very little wear of any kind, to the point that the original protector for the tip of the Bigsby arm is still in place.

As mentioned, this Gibson SG Deluxe guitar is equipped with a Bigsby B5, and like all vibrato tailpieces, the Bigsby must be treated not as an individual part, but as a part of a system. The entire system, everything that the string touches, must be kept in good working order and at minimal friction to minimize tuning issues. If that’s done, it can work as well as most other non-locking trem systems.

Sold with the original hard shell case.