Here's a winner:
This 1966 Gibson SG Special is an excellent unit and it is 100% original with no breaks, cracks or repairs. The SG model was redesigned in 1965 and the new version had a longer neck heel for improved stability. It also benefited the guitar with more resonance and increased sustain. The cosmetic changes included a really cool looking wider pickguard and the "witch hat" knobs that all Gibsons eventually went to. I love the witch hat knobs-they are so much easier to grasp and you can actually see the numbers on them-a very useful feature. This guitar has sat in a case for its entire life, virtually unplayed-with flat wound strings still on it when it came to us. We have vetted the guitar inside and out as well as performed our standard minimally-invasive cleaning and prep. This guitar is all ready to go-it needs nothing.
The body and neck are both Mahogany and the SG model features the typical Gibson set-neck design. The body has the beveled edge contours and they are crisp and clean. The original Cherry finish is a beautiful Red and it is in very nice condition. There are some signs of very light handling evidence here and there-see photos. The guitar sat in the case for so long that the case lining has attached itself to the back of the neck, and a small spot on the top edge of the body-see photos. You can wet-sand or buff this if you choose-but we thought it preserved the 'closet-queen' history and cements the originality provenance; so we left it. The neck joint is an excellent fitment and the neck angle is perfect.
The neck itself is super smooth and straight. Truss rod functions smoothly. The neck width at the nut is 1.55" wide and the neck depth measures .801" at the 1st fret and 1.008" at the 12th fret. The neck is best described as a vintage-oval C shape. The original tuners are near mint/new condition and function well. This guitar has a factory black "stinger" painted on the backside of the headstock. We have confirmed with black light that there are no breaks, no cracks, no repairs. A stinger was added typically when some sort of asymmetrical wood grain pattern existed or the pitch of the headstock exposed the open grain of the mahogany. Some think that stingers were added because it cut the finishing costs. At any rate-everyone agrees that stingers look freakin' amazing! The front of the headstock and logo both display excellent with a touch a patina. The Brazilian rosewood fingerboard is super clean and has a nice soft velvety feel. The neck binding is clean and the original fret nibs are nice. The position markers are all nice. The frets are nice and wide and appear very close to new condition. They have been cleaned, polished and are crisp, shiny and free of corrosion-see photos. The action is set low for an easy and fast playing experience. The string height measures .010" a the 1st fret and .055" at the 12th fret. The guitar plays very easily up and down the fingerboard. The side position markers are all nice, the 21st fret side marker is either missing or pushed in a bit-see photos.
The P-90 pickups scream bloody murder as you would expect. Coupled with any quality tube amp-this guitar sounds absolutely awesome. Both pickups have an excellent signal and balance very nicely. The neck position measures 8.80 ohms and the bridge position measures 8.26 ohms. The controls and harness are all original and very nice condition. The potentiometers date to the 31st week of 1966 (1st week in August). The controls function smoothly and quietly. The bridge is the original "wraparound" stop tail, and it is super nice. If you don't use the vibrato, you can load the strings through the bridge and wrap over the top. This increases resonance, sustain and thickens the tone considerably. It also adds string pressure and provides an improved string bending experience. The original Vibrola functions smoothly and the tailpiece, arm and tip are all in very clean condition.
The guitar is super lightweight, it only weighs 6.78 lbs! You can play this guitar all day and night and not get any shoulder fatigue. It feels absolutely wonderful. It has a great balance and sits perfectly in your lap or on a strap.
Also included is the original Gibson chipboard case, which has some crunchy damage at the bottom, but it still functions.
