Gibson SG Standard 61 Faded Faded Vintage Cherry Satin

The SG™ Standard ’61 Faded revives the essential design elements that cemented the SG as a true icon, inspiring players and shaping music across decades and genres. When the Les Paul™ model was temporarily retired in 1961, Gibson introduced a boldly new solidbody design that would come to be known as the SG™, short for “solid guitar.” The SG Standard ’61 Faded stays true to the look and feel of those celebrated early-1960s originals. Its solid mahogany body features the instantly recognizable double-cutaway SG outline, complete with deeply contoured body scarfing and twin horns that have defined the model since its inception. Finished in faded nitrocellulose lacquer, it delivers a warm, broken-in appearance and the tactile feel of an instrument that’s been a trusted companion for years.

The mahogany neck is carved with a fast, comfortable SlimTaper™ profile and topped with a bound rosewood fretboard fitted with 22 medium jumbo frets and classic acrylic trapezoid inlays. With a 12” fretboard radius, it offers a natural feel for first-position chords while allowing lead passages higher up the neck to ring cleanly without fretting out. The neck joint at the 22nd fret provides unhindered access across the entire fretboard, a hallmark that has long made the SG a favorite among lead players. In keeping with early SG tradition, the SG Standard ’61 Faded features a 5-ply, teardrop-shaped pickguard, rather than the larger “batwing” guard found on later iterations.

Nickel-plated hardware includes an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic™ bridge paired with an aluminum Stop Bar tailpiece, delivering classic tone and reliable performance. Vintage Deluxe tuners with Keystone buttons work alongside a Graph Tech® nut to maintain excellent tuning stability. At the heart of the guitar is a set of 60s Burstbucker™ humbuckers, built with historically correct unbalanced coils and Alnico 5 magnets. Together, they produce an open, harmonically rich voice inspired by early Patent Applied For designs, with enhanced clarity and a sweet, expressive edge when pushed into overdrive. Individual volume and tone controls for each pickup, using audio taper potentiometers and hand-wired Orange Drop® capacitors, provide a wide and musical range of tonal shaping. Black Top Hat knobs with silver reflectors complete the vintage correct look.

Delivering the unmistakable SG sound, exceptional playability, and the craftsmanship that defines American-made Gibson instruments, the SG Standard ’61 Faded continues a legacy that has resonated with players worldwide for generations. A Gibson hardshell case is included for secure storage and transport.