This Gibson SG special is a typical 60s Gibson in many ways. Naturally it has a mahogany body with a set mahogany neck; in true Gibson style. The pickups are typical Gibson single coil P90s, as used by Gibson for many years, and the control layout, too is classic Gibson: two volumes and two tones. Chrome-plated metal parts: bridge, Maestro Vibrolo and strip machine heads. 1969 price $265 (cf SG Custom, $525; SG Standard, $355; SG JR, $199.50)
The SG series did change over the years, but the Special Maestro Vibrola and full-body scratchplate is pure late sixties: 1968-1971. Pete Townsend played one exactly the same (although he removed the vibrola) around this time, including for the Who's iconic appearance at Woodstock in 1969, and for the 1970 Who album: Live at Leeds.
The image in the 1970 Gibson electric solid bodies catalogue, is of this guitar, but even by 1970, the model was starting to change. For starters, it describes the neck as three-piece mahogany (it is still one-piece in 1969), and the open gear strip tuners have been replaced by closed-gear individual units.
Sound Clips
Recorded with a WEM Clubman MK8, (volume 5/10, treble 5/10, bass 5/10). All samples recorded with the amp mic'd (Shure SM57) into a M-audio mobile pre USB interface
first the clean tones
Neck pickup only, volume and tone 10/10.
Neck pickup only, volume 10/10, tone 0/10.
Bridge pickup only, volume 10/10, tone 10/10.
Bridge pickup only, volume 10/10, tone 0/10.
When you crank it up a bit, you can get some really creamy fuzz tones with this amp
Neck pickup, volume 10/10, tone 0/10.
Then cranked up a bit, but with the treble rolled down on guitar and amp (amp: volume 8/10, treble 2/10, bass 5/10)
Neck pickup, volume and tone 10/10, bridge pickup, volume 8/10 and tone 3/10, fingerstyle.
Recorded with a Marshall Mercury 2060, cranked up: volume 10/10, tone 5/10, mic'd with a Shure SM57, into a M-audio mobile pre USB interface
