Up for sale, a 1972 Gibson SG Standard in perfect working order, 100% original save for an upgraded carved bone nut. A lovely example of an early '70s SG, this guitar is loaded with the original pair of "Tarback" humbuckers, which have a different magnet structure and fewer winds than the T Tops produced in the same era. Coupled with the black epoxy that gave these humbuckers their name and ensures great feedback rejection by suppressing microphonics, the Tarbacks are a lively, sparkling pickup pair, perfect for pairing with the SG's solid mahogany construction. Plugged in, the bridge pickup has a surprising twang and clarity, but with a smooth top end, while the middle and neck positions have plenty of warmth and girthy bass response. Featherweight at 6lbs 13oz, this guitar is very acoustically resonant. Professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with fresh 10-46 strings, low action and spot-on intonation, this SG has a tone that roars with the best of them, delivering a sound that is undeniably classic Gibson.
The three-piece mahogany neck has a slender, fast-feeling C carve with modest shoulder at the nut, filling out with appreciably more roundness and heft in the higher registers, measuring .805" deep at the 1st fret and .985" at the 12th. The bound rosewood fretboard features small block inlay and retains the original wide/flat Gibson fretwire which still has decent meat, exhibiting light, uniform wear on the crowns of frets 1-7, and even fainter wear on the crowns beneath the plain strings until fret 11. The guitar plays cleanly in every register, the neck is straight, and the truss rod is responsive and ideally adjusted. The nut has been upgraded to a hand-carved piece of bone measuring 1 9/16" in width. On the headstock, the original pat. pending Grover Rotomatic tuning machines are intact, and these tuners turn very smoothly and hold pitch well with clean chrome plating. The guitar once had a different tuner set as evidenced by the singular tiny mounting holes just above and almost completely obscured by the Rotomatic gears.
On the body, all of the electronics work as they should, with untouched solder joints, original CTS pots, stock tone caps, and Switchcraft jack and pickup selector toggle. The CTS pots date to the 30th week of '72. The original harmonica bridge and tailpiece are intact, and the chrome hardware has plenty of shine and only light pitting. The original quartet of black speed knobs are present too, along with the original pickguard and pickup rings. The Walnut nitro lacquer gloss finish is 100% original with no touchup or overspray, and cosmetic wear includes one ding on the inside edge of the treble-side cutaway, with scattered nicks and finish scratches across the back and to a lesser extent on the top, with wear through the nitro along the back lower bout body edge.
A modern Gibson USA black tolex hardshell case is included.
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Shipping in the continental USA will be $85, fully insured and shipped via FedEx Ground. Expedited shipping available for an additional fee at buyer's request. We happily ship WORLDWIDE.
International orders will be declared as “merchandise,” and the value of merchandise will be declared as the amount paid. We cannot declare anything as a gift or for a lesser value. No exceptions! The customer is responsible for all taxes and duty, which may be collected upon delivery, as well as any additional charges involved with import. We have all necessary CITES paperwork in-hand to ship rosewood worldwide.
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