Guitars
Gibson SG Les Paul 1962
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In the beginning was the Les Paul, the famous Gold Top designed by jazz genius Lester Polfus to be as striking visually as it was sonically. Then the Gold Top became a sunburst, and the Les Paul Standard was born in 1958.
Finally, after three years of disappointing sales, Gibson decided to change the shape of the Les Paul in favor of a mahogany plank with no maple top, purely diabolical in its double-cutaway cherry red look. Les Paul did not care for this new look, and the virtuoso asked Gibson not to use his name any more. Therefore, the name of the model was changed to SG for Solid Guitar.
Of course, the look was just an excuse since Les Paul had already started playing on SG-shaped Les Pauls in the early sixties, but his contract with Gibson was ending and he wasn't looking for a new deal since he was in the midst of a divorce with Mary Ford. Since then, the SG has overcome that initial disappointment by finding its way between the hands of Angus Young, Frank Zappa, Eric Clapton, Jerry Garcia and Tony Iommi.
This SG still bears the Les Paul name on the truss rod cover (technically it is a Les Paul then!) and it was made in 1962, the second year of production. It gathers two specs that are not usually seen together with the sideways vibrato and the nylon saddles on the bridge. The sideways vibrato is visually splendid but not so efficient in use and therefore was only included on the very first SGs, whereas the nylon saddles, which create a softer sound than steel, were introduced late in 1962. There is a small crack at the heel of the neck but it has been stopped and will not keep on growing. The pickups are of course the almighty PAFs, and they sound as good as their reputation implies. Beyond those special specs, that 62 stands as a superb model of a legendary guitar.
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