'61 Reissue

1993

The '61 Reissue (also referred to as Les Paul SG '61 Reissue) was introduced in 1992 (starting production in mid-1991) as a redesigned version of the SG-62, correcting the inaccurate body shape and pickguard of that model. Curiously, most catalogs showed it still having the old pickguard throughout the '90s. The 1992 Japanese Yamano catalog depicted a 1991 build with the old body shape but the new pickguard. Note that the COA still referred to it as a 1962 Reissue until at least 1993. It became a staple of the SG lineup for the next 20 years. Early models used the same beveling as the SG Standard, but as the decade went on, they grew progressively deeper. The Heritage Cherry finish of the '61 Reissue tended to be a brighter and less translucent hue throughout the 1990s, and settling into a more translucent orangey-red through the new millennium.

In 2013, it was discontinued, but was effectively replaced by the SG Original. Also, the Standard for that year assumed many of the '61 Reissue's features. In 2014, a limited run Standard '61 model had similar features as well. In 2016, a limited "proprietary" run was done for certain retailers. In 2019, the Standard '61 again effectively resurrected the '61 Reissue, only with the narrower headstock design and new "61" humbuckers in place of '57 Classics.

Related:

• Gordie Johnson Signature
• Derek Trucks Signature
• Jeff Tweedy Signature
• SG Original
• '61 Les Paul Tribute
• Standard '61

'61 Reissue

2012

• 1995: $1,295 Street (est.)
• 1996: $1,349 Street (est.)
• 1998-2002: $1,549 Street
• 2003-2004: $1,649 Street
• 2006-2007: $1,899 Street
  • $1,589 (Sapphire Blue, 2006)
  • $1,799 (Sapphire Blue, 2007)
• 2008: $2,089 Street
• 2009-2012: $1,999 Street
  • $1,675 Street (Sale, end of 2012)

Body:

• Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
• Angled heel
• Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • 5 degree angle
  • Franklin Titebond 50 glue
  • Joins body at 22nd fret
  • '61 style heel
• 1961 Slim Taper D profile (.800/.895")
• Indian Rosewood fretboard
  • Acrylic trapezoid inlays
  • 12" radius
• Large Open Book headstock
  • Resin impregnated fiberboard veneer
  • Inlaid Mother of Pearl Gibson logo
    • Classic font style
  • Inlaid Mother of Pearl crown
  • "Made in U.S.A." stamp
  • 17^o pitch

    

    Sapphire Blue

• 22 frets
• 24 ⁹/₁₆" scale
• Corian nut (2009-2012)
  • Cut by Plek machine
• 1 11/16" nut width

Binding:

• Neck, single-ply
• Thinner style
• Cream color
• Fret-edge binding

Electronics:

• Two '57 Classic Humbuckers
  • AlNiCo II magnets
  • ~7.9k Ohms D.C. resistance
• 3-way switch

  

  May 1991 build w/ old body, new pickguard

• 2 Vol, 2 Tone
  • 300k volume
  • 500k tone

Hardware:

• Nickel Hardware
• Schaller "Gibson Deluxe" tuning machines (1991-1998)
  • 14:1 ratio
  • Green Keystone buttons
• Grover "Gibson Deluxe" tuning machines (1998-2012)

  

  2000 w/ Maestro

  • 14:1 ratio
  • Green Keystone buttons
  • Manufactured by Ping
• TonePros "Kluson Deluxe" tuning machines (2012)
  • 15:1 ratio
  • Yellow Keystone buttons
• 5-ply "Angel Wing" pickguard
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • 2-ply b/w
• Black Reflector knobs w/ pointers
• ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge (1992-2003)
• Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge (2004-2012)
• Stopbar tailpiece
• Optional Maestro vibrola (2000-2001)

Finishes:

• Heritage Cherry 
• Ebony (1994 Limited Run) 
• Sapphire Blue (2006) 
• Classic White (2011-2012)
• Gloss Yellow (2011 Limited Run, Canadian market)
  • $1,850 CAD
  • 100 units

'61 Reissue Guitar of the Week (Week 6, 2007)

Limited run of 400 units.

Notably played by Joel O'Keefe of Airbourne.

• $1,699 - $1,899 Street
• $1,499 (2008 clearance)

Body:

• Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
• Angled heel
• Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish
  • Amber tinted headstock face

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • 5 degree angle
  • Franklin Titebond 50 glue
  • Joins body at 22nd fret
  • '61 style heel
• 1961 Slim Taper D profile (.800/.895")
• Indian Rosewood fretboard
  • Acrylic trapezoid inlays
  • 12" radius
• Large Open Book headstock
  • Resin impregnated fiberboard veneer
  • Inlaid Mother of Pearl Gibson logo
    • Classic font style
  • Inlaid Mother of Pearl crown
  • "Made in U.S.A." stamp
  • 17^o pitch
• 22 frets
• 24 ⁹/₁₆" scale
• 1 11/16" nut width

Binding:

• Neck, single-ply
• Thinner style
• Cream color
• Fret-edge binding

Electronics:

• Two '57 Classic Humbuckers
  • AlNiCo II magnets
  • ~7.9k Ohms D.C. resistance
• 3-way switch
• 2 Vol, 2 Tone
  • 300k volume
  • 500k tone

Hardware:

• Gold Hardware
• Grover "Gibson Deluxe" tuning machines
  • 14:1 ratio
  • Green Keystone buttons
  • Manufactured by Ping
• 5-ply "Angel Wing" pickguard
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • 2-ply b/w
• Black Reflector knobs w/ pointers
• Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

• Antique Ebony 

'61 Reissue Guitar of the Week (Week 26, 2007)

Limited run of 400 units.

• $1,899 Street

Body:

• Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
• Angled heel
• Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • 5 degree angle
  • Franklin Titebond 50 glue
  • Joins body at 22nd fret
  • '61 style heel
• 1961 Slim Taper D profile (.800/.895")
• Indian Rosewood fretboard
  • Acrylic trapezoid inlays
  • 12" radius
• Large Open Book headstock
  • Resin impregnated fiberboard veneer
  • Inlaid Mother of Pearl Gibson logo
    • Classic font style
  • Inlaid Mother of Pearl crown
  • "Made in U.S.A." stamp
  • 17^o pitch
• 22 frets
• 24 ⁹/₁₆" scale
• 1 11/16" nut width

Binding:

• Neck, single-ply
• Thinner style
• Cream color
• Fret-edge binding

Electronics:

• Two '57 Classic Humbuckers
  • AlNiCo II magnets
  • ~7.9k Ohms D.C. resistance
• 3-way switch
• 2 Vol, 2 Tone
  • 300k volume
  • 500k tone

Hardware:

• Nickel Hardware
• Grover "Gibson Deluxe" tuning machines
  • 14:1 ratio
  • Green Keystone buttons
  • Manufactured by Ping
• 5-ply "Angel Wing" pickguard
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • Single-ply, black
• Black Reflector knobs w/ pointers
• Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

• Classic White 

'61 Reissue Guitar of the Week (Week 35, 2007)

Limited run of 400 units.

• $1,499 Street

Body:

• Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
• Angled heel
• Satin Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish
  • Amber tinted headstock face

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • 5 degree angle
  • Franklin Titebond 50 glue
  • Joins body at 22nd fret
  • '61 style heel
• 1961 Slim Taper D profile (.800/.895")
• Indian Rosewood fretboard
  • Acrylic trapezoid inlays
  • 12" radius
• Large Open Book headstock
  • Resin impregnated fiberboard veneer
  • Inlaid Mother of Pearl Gibson logo
    • Classic font style
  • Inlaid Mother of Pearl crown
  • "Made in U.S.A." stamp
  • 17^o pitch
• 22 frets
• 24 ⁹/₁₆" scale
• 1 11/16" nut width

Binding:

• Neck, single-ply
• Thinner style
• Cream color
• Fret-edge binding

Electronics:

• Two '57 Classic / Classic Plus Humbuckers
  • AlNiCo II magnets
  • ~7.9k (neck) & 8.5k (bridge) Ohms DCR
• 3-way switch
• 2 Vol, 2 Tone
  • 300k volume
  • 500k tone

Hardware:

• Nickel Hardware
• Grover "Gibson Deluxe" tuning machines
  • 14:1 ratio
  • Green Keystone buttons
  • Manufactured by Ping
• 5-ply "Angel Wing" pickguard
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • Single-ply, black
• Black Reflector knobs w/ pointers
• Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

• Antique Satin Walnut 

'61 Reissue Satin (2012)

• $1,199 - $1,499 Street

Body:

• Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
• Angled heel
• Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • 5 degree angle
  • Franklin Titebond 50 glue
  • Joins body at 22nd fret
  • '61 style heel
• 1961 Slim Taper D profile (.800/.890")
• Baked Maple fretboard
  • Acrylic trapezoid inlays
  • 12" radius
• Large Open Book headstock
  • Resin impregnated fiberboard veneer
  • Inlaid Mother of Pearl Gibson logo
    • Classic font style
  • Inlaid Mother of Pearl crown
  • "Made in U.S.A." stamp
  • 17^o pitch
• 22 frets
  • Leveled by Plek machine
• 24 ⁹/₁₆" scale
• Corian nut
  • Cut by Plek machine
• 1 11/16" nut width

  

Binding:

• Neck, single-ply
• Thinner style
• Cream color
• Fret-edge binding

Electronics:

• Two '57 Classic Humbuckers
  • AlNiCo II magnets
  • ~7.9k Ohms D.C. resistance
• 3-way switch
• 2 Vol, 2 Tone

  

Hardware:

• Chrome Hardware
• TonePros "Kluson Deluxe" tuning machines
  • 15:1 ratio
  • Yellow Keystone buttons
• 5-ply "Angel Wing" pickguard
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • 2-ply b/w
• Black Reflector knobs w/ pointers
• Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

• Worn Brown 
• Worn Cherry 
• Satin Ebony 

'61 Reissue "Limited Proprietary Run" (2016)

• $1,899 Street

Body:

• Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
• Angled heel
• Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • 5 degree angle
  • Franklin Titebond 50 glue
  • Joins body at 22nd fret
  • '61 style heel
• 1961 Slim Taper D profile (.800/.895")
• Indian Rosewood fretboard
  • Acrylic trapezoid inlays
  • 12" radius
• Large Open Book headstock
  • Resin impregnated fiberboard veneer
  • Inlaid Mother of Pearl Gibson logo
    • Classic font style
  • Inlaid Mother of Pearl crown
  • "Made in U.S.A." stamp
  • 17^o pitch
• 22 frets
  • Leveled by Plek machine
• 24 ⁹/₁₆" scale
• TekToid self-lubricating nut
  • Cut by Plek machine
• 1 11/16" nut width

Binding:

• Neck, single-ply
• Thinner style
• Cream color
• Fret-edge binding

Electronics:

• Two '57 Classic Humbuckers
  • AlNiCo II magnets
  • ~7.9k Ohms D.C. resistance
• 3-way switch
• 2 Vol, 2 Tone
  • 500k pots

Hardware:

• Nickel Hardware
• Grover "Gibson Deluxe" tuning machines
  • 14:1 ratio
  • Green Keystone buttons
  • Manufactured by Ping
• 5-ply "Angel Wing" pickguard
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • 2-ply b/w
• Black Reflector knobs w/ pointers
• ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge
• Stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

• Heritage Cherry 
• Ebony 

1993 Limited Edition Batwing

Not much is known about this model, but it has all of the features of a '61 Reissue except the batwing pickguard, 490/498 pickups and "SG" truss rod cover. The signs of its '61 Reissue bones include the neck joint, the large headstock, the crown inlay positioning, the knob placement and the control cavity shape. The "Custom Shop Edition" logo confirms this to be a factory outfit and not just a '61 Reissue with a batwing added in the aftermarket.

Body:

• Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
• Angled heel
• Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • 5 degree angle
  • Franklin Titebond 50 glue
  • Joins body at 22nd fret
  • '61 style heel
• 1961 Slim Taper D profile
• Indian Rosewood fretboard
  • Acrylic trapezoid inlays
  • 12" radius
• Large Open Book headstock
  • Resin impregnated fiberboard veneer
  • Inlaid Mother of Pearl Gibson logo
    • Classic font style
  • Inlaid Mother of Pearl crown
  • "Made in U.S.A." stamp
  • 17^o pitch
• 22 frets
• 24 ⁹/₁₆" scale
• 1 11/16" nut width

Binding:

• Neck, single-ply
• Thinner style
• Cream color
• Fret-edge binding

Aftermarket tuners

Electronics:

• Two 490R / 498T humbuckers
  • AlNiCo II (neck) & V (bridge) magnets
  • 8.5k (neck) & 12.7k (bridge) Ohms D.C. resistance
• 3-way switch
• 2 Vol, 2 Tone
  • 300k volume
  • 500k tone
  • Orange Drop caps

Hardware:

• Nickel Hardware
• Schaller "Gibson Deluxe" tuning machines
  • 14:1 ratio
  • Green Keystone buttons
• 5-ply "Batwing" pickguard
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • 2-ply b/w
  • "SG" hot stamp
• Black Reflector knobs w/ pointers
• ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge
• Stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

• Ebony

2011 Gordini By Gibson

This model was the result of a collaboration between Gibson and auto manufacturer Renault's performance division Gordini. It was created to be displayed with the Renault Wind Gordini show car (which had Gibson logos on the doors and guitar strings embedded in the seats), and at least one guitar was given away in a contest at the show. It does not appear that any others were made available for purchase. This collaboration did, however, likely lead to Gibson offering Renault Blue as a finish option on the SG Special Limited.

Body:

• Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
• Angled heel
• Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • 5 degree angle
  • Franklin Titebond 50 glue
  • Joins body at 22nd fret
  • '61 style heel
• 1961 Slim Taper D profile (.800/.895")
• Ebony fretboard

  

  • Acrylic trapezoid inlays
  • 12" radius
• Large Open Book headstock
  • Resin impregnated fiberboard veneer
  • Inlaid Mother of Pearl Gibson logo
    • Classic font style
  • "G" logo decal
  • "Made in U.S.A." stamp
  • 17^o pitch
• 22 frets
• 24 ⁹/₁₆" scale
• Corian nut
  • Cut by Plek machine
• 1 11/16" nut width

Binding:

• Neck, single-ply
• Thinner style
• Fret-edge binding

Electronics:

• Two '57 Classic Humbuckers
  • AlNiCo II magnets
  • ~7.9k Ohms D.C. resistance
• 3-way switch

  

• 2 Vol, 2 Tone
  • 300k volume
  • 500k tone

Hardware:

• Nickel Hardware
• Grover Rotomatic tuning machines
  • 14:1 ratio
  • Metal Kidney buttons
• Single-ply "Angel Wing" pickguard
  • "G" logo pattern

    

• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • Single-ply black
• Blue Reflector knobs w/ pointers
  • "G" logo printed on top
• "G" logo pattern rear cavity cover
• Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge
• Stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

• Renault Blue w/ White stripes