The '63 Corvette Sting Ray SG was released in late 1995 from Gibson’s Custom Shop. Production was limited to a run of 150 units. It is rumored that only 40 were actually built, but Gibson could not confirm production numbers when contacted. The finish options were taken from the 1963 Corvette's color options. Curiously, this model uses the contemporary SG Standard body design instead of the '61 Reissue body like the SG Custom uses. The serial numbers on these guitars are not on the back of the headstock like usual, but printed onto the tenon cover, using the format 308CSXXX (XXX = unit #). The control cavity cover is styled to imitate a fender tag. The case that comes with this guitar is finished in the same kind of leather a '63 Corvette's seats were and has a Corvette emblem at the top. Includes lithograph of an original 1960 Corvette drawing by the car's lead designer, Larry Shinoda.
Some advertising materials showed a pre-production model with a black, signed pickguard and modern style metal knobs. Another early version had Corvette flags and the Corvette emblem around the edges of the pickguards.
In 2017, a new old stock example in Riverside Red (serial #009) was sold through Chicago Music Exchange. The modern COA and production checklist prove it did not leave the Gibson factory until 2017, while the serial number and old-style Gibson Custom Shop logo on the back of the headstock prove it was not simply built as a custom order in 2017, but was genuine new old stock. It was sold as brand-new for a street price of $6,667.
Features[]
Pre-Production model
$7,500 MSRP
$4,875 estimated street price
Body:
Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
Top carved to emulate '63 Corvette's fastback roofline
Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish
Neck:
1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
Set-in construction
4.25 degree angle
Titebond glue
Joins body at 19th fret
1961 Slim Taper D profile (.820" / .950")
Ebony fretboard
Mother of Pearl "Sting Ray" inlays
12" radius
Narrow Open Book headstock
Resin impregnated fiberboard veneer
Inlaid Mother of Pearl Gibson logo
Classic font style
Inlaid Mother of Pearl Corvette logo
17o pitch
22 frets
24 9/16" scale
1 11/16" nut width
Binding:
Neck, single-ply
Thicker style
Fret-edge binding
Electronics:
One P-100 stacked humbucker
AlNiCo V magnets
~6.1K Ohms D.C. resistance
Chrome plated cover
Engraved to emulate valve covers
Chrome plated mounting ring
1 Vol, 1 Tone
Side-mounted output jack
Hardware:
Chrome Hardware
Grover Rotomatic tuning machines
14:1 ratio
Manufactured by Ping
Two split-window shaped mirror pickguards
Mirror control cavity cover
Engraved specs
Mirror tenon cover
Serial number printed
Corvette badge below tailpiece
Bell shaped truss rod cover
Mirror
"1963" engraving
Black Bell knobs (Riverside Red, Tuxedo Black, Ermine White)
