Custom Orders

Customers have been able to order custom-tailored models throughout Gibson's history, even before their actual Custom Shop existed. This is an incomplete list of interesting custom ordered SG models prior to the creation of the Pro Shop and Made 2 Measure program.

1964 Standard w/ Bigsby

1973 EDS-1275

The pots date to very late 1972, and the pickups lacking embossed covers and the serial number suggest it was probably built in early 1973. This was ordered with certain '60s style features, during a time when the EDS-1275 was not in cataogs and only built to order. There are no volutes or "Made in U.S.A." stamp (as any typical 1973 Gibson would have) nor are the necks multi-piece laminated wood. It also has cutaway beveling and Mother of Pearl Gibson logo inlays, which were not present when the EDS-1275 returned to production in 1974. However, it does have the shorter 12-string headstock and on-a-plate style tuners found on 1970s EDS-1275s. It was also built with the lower tailpiece positioning of Jimmy Page's EDS-1275.

Video demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxXcd41R1z8

Note: The claims in the above video that it was built starting around 1968 cannot be true because a neck built in 1968 would have the longer 12-string headstock. He's also wrong that the necks would be 1 9/16" on a regular 1970s EDS-1275.

Body:

• Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
  • Cutaway beveling

• Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish

Necks:

• 1-pc quartersawn Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • 3 degree angle
  • Joins body at 15th fret

• Indian Rosewood fretboard
  • Acrylic pearloid split parallelogram inlays
  • 12" fretboard radii

• Large Open Book headstocks
  • Unknown headstock veneer
  • Mother of Pearl Gibson logos
    • 1970s Custom font style
  • Unknown headstock pitches

• 20 frets per neck
• 24 ⁵/₈" scale
• 1 11/16" nut width

One-piece necks

Binding:

• Single-ply, necks
• Fret-edge binding

Electronics:

• Four covered "T-Top" humbuckers
  • Short bar AlNiCo V magnets
  • ~7.5K Ohms DCR
  • Pat # sticker

• 3-way pickup switch
• 3-way neck switch
• 2 Vol, 2 Tone (One for each neck)
  • CTS 500k pots
  • Ceramic "disk" caps

Hardware:

• Chrome Hardware
• Kluson Deluxe tuning machines
  • 12:1 ratio
  • Metal oval buttons
  • "Gibson Deluxe"
  • On-a-plate style
• 5-ply pickguard
• Bell shaped truss rod covers
  • 2-ply, standard bevel
  • "Custom" engraved

• Black Witch Hat knobs
  • Pointers

• ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridges
• Stop-plate tailpieces

Finishes:

• Walnut

1976 Standard/Custom

Curiously, the pickups are spaced closer together like a pre-1975 SG.

• May 1976: $595 ($2,715 in 2020)

Body:

• Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
• Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish

Neck:

• 3-pc laminated Honduran Mahogany
• .850" / .980" profile
• Set-in construction
  • 3 degree angle
  • Titebond glue

• Joins body at 20th fret
• Ebony fretboard
  • Block inlays
  • 12" radius
• Volute
• Large Open Book headstock w/ fiber veneer
• Inlaid Mother of Pearl Gibson logo
• Inlaid Mother of Pearl split diamond
• "Made in U.S.A." stamp
• 17^o headstock pitch
• 22 frets
• 24 ⁹/₁₆" scale
• 1 9/16" nut width

Order Invoice

Binding:

• Neck, single-ply
• Headstock, multi-ply

Warranty Card

Electronics:

• Two Bill Lawrence "Super Humbuckers"
  • Indox 7 ceramic magnets
  • ~5.4K (neck), 7.5K (bridge) Ohms DCR
  • Epoxy-mounted
• 3-way switch
• 2 Vol, 2 Tone

Hardware:

• Chrome Hardware
• Grover Rotomatic tuning machines
  • 14:1 ratio
  • Keystone buttons
• 5-ply "Angel Wing" pickguard
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • 2-ply b/w with "S-G" engraving
• Black Speed knobs w/ pointers
• ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece

Finish:

• Cherry 

1977 Standard / Special Pelham Blue

This is based on the SG Standard/Special model. The pickguard appears to have been added or replaced.

1982 Custom

The impetus behind this order was likely the fact that there simply was no SG Custom offered in 1982. However, beyond that it has several unique features, including 24 frets, no split diamond headstock inlay and a historical "The Gibson" logo inlay. The body is clearly based on the contemporary SG Standard, but with the classic control layout. Another neat fact about this guitar is that being a 1982 build, it was one of the earliest uses of the "Custom Shop Original" logo on the back of the headstock.

Body:

• Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
• Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • 3 degree angle
  • Titebond glue
  • Joins body at 18th fret

• Ebony fretboard
  • Mother of Pearl block inlays
  • 12" radius
• Large Open Book headstock
  • Resin impregnated fiberboard veneer
  • Inlaid Mother of Pearl "The Gibson" logo
    • 1902-1933 style font
  • "Made in U.S.A." stamp
  • 17^o headstock pitch
• 24 frets
• 24 ⁹/16" scale
• 1 11/16" nut width

Binding:

• Neck, single-ply
  • Fret-edge binding
  • Thicker style
• Headstock, multi-ply

Electronics:

• Three Tim Shaws or Super Humbuckers
• 3-way switch
• 2 Vol, 2 Tone

Hardware:

• Gold hardware
• Schaller M-6 tuning machines
  • 12:1 ratio
  • Metal Keystone buttons
  • Flip-out string winders
• 5-ply "Angel Wing" pickguard
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • 2-ply b/w with "SG Custom" engraving
  • Wide bevel
• Black Reflector knobs
• Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge
• Maestro vibrola

Finish:

• Cherry

1984 Custom

This order was for a pretty standard issue SG Custom, which did not exist in Gibson's lineup in 1984. An interesting feature is the Harmonica bridge, presumably used here because Gibson still had stock left over from the last guitar to use them; the 1981 L5S.

Body:

• Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
• Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • 3 degree angle
  • Titebond glue
  • Joins body at 18th fret

• Ebony fretboard
  • Mother of Pearl block inlays
  • 12" radius
• Large Open Book headstock
  • Resin impregnated fiberboard veneer
  • Inlaid Mother of Pearl Gibson logo
    • Squared '70s font
  • "Made in U.S.A." stamp
  • 17^o headstock pitch
• 22 frets
• 24 ⁹/16" scale
• 1 11/16" nut width

Binding:

• Neck, single-ply
  • Fret-edge binding
  • Thicker style
• Headstock, multi-ply

Electronics:

• Three Tim Shaws or Super Humbuckers
• 3-way switch
• Side-mounted output jack
• 2 Vol, 2 Tone

Hardware:

• Gold hardware
• Schaller M-6 tuning machines
  • 12:1 ratio
  • Metal Keystone buttons
  • Flip-out string winders
• 5-ply "Angel Wing" pickguard
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • 2-ply b/w with "SG" stamping
  • Standard bevel
• Black/Gold Witch Hat knobs
• Posi-Lock strap buttons
• Schaller "Harmonica" Tune-O-Matic bridge
• Stopbar tailpiece

Finish:

• Antique Ivory

1987 Junior

Aftermarket pickup & tuners

Body:

• Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
• Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Slim Taper profile
• Set-in construction
  • SG-62 style heel
  • Joins body at 22nd fret

• Rosewood fretboard
  • Acrylic dot inlays
  • Mother of Pearl? MRW initials at 22nd fret
  • 12" radius
• Large Open Book headstock
  • Mother of Pearl inlaid Gibson logo
    • Classic font
  • Mother of Pearl crown inlay
  • Resin impregnated fiberboard veneer
  • 17^o headstock pitch
• 22 medium frets
• 24 ⁹/₁₆" scale
• 1 11/16" width

Binding:

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

Electronics:

• One Tim Shaw or Original Bill Lawrence humbucker
• 1 Vol, 1 Tone

Hardware:

• Chrome hardware
• Schaller M-6 tuning machines
  • 12:1 ratio
  • Chrome Keystone buttons
• 3-ply "Angel Wing" pickguard
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • 2-ply b/w
• Black Reflector knobs
• Wraparound bridge/tailpiece

Finish:

• Cherry