SG Diablo

Photo credit: Lovies Guitars

The SG Diablo was introduced in 2008 as part of the "Guitar of the Month" series of limited run models. It was the first SG in history to have a carved top and back (the back carving is concave). It also introduced a unique style of beveling, which is more symmetrical on the bass and treble sides, with it reaching down to the control area on the treble side.

The Diablo was the first model to be released from the GOTM series in February, and another version was released in December with different features. Production was limited to 1,000 units of each finish, with the guitar's sequential production number ink-stamped on the back of the headstock.

A limited edition Bullion Gold version was released in early 2009. This was originally displayed at NAMM 2008, intended to be the GOTM December model. Because of this, they were actually built in late 2007. It's unknown how many were built.

In 2012, Gibson released the SG Diablo Tremolo and Diablo Premium Plus. These differed from the previous Diablos by using the '61 Reissue style heel design, a flat back, a side-mounted output jack and relocated controls.

Related:

• SG Carved Top
• SG Supreme

GOTM February 2008

• $2,119 Street
• $1,799 Street (2009 Sam Ash clearance)

Body:

• Solid Honduran Mahogany body
• Beveled & carved top and back
• Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • 3 degree angle
  • Franklin Titebond 50 glue
  • Joins body at 19th fret
• '50s Rounded profile (.820" / .960")
• Indian Rosewood fretboard
  • Acrylic pearloid trapezoid inlays
  • 12" radius
• Narrow Open Book headstock
  • Body color matched
  • Black painted edges
  • Silk-screened Gibson logo
  • "Made in U.S.A." stamp
  • 17^o pitch
• 24 medium-jumbo frets
• 24 ⁹/16" scale

  

• Corian nut
  • Cut by Plek machine
• 1 11/16" nut width

Binding:

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

Electronics:

• Two Burstbucker Pro 1 & 2 humbuckers
  • AlNiCo V magnets
  • ~7.6k (I, neck) & ~8k (II, bridge) Ohms DCR
  • Cream mounting rings
• 3-way switch
• 1 Vol, 1 Tone
  • CTS 300k volume
  • CTS 500k tone

Hardware:

• Gold hardware
• Grover Rotomatic tuning machines

  

  • 14:1 ratio
  • Metal Keysone buttons
  • Manufactured by Ping
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • Gold-plated
  • "SG" engraving
• Gold Bell knobs
• Zamak Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge
• Zamak stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

• Metallic Red

GOTM December 2008

• $2,119 Street
• $1,699 Street (2009 MF clearance)

Body:

• Solid Honduran Mahogany body
• Beveled & carved top and back
• Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • 3 degree angle
  • Franklin Titebond 50 glue
  • Joins body at 19th fret
• '50s Rounded profile (.820" / .960")
• Ebony fretboard
  • Acrylic pearloid trapezoid inlays
  • 12" radius
• Narrow Open Book headstock
  • Body color matched
  • Black painted edges
  • Silk-screened Gibson logo
  • "Made in U.S.A." stamp
  • 17^o pitch
• 24 medium-jumbo frets

  

• 24 ⁹/16" scale
• Corian nut
  • Cut by Plek machine
• 1 11/16" nut width

Electronics:

• Two Burstbucker Pro 1 & 2 humbuckers
  • AlNiCo V magnets
  • ~7.6k (I, neck) & ~8k (II, bridge) Ohms DCR
  • Chrome plated mounting rings
• 3-way switch
• 1 Vol, 1 Tone
  • CTS 300k volume
  • CTS 500k tone

Hardware:

• Chrome hardware
• Grover Rotomatic tuning machines
  • 14:1 ratio
  • Metal Keysone buttons
  • Manufactured by Ping
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • Chrome-plated
  • Blank
• Silver Bell knobs
• Zamak Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge
• Zamak stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

• Metallic Silver

2009 Limited Run

• $2,119 Street

Body:

• Solid Honduran Mahogany body
• Beveled & carved top and back
• Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • 3 degree angle
  • Franklin Titebond 50 glue
  • Joins body at 19th fret
• '50s Rounded profile (.820" / .960")
• Indian Rosewood fretboard
  • Acrylic pearloid trapezoid inlays
  • 12" radius
• Narrow Open Book headstock
  • Body color matched
  • Black painted edges
  • Silk-screened Gibson logo
  • "Made in U.S.A." stamp
  • 17^o pitch
• 24 medium-jumbo frets
• 24 ⁹/16" scale

  

• Corian nut
  • Cut by Plek machine
• 1 11/16" nut width

Binding:

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

Electronics:

• Two Burstbucker Pro 1 & 2 humbuckers
  • AlNiCo V magnets
  • ~7.6k (I, neck) & ~8k (II, bridge) Ohms DCR
  • Cream mounting rings
• 3-way switch
• 1 Vol, 1 Tone
  • CTS 300k volume
  • CTS 500k tone

Hardware:

• Gold hardware
• Grover Rotomatic tuning machines

  

  • 14:1 ratio
  • Metal Keysone buttons
  • Manufactured by Ping
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • Gold-plated
  • "SG" engraving
• Gold Bell knobs
• Zamak Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge
• Zamak stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

• Bullion Gold

2012 Diablo Tremolo

• $2,799 MSRP
• $1,849 Street
• $1,399 Street (MF clearance sale)

Body:

• Solid Honduran Mahogany body
• Beveled & carved top
• Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • '61 Reissue style heel
  • Zero degree angle
  • Franklin Titebond 50 glue
  • Joins body at 22nd fret
• '50s Rounded profile (.820" / .970")
• North American Rosewood fretboard
  • Acrylic pearloid trapezoid inlays
  • 12" radius
• Narrow Open Book headstock
  • Resin impregnated fiberboard veneer
  • Inlaid Mother of Pearl Gibson logo
    • Classic font style
  • "Made in U.S.A." stamp
  • 17^o pitch
• 24 medium-jumbo frets

  

• 24 ⁹/₁₆" scale
• Corian nut
  • Cut by Plek machine
• 1 11/16" nut width

Binding:

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

Electronics:

• Two 490R / 498T humbuckers
  • AlNiCo II (neck) & V (bridge) magnets
  • 7–8k (neck) & 9–13k (bridge) Ohms D.C. resistance
  • Black mounting rings
• 3-way switch
• Barrel style output jack
  • Side-mounted
• 1 Vol, 1 Tone
  • CTS 300k volume
  • CTS 500k tone

Hardware:

• Chrome hardware
• Grover Rotomatic tuning machines
  • 14:1 ratio
  • Metal Kidney buttons

    

  • Manufactured by Ping
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • 2-ply b/w
  • Blank
• Knurled metal barrel knobs
• Floyd Rose 1000 Series locking tremolo
  • Locking nut

Finishes:

• Ebony

2012 Diablo Premium Plus

• $2,499 MSRP
• $1,599 Street

Body:

• Solid Honduran Mahogany back
• AAA flame Maple beveled & carved top
• Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • '61 Reissue style heel
  • Zero degree angle
  • Franklin Titebond 50 glue
  • Joins body at 22nd fret
• 1961 Slim Taper D profile (.800" / .880")
• Indian Rosewood fretboard
  • Acrylic pearloid trapezoid inlays
  • 12" radius
  • Grade A Rosewood
• Narrow Open Book headstock
  • Resin impregnated fiberboard veneer
  • Inlaid Mother of Pearl Gibson logo
    • Classic font style
  • "Made in U.S.A." stamp
  • 17^o pitch
• 24 medium-jumbo frets
• 24 ⁹/₁₆" scale
• Corian nut

  

  • Cut by Plek machine
• 1 11/16" nut width

Binding:

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

Electronics:

• Two Burstbucker Pro 1 & 2 humbuckers
  • AlNiCo V magnets
  • ~7.6k (I, neck) & ~8k (II, bridge) Ohms DCR
  • Cream mounting rings
• 3-way switch
• Barrel style output jack
  • Side-mounted
• 1 Vol, 1 Tone

  

  • CTS mini 500k linear volume
  • CTS mini 500k non-linear tone

Hardware:

• Chrome hardware
• Grover Roto-Grip Locking Rotomatic tuning machines
  • 18:1 ratio
  • Metal Kidney buttons
  • Manufactured by Ping
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • 2-ply b/w
  • Blank
• Knurled metal barrel knobs
• TonePros Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge & stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

• Iced Tea
• Manhattan Midnight
• Trans Black