When it first hit the scene back in 1961, the Gibson SG (short for Solid Guitar) was the most radical design the electric guitar world had witnessed so far, and it still makes a bold statement today. The diverse list of guitar stars that have taken variations of the SG to heart includes Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Sister Rosetta Thorpe, Robbie Krieger, Earl Hooker, George Harrison, John Cipollina, Pete Townshend, Carlos Santana, Tony Iommi, Pete Ham, Mick Taylor, Peter Frampton, Terry Kath, Jerry Garcia, Duane Allman, Glen Buxton, Michael Bruce, Jimmy Page, Frank Zappa, John McLaughlin, Mick Box, Buck Dharma, Gary Rossington, Todd Rundgren, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Frank Marino, Link Wray, Angus Young, Rod Price, Barry Goudreau, Don Felder, David St. Hubbins, Johnny Marr, Derek Trucks, Jeff Tweedy, The Edge, Gary Louris, Deryck Whibley, Rivers Cuomo, Andrew Stockdale and Kirk Douglas.

Originally conceived as a modern replacement for the single-cutaway Les Paul Standard (the name it still carried for the first couple years of its existence), the SG had several features that made it perfect for cutting-edge guitarists – all of which remain present in the Gibson USA SG Standard – and it became an iconic rock guitar almost immediately. With its light yet resonant solid-mahogany body and neck, a radical looking double-cutaway design that also yields unprecedented upper-fret access, a rock-solid Tune-o-matic bridge and stoptail pairing, and two meaty humbucking pickups, today’s SG Standard is just as sweet a player and as monstrous a tone machine as the guitars that made the name legendary nearly 50 years ago.

Go for the classic look of Heritage Cherry, or opt for more contemporary Ebony Black and the Gibson USA SG Standard not only looks great, but it gives you all the goods to get the job done. Both finishes are also available in left-handed models.