Difference betweed USA '61 SG and Custom Shop '61 SG?

[Bruce R]

I have owned 2 USA '61 SGs in the past and recently played the newest version at a local shop. This new SG just blew me away! I rarely play a new instrument that I have liked enough to actually buy, but this one was just fantastic. The finish looked vintage (a slight fade), the neck was perfect, Burstbucker pickups, and the wood grain matched to the point that it was hard to tell where the slab pieces were joined. The tuner tips were slightly aged (nice touch) and the hardware, although looking a little chrome-like, was again nickel.

Other than being made in different facilities, how would this guitar differ from one made in the Custom Shop?

 

[CAGinLA]

Generally speaking, recent Gibson USA SGs have 2 piece (or more) bodies. I think (but am not 100% certain) that there is a difference in the tenon size between current USA & CS SGs. Of course, the bridges are different, as are the pickups and the way the pots/caps are wired. USA necks also tend to be slightly smaller than CS necks. The finish on USA models seems a little more plastic-y than CS ones as well.

 

[deytookerjaabs]

I think (but am not 100% certain) that there is a difference in the tenon size between current USA & CS SGs.

Even an SG "Tribute" still has the neck heel extend into the neck pickup cavity so I'd suspect the standard/reissues do to. A lot of other USA models have the neck heel into that pickup cavity like double cut juniors/specials, 335's of all types, Explorers, FB "studio" model.... Gibson makes it some coveted "you can't have this" feature on single cut USA Les Paul models like they do with some other basic old school features on certain models.

 

[Tommy Tourbus]

If it matters to you I know the deal with the production model "61 reissues" was the body shape (bevels) were not accurate to a real 61 SG. I don't know if they've corrected this with the new production "61s". The Historics are accurate in this respect.

There's a lot of variation with SGs, they are hit or miss in my experience. It's a finicky guitar due to the thin neck joint, even the Historics, and you should check out as many as you can in person if you're able. If I found an excellent, issues-free USA production model in a shop I'd snag it VS playing the crap shoot of ordering one, even a Historic, online. Check the guitar for dead spots above the 11th fret, especially along the G string

 

[DANELECTRO]

If it matters to you I know the deal with the production model "61 reissues" was the body shape (bevels) were not accurate to a real 61 SG. I don't know if they've corrected this with the new production "61s". The Historics are accurate in this respect.

The bevels of the Historic '62 SG Reissue are pretty true to the original carve. The Historic's edges are a little more crisp, but the angles and contours are very similar. Here's a comparison of a 2007 Historic to an original 1961:











1961 tenon



The Historic tenon is more narrow in width, but about the same length