NGD: 1961 Gibson SG Special

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
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Maggieo
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NGD: 1961 Gibson SG Special

Post by Maggieo » Sat Feb 06, 2021 2:06 pm

It took me a while squirreling away the cash, but I finally amassed enough to buy a friend's 1961 SG Special. It's totally a player's guitar, a bridge from the 70s, mystery holes, a weird square of unfaded finish, and a patina of a much loved guitar. It sounds exactly like you imagine- Pete Townshend playing "A Quick One While He's Away" on the Rolling Stones' Rock And Roll Circus.

And here's the most magical thing- when I brought in my latest payment, my pal Kevin said, "I think it's paid off. It needs to be with someone who loves it." It was a couple of thousand bucks less than market price. Goddamn, I am a lucky woman.

Image
1961 Gibson SG Special, February 04, 2021 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

Image
1961 Gibson SG Special, February 04, 2021 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

Image
1961 Gibson SG Special, February 04, 2021 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

Image
1961 Gibson SG Special, February 04, 2021 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr

Image
1961 Gibson SG Special, February 04, 2021 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

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Re: NGD: 1961 Gibson SG Special

Post by Telliot » Sat Feb 06, 2021 2:09 pm

Congrats, Maggie. You deserve all the love and happiness in the world. :-*
The cool thing about fretless is you can hit a note...and then renegotiate.

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Re: NGD: 1961 Gibson SG Special

Post by zhivago » Sat Feb 06, 2021 2:17 pm

YES! :-* :-* :-* :-*

Welcome to the vintage SG club!! Golden Era Gibson right there! 8)
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Re: NGD: 1961 Gibson SG Special

Post by Maggieo » Sat Feb 06, 2021 2:35 pm

Thanks, guys!!!!!

It plays like BUTTAH, too.
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

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Re: NGD: 1961 Gibson SG Special

Post by Larry Mal » Sat Feb 06, 2021 2:48 pm

Get your Live at Leeds going on around here! That's incredible.
Back in those days, everyone knew that if you were talking about Destiny's Child, you were talking about Beyonce, LaTavia, LeToya, and Larry.

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Re: NGD: 1961 Gibson SG Special

Post by Gavanti » Sat Feb 06, 2021 2:51 pm

I love a vintage player. That looks great! Congrats.

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Re: NGD: 1961 Gibson SG Special

Post by Maggieo » Sat Feb 06, 2021 3:21 pm

Larry Mal wrote:
Sat Feb 06, 2021 2:48 pm
Get your Live at Leeds going on around here! That's incredible.
Oh, hells yeah!!!!
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

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Re: NGD: 1961 Gibson SG Special

Post by Maggieo » Sat Feb 06, 2021 3:22 pm

Gavanti wrote:
Sat Feb 06, 2021 2:51 pm
I love a vintage player. That looks great! Congrats.
Thanks!

Hey, how's the weather your way? We just got five inches of snow and are headed to sub-zero temps.
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

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Re: NGD: 1961 Gibson SG Special

Post by Gavanti » Sat Feb 06, 2021 4:27 pm

Maggieo wrote:
Sat Feb 06, 2021 3:22 pm
Gavanti wrote:
Sat Feb 06, 2021 2:51 pm
I love a vintage player. That looks great! Congrats.
Thanks!

Hey, how's the weather your way? We just got five inches of snow and are headed to sub-zero temps.
How much was on the ground already? We picked up a few extra inches today. We’re supposed to get some more but not that much I hope. Negative lows much of the week and -15 by next Saturday. It’ll be a real test of the wisdom of pandemic pup adoption.

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Re: NGD: 1961 Gibson SG Special

Post by Maggieo » Sat Feb 06, 2021 4:54 pm

Gavanti wrote:
Sat Feb 06, 2021 4:27 pm
Maggieo wrote:
Sat Feb 06, 2021 3:22 pm
Gavanti wrote:
Sat Feb 06, 2021 2:51 pm
I love a vintage player. That looks great! Congrats.
Thanks!

Hey, how's the weather your way? We just got five inches of snow and are headed to sub-zero temps.
How much was on the ground already? We picked up a few extra inches today. We’re supposed to get some more but not that much I hope. Negative lows much of the week and -15 by next Saturday. It’ll be a real test of the wisdom of pandemic pup adoption.
Sounds like here. Jemma loves it. Collies are crazy.
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

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Re: NGD: 1961 Gibson SG Special

Post by countertext » Sat Feb 06, 2021 7:49 pm

What an absolute dream guitar.

I’ve seen early SGs with something called the “short Vibrola” that fits that tanline footprint. It’s different from the leaf-spring kinda Maestro, almost like a tiny Bigsby, with the strings attached to a bar. It has the curved front and the triangle screwhole pattern. I don’t really know what they were called or why they were an option. Seems kinda rare.

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Re: NGD: 1961 Gibson SG Special

Post by Scout » Sat Feb 06, 2021 7:51 pm

Great guitar! Love the finish and the P90's, enjoy!

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Re: NGD: 1961 Gibson SG Special

Post by PixMix » Sat Feb 06, 2021 9:09 pm

What a great SG!!! Love that faded cherry color and the body carve/contours. A true golden era SG!

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Re: NGD: 1961 Gibson SG Special

Post by Cornelius Plum » Sun Feb 07, 2021 7:37 am

Very cool guitar! Congrats!


But that bridge has to go.

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Re: NGD: 1961 Gibson SG Special

Post by Maggieo » Sun Feb 07, 2021 9:04 am

Cornelius Plum wrote:
Sun Feb 07, 2021 7:37 am
Very cool guitar! Congrats!


But that bridge has to go.
I've been going back and forth on that. Thing is, that bridge has been on the guitar since the 1970s, making it part of the guitar's history. On the other hand, it'd be cool to restore it with the Maestro and a lightning bolt bridge.
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

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