Pricing and availability
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Store
Reviews
Price
Average Price: $1,719
High-end/Boutique
$400
$1001+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 6 merchants for "Gibson SG Standard". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Meet the Gibson SG Standard, an electric guitar that's been a rock icon for decades, known for its comfortable, fast-action neck and classic late '60s aesthetic. This guitar is a real deal, with its lightweight mahogany body delivering exceptional sustain and a rounded-profile neck providing a comfortable playing experience.
The SG's double-horned cutaway design, infamous "devil horns," not only gives it an iconic look but also offers easy access to high registers, making it a versatile classic. The Gibson SG Standard is equipped with the Gibson 490R/490T humbuckers, delivering the richness, clarity, and dynamic sensitivity of the legendary P.A.F. pickups, with a slight increase in upper mids for a more contemporary sound.
Its nitrocellulose lacquer finish enhances the instrument’s tonal qualities, giving it the look and feel of a lovingly cared-for classic. This SG Standard is more than just a guitar, it's a piece of rock history that will continue to evolve with age.
Key Features:
- Lightweight mahogany body for great sustain
- Rounded-profile mahogany neck
- Plek’d rosewood fretboard for effortless playability
- Bound fingerboard with acrylic trapezoid inlays
- Gibson 490R/490T humbuckers for rich, clear sound
- Nitrocellulose lacquer finish for enhanced tone
- Double-horned cutaway for easy access to high registers
- Classic black top hat knobs and chrome-plated hardware
- Aluminum Nashville Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece
- Grover Rotomatic tuners with keystone buttons.
Product specs
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Left-/Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Body Type | Solidbody |
| Body Shape | SG Standard |
| Body Material | Mahogany |
| Body Finish | Gloss Nitrocelllulose Lacquer |
| Neck Material | Mahogany |
| Neck Shape | Rounded |
| Neck Joint | Set Neck |
| Radius | 12" |
| Fingerboard Inlay | Acrylic Trapezoids |
| Number of Frets | 22, Medium Jumbo |
| Scale Length | 24.75" |
| Nut Width | 1.695" |
| Nut Material | Graph Tech |
| Bridge/Tailpiece | Nashville Tune-O-Matic with Stopbar |
| Tuners | Grover Rotomatics |
| Neck Pickup | 490R Humbucker |
| Bridge Pickup | 490T Humbucker |
| Controls | 2 x volume, 2 x tone |
| Switching | 3-way toggle pickup switch |
| Strings | Gibson, .010-.046 |
| Case/Gig Bag | Softshell Case |
FAQs
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What is the neck profile like on the Gibson SG Standard?
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The Gibson SG Standard features a rounded neck profile, providing a comfortable grip that accommodates a variety of playing styles, making it suitable for both rhythm and lead guitarists.
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What kind of tones can I expect from the Gibson SG Standard's pickups?
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The Gibson SG Standard is equipped with 490R and 490T humbuckers, delivering a warm, full-bodied tone with excellent sustain, making it ideal for rock, blues, and heavier music styles.
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Is the Gibson SG Standard suitable for beginners?
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While the Gibson SG Standard offers professional-level features, its lightweight body and comfortable neck make it accessible for beginners who are serious about starting their guitar journey.
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How does the Gibson SG Standard compare to a Les Paul in terms of playability?
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The Gibson SG Standard has a thinner, lighter body and offers easier access to higher frets compared to a Les Paul, making it a more comfortable choice for extended playing sessions.
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What type of wood is used for the body of the Gibson SG Standard?
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The Gibson SG Standard features a solid mahogany body, contributing to its rich, resonant sound and classic tonal characteristics.
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Does the Gibson SG Standard come with a case?
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Yes, the Gibson SG Standard includes a softshell case, providing protection and portability for the guitar.
Equipboard's Expert Review
Equipboard tested this
The Gibson SG - A Rock Icon
Ah, the Gibson SG Standard – an iconic guitar that promises a blend of heritage and modern performance. This guitar has left us both thrilled and occasionally frustrated, a testament to its complex character.
When we got the SG Standard, the initial impressions were strong. The finish is stunning, more captivating in person than any photo can convey. The slim taper neck, a hallmark of the SG, feels incredibly comfortable and is a dream to play, especially when navigating the upper registers.
On the feature front, the SG Standard is equipped with 490R and 490T pickups, which deliver a great classic rock sound. The pickups provide a full, rich tone with a low end that isn’t muddy, making it versatile for a range of genres. The volume and tone knobs offer a wide range, allowing you to dial in everything from warm, sparkly cleans to gritty, biting overdrive.
Sound quality is where the SG Standard truly shines. Both pickups excel, with the bridge pickup being bright and assertive, while the neck pickup is warm and perfect for clean tones. The output is hotter than many other models, offering a distinctive snap that excels in rock settings.
Now, onto the nitty-gritty durability and build quality. This guitar feels solid and well-constructed. Despite some minor annoyances, like the loose jack plug, our SG Standard has held up remarkably well over the years. A luthier checkup confirmed that the neck, bridge, frets, and electronics were all in excellent shape even after a decade of use, affirming Gibson’s enduring build quality.
In conclusion, the Gibson SG Standard is a fantastic choice for rock enthusiasts who appreciate a guitar with a bit of character and history. It’s lightweight, comfortable, and sonically versatile. For us, despite its quirks, the SG Standard remains an indispensable part of our gear collection.
Videos
five watt world
The Gibson SG: A Short History
Reviews
PROS
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Lightweight design makes it easy to handle during long playing sessions
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490R and 490T pickups offer a classic rock sound with rich, full tones
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Comfortable slim taper neck enhances playability and speed
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Highly responsive volume and tone controls for versatile sound shaping
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Excellent upper fret access ideal for lead guitarists
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Solid build quality and durable construction ensure longevity
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Stunning finish options, especially in Heritage Cherry
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Low action and great setup out of the box for immediate playability
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Distinctive sound character, particularly appealing for rock and blues genres
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No neck dive, providing balanced playing experience
CONS
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Some units reported with minor quality control issues like loose jack plugs
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Does not come with a hardshell case, only a gig bag
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Pickups may not satisfy those preferring 57 Classics or other specific tones
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Some players find the neck width a bit wide, especially at the upper register
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Lack of vibrato system could be a drawback for those seeking more tonal flexibility
Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 61 Reviews and 390 Ratings
52
its awesome i had that from my uncle
my uncle used to own this and he gave it to me to sing, so it went very great
First love you never get over it
I'm a proud and happy owner of a cherry red SG standard since 2003. First of all let's just say I am not the kind of musician that keeps his gear like rare precious jewels, always cleaning every tiny spot and almost scared of taking it out of home... This guitar has been played a lot live, I've been sweating and sometimes literally bleeding on it, it has more than a few scratches and tiny dips on it, and I made different tuning experiments with it. Despite all of this, when few months ago I brought it to the luthier for a checkup (just the second time in 15 years...) he basically told me he had nothing to do. Neck, bridge, board, frets, pickups and electronics... everything was almost in perfect shape. I guess when you buy a Gibson or any guitar worth more than 1000€ this should be normal, but still I think I’ve been lucky. So frequently I hear people complaining about small or big different problems with their expensive guitars. I have two friends that bought exactly the same model in the same period, and their guitars sound really different but most of all they go out of tune easily... Sometimes i take my SG out of the case after a week and it doesn’t even need to be tuned. I play for an hour or two and after that I usually need to tune the G and B string… that’s all. So again, I guess I've been lucky. To be honest, looking back at the period I bought it I think I wasn’t really conscious of the tone I was looking for, so if I could go back maybe I would buy a different guitar, probably a fender because getting a tele I recently discovered I am more a coil guy than a humbucker guy… At the same time I am conscious that for me, after trying out many other guitars, the SG is still the most comfortable guitar out there!
41010
Best SG I've ever played.
I fell in love with this SG from the first note and had to own it. It has a big chunky neck and the body really resonates when its set-up with a rod straight neck and the action on the high side. The stock 490r neck pickup is warm and sparkly, however I was underwhelmed by the 498t at the bridge. It didn't jive with my favored amplifier, the Vox AC30. At a guitar show I swapped a pedal for an ld Gibson T-top Humbucker with pretty low DCR and installed it at the bridge. It completed the package making my SG into my favorite rock axe.
I have named this guitar El Superbeasto, but she will answer Beasto for short.
106
Nice! I had a cherry condition 1972 for a while and loved it. It was a dream to play with a slide.
41010
72? did that have the giant schaler 'accordion' bridge?
92
well at least i don't have a replica chibson sg instead of the real one cough cough
41010
I don't follow rory, my standard's a regular old off the shelf standard, purchased in Maryland from the fine fellows at atomic music with all the case candy even though its second hand. my silver special is a regular old gison in a cool silver finish, purchased beat-to shit with all the lacquer worn off (as lacquer does versus poly) from the sam ash near Nashville... my sivler LP is an American platinum edition, purchased in seatlle. None of 'em made in china. My one Chinese Gibson-alike is the epi joe bonamassa thatw as an impulse by I have been regretting a little. Its an okay guitar, its just not that great and it was pretty expensive for what I got. I wish I ahd trid one in person. oh well.
5339
i always thought the big inlays should be les paul only i prefer dots on sgs,
5339
but sg + vox but surely you mean sg + Marshall
41010
nah, superleads are too loud these days and the voc has more sag.... people don't get hat crunchy old voxes are at 10
5339
not slp but ... jcm
5339
thinking about it people would dislike that more
224
The new Gibson SG Standard T
Obviously if you are a guitarist in any shape or form, you are probably aware of the Gibson brand of guitars. Along with Fender, Gibson makes up the big two in the world of guitars and even if you're not aware of it, it's possible that your favorite guitar brand is owned by them both as they make up a large portion of the market. Well through the years Gibson has been quite the polarizing figure in the world of guitars mainly because of their pricing as well as the sometimes shoddy quality control. That all seemed to come to a head in 2015 with Gibson making a lot of changes to their guitars that players didn't exactly want, that caused quite a price increase for the guitar line. Well, the company has seemingly heard the cries of the public, as in 2016 they are keeping their changes in a line called HP (High Performance) and they are keeping things just the way most of us wanted them to in their T (Traditional) line. With this being said I was personally happy to see this as I've always been partial to the Gibson designed guitars. Then one day I was in a local guitar shop and to my supersede they had the 2016 line in stock and ready to rock! So I tried out a few, such as the new Les Paul Traditionals (played great), the SG Faded T (also really liked the way it played) and the new SG Standard T (fell in LOVE on the spot). So in a frenzy I knew I just had to have one. It took me about a week or so to get the money together, went back and bought the Gibson SG Standard T and took it home. I cannot tell you not only how surprised I was by the guitar the first time I played it, but how much I still love it after having it for almost a month. This guitar plays FANTASTIC!!!!!
First and foremost this guitar comes with period correct knobs, it's has a solid mahogany body, which was hand sprayed in gloss nitrocellulose providing a great looking finish. The mahogany neck is bound with dot markers as well. This neck features the standard classic width that the company reverted away from in 2015 and features a Graph-Tech self lubricating nut. It has trapezoid inlays and is thicker than 2015 as well. The SG Standard T features the 490R pickup in the neck and the 498T pickup in the bridge, with chrome hardware with a tune-o-matic bridge with a stopbar tailpiece, as well as the traditional tuners without the automatic tuner that Gibson got so much flack for last year. The SG Standard T also comes with a deluxe padded gig bag. I'm not the biggest fan of gig bags, but this is probably the nicest ones I've ever seen.
Overall, if you've been apprehensive of Gibson for some of their mistakes in 2015, make no mistake, they've really gotten it all together for their 2016 T line. These are fantastic guitars! Gibson is back!
41010
great review.... I was never an SG guy based on the shape and the Sabbath associations with the standard, but I have found its Gibson's best Nashville model, there are dogs to sort out and ones that don't feel right in my hand or lack balance or whatever, but across the board a solid guitar (pun intended). I was sad when they fucked with her in 2015 because I had been considering a back up to my older cherry SG and didn't want to buy a 61 RI because its hard to find fat necked RIs and they are costly and did not care for the 2013 and 2014 models even though they ahd the cool small 61 pickguard. I am glad to hear they fixed the SG, its a real workhorse. I play the shit outta mine.
224
Thanks Jim! I'm more of a Les Paul guy, but I've always found the SG to be a nice backup that can make similar tones for when your back can't take a LP for hours on end. But regardless this is quickly becoming my favorite guitar. I played it like crazy the first week I had it, then I kinda started cycling through my guitars. Then after letting it sit about a week, I got back into playing it again and I haven't put it down since. Such a killer guitar. Although I won't be holding my breath, I'd really like to get one of those Roxy SGs (basically a Zappa signature model) but I can just imagine how much it would cost me. I'm assuming they're fairly rare as I don't see them for sale anywhere, ever. Bottom line is that SGs are such a blast to play!
106
If it was a girl, it will never break my heart.
This thing is my baby, makes me sound better than I actually am. Favourite feature is that you can choose to use double or single coil for both of the pickups. This gives me freedom in the sounds I choose. The shape of the guitar gives a classic look, as well as reachability on all frets. The tuning pegs are definitely the best I've used so far, they're pretty smooth and it holds the tune for a long time. Overall, it's a sexy guitar that is super versatile and does exactly what you want it to do.
192
Best playing guitar I own
My Gibson SG standard is the 120th-anniversary edition, which is why I have both this one and the 120th-anniversary one saved. My 120th anniversary was with the regular standard pickguard rather than full size one.
Now to my review This guitar has my favourite neck feel to date. I love the thinner neck to my strats and teles and even like it a little more than my les paul's neck. I am able to have the lowest action on this SG without buzz compared to the others and it is the one I play most solos or fills with. Playing this thing clean through a Fender tube is just amazing.
235
Great guitar, not too heavy in weight. Nice to see and hear.
Great guitar. Light in weight. Good sound. Looks good. You also don't pay too much for this beautiful guitar. Suitable for many types of music from AC / DC to Frank Zappa. Too bad I haven't bought this guitar before. At Gibson, guitars sometimes come from the factory, which are not properly controlled. There was no fault with this guitar. Keep it up Gibson!
72
Gibson SG Standard
2013 was the year Gibson finally got it right? Overall it's a really nice guitar to play and sounds good especially with the 57 classic PUPS however the balance of the guitar is not the best.
Compared to the 92 SG Standard I had this guitar doesn't come close to being as good. Action is great, the neck is fast and it's a really fun guitar to play. It's a light guitar which makes it comfortable however I find myself constantly adjusting how it sits while playing, minor detail but annoying. Everything else about the guitar I like.
41010
purdy... the hallmark of a good SG is not being neck heavy, so Gibson didn't get it right with yours. I have an odler one and it sits fine even with a nylon strap. But I sifted through hundreds of standards and RIs for 3 years.
79
My Number 1!
It's by no means the perfect guitar, but it is my #1, the first choice in the bands that I write music for. Plays beautifully and was a natural fit for me the first time I picked it up. Not as warm as most LP's I've played, a little more on the aggressive side, just the way I like it. Mine is a 2012 limited edition in Honeyburst. Originally equipped with Burstbuckers, the bridge pickup has been replaced with a Wolfetone Marshallhead. Currently strung up with Dean Markley 13's, tuned to D standard, pots and caps replaced with CTS and Orange Drops respectively, and rewired to a 50's wiring scheme.
41010
mmm, I almost bought a 2012 Honeyburst from guitar center as a backup to my 2010, but the neck was just a little on the thin side... not enough shoulder. I kinda regret it right now, a spare SG would be nice.
The modern SG with the reinforced neck joint is a beast and one of the best values in American made rock guitars.... as long as you are patient enough to sort through a pile of them.
Artist usage
Add artist
This Gibson SG originally belonged to Sluggo Cawley, the guitarist of the Boston band Hullabaloo. The day after Nirvana played at Green Street Station, Jamaica Plain, MA on July 15, 1989. Where Kurt had no Guitar (as he Smashed his Right-Handed Flipped upside down and strung Lefty 1973 Sunburst Fender Mustang on July 9, 1989 The Sonic Temple Wilkinsburg PA and Univox Hi-Flier Phase 3 Natural with Red Spray Paint to make it look Sunburst on July 13, 1989 Maxwell's Hoboken NJ) so Kurt just sang and Jason did all the guitar playing at the July 15, 1989 Green Street Station Jamaica Plain MA show. The next day July 16th, while in Watertown MA, Kurt traded his 1973 Fender Mustang in exchange for the 1970s Gibson SG, which at the time was hanging on Sluggo’s wall.
"Kurt asked me if he could have the smashed Gibson SG I had hanging on my wall. So I said, 'Sure, but now I won’t have one for my wall.' Kurt replied, 'I’ll be right back.' He went out to their van and presented me a 1973 Fender Mustang that he deemed beyond repair. Kurt smashed it at the Sonic Temple, in Wilkinsburg, PA, on July 9, 1989, six days before the Green Street show. In sort of mock guitar hero worship, I asked him to sign it for me."
"He wrote, 'Yo Sluggo, thanx for the trade. If its illegal to rock and roll, then throw my ass in jail. NIRVANA.' He also wrote 'vox pick-up' with an arrow, but I have lost that piece of the pickguard. There are also two of his flowers he liked to draw on things. The guitar has a serial number on the base of the neck – 4900 1853. It is in three or 4 pieces held together by duct tape."
Kurt likely painted and repaired the SG upon returning from Europe in late 1989/early 1990, and fitted it with a humbucker in the bridge from one of his old Univox guitars. It also appears that there was some sort of a Single-coil pickup in the neck pickup slot, but it’s hard to tell what it was due to a lack of good quality photos.
Kurt played this guitar for the first time on January 6, 1990 East Ballroom, Husky Union Building, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. And a few other gigs in early 1990, before he ended up smashing it beyond repair in Tijuana, Mexico on February 17, 1990. However, at that point, he already had the guitar with him for almost half a year.
"In 'Headwires' the high, picking part in the middle eight is an SG through the Memory Man," says Dave Grohl in reference to the Gibson SG Electric Guitar. Dave Grohl uses Drop-A tuning in this case.
This guitar was used on the leads for TROWFTD and From the Sounds Inside, John says, "I had this Gibson SG from 1961 that I used on some of the leads; it was just lying around my house."
John Mayer is seen using the dark red Gibson SG Standard Electric Guitar while he rocks a sold-out audience at the Copley Hall in San Diego.
Skrill played a cherry red SG on Don't Go, with Justin Bieber and Don Toliver. During a break, he played Counterfeit, originally by Limp Bizkit, as can be seen in the video.
Jimmy Page can be clearly seen using a Gibson SG Standard on stage in later years, as evidenced by the image provided.
This Guitar, a 1963 Gibson SG was given to Hetfield as a gift by then-producer Bob Rock. This Guitar has a Mahogany Neck and Rosewood Fretboard. The guitar appears to have an uncovered Maestro-Style Tremolo Bridge and the Pickups are most likely the stock 1963 Humbuckers however this is unclear.
This Guitar was used in the Music Video for “Turn the Page”.
Green Day's guitarist and singer, Billie Joe Armstrong, often used a red Gibson SG Standard Electric Guitar during shows.
Red Gibson SG Standard was mostly used on TV appearances for "Warning" era, as well as live shows. He played "Waiting" with this guitar on Jay Leno show.
Second Gibson SG Standard he was seen using, was on the appearance on Hotel Babylon, which was in 1996, to be precise, on 27th of April, 1996. This guitar is rumoured, as well as the whole equipment in this show, to be borrowed from the Living End members. But actually this guitar was owned by Billie. You can see this picture with his son playing Gibson SG Standard.
Album Usage
The Gibson SG Standard has been featured on the following albums:
Reaching For You
Midrift (2025)
Comes Clean
Arj Barker (2025)
Por cesárea
Dillom (2024)
Mommy's Little Monster
Social Distortion (2023)
Would You Miss It?
Koyo (2023)
Rivers Of Heresy
Empire State Bastard (2023)
: I I .
John Frusciante (2023)
For the first time
Black Country, new road (2021)
Vision
Sergey Golovin (2021)
Don’t Go (with Justin Bieber & Don Toliver)
Skrillex & Justin Bieber & Sonny Moore & Don Toliver (2021)
again&again
Against The Current (2021)
Waiting (BBC Live Session)
Green Day (2021)
Maya
John Frusciante (2020)
BENT
Stonefield (2019)
In the End
The Cranberries (2019)
21st Century Liability
YungBlud (2018)
The Great Depression
As It Is (2018)
3000 Shots Until I Can Be Without You
Sleepy dog (2018)
Rest, Repose
Rest, Repose (2017)
Little Thing Gone Wild
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (2017)
The Black Parade / Living with Ghosts (The 10th Anniversary Edition)
My Chemical Romance (2016)
Stiff
White Denim (2016)
Brown Sugar
The Rolling Stones (2015)
Spotify Sessions
Catfish and the Bottlemen (2015)
The Mindsweep
Enter Shikari (2015)
I Miss You
Dave Days (2014)
Radiate
Enter Shikari (2013)
Sluggo! (2013 Mix)
Mike Keneally (2013)
Porfiado
El Cuarteto de Nos (2012)
Through Clarity
coldrain (2012)
Something For Nothing
Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! (2011)
Raditude
Weezer (2009)
Command
Client (2009)
Poetics
PXNDX (2009)
Nuevo Orden De La Libertad
Los Natas (2009)
Mencari Konklusi
Hujan (2009)
Bone Palace Ballet: Grand Coda
Chiodos (2008)
The Black Parade Is Dead!
My Chemical Romance (2008)
Worship Tools 15 - Today Is the Day (Resource Edition)
Lincoln Brewster (2008)
A Flair For The Dramatic
Pierce the Veil (2007)
Liars
Liars (2007)
So Wrong, It's Right
All Time Low (2007)
The Sun And The Moon
The Bravery (2007)
Santidade ao Senhor
Rodolfo Abrantes (2006)
Waterloo To Anywhere
Dirty Pretty Things (2006)
Make Believe
Weezer (2005)
Absolution
Muse (2003)
Client
Client (2003)
Accelerated Evolution
Devin Townsend (2003)
No Wings To Speak Of
Hopesfall (2002)
Diorama (U.S. Version)
Silverchair (2002)
Does This Look Infected?
Sum 41 (2002)
The Band
Mando Diao (2002)
Weezer
Weezer (2001)
They Threw Us All In A Trench and Stuck a Monument on Top
Liars (2001)
Bleed American
Jimmy Eat World (2001)
Warning
Green Day (2000)
Showbiz
Muse (1999)
Risk (Expanded Edition - Remastered)
Megadeth (1999)
Night on the Sun
Modest Mouse (1999)
Neon Ballroom
Silverchair (1999)
Garage, Inc.
Metallica (1998)
Celebrity Skin
Hole (1998)
HONEY
L'Arc-en-Ciel (1998)
Iros Todos A Tomar Por Culo
Extremoduro (1997)
Radiator
Super Furry Animals (1997)
The More Things Change...
Machine Head (1997)
Agila
Extremoduro (1996)
October Rust
Type O Negative (1996)
LP2 (2009 Edition)
Sunny Day Real Estate (1995)
Diary (Remastered and Expanded Edition)
Sunny Day Real Estate (1994)
Revenge
Kiss (1992)
Love Over Gold
Dire Straits (1982)
Spectres
Blue Öyster Cult (1977)
Almendra
Almendra (1970)
Revolver (Remastered)
The Beatles (1966)
Rubber Soul (Remastered 2009)
The Beatles (1965)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Gibson SG Standard, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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