Gibson SG Standard

COMPARED TO THE “holy triumvirate” of the Gibson Les Paul Standard and Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster, the Gibson SG Standard is the solidbody guitar equivalent of Rodney Dangerfield — it doesn’t get anywhere near the respect it deserves.

- CHRIS GILL

Although the SG Standard is probably heard on a near-equal amount of classic recordings as the Les Paul, its status as a truly iconic guitar — particularly in the worlds of hard rock and metal where it has often played a dominant role — rarely gets mentioned. However, during the highly influential periods from the mid-Sixties through the entire Seventies and beyond, our unscientific estimate is that the SG was actually more prevalent and popular than most guitarists realize.