Up for sale, a 1965 Gibson SG Standard in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with a hardshell case. This vintage SG Standard boasts a Polaris White nitro lacquer refinish and light relic, executed by Riggio Custom Guitars, retaining the original pair of early Patent Sticker humbuckers. An example produced early in ‘65, this guitar has a full 1 11/16” nut width, also representing the transition from nickel to chrome-plated hardware (all nickel-plated components, save for the Vibrola spring).

Tonewoods include the Honduran mahogany body, one-piece Honduran mahogany neck and a bound Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. The Patent Sticker pickups are the direct descendants of the PAF, offering a dynamic and detailed sound, balancing round lows, midrange bark and sweet treble articulation. There’s a smooth growl at the bridge position, with notable bloom when notes ring out, and a bouncy, bell-like sweetness in the neck position, harmonically dense with a subtly spongy quality. This SG Standard weighs 7lbs 4oz, benefitting from a professional setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Honduran mahogany
-Shape: Slender C, more heft in upper registers, measuring .800” 1st fret, .980” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Brazilian rosewood, pearloid flared trapezoid inlay
-Frets: Medium jumbo (original), leveled/crowned, no wear
-Scale Length: 24 3/4”
-Nut: 1 11/16”
-Tuners: Kluson Deluxe double-line, double-ring
-Serialization: Six-digit stamp dates to ‘65

Body Specs:

-Wood: Honduran mahogany
-Pickups: Patent Sticker humbucker x2, Neck: 8.35k ohms, Bridge: 7.5k
-Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector
-Harness: CTS 500k pots (replacement, two codes visible from ‘76)
-Hardware: Maestro Vibrola, ABR-1 bridge (nickel-plated, circa 1980s)
-Plastics: Reflector cap knobs, M-69 pickup rings, switch surround, five-ply pickguard + neck tenon spacer + control cavity cover (replacement)

Electronics include the original pickup pair complete with nickel-plated covers wired to a genuine vintage Gibson harness from 1976, including the switch and plastic box jack. Plastics include the original reflector cap knobs, switch surround, switch tip and pair of M-69 pickup rings. The wide bevel pickguard, neck tenon spacer, and rear control cavity cover and modern, vintage-spec replacements.

The hardware comprises the original Kluson Deluxe double line/double ring tuners and the long frame Maestro Vibrola, which represents the transition from nickel to chrome-plated hardware in 1965. The Vibrola has a nickel-plated lyre cover, base, string anchor and arm, while the spring is chrome-plated. The genuine Gibson nickel-plated ABR-1 bridge is an example circa 1980s, matching the patina of the otherwise original hardware and with a patent # baseplate.

This SG Standard is free of any headstock or heel repairs, and the top tier nitro lacquer finish work courtesy of Riggio Custom Guitars features a restrained relic treatment with horizontal checking and various simulated marks of wear. As per spec for this particular custom color in ‘65, the finish features only color coats of Polaris White with no clear coat. The headstock face retains the original lacquer finish, and while the body exhibits Riggio’s relic, the neck profile is flawless.

A vintage, circa 1970s Gibson black tolex hardshell case with red plush interior is included.