Sales figures for every Les Paul model fell in 1958 and, towards the end of that year, Gibson modernized the Junior with a double-cutaway body and a cherry red finish.

Sales picked up immediately and, not surprisingly, the Special received the same makeover in 1959 (cherry finish was optional on the Special). The results were similar, with Les Paul Special sales almost doubling from 1958-59.

Curiously, by the end of 1959, Gibson began calling it the SG Special (SG for Solid Guitar). This seemed to anticipate the 1961 changeover to what would become known as the SG body shape, with pointed horns, but how Gibson could drop the Les Paul designation with Les Paul still under contract, and why the company would do it on just one model, has never been explained.

Gibson revived the double-cutaway (non-SG) Special in the mid-70’s as a separate model from the single-cutaway version, and the basic model remains in production, although sometimes under the confusing name of Junior Special.