When sales of Gibson’s Les Paul Standard, with it’s recently introduced cherry sunburst finish, flattened out in 1960, Gibson changed the entire line to a new body style.

Although they weren’t officially called SG models until late 1953, the effect on sales was dramatic. With the more modern look and lighter weight of the SG body, Standard sales jumped from 635 in 1960 to 1,662 in 1961. The SG Standard gained some notoriety in 1966 when George Harrison used one in The Beatles’ videos for “Rain” and “Paperback Writer”. In 1967, Eric Clapton began playing a custom-painted SG Standard with his new group Cream.

The most enduring image of the SG Standard, however, was that of Australian guitarist Angus Young, walking knock-kneed about the stage in his schoolboy attire as his SG provided the signature sound of the rock band AC/DC.

The SG STandard remains a vital element of Gibson’s solidbody legacy, and the company currently makes a Standard and a 61′ Reissue as regular-production models, as well as a Historic Collection version and an Angus Young signature edition.