Gibson - Gibson Guitar: Electric, Acoustic and Bass Guitars, Baldwin Pianos

Body

	Species The body of the SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue features a stunning AAA-grade bookmatched maple top that sits atop the standard SG mahogany body, much like a Les Paul. The beautiful combination infuses a new personality into the SG Carved Top, and brings with it all the nuances that supply the guitar’s incredible tonal character.
	Grade The maple top carries a AAA-grade, which makes for a spectacular grain that shines through the Ocean Blue burst nitrocellulose finish.
	Average Weight The average weight of a SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue body is 4.5 lbs, which is about normal for an SG. It actually creates a very nice balance, a solid feel, and contributes to the brighter tones produced by the maple top.
	Tonal Characteristics The combination of a maple cap and solid mahogany body gives this rare SG a touch more of the snap, sizzle and sustain that typically comes from a Les Paul Standard.
	Other Materials The glue is a proprietary Type-1 glue that forms an everlasting bond, and enhances the tonal characteristics of the body.

Finish

	Color The SG Carved Top comes in a beautiful, high-gloss Ocean Blue finish, with a slight burst quality around the edges of the body.
	Surface Texture The high-gloss, 90-sheen lacquer finish gives the SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue a very smooth look, and allows for the beauty of the maple’s natural grain to shine through it.
	Process First, the center of the burst is stained using a lighter blue (#15902), and then the outer burst is sprayed with a slighter darker shade of blue (Phthalo Blue, #15905) to give the SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue its unique and beautiful finish.

Neck and Headstock

	Species Like most other SG necks, the neck of the SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue is constructed from a solid piece of mahogany, which delivers the various preferences that most players demand: strong, rigid and light. Milled and cut to the proper “quarter-sawn” wood grain orientation and kiln dried for true climate acclimation, mahogany is highly machinable but extremely expressable in the hands of the detailed craftsmen at Gibson USA.
	Truss Rod Through the center of the neck is the same historically proven and recognized truss rod for the fine adjustments needed to ensure ultimate and personalized string action and sustain.
	Grade A-grade
	Profile Gibson’s traditional rounded profile is hand-carved into the neck, delivering a comfortable, super-fast feel to one of the quickest necks in the industry.
	Joint Angle 3.0°
	Headstock Angle The headstock is carefully angled at 17 degrees, which increases pressure on the strings and helps them stay in the nut slots. An increase in string pressure also means there is no loss of string vibration between the nut and the tuners, which equals better sustain.
	Headstock Inlay Gibson’s traditional Holly inlay made from genuine mother of pearl.
	Headstock Logo The classic Gibson logo is silk-screened onto the face of the headstock veneer. It is the most recognizable in all of music, representing more than a century of originality and excellence. There is simply no equal.
	Tonal Characteristics The angled, classical-style peg head, when matched with the larger tenon, offers enhanced sustain.
	Average Weight The average weight of a SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue neck is approximately 0.91 lbs.

Neck Fit

	Joint The style of joint used in joining the neck to the body is called a Mortise & Tenon joint, which has been used for years in joining two pieces of wood to make one solid piece, especially in the building of ancient ships and cabinetry. It actually enables the neck and body to become stronger together than if the instrument was made from one piece of wood. The SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue is equipped with a larger neck tenon that increases the guitar’s level of sustain.
	Adhesive The adhesive used to join the neck and body is Franklin Titebond 50, one of the strongest glues on the market today.
	Tolerance Precise measuring equipment are implemented when fitting the neck and body together so that all angles, pitches and alignments exhibit a tolerance of less than .005”, which is required to maintain accuracy and proper string alignment relative to the fingerboard.
	Joint Angle 0.0° (+/- 15 seconds)

Fingerboard

	Species The fingerboard on the SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue is constructed from the finest ebony on the planet. The resilience of this dense and durable wood makes the fingerboard extremely balanced and stable.
	Grade B-grade
	Radius The 12-inch radius of the fingerboard provides smooth note bending capabilities and eliminates “dead” or “choked out” notes, common occurrences on fingerboards with lesser radiuses.
	Frets The traditional “medium/jumbo” fret wire is a combination nickel and silver alloy (approximately 80 percent nickel and 20 percent silver) specifically designed for long life and superior wear. After hand pressing it into the fingerboard, a machine press finishes the job to eliminate the gap between the bottom of the fret wire and the fingerboard.
	Inlays The inlays of the SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue are Gibson’s traditional trapezoid inlays made from figured acrylic and inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps and doesn’t require the use of fillers.
	Average Weight The average weight of an ebony fingerboard is approximately .41 lbs.
	Tonal Characteristics Ebony is always rich in tonal response, and gives each chord and note unparalleled clarity and bite.

Nut

Material
The nut on the SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue is made from Corian, which is mainly composed of acrylic polymer. It’s a very durable material, delivers enhanced sustain, and holds the tolerances of the precision cuts made by the PLEK machine. It is installed into the top surface of the neck, butting up to the end of the fingerboard, which ensures proper tone and sustain transfer between them.

Width
The width of the nut on the SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue is approximately 1.695”.

Pickups

	Model Like all of Gibson’s Burstbucker pickups, the Burstbucker Pros have asymmetrical coils—true to the original PAFs—which supply a more open sound. The Burstbucker Pro Neck is wound slightly less than the original PAFs, while the Burstbucker Pro Bridge is slightly overwound for increased output. The Burstbucker Pro pickups are also wax potted to allow loud volume pressures with minimal feedback.
	Wire Material The wire used in these pickups is made from polysol copper, which is insulated to reduce capacitance leakage. It is the same wire used in pickup manufacturing in the 1950s and 1960s.
	Coil Material The coil of each pickup is made from ABS plastic, which is hard and durable and can withstand a broad range of temperatures.
	Pole Piece Material The pole pieces inside each pickup are made from 416-grade stainless steel – a highly machinable steel that is hardened by heat treatment. It is also known for its resistance to wear and corrosion.
	Pole Piece Position From Nut In the neck pickup, the pole pieces are positioned 19.44” from the nut, while the pole pieces in the bridge pickup are positioned 23.625” from the nut.
	Magnet Position From Nut The magnet in the neck pickup is positioned 20.13” from the nut, while the magnet in the bridge pickup is positioned 22.94” from the nut.
	Tonal Characteristics Gibson’s drive to recapture the magic of the original “Patent Applied For” humbucker pickups of the 1950s culminated with the introduction of the Burstbucker line in the early 1990s. The Burstbucker Pro pickups offer slightly higher output, which allows preamps to be driven a little harder to achieve a more natural break-up.

Electronics

	Volume Control The SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue features one master volume control with a potentiometer made by CTS. The pot (short for potentiometer) has an ohm reading of 300k, which allows for a smooth variation from soft to loud.
	Tone Control The SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue features one master tone control with a potentiometer made by CTS. The pot (short for potentiometer) has an ohm reading of 500k, which is the highest value for a panel pot, and allows for a very smooth transition from highs and lows.
	Toggle Switch The SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue features one three-way toggle switch made of stainless steel, which acts as the instrument’s pickup selector. In the down position, only the bridge pickup is active. In the middle position, both pickups are active. In the up position, only the neck pickup is active.
	Input Jack The SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue features a ¼” input jack made by Switchcraft. Its super heavy duty construction holds your guitar cable securely in place for a superior electrical connection and tight positive feel.

Hardware

	Tuning Keys Grover Rotomatic with kidney tuners are staples of Gibson guitars. With a gear ratio of 14:1, the Rotomatics deliver precision tuning in a durable housing that provides maximum protection for the gear and string post. All moving parts are cut for exact meshing, eliminating the possibility of slippage. A countersunk tension screw lets players regulate the tuning tension to any degree. A special lubricant inside the gear box provides smooth and accurate tuning stability.
	Bridge The Tune-o-matic bridge was the brainchild of legendary Gibson president Ted McCarty in 1954. It set a standard for simplicity and functionality that has never been bettered. It provides a firm seating for the strings, allowing the player to adjust and fine-tune the intonation and string height in a matter of minutes. It also yields a great union between the strings and body, which results in excellent tone and sustain. They are made from Zinc then plated with Chrome, and each one weighs approximately .118 lbs.
	Tailpiece Every Tune-o-matic bridge is combined with a separate “stopbar” tailpiece, which is essentially a modified version of the earlier wraparound bridge. It also enhances the connection between the strings and the body, resulting in excellent tone and sustain. They are made from Zinc then plated with Chrome, and each one weighs approximately .168 lbs.
	Strap Buttons The strap buttons are the same style and design that Gibson has used since the early 1950s. They are made from aluminum. Strings

Plastics

	Truss Rod Cover As with most Gibson guitars, the truss rod cover on the SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue is made from vinyl plastic, and is shaped like an antique bell. It is the same truss rod cover found on many of Gibson’s SG models.
	Control Knobs The control knobs on the SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue are Gibson’s traditional black Top Hat knobs. They are made from ABS plastic.
	Control Plates(s) The control plate on the back of the SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue is black and made from vinyl plastic. It has a thickness of .090”.
	Pickup Trim Rings The pickup trim rings on the SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue are made of black ABS plastic, like all the rings found on any Gibson guitar.

Strings

	Guage The SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue is fitted with genuine Gibson strings, sizes .010 - .046.
	Dimensions The following two graphs show the SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue’s string dimensions for the headstock, and between the Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece.

Accessories

	Case/Gig Bag Each SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue comes with its very own black hardshell case, with the Gibson USA logo silkscreened across the front in white letters.
	Certificate of Authenticity Each SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue comes with a special 2009 Limited Run Series guitar certificate of authenticity. Electronics

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