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SG
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SG Special
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Body
Species
The body of each SG Special is crafted from solid mahogany, one of the most revered tonewoods in the history of the electric guitar.
Tonal Characteristics
Mahogany is a medium-dense wood with excellent resonance and superior sustain, and it offers a rich, round, warm tone, but with plenty of high-end sheen and good midrange presence. It has long been acknowledged as a classic tonewood for rock and blues instruments in particular.
Design
The SG Special follows the classic lines of the SG Standard, with a flat top, contoured body edges, and deep cutaways that yield two slightly asymmetrical pointy body "horns".
Average Weight
The average weight of a raw SG Special body is 4.03 lbs, which contributes to the relatively light weight of the finished guitar.
Available Finishes
Color
The SG Special is finished your choice of Heritage Cherry or Ebony Black.
Heritage Cherry
Ebony
Surface Texture
A hand-buffed, high-gloss finish with 90-sheen lacquer gives the SG Special a high-quality appearance in keeping with its heritage.
Process
The SG Special is hand-finished in nitrocellulose in a process that is carefully monitored to ensure minimum build-up, in an effort to produce a finish that breathes with the guitar and enhances natural resonance. The final coat is hand buffed to a high-sheen gloss. Unlike many other manufacturers, who settle for a polyurethane finish, Gibson opts for a nitrocellulose finish that will encourage the natural vibration of the instrument for a purer tone. In addition, a nitro finish is very porous and actually gets thinner over time.