Multicolor SG Zoot Suit by Gibson USA

So, this "rainbow SG" which I was announcing last week is in fact the Gibson SG Zoot Suit which launched today.

>> Check out Gibson SG Zoot Suit on sale on eBay now!

I'm on a vacation this week but I had to break radio silence for this one because it is a special guitar with high "iconic guitar" potential IMO.
It's not as good looking / breathtaking as I expected because I find the layers in the center are a letdown. But maybe each model is going to be unique and some will have more appeal (like the Fender Splatters). If not, Gibson still provide a choice of finishes: rainbow (at least I got that name right!), black & red, black & natural, black & orange, red & blue.
That being said, it delivers on its most unique specs (most of which I guessed right from the original picture leaked on twitter - tada!):

Body and neck made of multiple layers of wood

This is the most interesting part: Several layers of birch are glued together to create this unique appearance.

The body of the Zoot Suit features a brand new body built with multiple birch wood laminate pieces (each one approximately .075” thick), each dyed with a different color then compressed and bonded together to form one solid block of wood. No paint is used. Each body is given two coats of satin nitrocellulose lacquer.

Same is true of the neck.

Transparent controls and pick ups

The pots and pickups of the Zoot Suit are transparent. What is especially cool is that the pickups trim ring and the coil forms are clear plastic because you can see the magnets and wiring of the 496R and 500T pickups.

The rest is very classic Gibson USA SG hardware specs - or not far from it (like the Grover tuners).

This is not a Limited Run Series apparently but it will be interesting to see for how long this will stay on Gibson's catalog. While I am not as in love as I thought I would be, I still think this is a great guitar, maybe the most exciting new offering by Gibson this year. Let's see what the actual price will be -Gibson's site has the MRSP at a wobbling $1,999.

OK. Now back to my last day of vacations and a quiet evening on the porch of my Cape May rented house, downing a Corona while the evening thunderstorm passes.

UPDATE: Two interesting things about the Zoot page on GuitarCenter.com (here:
Gibson Zoot Suit SG Electric Guitar Black and Red):
1. its actual price is $1,199.
2. Now I have an explanation for the weirdo name:

The word zoot is jazz slang meaning extravagant style—certainly an apt description for the Gibson USA Zoot Suit SG electric guitar

Order one now online:
Gibson Zoot Suit SG Electric Guitar Black and Red

Rainbow SG to be next Gibson Limited Run Series Guitar?

The Gibson Lifestyle Twitter account just released this interesting picture of a rainbow-colored electric guitar which clearly looks like a Gibson SG.

(original here)

I am wondering if they are trying to create buzz. Like they created buzz -probably unwillingly- for the Gibson Shark Fin by keeping it a secret to this date with no picture or announcement when it is supposed to be available just one week from now.

Back to this intriguing SG-like Gibson which colors look like a beautiful tribute to the Gay Pride. It seems to have transparent plastics for the knobs but most interestingly the pick ups which have no cover and display the copper wiring. This is insanely gorgeous.

The controls are minimal with only a pair of volume/tone knobs and a 3-way toggle switch.

The most amazing part remains the color which seems like the result of dying each vein of the wood (I'd guess maybe maple not mahogany to obtain this finish).

The rosewood fretboard looks like there is no inlays. Maybe there could be dot inlays which we don't see since the pic barely shows the 16th / 17th fret. Could be that this is just a prototype.

I am really eager to discover more about this exciting guitar which really reminds me of Eric Clapton's famous Fool SG and its psychedelic multicolor paintjob (notably used on Disraeli Gears).

This is definitely THE Gibson I would buy right away this year because it is truly unique and will be a collectible. Maybe I'm getting over myself when this is just a pic posted through Twitter but I'll definitely check GuitarCenter.com and the Gibson Products section for leaks like the Shark Fin.

UPDATE: This guitar is in fact the Gibson SG Zoot Suit, which I have covered in full in this post. You can now order it from Guitar Center (here:
Gibson Zoot Suit SG Electric Guitar Black and Red
)

The mighty Gibson SG - a hell of a vintage guitar!

What better time to blog about the Gibson SG than when watching Hell's Kitchen. That's the spirit, don't you think?

Gibson lifestyle (again!) had an post about the mighty SG Standard. Title? The best selling Gibson of all time!
What a truly beautiful guitar. 15 years ago while in high school, I came across a vintage 60's SG that a good friend of mine persuaded his parents to finance. Hell, this guitar rocked...

I remember that friend landing this beast to me for a gig. I already had my beloved Les Paul Standard at that time but it's a different feel. The SG is so much in your face. It's light and yet retains so much tone. It feels the sound just jumps out of it.

And still, it's quite versatile. Can you imagine two sounds so different than the smooth woman tone of Eric Clapton on Disraeli Gears and the mean raw screech of young Angus Young?

Since that first encounter with the SG, I have added a cheap Gibson SG Special in faded brown to my collection (it'll be for my son). Sure, it's not as nice as SG Standard '61 reissue or a vintage 60's SG. But it's no frills, it rocks. And neither I or son will be afraid of taking it out and rocking the hell out of it. Which is the point with any great electric guitar, especially the SG!

Links:

Buy a Gibson Faded SG Special Electric Guitar in Worn Brown online ($899).

Buy a Gibson Custom SG Special VOS Electric Guitar in Faded Cherry ($2,799)

Find a Vintage 1960's Gibson SG on eBay