The "SG" / Firebrand

**The "SG"** was conceived by Nashville plant manager Whitey Morrison in 1979 to fill the gap in the budget end of the SG lineup, following the discontinuation of the Special (although a short-lived model bridged the gap between them, see: SG Standard / Special). This model introduced the change in control layout that the SG Standard would undergo the following year.

In January 1980, a new version called the **SG Firebrand** was introduced with a branded-in Gibson logo and a Mahogany body & neck for a slightly lower price. It also had a unique finish option with black paint splatter and small dings throughout to create a distressed appearance. By July 1980, these models both became part of the "Firebrand Series" and were renamed as **The "SG" Standard** and **The "SG" Deluxe**, with the Standard now gaining the branded-in logo as well.

By the end of 1980 they began being finished in new full-gloss colors with black headstocks and silk-screened logos, and by 1981, the Natural & Antique finishes switched to black headstocks and silkscreens as well. The Standard was discontinued in 1982, and that same year the Deluxe got a new narrower headstock design with no volute.

As if to be deliberately confusing, Gibson changed the name once again, and the The "SG" Deluxe became simply **The "SG"** in mid-1983. While the last catalog these models were featured in was from 1981, the last models were shipped as late as 1985. Production of the The "SG" (Deluxe) appears to have been done in smaller batches from 1982 to early 1984 before they were phased out in favor of the newly returned Special.

## The "SG" (Standard)

* 1979-1981
* **1979:** $499
* **1980:** $599

**Body:**

* Beveled, solid Walnut body
* Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish
	+ Semi-gloss sheen

**Neck:**

* 3-pc laminated Walnut
* Set-in construction
	+ 3 degree angle
	+ Titebond glue
	+ Joins body at 18th fret

* Rosewood fretboard w/ dot inlays (early 1979)
* Ebony fretboard w/ dot inlays
	+ Inlay at 1st fret
	+ 12" radius
* Large Open Book headstock
	+ Color-matched
	+ Silk-screened Gibson logo (1979 - mid 1980, 1981)
	+ Branded Gibson logo (mid - late 1980)
	+ Volute
	+ "Made in U.S.A." stamp
	+ 17o pitch
* 22 frets
* 24 9/16" scale
* 1 11/16" nut width

**Electronics:**

* "The SG" Humbucker (Neck position)
	+ Indox 7 ceramic magnet
	+ 7.2K Ohms DCR
	+ Designed by Bill Lawrence
* "Velvet Brick" zebra Humbucker (Bridge position)
	+ Indox 7 ceramic magnet
	+ 7.5K Ohms DCR
	+ Originally called the "TGA Super Humbucker" (1979)
	+ Designed by Bill Lawrence
* 3-way switch
* 2 Vol, 2 Tone
	+ CTS 300k volume
	+ CTS 100k tone

**Hardware:**

* Chrome Hardware
* Grover Rotomatic tuning machines
	+ 14:1 ratio
	+ Keystone buttons
* Gotoh tuning machines (sporadic, 1980-1981)
	+ 12:1 ratio
	+ Keystone buttons
	+ "Gibson" printed in black
* 5-ply "Angel Wing" pickguard
* Bell shaped truss rod cover
	+ 2-ply b/w
	+ "The 'SG'" hot-stamp (1979 - June 1980)
	+ "Firebrand 'The SG' Standard" hot-stamp (July 1980 - 1981)
* Black Speed knobs
* Switch ring (early-mid 1979)
* Harmonica Tune-O-Matic bridge (early-mid 1979)
* Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge
* Stopbar tailpiece

**Finishes:**

* Natural Walnut (Semi-Gloss)

## The "SG" Deluxe / Firebrand

* 1980-1984
* **1980:** $529
* **1981:** $579
* **1982-1984:**
	+ $599 (Ebony, Walnut & Wine Red)
	+ $685 (Optional finishes)

**Body:**

* Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
* Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish
	+ Semi-gloss sheen (Natural Mahogany)
	+ Semi-gloss, distressed (Antique Mahogany)
		- Black spackle
		- Random indentations
	+ Full gloss (1981-1984)

**Neck:**

* 3-pc laminated Honduran Mahogany
* 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany (1983-1984)
* .860" / 1.00" profile
* Set-in construction
	+ 3 degree angle
	+ Titebond glue
	+ Joins body at 18th fret
* Ebony fretboard w/ dot inlays
	+ Inlay at 1st fret
	+ 12" radius
* Rosewood fretboard w/ dot inlays (~1983, uncommon)
* Large Open Book headstock (1980-1981)
	+ Color-matched
		- Branded Gibson logo
	+ Painted black (late 1980 - 1981)
		- Silk-screened Gibson logo
	+ Volute
	+ "Made in U.S.A." stamp
	+ 17o pitch
* Narrow Open Book headstock (1982-1984)
	+ Silk-screened Gibson logo
	+ "Made in U.S.A." stamp
	+ 17o pitch
* 22 frets
* 24 9/16" scale
* 1 11/16" nut width

**Electronics:**

* "The SG" Humbucker (Neck position)
	+ Indox 7 ceramic magnet
	+ 7.2K Ohms DCR
	+ Designed by Bill Lawrence
* "Velvet Brick" zebra Humbucker (Bridge position)
	+ Indox 7 ceramic magnet
	+ 7.5K (bridge) Ohms DCR
	+ Originally called the "TGA Super Humbucker" (1979)
	+ Designed by Bill Lawrence
* 3-way switch
* 2 Vol, 2 Tone
	+ CTS 300k volume
	+ CTS 100k tone

**Hardware:**

* Chrome Hardware
* Gotoh tuning machines (1980-1983)
	+ 12:1 ratio
	+ Metal Keystone buttons
	+ "Gibson" printed in black
* Grover Rotomatic tuning machines (1981-1983)
	+ 14:1 ratio
	+ Metal Keystone buttons
* Schaller "Gibson Deluxe" tuning machines (1981-1984)
	+ 14:1 ratio
	+ Green Keystone buttons
* 5-ply "Angel Wing" pickguard
* Bell shaped truss rod cover
	+ 2-ply b/w
		- "SG *Firebrand*" hot-stamp (January - June 1980)
		- "Firebrand 'The SG' Deluxe" hot-stamp (July 1980 - mid 1983)
		- "The 'SG'" hot-stamp (mid 1983-1984)
* Black Speed knobs
* Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge
* 3-Point/Top-Loading Tune-O-Matic bridge (1982-1984)
* Stopbar tailpiece
* Optional Schaller Pro-Tune tremolo (1984)
	+ $99 upcharge
	+ Includes GraphTech nut

**Finishes:**

* **Semi-Gloss:**
	+ Natural Mahogany
	+ Antique Mahogany
		- Black spackle
		- Random indentations
* **Full Gloss:**
	+ Antique Tobacco Sunburst (1980)
	+ Wine Red (1981-1984)
	+ Ebony (1981-1984)
	+ Devil Red (1981-1982)
	+ Bahamas Blue (1981-1982)
	+ Goldburst (1981-1982)
	+ Silver (1981-1982)
	+ Holly Green (1981-1982)
	+ Walnut (1982-1984)
	+ Candy Apple Red (1983-1984)
	+ Electric Blue (1983-1984)
	+ Yellow Mist (1983-1984)
	+ Tangerine (1983-1984)
	+ Ultra Violet (1983-1984)
	+ Silverburst (1983-1984)
	+ Antique Sunburst (1984)
	+ Vintage Cherry Sunburst (1984)