The 1961/1962 Gibson Les Paul SG Custom is a Gibson electric guitar, currently around $18494.61. Close alternatives include the Gibson "Old Black" 1953 Les Paul and the Dan Erlewine Albert King Custom Flying V - "Lucy". It pairs well with the Fender Prosonic and the Orange Matamp.
1961/1962 Gibson Les Paul SG Custom
Gibson · electric guitar
The Gibson Les Paul SG Custom of 1961 to 1962 marks the transitional period when Gibson redesigned the Les Paul body into the thinner, double-cutaway shape that would become the SG, before the Les Paul name was dropped from the model entirely. It carried the Custom appointments of block inlays, multiple humbuckers and a Maestro vibrato, aimed at the professional end of Gibsons line. Guitars from this transitional era have been associated with players including Carlos Santana and Buddy Guy, whose blues-rooted lead styles suited the SGs brighter, more aggressive voice compared with the single-cutaway Les Paul it replaced.
- warm
- blues
- attack
- fragile
- vibrato
- bright
- jazz
- fundamental
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the 1961/1962 Gibson Les Paul SG Custom is commonly used in
- Hard Rock
- Rock
- Jazz
- Blues
- Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the 1961/1962 Gibson Les Paul SG Custom
Fender Prosonic
amplifier
23% matchThe Prosonic's warm, professional Fender overdrive gives the SG Custom's fragile, vibrato-laced blues voice real headroom to push into.
Orange Matamp
Orange
23% matchThe Matamp's sweet, singing blues-rock breakup gives the SG Custom's warm, fragile blues voice a genuinely rootsy amp to explore.
Revv Generator 100R MkIII 3-Channel Head
Revv
20% matchRevv Generator 100R MkIII 3-Channel Head's smooth balances out the bright tone
Dumble Steel String Singer
Dumble
tonal matchDumble Steel String Singer leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it
Gibson GA-50
Gibson
tonal matchRun Gibson GA-50 after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp
Orange
tonal matchRun Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Orange Terror Bass
Orange
tonal matchOrange Terror Bass's warm balances out the bright tone
Orange Little Bass Thing
Orange
tonal matchOrange Little Bass Thing leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Pedals that stack with the 1961/1962 Gibson Les Paul SG Custom
Caroline Guitar Company Icarus
Caroline Guitar Company
16% matchThe Icarus's germanium-silicon boost pushes the SG Custom's warm, vibrato-laced blues attack louder without recoloring it.
One Control Strawberry Red Overdrive
One Control
16% matchThe Strawberry Red's smooth, harmonic overdrive gives the SG Custom's warm blues attack a gentle push rather than more grit.
Orange - Vintage Distortion
Orange
tonal matchOrange - Vintage Distortion's warm balances out the bright tone
SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive
Solidgoldfx
tonal matchRun SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive after it and the bright edge settles into something more smooth
Behringer Chorus Symphony
Behringer
tonal matchBehringer Chorus Symphony's smooth balances out the bright tone
Dunlop Echoplex Preamp
Dunlop
tonal matchDunlop Echoplex Preamp's smooth balances out the bright tone
Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo
Dunlop
tonal matchWhere this leans bright, Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo answers back warm
Pigtronix gamma drive
Pigtronix
tonal matchRun Pigtronix gamma drive after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Cheaper alternatives
Gibson Les Paul
Gibson
70% similarity“whose blues-rooted lead styles suited the SGs brighter, more aggressive voice compared with the single-cutaway Les Paul it replaced”
Fender Stratocaster American Standard
electric guitar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Epiphone Riviera Electric Guitar
electric guitar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson ES-125
electric guitar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson ES-175 (Metheny)
Gibson
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Gibson "Old Black" 1953 Les Paul
Gibson
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Dan Erlewine Albert King Custom Flying V - "Lucy"
Dan Erlewine
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Jaguar
electric guitar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
ESP Tiger
Esp
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender 1962 Silver Sparkle Telecaster Electric Guitar
Fender
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Dean Vinman 2000
Dean
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the 1961/1962 Gibson Les Paul SG Custom (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the 1961/1962 Gibson Les Paul SG Custom?+
The closest matches in character are the Gibson "Old Black" 1953 Les Paul, the Dan Erlewine Albert King Custom Flying V - "Lucy", the Fender Jaguar. Budget picks: Gibson Les Paul, Fender Stratocaster American Standard, Epiphone Riviera Electric Guitar.
What pairs well with the 1961/1962 Gibson Les Paul SG Custom?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Fender Prosonic, Orange Matamp, Revv Generator 100R MkIII 3-Channel Head — The Prosonic's warm, professional Fender overdrive gives the SG Custom's fragile, vibrato-laced blues voice real headroom to push into..
How much does the 1961/1962 Gibson Les Paul SG Custom cost?+
Around $18494.61 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).
Compare
- vs Gibson "Old Black" 1953 Les Paul
- vs Fender Stratocaster American Standard
- vs Dan Erlewine Albert King Custom Flying V - "Lucy"