The Gibson Custom Brian Ray Signature '63 SG is a Gibson electric guitar. Close alternatives include the Ibanez S470 and the Fender Custom Shop Robert Cray Signature Stratocaster. It pairs well with the Friedman Dirty Shirley and the Gibson EH-185.
Gibson Custom Brian Ray Signature '63 SG
Gibson · electric guitar
The Gibson Custom Brian Ray Signature '63 SG Standard was built for Brian Ray, guitarist for Paul McCartney since 2002, combining a BurstBucker 1 neck pickup with a '57 Classic in the bridge, both wired through push-pull pots that switch between series and parallel humbucking modes for extra tonal range beyond a standard SG's fixed wiring. It features a genuine Bigsby vibrato mounted via a Vibramate plate for easy removal, a 60s-profile SG neck, Kluson Deluxe reissue tuners, and a distinctive Silver Fox finish applied in thin, wet-sanded nitrocellulose lacquer. This entry previously carried an incorrect artist link to Angus Young; it has been corrected, since the model has no documented connection to Young and is built entirely around Ray's own specifications.
- parallel
- vibrato
- direct tone
- subtle
- rock
- pitch
- modulation
- lead
Genres the Gibson Custom Brian Ray Signature '63 SG is commonly used in
- Blues
- Rock
- Metal
- Surf Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Gibson Custom Brian Ray Signature '63 SG
Friedman Dirty Shirley
Friedman
25% matchFriedman Dirty Shirley's high gain fills in what this low gain tone doesn't make on its own
Gibson EH-185
Gibson
tonal matchGibson EH-185 leans full right where the thin tone needs it
Laney LV300T 120W 2x12 Combo
Laney
tonal matchRun Laney LV300T 120W 2x12 Combo after it and the thin edge settles into something more full
Blackstar Series One 200
Blackstar
tonal matchThe low gain tone has headroom to spare — Blackstar Series One 200 gives it high gain to fill it with
Bogner Barcelona
Bogner
tonal matchWhere this leans thin, Bogner Barcelona answers back full
Orange Custom Shop 50 Head
Orange
tonal matchOrange Custom Shop 50 Head's full balances out the thin tone
Mojotone Lite Classic Style 2x12 Extension Cabinet
Mojotone
tonal matchMojotone Lite Classic Style 2x12 Extension Cabinet leans full right where the thin tone needs it
Bergantino Forte-HP Ultra
Bergantino
tonal matchBergantino Forte-HP Ultra's full balances out the thin tone
Pedals that stack with the Gibson Custom Brian Ray Signature '63 SG
Catalinbread Elements Distortion
Catalinbread
26% matchCatalinbread Elements Distortion leans full right where the thin tone needs it
Amptweaker Big Rock Pro
Amptweaker
24% matchRun Amptweaker Big Rock Pro after it and the thin edge settles into something more full
Crazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker Pre-Amp
Crazy Tube Circuits
tonal matchCrazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker Pre-Amp's full balances out the thin tone
ThorpyFX Fat General V2 Parallel Compressor
ThorpyFX
tonal matchThorpyFX Fat General V2 Parallel Compressor's full balances out the thin tone
Crazy Tube Circuits Motherload
Crazy Tube Circuits
tonal matchCrazy Tube Circuits Motherload leans full right where the thin tone needs it
Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz
Behringer
tonal matchWhere this leans thin, Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz answers back full
Fender The Pelt
Fender
tonal matchFender The Pelt leans full right where the thin tone needs it
ThorpyFX The fat general
ThorpyFX
tonal matchWhere this leans thin, ThorpyFX The fat general answers back full
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Ibanez S470
Ibanez
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Custom Shop Robert Cray Signature Stratocaster
Fender
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Dean Vinman 2000
Dean
93% similaritysimilar tone character
Gretsch Country Gentleman 6122
Gretsch
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Jaguar
electric guitar
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson ES-175 (Metheny)
Gibson
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson Les Paul Custom with Bigsby
Gibson
92% similaritysimilar tone character
ESP Tiger
Esp
92% similaritysimilar tone character
1967 Gibson SG Custom - White
Gibson
92% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Gibson Custom Brian Ray Signature '63 SG (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Gibson Custom Brian Ray Signature '63 SG?+
The closest matches in character are the Ibanez S470, the Fender Custom Shop Robert Cray Signature Stratocaster, the Dean Vinman 2000.
What pairs well with the Gibson Custom Brian Ray Signature '63 SG?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Friedman Dirty Shirley, Gibson EH-185, Laney LV300T 120W 2x12 Combo — Friedman Dirty Shirley's high gain fills in what this low gain tone doesn't make on its own.