MusicRadar

• Review

Were this SG the only model to celebrate its 50th anniversary, Gibson would have received a torrent of complaints.

Vintage diehards would have wanted a detail perfect replica of the 1961 original, while others might have encouraged Gibson to make something new that reflected its more than 100 years of guitar-building history.

Take a look at the Gibson 50th Anniversary SG Standard 24 in action...

But thankfully, the 50th Anniversary Standard 24 is the first of a monthly run of new models that raise a glass to this great design.

So instead of a robot-tuned carbon fibre machine or a clone of the first SG that Ted McCarty ever held, we have a staid and sensible (if SGs are ever sensible)-looking variant with a tweak or two.

"The neck pickup delivers a supremely smooth and articulate sound that doesn't require much drive to sing."

The clue for the first and most obvious of these is in the name - Standard 24. Gibson has chosen to extend the SG's already very accessible neck by two frets, at a time when two-octave 'boards can hardly be described as 'all the rage'.

Still, PRS does pretty well with them and the metal fraternity are always after a fret or two extra - especially in this moody ebony finish.

Thankfully Gibson hasn't extended the neck outwards to accommodate the extra wires; instead they've simply filled the gap that used to be covered by a plastic plate on the original Les Paul SGs.

This could also improve on-strap balance and strengthen the neck-to-body joint, the extra 'board adding mass and rigidity - we'll see.

Build

Unlike original SGs, which were put together using animal glue, modern Gibsons use fast-setting Titebond 50, an aliphatic resin that provides excellent 'grab' during fitting of neck to body, and better heat and moisture resistance over time.