Gibson: The 60th Anniversary '61 SGs series and much more

All this as the Nashville-based guitar giant gears up for the online NAMM 2021 expo. Among the new series are also the 60th Anniversary '61 SGs guitars. 

Overall, we had imagined there would be more surprises at the Virtual NAMM Experience. From Gibson's side, though, some of the more interesting ones can be spotted. Lots of new, impressive electric and acoustic guitars we can show you, starting with the 60th Anniversary '61 SGs series. The 1961 SG Standard, offered in Cherry Red VOS, and a Classic White 1961 SG Custom with gold hardware, are the two models announced.

Both look gorgeous. Especially with the side Vibrolas really capturing that early '60s element.

The SGs started out as part of Gibson Custom Shop's historic collection, which for the past two years has been issuing meticulous replicas of the 1959 and 1960 Les Paul standards. They certainly don't come cheap, but that's life if you're hunting for a vintage electric guitar.

Lots of new, impressive electric and acoustic guitars, starting with the 60th Anniversary '61 SGs series.

Judging by what's been announced, Gibson Custom Shop is set to be pulling overtime all through 2021. Quite a few signature guitars are in the pipeline.

Gibson isn't giving away the details, but confirmed that a VOS replica of the legendary Peter Frampton's Phenix Les Paul Custom is coming. This will be a replica of a Black Beauty from the mid-1950s that survived a plane crash. The Phenix was used on Humble Pie's Performance: Rockin' the Fillmore and Frampton Comes Alive!

Also, get ready for your wallets and retirement funds to be emptied in 2021. The Jerry Cantrell "Wino" Custom Les Paul, the Sergio Vallin (Mana) 1955 Les Paul Bigsby and many more instruments are on the way.

Well, there will certainly also be Kirk Douglas's signature SG and the much-anticipated Marcus King 1962 ES-345, also known as Big Red. The original guitar was a family heirloom and, as the blues/soul guitarist said.

Get ready for your wallets and retirement funds to be emptied in 2021!

"The ES-345 is very special to me," King said. "My grandfather played it and when he passed away – sadly when I was 14 – he left it to my father. When I turned 18, my father gave it to me as a symbol of support. Like saying, take a bit of your grandfather's energy with you. All this as I was setting out on an endless tour."

"This guitar has been my guiding light. It's been my flashlight. It's been everything to me, so I'm working with Gibson to reproduce it. That way, I hope I can give that same light to other players who are just starting their own journey."

Beyond the 60th Anniversary series for the SGs, there's a lot to look forward to. And there's more to come…

Also revealed was the ES Made In Nashville collection, which includes an ES-339, ES-339 Figured and an ES-335 Satin, with a variety of finishes on offer. What's the difference? Well, the ES-339 has a slightly smaller body, and the hardware is different too. The tuners are Grover Rotomatic "kidney bean" on the ES-339 and Vintage Deluxe tuners with Keystone buttons on the ES-335.

The ES-335 comes equipped with a pair of the newly developed Gibson Calibrated T-Type humbuckers in the neck and bridge positions. It also has the usual two-volume, two-tone control circuit and a three-way toggle switch. For the ES-339, Gibson has fitted a 57 Classic pickup in the neck and a 57 Classic Plus in the bridge.

Construction-wise, they're similar, with a Maple/Poplar/Maple 3-ply top and back, a rubber support and a maple center block to reduce feedback. It also features a lightweight aluminum ABR-1 bridge and Stop bar tailpieces. Both have hand-wired circuits and should feel similar. With mahogany necks carved to a rounded C profile and rosewood fingerboards.

Gibson ES-335 Satin

The ES-335 is offered in a satin nitrocellulose finish and you can choose between Vintage Burst, Vintage Natural and Cherry.

Gibson ES-339

The ES-339 and ES-339 Figured are all identical except for the latter, which uses AAA figured maple veneer and Sixties Cherry and Blueberry Burst colors to bring out all the detail. The Figured models also feature a small acrylic block.

Gibson also shared some of the fruits of the recently formalized Murphy Lab, which operates out of the Custom Shop. Tom Murphy leads a team aging and reproducing vintage guitars using the latest techniques and painstaking attention to detail.

The team is trained by Murphy and applies all kinds of treatments to its guitars, from Ultra Light to Ultra Heavy. Players can choose from the Guitar Murphy Lab Collection and a Murphy Lab Menu with certain services available made to order. Once you've chosen your preferred level of wear, your instrument will be coated with the appropriate Murphy Lab formula and then hand-aged for a one-of-a-kind finish.

Gibson added the Non-reverse Thunderbird bass to its Original collection. Featuring a set-neck long 34-inch scale and improved balance, the T-bird is available in a few striking solid colors. Choose between Inverness Green, Sparkling Burgundy and Pelham Blue.

Gibson is trying to breathe new life into some acoustics that have long been out of production, only to end up on the vintage market where the money needed to secure one is astronomical.

This is also set to be a big year for acoustics. Gibson announced the release of the following models for the Acoustic Custom Shop Historic Collection. The 1942 Banner J-45, 1942 Banner Southern Jumbo, 1934 Jumbo, 1936 Advanced Jumbo, 1939 J-55, 1952 J-185, 1957 SJ-200, 1960 Hummingbird, Pre-war SJ-200 Rosewood.

Once again, Gibson is trying to breathe new life into some acoustics that have long been out of production, only to end up on the vintage market where the money needed to secure one is astronomical.

Across the range, we'll see heat-treated tonewoods like red Adirondack spruce. Hide glue bracing will support the soundboards. They'll have the traditional 25" scale lengths and the historic V-profile necks.

There's something incredibly romantic about a Gibson acoustic with a Banner headstock. You know there are plenty of songs bound up in it.

You can find more information at Gibson's acoustic Custom Shop.

Although Gibson probably isn't going to make a wild stylistic turn with the Modern acoustic collection, there are plenty of features the modern player will appreciate. Slim Taper necks, flatter fingerboards, and more advanced pickup and preamp systems.

In the photo below, this year's Modern Acoustic Collection welcomes the J-45 Standard 12-String, a J-45 Standard with a warm Cherry makeover. There's also a Hummingbird Standard in a more understated Vintage Sunburst and an SJ-200 jumbo that looks stunning in Wine Red and Autumn Burst.

Gibson Acoustic Series

Just like the electric side, the Acoustic Custom Shop is also set to change. New models, such as an SJ-200 Western Classic, as well as some really nice guitars in the form of the Orianthi SJ 200, Tom Petty SJ-200 Wildflower, and Noel Gallagher J-150.

The Orianthi model, shown above, is the first one we've seen. More details are expected from Gibson in the near future.