@@CHodgy Yes, I absolutely agree. But he is, in my opinion,...I play slide guitar...in a classical and progressive way because he didn't stick to just playing blues, The man. In my view of the slide guitar, Derek today is the best, most open to other languages and creative slide player. Of course, I don't know the world and I have serious doubts as to whether there aren't completely unknown musicians out there who are brilliant. Derek plays differently than anyone else who came before him, even those who influenced him. Derek has a lot of the Allman Brothers vibe, with or without slides, in his music. He has the same vibe as Duanne and Dickey Betts when they improvised. I don't love his tone, just as I didn't love Duanne and Betts's, but it was so striking and the language, especially Duanne's, so captivating, that I ignored my taste. It's natural because I've played with a Stratocaster all my life. Regarding SG, I had a 1973 SG Standard... my second guitar. Beautiful, but I didn't like the sound or her arm. And I also confess. I think the SG Custon...that little white one, is the most beautiful guitar there is.
@@heavenlyguitar5913 I saw Frank back in the mid 1970s and as a teenager thought they were way too loud! And distorted and a lot of things I can deal with better now. He was and doubtless still is an astounding guitar player.
And not one mention of Sam Houston Andrew and James Gurley of Big Brother and the Holding Company either. How long was Piece of My Heart, Ball and Chain, Summertime on radio rotation?
Micky Jones (RIP)- absolute SG genius, a true Welsh wizard. There is a story (true or not, I don't know), that Micky Jones redid Cipollina's solos on the Maximum Darkness album, because JC had been so out of his head during the recorded performance.
I've heard a slightly different story. Micky Jones only redid John Cipollina's parts on the song Bananas because JC used an ancient lap steel guitar that would not stay in tune so they could not use the track for the album. @@neilhughes9310
A couple more honourable mentions: Glen Buxton of the Alice Cooper band made some of the 70's most righteous rock tones with a white SG custom. And Zal Cleminson used a variety of SGs with the Sensational Alex Harvey Band.
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band with Zal Cleminson on guitar were great live and put on a fantastic show. Zal would sometimes do a solo spot of 'April Kisses' (Eddie Lang) as a jazzy interlude within a rock gig.
In addition to Clapton, Zappa, and Townsend, I bought an SG back then with Jerry Garcia and Leslie West in mind. Jerry Garcia used an SG on Live Dead, probably the greatest Grateful Dead album. And Leslie West was a hero of mine.
I am a DeadHead & huge fan of Moutain. The Dead is a love hate thing but I tell anyone who will listen to check out Moutaln. At least the WoodStock set. Unreal.
@@Les537but he hated that guitar and (supposedly) sabotaged it to force management/the band to buy him a Les Paul so we disqualify him on grounds of sacrilege!
Currently flying the flag for ladies with the blues I'd nominate Samantha Fish for an honourable mention. Yes she's best known for the cigar box guitar but her main squeeze in recent years has been a white SG. I'm currently having an SG built to my specs by a local luthier. I own two SGs but neither neck feels quite right so I had my DGT neck measured up as a template. It will be several months before I can play it because it will be finished in gold metal-flake but I'm not in any particular hurry. Nice list Keith.
Wow. Not one mention of Sam Houston Andrew and James Gurley of Big Brother and the Holding Company. Cheap Thrills album went platinum. As if Piece of My Heart, Ball and Chain, Summertime etc. were not massive songs on rock rotation until it became known as classic rock. Sam and James both played SG's and the bassist Peter Albin often used an EB bass. Every guitar across the stage sporting that shape. All in cherry finish too. Badass.
RIP John Diggins (Jaydee Guitars), luthier to both Tony Iommi & Angus Young, who passed away on the 2nd of January this year. I was also suprised that Santana didn't make this list (or even honourable mentions!) seeing as you tend to like mentioning them in your other videos, but pleased that Sister Rosetta Tharpe got a shout-out, though personally I think she should have been on the actual list :)
Early on , John Cipollina lead guitar with SF 60’s band Quicksilver Messenger Service caught my ear with the killer piercing tone of his Gibson SG. I’m a drummer but I know tone and John had it in spades , always with an SG at his fingers. Saw Quicksilver in concert in ‘68. I don’t know the history of his SGs but you might wanna do a little research on him and his SGs. Sure sounds good especially on Quicksilvers’ first two albums. Good compilation you’ve got here in this video. Thanks 🥁🎸😎
John was Frank Marino's main inspiration and the reason why Frank plays an SG. John had some great moments on Man's live album Maximum Darkness from 1975.
I bought my 69 SG after seeing Terry Kath of Chicago playing "25 or 6 to 4." Admittedly he played a lot of different models including Strats and Tellies. But his cherry red SG fit some secret place in my mind.
Thanks Keith. I highly recommend "Shout, Sister Shout!" a biography of Sister Rosetta Tharpe. It explores the beginnings and back ground of rock and roll and also gives great insight into the role of women in music and what it was like to travel in the Jim Crow south. Peace
"Let's use it as a moment to practice enjoying each others opinions, cool" What a brilliant statement. It's very close to the remedy to what ails humankind.
He used a white SG and a fan later made him a custom SG of zebrawood which he extensively used. Buck blasts most of the folks on the SG list into oblivion.
Hi Keith! Thanks for this video! What a list! Glad you mentioned the great Frank Marino. The late John Cipollina was also a SG player. Carlos Santana also played an SG...And Paul McCartney's guitarist Brian Ray has a Gibson signature '62 SG Junior model...I own one too...Made in 1966...Thanks again!
One of my favorites as well. I have a later one with the large pickguard, and it has just the perfect neck profile that it doesn't to the "neck dive" that gives the SG a bad rap. I love it!
Very informative and entertaining. I've always loved Zappa and his guitar tone. It's the reason I got an SG. A thing of beauty, even for a perpetual beginner.
Wow, Thanks a million Keith! See, I've been playing SG guitars since I was a Kid and for some reason I still do today. The first one was an original 74 with Bigsby and the harmonica bridge, the best sounding guitar I ever owned. And despite I had a bunch of Fender guitars and up to 3 Les Paul (Studio and Custom), it is the SG the one with a very special spot in my heart. Currently I play a Special made in Nashville, a regular one with 2 P90's and a sparkling burgundy red finish and let me tell you that somehow, If you fall in love with an SG, that love will last for the rest of your life. Thanks again for this Keith. It brings tears to my eyes. Much love as always from West Spain ❤
I can totally relate to your early SG memories. My first internal image of an electric guitar is Duane Allman playing an SG. For me it's the quintessentially great looking guitar. Back in the early 80s when I was 15 I was hanging out in record shops and reading books about Mississippi blues. Why is the SG so mesmerizing to me? Perhaps it's the symmetric shape and the deep red color. SGs don't sound quite as fat as a Les Paul but that's OK for most styles. Owning 6 Strats but only one SG, I'll get another one for sure!
I think Angus is the most iconic with the SG and always will be. But I think Tony is the one who inspired, directly or indirectly, the most people to pick up a guitar than any other player ever, and not just as an SG wielder, but as any guitarist, period. The man took his injury and as a workaround, invented metal - that means everyone who picked up a guitar because they wanted to chug some fat doom laden riffs owes it to Tony, whether they liked Sabbath, Metallica, Slayer, Soundgarden, Iron Maiden, Slipknott ,The Melvins or even 80s hair metal. Because lists of influential players always feature lead guitarists and forget that half of all players in a band might well play only Rhythm! Any of those players who like a big, distorted, downtuned, palm muted chromatic riff? Tony was doing that in 1970!
Rod Price comes to mind and almost everyone who played electric guitar in early '60s SF! I fell in love with the SG after seeing Robbie Krieger in '65. Bought one in '70 to learn on. I have owned many different guitars since then, but I always go back an SG. I have only 3 guitars now, all SGs (Standard, Special, and P90) and that'll do 'til I leave Earth.
Great video. It’s worth just noting, with much sadness that John Diggins died only a few weeks before this videos release. A lovely man and true supporter of the music that emanated from Birmingham and the UK. Making guitars for not only Iommi but also Angus Young and other stars such as level 42’s Mark King. Neither of the latter being from Brum of course. RIP John. A great British craftsman.
Tony Bourge of Budgie is another less well known player that I associate with the SG. He played an SG Special at all the Budgie gigs I saw. Tony's riffing style is often noted as influential by other players and Metallica covered Budgie's song 'Breadfan'.
John Cipolina of Quicksilver Messenger Service. They were the first of the San Francisco bands to sign a record deal. The Grateful Dead used to open for THEM. Speaking of the Dead, Jerry Garcia was known to play an SG from time to time.
Thank you for including Robby, most people over look him. He was only the guitar player for the biggest American band from 67 to 71 lol! He is the reason I play an SG!!
I was a teenager in the 90’s; my SG heroes were Evan Dando from The Lemonheads, Bill Janovitz from Buffalo Tom and Gary Louris from The Jayhawks. All doing the rootsy country-rock singer/songwriter (I guess they’d all be Americana if they came out now) thing with old SG’s. Love all SG’s but a Special with P90’s and a Vibrola the best. On a different tip - Ian MacKaye from Fugazi and Greg Sage from The Wipers were iconic punk rock SG players.
Great video! I was jamming with some friends a few years ago,and picked up a buddy's SG and I immediately connected with it. A few weeks later i bought one!
Unbelievable how much Derek Trucks resembles Duane Allman. I read that often Gregg Allman would do a double take while playing on stage because he could see and hear his brother in Derek’s performance.
Just an amazing list Keith! I know that Carlos Santana was mentioned in your Yamaha video, but for his early work with an SG I would have included him here as well... as a list goes to 11 contender! For honorable mentions and a pair of Canadians to add to the Alex Lifeson inclusion... I would add prolific session guitarist and sideman Phil X, and guitarist/producer Colin Cripps for his love and incredible use of a '64 SG Standard and his time with Blue Rodeo, the Jim Cuddy Band, Crash Vegas, Junkhouse, and Bryan Adams to name a few. Cheers.
Great list, but I would remove Harrison & Clapton, as I don't consider them SG players because of their very short use of them. I would include the guitar duo from the original Alice Cooper band; Michael Bruce, & Glen Buxton. Honourable mention is Carlos Santana - the image of him playing that SG completely out of his mind at Woodstock is forever burned into my brain. So glad that one of my all time favourites - Frank Marino was mentioned, and not overlooked
@@shobudski6776to each their own, however, I totally disagree about it being a defining guitar. The Les Paul is what defined Clapton to the "Clapton is God" crowd. He played a Firebird I about as long as he played the SG - The SG just happened to have a fancy paint job really - I would argue that Clapton playing Crossroads Farewell live with the 335 in the Cream era is more defining. The 70's and on are defined by Stratocasters. Todd Rundgren had nothing nice to say about the Fool guitar, other that it's looks, in an interview that I read - I remember him saying something along the lines of it falling apart ,like its made of cork
Nicely Done! Have always loved the SG and have three currently including a '74. Have owned 6 or 7 over the years. First was a white '64 special I bought new with lawn mowing money and second was an original '61 with the sideways vibrato I bought from a bass player I worked with. Never was crazy about the '61.. never thought the sustain was very good and blamed the vibrato system. Wish I had all of the old ones back including a double neck I owned!
I had forgotten about Robbie Krieger, yeah he mainly played SG's. Rosetta!!! 1st one I always think of is Pete Townsend. Duane with Slide, Derek Trucks influenced of course. Tony Iommi and Angus, career SG'ers. Haa the old lemon Pledge Smell, no mistaking that one. And of Course JOHN CORDY rockin that vintage 68 SG on loan from Francisco!! Love these Videos.
Mick Taylor is the guy whose SG playing meant a lot to me who you didn't mention. A lot of those greatest-rock-n-roll-band-in-the-world shows from '69 through '75 were made by Taylor on the SG.
Probably agree with the ten but Mick Taylor is shamefully always in the shade. Never mentioned in the same breath as Clapton and Peter Green (my personal favourite) but should be for his great work with Mayall… Crusade.. Bare Wires and Blues from Laurel Canyon never mind his fantastic contribution to the Stones best run of albums.
I expected Mick Taylor to be near the top for his incredible work with John Mayall. I saw them shortly before The Rolling Stones hired him, front row here at Kiel Opera House in St. Louis. He frequently used the SG Standard & both of the old sunburst Les Pauls. His playing & tones in addition to the respect of his industry peers puts him near the top,....still! Incredibly nice guy too. I spent hours hanging out before & after shows with him twice that come to mind immediately. Jerry Garcia was certainly one of the highest profile SG players. My interest in The Grateful Dead waned after "Wake of the Flood," but I saw Garcia playing his late '60s SG Standard several times. Carlos Santana's band & playing of "Soul Sacrifice" was without question, one of the hottest sets in the entire Woodstock Festival.
Thanks for this, Keith. I love how a SG invites you to play the upper end of the fret board. Barry Goudreau from Boston is a very inspirational SG player. He really inspired me as a young guitar player.
Oh, my first electric guitar was a SG Copy by Sears (check the 1977 Christmas Catalog), nothing like a real SG, an absolutely horrible guitar, but I was too young to know better! In my current arsenal, I have a Pelham Blue SG Standard, that has an unusually beefy neck. I love it! Rock on, Brothers and Sisters!
So glad to see Robby Krieger on the list, he's the reason I picked up the guitar in the first place. And I'm just as pleased to see Frank Zappa on here, truly my favorite musician and composer at this time. Great vid as always!
Well done! Dominic Troiano. I saw him playing a 60s SG special on stage with the James Gang. He used that guitar with Guess Who as well. Ronnie Montrose used an SG with the Edgar Winter Group, and also on his first album, Montrose (with Sammy Hagar on vocals). Around 1974 I purchased a 61' SG junior that had been converted into a Special with the original single coil in the bridge position and a bucker in the neck. I played for about 30 years. Wish I still had it.
Great Vid, love the history. I was so glad to see Robbie Krieger included. Such a unique and stand out guitar player. I was lucky enough to see Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek play as The Doors of the 21st Century in something like 2005.
I would’ve figured Ian MacKaye in the honorable mentions, but I know you’re not much for punk/alternative stuff, though as a jazz guy I have a feeling some Fugazi stuff might be very interesting to you. MacKaye’s SG with Super Distortions is on a lot of very important punk/alternative music. Cool list. I always enjoy these videos.
Christmas Day of 1982, when I opened the album cover of For Those About To Rock and saw these 5 men who looked absolutely invincible, I fell in love with the SG immediately. Finally had a chance to get one last year (61 reissue).
Alex Soria of The Nils; great player, singer songwriter and guitar player from the Montreal punk band; It was because of him, Angus Young of AC DC, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, and Eric Clapton's Cream that I bought an SG for myself. Also Live at Leeds/Live at The Isle of Wight era Pete Townsend of The Who. But it was right after seeing AC DC at Sarstock in Toronto 2003 that I bought a Gibson SG.
Two categories: 1) Lifelong SG players like Angus, Marino, Zappa, Trucks, Iommi, Krieger. 2) Players who went through an "SG Phase" like Clapton, Harrison, Holdsworth, Townshend, etc. Those in the first category should be first on the list. Those in the second are "honorable mention" leftovers. Just sayin... BTW Hendrix played an SG sometimes. So did Jerry Garcia!
When I was a kid in high school, one of the friends brought in his SG. It turns out it was Frank Marino’s first SG. I was very upset that my friend had bought a stolen guitar. He eventually contacted Frank and Frank got his guitar back. I still have one of the pickups that was part of that trade. Anyway, Frank is my main SG guy and I got to play his first SG.
Great video. One thing I'd think about is, for George Harrison it's also widely thought that George made the red Les Paul "Lucy" his main guitar when Clapton gave it to him during the White Album. It's also been said that Lennon commandeered the SG for some tracks on Revolver and quite liked the guitar, which could explain a photo of John later recording with an SG Junior on Sgt. Pepper.
I started playing drums at age 12 back in 1962. I played in various bad bands in the 1960’s. One band included a high school friend, Jerry Wentzell, that played a red Gibson SG. I visited with Jerry at a high school reunion three or so years ago and asked about his SG. It was a 1964 and he still had it. He said his grandkids had played with it over the years and it was not in very good condition. Unfortunately, Jerry passed away last year.
Brian Molko , Robbie Krieger and Mike Einziger inspired me to pick up the SG. But also a bunch of stoner and doom guys that used a lot of SG’s over the years. It’s just one of the best guitars ever created🙏🏼 I own a special and a standard and I used to play a maybach albatros. True work horsesThanks Keith!
Ian MacKaye, Fugazi and Minor Threat, Embrace, the Evens. Fugazi was hands down the best live show I've ever seen and they influence more music being released in the last 20 years then most of your list
I'm sorry, I thought this was a post for Strats with an American flag paint job. Just wanted to shoehorn in a quick "RIP Wayne Kramer" - As a guitarist, I hope I didn't think out of turn. Great SG vid !!
As an 11 year old kid in 1963, I was asked by a drummer friend to help form a band. I pleaded with my Dad to help me buy an electric guitar and amp, as I only had an acoustic guitar at the time. I ended up with a Harmony Silhouette H-15 ('Bobcat'), and the next year I upgraded to a Silhouette H-19, the top-of-the-line offset model by Harmony. I played that all the way through high school because I could never afford a really good instrument. When I turned 18 and graduated from HS I had saved up enough for a decent instrument, and at Don Wehr's Music City in San Francisco in 1970 I bought my first top drawer guitar - a 1969 Gibson SG standard. I finally felt like a member of the lofty professional fraternity of rockers. Even though I've been through a zillion guitars since 1963 (including a number of SGs), my love affair with that original SG remains the sweetest memory of my guitar playing life. (Oh, and today I own and love a wonderful 2008 '61 SG Reissue.)
That's a good list. I never bonded with the double cutaway of the SG which put the neck, in my mind, way to the left. It did make me explore high position lead playing but I never kept the couple SGs I had for long. A single cutaway is more my style
I heard that the black custom SG Angus used, was actually white, with 3 pickups, and he had it painted black, and took the middle pickup out, and put the white bat winged pick guard on to cover the middle pickup hole. Sounds feasible, but who knows. He also had his main SG in the 70s, highly customized with wireless stuff, and of course, duct tape. lol
I'll just throw in Jimmy McCulloch of Wings. Pete Townsend took him in under his wing and that's probably where his SG and his introduction to Paul came from. Jimmy's guitar paired with Paul's bass and Joe English's drums formed a power trio within a pop band in the WIngs Over America tour. He was an interesting journeyman and died way too young.
My first electric guitar in the 60's was a cherry red les Paul jr. which was like an SG with one pickup. I couldn't have been more than 11 or 12 and I loved that guitar. Which is probably why I bought an SG 62 years later.
Hi Kieth, I love your video! I don't often see the 61 les paul. I have owned mine since 1981. I'm the 3rd owner of serial # 6558. Its funny my serial # is only 4 digits. all the other 61 les paul sg's I have seen have 5 digits. I love to hear about your thoughts on that! I don't have much knowledge on the early 60's serial #.
Im so surprised that all these people commenting how surprised they are, are deaf, LISTEN to the beginning of the vid. Thanks for sharing what you believe are the 10 most influential, i found it interesting.
When I was a very young teenager, i used to go to my old public school for the Friday night drops ins. It was just a small school and it gave kids a place to hang out instead of getting into trouble. In the gym they often had bands. i remember one band called Reynard. Both guitarists played SGs even though at the time I didn't know that's what they were called. I just remember they looked cool.
I was a kid when Alice Cooper came out, the love her to death album, on the back, Michael Bruce had a late 60s standard, Glenn Buxton had a white late 60s, custom, and Dennis Dunaway had an EB three or EBO , I used to stare at the back of that album cover for hours, few years later, got my own 69 standard
Just want to say your list was great from my perspective and it's not an offence to me if your opinion differs from mine. You list is a list of great players who played an iconic guitar.
My main amp is five watts! (loud enough for Hollywood Boulevard). I just realized that everything's connected. My main guitar is an Epiphone SG, 199 bucks, best neck I have ever played. If you choose to go the discount route be prepared to sand the sloppy paint job. Do not judge the Epi until you have adjusted the action and intonation. The Fool was supposed to go to me but Todd won the fistfight.
Great video! My first thought was Frank Zappa, so I'm glad he made the list. I'd like to add Ian MacKaye of Fugazi, their influence on punk cannot be undersold. Thanks!
I'm gonna throw out a 2nd plug for Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar. He's not SG exclusive but he had a limited edition signature run with P-94s. He also owned Alex Lifeson's doubleneck for a few years. He later gave the guitar back to Lifeson. Gordie's a pretty "energetic" player and uses metal finger picks so when Gibson built their reproduction of it for Alex, Gordie said 3/4 of the scratches and digs on it were actually his doing.
Great video Keith. I really can't find a point of contention. I have PRS Santana, and I think Carlos be more associated with PRS -- Woodstock not withstanding. I would of liked seeing a mention for Buck Dharma though. I saw them, BOC, play Thousand Islands Music fest in '80. Probably 15 or 20 feet from the stage, and SG's were on clear display. Saw BOC lots so I am biased truth be told. Thanks. Five watt is aging like fine whisky...
Wow! The SG was my first guitar love ❤️. A year after I got my first guitar, a classical guitar, I wanted to buy an electric. And I found the exact same guitar that Angus Young played on that large poster hanging on my bedroom wall. It was cheap and I was surprised to find out that Angus played such a cheap instrument. But I thought “what’s good enough for Angus is good enough for me!” And so I bought it and I loved that guitar. It wasn’t much later when I found out Angus didn’t play Maya SG’s, but Gibsons. 😬😬😬 How could I know? I didn’t know anyone who played guitar. Then a year later I wanted to buy the real 2nd hand Gibson SG that had been hanging at a local music store for months. When I got there it was just sold. I had many guitars, but I never had an SG and I never had a guitar with P90’s. And I LOVE the sound of P90’s. So just a couple of months ago I had some luck financially and I bought an SG Special. It took me 41 years to finally get a real SG!!! 😃 Unfortunately, it was about the worst guitar I ever played. I had to return it. 😢 But one day….., one day I’m going to get me a good one. Thanks Keith! I saw all of my heroes in this video and I’m glad you included Frank Marino. ❤
Minor correction: Derek Trucks is not the son of late Butch Trucks.
He's the nephew of Butch Trucks.
Yup. Butch’s brother Chris is Derek’s dad.
@@savannahlt1 I think of Mike Campbell too when I play my SG.
came here to say the same thing
Also, he did not change the world.
@@CHodgy Yes, I absolutely agree. But he is, in my opinion,...I play slide guitar...in a classical and progressive way because he didn't stick to just playing blues, The man. In my view of the slide guitar, Derek today is the best, most open to other languages and creative slide player. Of course, I don't know the world and I have serious doubts as to whether there aren't completely unknown musicians out there who are brilliant. Derek plays differently than anyone else who came before him, even those who influenced him. Derek has a lot of the Allman Brothers vibe, with or without slides, in his music. He has the same vibe as Duanne and Dickey Betts when they improvised. I don't love his tone, just as I didn't love Duanne and Betts's, but it was so striking and the language, especially Duanne's, so captivating, that I ignored my taste. It's natural because I've played with a Stratocaster all my life. Regarding SG, I had a 1973 SG Standard... my second guitar. Beautiful, but I didn't like the sound or her arm. And I also confess. I think the SG Custon...that little white one, is the most beautiful guitar there is.
I'm SO excited you mentioned Sister Rosetta Tharpe! She was absolutely amazing, brilliant and incredibly inspiring!
When the Sister played, she always rocked the house. Talk about underrated...
Shout Out to Sister Rosetta!
Queen of rock n roll
Likewise! Nobody rocked an SG AND a fur coat like that trailblazing lady!
We need more women guitarist heroes!
Frank Marino is probably the most underrated guitarist.
A Montreal boy too!
He could play anything. Blues, rock, classical and jazz. The man is amazing.
I saw Frank and Mahogany Rush in Regina when I was a teenager. He is not well and stopped touring a few years back. 🤔🎸
@@ToddSauve Will be praying for him.
@@heavenlyguitar5913 I saw Frank back in the mid 1970s and as a teenager thought they were way too loud! And distorted and a lot of things I can deal with better now. He was and doubtless still is an astounding guitar player.
Let's remember Gary Rossington using his 1961 SG for his work on Freebird!!
Southern guys arent thought about alot
John Cipollina, of Quicksilver Messenger Service and a special mention of one of the
SG-ingest band ever, the Welsh band MAN!
And not one mention of Sam Houston Andrew and James Gurley of Big Brother and the Holding Company either. How long was Piece of My Heart, Ball and Chain, Summertime on radio rotation?
Cippolina basically created the SF guitar sound, super vibrato. Great player.
Micky Jones (RIP)- absolute SG genius, a true Welsh wizard. There is a story (true or not, I don't know), that Micky Jones redid Cipollina's solos on the Maximum Darkness album, because JC had been so out of his head during the recorded performance.
Great list! Buck Dharma is the biggest one missing here IMHO, brilliant guitarist...
I've heard a slightly different story. Micky Jones only redid John Cipollina's parts on the song Bananas because JC used an ancient lap steel guitar that would not stay in tune so they could not use the track for the album. @@neilhughes9310
A couple more honourable mentions: Glen Buxton of the Alice Cooper band made some of the 70's most righteous rock tones with a white SG custom. And Zal Cleminson used a variety of SGs with the Sensational Alex Harvey Band.
Buxton made me want a white SG.
The Alice Cooper band was enormous in the early 70s but are largely forgotten today.
Cleminson did the most wicked vibratos on those SGs.
Dont for get Gary Rossington
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band with Zal Cleminson on guitar were great live and put on a fantastic show. Zal would sometimes do a solo spot of 'April Kisses' (Eddie Lang) as a jazzy interlude within a rock gig.
I couldn’t imagine any other SG player in #1 than Angus Young-thank you.
Please, did Angus invent a genre? It should have been Iommi, easily.
@@mattt2581 as much as Iommi helped revolutionize rock and metal, Angus revolutionized the Gibson SG, Angus is what comes to mind when you see an SG.
@@croadicepThat's relative of course. SG is Iommi in my mind.
Live "Faith Healer!"
@@mattt2581Angus plays blues based riffs and licks so unique to him he will always be one of the greats to use the SG or to ever play guitar
Props for the Sister Rosetta Tharp mention - she was the baddest Rocker before Rock n Roll even existed. Her playing influenced countless musicians.
Not being an ass..but who?
@@johnfoskey7855 You're in luck then, google the sister playing the gospel song "Up Above My Head" you wont be disappointed.
In addition to Clapton, Zappa, and Townsend, I bought an SG back then with Jerry Garcia and Leslie West in mind. Jerry Garcia used an SG on Live Dead, probably the greatest Grateful Dead album. And Leslie West was a hero of mine.
Me too, but Frank really sold me on the versatility of the SG (and tiny Pig Nose amps too)
I am a DeadHead & huge fan of Moutain. The Dead is a love hate thing but I tell anyone who will listen to check out Moutaln. At least the WoodStock set. Unreal.
I'm surprised Carlos Santana didn't make the list. I remember him playing one with P-90's early on. I know he played it at Woodstock.
@@Les537but he hated that guitar and (supposedly) sabotaged it to force management/the band to buy him a Les Paul so we disqualify him on grounds of sacrilege!
Yeah, no influence there
Yes but it wasnt a SG it was "a snake" trying to bite him and he had to allow it to not kill him by playing with it lol!!
But he is the very first name mentioned in this video. There he is at 0:33 with his SG Special at. Very first player shown.
Thank you for pointing out the obvious. Some viewers don't pay attention , apparently@@hyperluminalreality1
Currently flying the flag for ladies with the blues I'd nominate Samantha Fish for an honourable mention. Yes she's best known for the cigar box guitar but her main squeeze in recent years has been a white SG. I'm currently having an SG built to my specs by a local luthier. I own two SGs but neither neck feels quite right so I had my DGT neck measured up as a template. It will be several months before I can play it because it will be finished in gold metal-flake but I'm not in any particular hurry. Nice list Keith.
Wow. Not one mention of Sam Houston Andrew and James Gurley of Big Brother and the Holding Company. Cheap Thrills album went platinum. As if Piece of My Heart, Ball and Chain, Summertime etc. were not massive songs on rock rotation until it became known as classic rock. Sam and James both played SG's and the bassist Peter Albin often used an EB bass. Every guitar across the stage sporting that shape. All in cherry finish too. Badass.
RIP John Diggins (Jaydee Guitars), luthier to both Tony Iommi & Angus Young, who passed away on the 2nd of January this year.
I was also suprised that Santana didn't make this list (or even honourable mentions!) seeing as you tend to like mentioning them in your other videos, but pleased that Sister Rosetta Tharpe got a shout-out, though personally I think she should have been on the actual list :)
Great list. Glenn Tipton was the guitarist that got me wanting an SG of my own when I was a teen. I still have it ❤
Early on , John Cipollina lead guitar with SF 60’s band Quicksilver Messenger Service caught my ear with the killer piercing tone of his Gibson SG. I’m a drummer but I know tone and John had it in spades , always with an SG at his fingers. Saw Quicksilver in concert in ‘68. I don’t know the history of his SGs but you might wanna do a little research on him and his SGs. Sure sounds good especially on Quicksilvers’ first two albums. Good compilation you’ve got here in this video. Thanks 🥁🎸😎
John was Frank Marino's main inspiration and the reason why Frank plays an SG. John had some great moments on Man's live album Maximum Darkness from 1975.
I was binging live Black Sabbath videos from 1970 all day, and your video came up at just the perfect time. Tony Iommi!
⚡️🌟🤘⚡️
Great list! Thank you.
Let's not forget Rod "the bottle" Price from Foghat.
I bought my 69 SG after seeing Terry Kath of Chicago playing "25 or 6 to 4." Admittedly he played a lot of different models including Strats and Tellies. But his cherry red SG fit some secret place in my mind.
Thanks Keith. I highly recommend "Shout, Sister Shout!" a biography of Sister Rosetta Tharpe. It explores the beginnings and back ground of rock and roll and also gives great insight into the role of women in music and what it was like to travel in the Jim Crow south. Peace
"Let's use it as a moment to practice enjoying each others opinions, cool" What a brilliant statement. It's very close to the remedy to what ails humankind.
Amen man
Nice list Hypes!!
Holy hell, it's the man himself
Best Les Paul Double Cut players next week.
I can’t believe Buck Dharma of Blue Öyster Cult didn’t even get an honorable mention!
I think Buck Dharma mostly used Les Pauls back in the day- it was Eric Bloom that always had (and still does) the SG.
@@r.m.stuebe8102 he used a white SG through most of the early albums, even through Specters
That is correct Caleb. The very reason I had a white sg myself. On your feet or on your knees!@@calebhooper4266
He used a white SG and a fan later made him a custom SG of zebrawood which he extensively used. Buck blasts most of the folks on the SG list into oblivion.
These are HIS choices, his taste, not yours. He clearly stated that at the beginning of the video, right?
Hi Keith! Thanks for this video! What a list! Glad you mentioned the great Frank Marino. The late John Cipollina was also a SG player. Carlos Santana also played an SG...And Paul McCartney's guitarist Brian Ray has a Gibson signature '62 SG Junior model...I own one too...Made in 1966...Thanks again!
I have 3 SG’s its my favorite guitar ever. I love the weight and how they hang. The strap locations. The les paul electronics, without the arch top
One of my favorites as well. I have a later one with the large pickguard, and it has just the perfect neck profile that it doesn't to the "neck dive" that gives the SG a bad rap. I love it!
Very informative and entertaining. I've always loved Zappa and his guitar tone. It's the reason I got an SG. A thing of beauty, even for a perpetual beginner.
That wasn’t an SG that was a beast!
Wow, Thanks a million Keith! See, I've been playing SG guitars since I was a Kid and for some reason I still do today. The first one was an original 74 with Bigsby and the harmonica bridge, the best sounding guitar I ever owned. And despite I had a bunch of Fender guitars and up to 3 Les Paul (Studio and Custom), it is the SG the one with a very special spot in my heart. Currently I play a Special made in Nashville, a regular one with 2 P90's and a sparkling burgundy red finish and let me tell you that somehow, If you fall in love with an SG, that love will last for the rest of your life. Thanks again for this Keith. It brings tears to my eyes. Much love as always from West Spain ❤
I can totally relate to your early SG memories. My first internal image of an electric guitar is Duane Allman playing an SG. For me it's the quintessentially great looking guitar. Back in the early 80s when I was 15 I was hanging out in record shops and reading books about Mississippi blues. Why is the SG so mesmerizing to me? Perhaps it's the symmetric shape and the deep red color. SGs don't sound quite as fat as a Les Paul but that's OK for most styles. Owning 6 Strats but only one SG, I'll get another one for sure!
I think Angus is the most iconic with the SG and always will be. But I think Tony is the one who inspired, directly or indirectly, the most people to pick up a guitar than any other player ever, and not just as an SG wielder, but as any guitarist, period. The man took his injury and as a workaround, invented metal - that means everyone who picked up a guitar because they wanted to chug some fat doom laden riffs owes it to Tony, whether they liked Sabbath, Metallica, Slayer, Soundgarden, Iron Maiden, Slipknott ,The Melvins or even 80s hair metal. Because lists of influential players always feature lead guitarists and forget that half of all players in a band might well play only Rhythm! Any of those players who like a big, distorted, downtuned, palm muted chromatic riff? Tony was doing that in 1970!
Very happy to see your honorable mentions are spot on 😊
Rod Price comes to mind and almost everyone who played electric guitar in early '60s SF! I fell in love with the SG after seeing Robbie Krieger in '65. Bought one in '70 to learn on. I have owned many different guitars since then, but I always go back an SG.
I have only 3 guitars now, all SGs (Standard, Special, and P90) and that'll do 'til I leave Earth.
Great video. It’s worth just noting, with much sadness that John Diggins died only a few weeks before this videos release. A lovely man and true supporter of the music that emanated from Birmingham and the UK. Making guitars for not only Iommi but also Angus Young and other stars such as level 42’s Mark King. Neither of the latter being from Brum of course. RIP John. A great British craftsman.
Great Video Keith. Todd Rundgren and Terry Kath would be on my list.
Tony Bourge of Budgie is another less well known player that I associate with the SG. He played an SG Special at all the Budgie gigs I saw. Tony's riffing style is often noted as influential by other players and Metallica covered Budgie's song 'Breadfan'.
John Cipolina of Quicksilver Messenger Service.
They were the first of the San Francisco bands to sign a record deal.
The Grateful Dead used to open for THEM.
Speaking of the Dead, Jerry Garcia was known to play an SG from time to time.
Thank you for including Robby, most people over look him. He was only the guitar player for the biggest American band from 67 to 71 lol! He is the reason I play an SG!!
Robby: The "Bossa Nova" beast ! I read he recently got his first (stolen) SG returned. A happy ending indeed!
Don’t forget Derek Trucks, Ian Mackeye, Gary Clarke Jr, and Davey from The Promise Ring!
Did you actually watch this vid, I wonder....
Not in a million years did I think anyone would mention Davey von Bohlen in the comments. I applaud you
Ian mckaye!
@@jamesonpace726Yes, but commented before watching the vid.
Ian Mckeye when u know u know
I was a teenager in the 90’s; my SG heroes were Evan Dando from The Lemonheads, Bill Janovitz from Buffalo Tom and Gary Louris from The Jayhawks. All doing the rootsy country-rock singer/songwriter (I guess they’d all be Americana if they came out now) thing with old SG’s. Love all SG’s but a Special with P90’s and a Vibrola the best.
On a different tip - Ian MacKaye from Fugazi and Greg Sage from The Wipers were iconic punk rock SG players.
Then you MIGHT appreciate this. When I think SG, first I think of Angus Young. Next I think of Matt Wilson from Trip Shakespeare.
I always think of Dando with a Les Paul. I was surprised that there was no mention of Kim Thayil of Soundgarden.
Great video! I was jamming with some friends a few years ago,and picked up a buddy's SG and I immediately connected with it. A few weeks later i bought one!
This is your most eloquent, "Don't hate on my list and show civility," request to date. Well spoken.
Unbelievable how much Derek Trucks resembles Duane Allman. I read that often Gregg Allman would do a double take while playing on stage because he could see and hear his brother in Derek’s performance.
Just an amazing list Keith! I know that Carlos Santana was mentioned in your Yamaha video, but for his early work with an SG I would have included him here as well... as a list goes to 11 contender! For honorable mentions and a pair of Canadians to add to the Alex Lifeson inclusion... I would add prolific session guitarist and sideman Phil X, and guitarist/producer Colin Cripps for his love and incredible use of a '64 SG Standard and his time with Blue Rodeo, the Jim Cuddy Band, Crash Vegas, Junkhouse, and Bryan Adams to name a few. Cheers.
Great list, but I would remove Harrison & Clapton, as I don't consider them SG players because of their very short use of them. I would include the guitar duo from the original Alice Cooper band; Michael Bruce, & Glen Buxton. Honourable mention is Carlos Santana - the image of him playing that SG completely out of his mind at Woodstock is forever burned into my brain. So glad that one of my all time favourites - Frank Marino was mentioned, and not overlooked
I wouldn’t remove Clapton. The Cream fool SG was a defining guitar in his career and rock music in general.
@@shobudski6776to each their own, however, I totally disagree about it being a defining guitar. The Les Paul is what defined Clapton to the "Clapton is God" crowd. He played a Firebird I about as long as he played the SG - The SG just happened to have a fancy paint job really - I would argue that Clapton playing Crossroads Farewell live with the 335 in the Cream era is more defining. The 70's and on are defined by Stratocasters. Todd Rundgren had nothing nice to say about the Fool guitar, other that it's looks, in an interview that I read - I remember him saying something along the lines of it falling apart ,like its made of cork
Nicely Done! Have always loved the SG and have three currently including a '74. Have owned 6 or 7 over the years. First was a white '64 special I bought new with lawn mowing money and second was an original '61 with the sideways vibrato I bought from a bass player I worked with. Never was crazy about the '61.. never thought the sustain was very good and blamed the vibrato system. Wish I had all of the old ones back including a double neck I owned!
Thanks for doing these histories. They are really fascinating.
I had forgotten about Robbie Krieger, yeah he mainly played SG's. Rosetta!!! 1st one I always think of is Pete Townsend. Duane with Slide, Derek Trucks influenced of course. Tony Iommi and Angus, career SG'ers. Haa the old lemon Pledge Smell, no mistaking that one. And of Course JOHN CORDY rockin that vintage 68 SG on loan from Francisco!! Love these Videos.
Jimmy McCulloch of WIngs is my favourite SG player and the reason I had to buy my red SG.
Mick Taylor is the guy whose SG playing meant a lot to me who you didn't mention. A lot of those greatest-rock-n-roll-band-in-the-world shows from '69 through '75 were made by Taylor on the SG.
I was gonna say the same thing. My next guitar (when I can afford It😢) will be an exact copy, bigsby and all
Probably agree with the ten but Mick Taylor is shamefully always in the shade. Never mentioned in the same breath as Clapton and Peter Green (my personal favourite) but should be for his great work with Mayall… Crusade.. Bare Wires and Blues from Laurel Canyon never mind his fantastic contribution to the Stones best run of albums.
I expected Mick Taylor to be near the top for his incredible work with John Mayall. I saw them shortly before The Rolling Stones hired him, front row here at Kiel Opera House in St. Louis. He frequently used the SG Standard & both of the old sunburst Les Pauls. His playing & tones in addition to the respect of his industry peers puts him near the top,....still! Incredibly nice guy too. I spent hours hanging out before & after shows with him twice that come to mind immediately.
Jerry Garcia was certainly one of the highest profile SG players.
My interest in The Grateful Dead waned after "Wake of the Flood," but I saw Garcia playing his late '60s SG Standard several times.
Carlos Santana's band & playing of "Soul Sacrifice" was without question, one of the hottest sets in the entire Woodstock Festival.
My friend, and musical mentor, bought an SG in 1972 and is still gigging with that guitar to this day.
Thanks for this, Keith. I love how a SG invites you to play the upper end of the fret board. Barry Goudreau from Boston is a very inspirational SG player. He really inspired me as a young guitar player.
Oh, my first electric guitar was a SG Copy by Sears (check the 1977 Christmas Catalog), nothing like a real SG, an absolutely horrible guitar, but I was too young to know better! In my current arsenal, I have a Pelham Blue SG Standard, that has an unusually beefy neck. I love it! Rock on, Brothers and Sisters!
Work of art.
The most beautiful guitar ever.
Now we need Top 5 Firebird players🙏
It's impossible to find 10 I assume
😂
Thanks Ricky W. for letting me play your ‘74 SG through your Traynor amp in 1977. Never forgot the bite that guitar had.
So glad to see Robby Krieger on the list, he's the reason I picked up the guitar in the first place. And I'm just as pleased to see Frank Zappa on here, truly my favorite musician and composer at this time. Great vid as always!
Well done! Dominic Troiano. I saw him playing a 60s SG special on stage with the James Gang. He used that guitar with Guess Who as well. Ronnie Montrose used an SG with the Edgar Winter Group, and also on his first album, Montrose (with Sammy Hagar on vocals). Around 1974 I purchased a 61' SG junior that had been converted into a Special with the original single coil in the bridge position and a bucker in the neck. I played for about 30 years. Wish I still had it.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe better be on this list.
And Brittany Howard
And Ollie Halsall!
Glad you finally mentioned Tony, and Angus! 😅 I thought my heart was going to explode!
Great Vid, love the history. I was so glad to see Robbie Krieger included. Such a unique and stand out guitar player. I was lucky enough to see Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek play as The Doors of the 21st Century in something like 2005.
I would’ve figured Ian MacKaye in the honorable mentions, but I know you’re not much for punk/alternative stuff, though as a jazz guy I have a feeling some Fugazi stuff might be very interesting to you. MacKaye’s SG with Super Distortions is on a lot of very important punk/alternative music. Cool list. I always enjoy these videos.
Christmas Day of 1982, when I opened the album cover of For Those About To Rock and saw these 5 men who looked absolutely invincible, I fell in love with the SG immediately. Finally had a chance to get one last year (61 reissue).
Ollie Halsall has been an unending inspiration to me with Patto
Alex Soria of The Nils; great player, singer songwriter and guitar player from the Montreal punk band; It was because of him, Angus Young of AC DC, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, and Eric Clapton's Cream that I bought an SG for myself. Also Live at Leeds/Live at The Isle of Wight era Pete Townsend of The Who. But it was right after seeing AC DC at Sarstock in Toronto 2003 that I bought a Gibson SG.
Two categories:
1) Lifelong SG players like Angus, Marino, Zappa, Trucks, Iommi, Krieger.
2) Players who went through an "SG Phase" like Clapton, Harrison, Holdsworth, Townshend, etc.
Those in the first category should be first on the list. Those in the second are "honorable mention" leftovers.
Just sayin...
BTW Hendrix played an SG sometimes. So did Jerry Garcia!
Mick Box of Uriah Heep always played an SG and Steve Howe of Yes played a white 12/75
Thanks Keith - always awesome - always interesting.
You just inspired me to go pick up my SG - one of my all time favorite guitars that I haven't touched in years. Thanks!
When I was a kid in high school, one of the friends brought in his SG. It turns out it was Frank Marino’s first SG. I was very upset that my friend had bought a stolen guitar. He eventually contacted Frank and Frank got his guitar back. I still have one of the pickups that was part of that trade. Anyway, Frank is my main SG guy and I got to play his first SG.
Great video. One thing I'd think about is, for George Harrison it's also widely thought that George made the red Les Paul "Lucy" his main guitar when Clapton gave it to him during the White Album. It's also been said that Lennon commandeered the SG for some tracks on Revolver and quite liked the guitar, which could explain a photo of John later recording with an SG Junior on Sgt. Pepper.
I started playing drums at age 12 back in 1962. I played in various bad bands in the 1960’s. One band included a high school friend, Jerry Wentzell, that played a red Gibson SG. I visited with Jerry at a high school reunion three or so years ago and asked about his SG. It was a 1964 and he still had it. He said his grandkids had played with it over the years and it was not in very good condition. Unfortunately, Jerry passed away last year.
Brian Molko , Robbie Krieger and Mike Einziger inspired me to pick up the SG. But also a bunch of stoner and doom guys that used a lot of SG’s over the years.
It’s just one of the best guitars ever created🙏🏼 I own a special and a standard and I used to play a maybach albatros. True work horsesThanks Keith!
Ian MacKaye, Fugazi and Minor Threat, Embrace, the Evens. Fugazi was hands down the best live show I've ever seen and they influence more music being released in the last 20 years then most of your list
Sister Rosetta Tharpe is the most iconic in that instrument.
I'm sorry, I thought this was a post for Strats with an American flag paint job. Just wanted to shoehorn in a quick "RIP Wayne Kramer" - As a guitarist, I hope I didn't think out of turn. Great SG vid !!
Trivial correction: the chapter title for #8 should be "Pete Townshend". Great video, as always.
As an 11 year old kid in 1963, I was asked by a drummer friend to help form a band. I pleaded with my Dad to help me buy an electric guitar and amp, as I only had an acoustic guitar at the time. I ended up with a Harmony Silhouette H-15 ('Bobcat'), and the next year I upgraded to a Silhouette H-19, the top-of-the-line offset model by Harmony. I played that all the way through high school because I could never afford a really good instrument. When I turned 18 and graduated from HS I had saved up enough for a decent instrument, and at Don Wehr's Music City in San Francisco in 1970 I bought my first top drawer guitar - a 1969 Gibson SG standard. I finally felt like a member of the lofty professional fraternity of rockers. Even though I've been through a zillion guitars since 1963 (including a number of SGs), my love affair with that original SG remains the sweetest memory of my guitar playing life. (Oh, and today I own and love a wonderful 2008 '61 SG Reissue.)
" Trucks is likely responsible for many of us looking at SG's these days" for me that would be Angus Young :D
Im going to have to go ahead and compeletely agree with this list. Approved.
That's a good list. I never bonded with the double cutaway of the SG which put the neck, in my mind, way to the left. It did make me explore high position lead playing but I never kept the couple SGs I had for long. A single cutaway is more my style
I heard that the black custom SG Angus used, was actually white, with 3 pickups, and he had it painted black, and took the middle pickup out, and put the white bat winged pick guard on to cover the middle pickup hole. Sounds feasible, but who knows. He also had his main SG in the 70s, highly customized with wireless stuff, and of course, duct tape. lol
I'll just throw in Jimmy McCulloch of Wings. Pete Townsend took him in under his wing and that's probably where his SG and his introduction to Paul came from. Jimmy's guitar paired with Paul's bass and Joe English's drums formed a power trio within a pop band in the WIngs Over America tour. He was an interesting journeyman and died way too young.
My first electric guitar in the 60's was a cherry red les Paul jr. which was like an SG with one pickup. I couldn't have been more than 11 or 12 and I loved that guitar. Which is probably why I bought an SG 62 years later.
Lonnie Brooks is the first to come to mind when I think of the SG tone. Donald Kinsey as well.
Another masterpiece! Thank you, Keith and team for wonderful work! ✌️😌🎸
Hi Kieth, I love your video! I don't often see the 61 les paul. I have owned mine since 1981. I'm the 3rd owner of serial # 6558. Its funny my serial # is only 4 digits. all the other 61 les paul sg's I have seen have 5 digits. I love to hear about your thoughts on that! I don't have much knowledge on the early 60's serial #.
Im so surprised that all these people commenting how surprised they are, are deaf, LISTEN to the beginning of the vid.
Thanks for sharing what you believe are the 10 most influential, i found it interesting.
When I was a very young teenager, i used to go to my old public school for the Friday night drops ins. It was just a small school and it gave kids a place to hang out instead of getting into trouble. In the gym they often had bands. i remember one band called Reynard. Both guitarists played SGs even though at the time I didn't know that's what they were called. I just remember they looked cool.
Saw Mahogany Rush in '77 or '78. Fantastic! Sister Rosetta deserves to be in top 5 period. Im sure Marino would agree.
I live in Indianapolis and drive by Jim Irsay’s house often. Oh, how I wish he’d give me a tour of his collection!
Saw Pete Cornelius from Tasmania play when my guitar gently weeps, on his SG last year, great sound, great player!
I was a kid when Alice Cooper came out, the love her to death album, on the back, Michael Bruce had a late 60s standard, Glenn Buxton had a white late 60s, custom, and Dennis Dunaway had an EB three or EBO , I used to stare at the back of that album cover for hours, few years later, got my own 69 standard
Keith is such a neato and even-tempered guy, he should be made an honorary Canadian. We’d be lucky to have him
Just want to say your list was great from my perspective and it's not an offence to me if your opinion differs from mine. You list is a list of great players who played an iconic guitar.
Thank Goodness Angus Gets Some Love ❤️
Thank you Keith!!
Diarrhea Planet's custom made white SG is amazing, and for me personally, it's what inspired me to get my own SG.
My main amp is five watts! (loud enough for Hollywood Boulevard). I just realized that everything's connected. My main guitar is an Epiphone SG, 199 bucks, best neck I have ever played. If you choose to go the discount route be prepared to sand the sloppy paint job. Do not judge the Epi until you have adjusted the action and intonation. The Fool was supposed to go to me but Todd won the fistfight.
GREAT LIST! Holdsworth is often overlooked as an O.G. SG Player!!
Yep! He said he loved SG’s.
The boys from Alice Cooper's original band, Glenn Buxton and Michael Bruce were both rocking SGs back in the day.
Great video!
My first thought was Frank Zappa, so I'm glad he made the list.
I'd like to add Ian MacKaye of Fugazi, their influence on punk cannot be undersold. Thanks!
I'm gonna throw out a 2nd plug for Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar. He's not SG exclusive but he had a limited edition signature run with P-94s. He also owned Alex Lifeson's doubleneck for a few years. He later gave the guitar back to Lifeson. Gordie's a pretty "energetic" player and uses metal finger picks so when Gibson built their reproduction of it for Alex, Gordie said 3/4 of the scratches and digs on it were actually his doing.
Great video Keith. I really can't find a point of contention. I have PRS Santana, and I think Carlos be more associated with PRS -- Woodstock not withstanding. I would of liked seeing a mention for Buck Dharma though. I saw them, BOC, play Thousand Islands Music fest in '80. Probably 15 or 20 feet from the stage, and SG's were on clear display. Saw BOC lots so I am biased truth be told. Thanks. Five watt is aging like fine whisky...
Wow! The SG was my first guitar love ❤️. A year after I got my first guitar, a classical guitar, I wanted to buy an electric. And I found the exact same guitar that Angus Young played on that large poster hanging on my bedroom wall. It was cheap and I was surprised to find out that Angus played such a cheap instrument. But I thought “what’s good enough for Angus is good enough for me!” And so I bought it and I loved that guitar. It wasn’t much later when I found out Angus didn’t play Maya SG’s, but Gibsons. 😬😬😬
How could I know? I didn’t know anyone who played guitar.
Then a year later I wanted to buy the real 2nd hand Gibson SG that had been hanging at a local music store for months. When I got there it was just sold.
I had many guitars, but I never had an SG and I never had a guitar with P90’s. And I LOVE the sound of P90’s. So just a couple of months ago I had some luck financially and I bought an SG Special. It took me 41 years to finally get a real SG!!! 😃
Unfortunately, it was about the worst guitar I ever played. I had to return it. 😢
But one day….., one day I’m going to get me a good one.
Thanks Keith! I saw all of my heroes in this video and I’m glad you included Frank Marino. ❤
Great video, Keith! I would like to humbly add Ian MacKaye who played SGs throughout Fugazi's 15 year run. Kind of obscure, I know...