--- title: Top 10 Guitars | Gibson ES-335 & Gibson SG description: "Flame Tree Music: We’ve got two more of Gibson’s iconic guitars: the ever popular ES-335; and the SG, a guitar which has become synonymous with rock’n’roll." image: https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hubfs/Gibson%20SG%20Facebook-1.jpg --- - [Home](https://info.flametreepublishing.com/blog) | - [ Contact & About Us](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/contact-us) T H E   F L A M E   T R E E   B L O G ![](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Hubspot-Header-Music-Entertainment-01-4.png?width=980&height=200&name=Hubspot-Header-Music-Entertainment-01-4.png "Hubspot-Header-Music-Entertainment-01-4.png") # Music & Entertainment Blog # Top 10 Guitars | Gibson ES-335 & Gibson SG Posted by [Laura Bulbeck](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/author/laura-bulbeck) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) We’ve got two more of **Gibson’s iconic guitars** in this week’s Top 10 Guitars blog: the ever popular ES-335, played by the likes of **B.B. King** and **Eric Clapton**; and the SG, a guitar which has become synonymous with **rock’n’roll**. ## ![Gibson ES-335.jpeg](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gibson%20ES-335.jpeg?width=180&name=Gibson%20ES-335.jpeg)Gibson ES-335 In 1958, Gibson unveiled another **innovation** – the ES-335 TD. In continuous production since its introduction, the ES-335 has proven one of Gibson’s most enduring designs. ### A Neat Hybrid In the late 1950s, **solid-body electrics** were becoming increasingly popular as they offered **sustaining tone** and r**esistance to feedback**. **Hollow-body electrics**, on the other hand, possessed
 a certain **tonal warmth**. So Gibson created a neat **hybrid**; the ES-335 was built from a laminated, 16-in (40-cm) wide, 13⁄4-in (4-cm) thick hollow maple body with a solid maple block in its centre. ### Construction The guitar’s **semi-solid**, **double-cutaway** construction allowed its mahogany neck (with rosewood fingerboard) to be 
joined to the body at the 19th fret, which permitted **access to the uppermost registers**. Two humbuckers, controlled by a three-way switch, afforded a number of **timbral possibilities**. The ES-335 had the **best of both worlds** – the warmth of a hollow-body with the sustain and feedback resistance of a solid-body. ### Guitar Specs **Pickups:** Two
 **Controls:** Three-way selector, two volume, two tone **Characteristics:** Versatile, hollow-body warmth with solid-body sustain
 **Played by:** B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Larry Carlton *Image of Gibson ES-335 TD courtesy Gibson.com* ## Gibson SG By 1960, sales of the now iconic [Les Paul Standard](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/top-10-guitars-gibson-les-paul) had become sluggish. So in 1961, Gibson gave the instrument a **thorough redesign**. ### Construction With its double-cutaway, light, thin mahogany body, long-looking mahogany neck, twin humbuckers, vibrato unit and deep cherry finish, the new Les Paul was at first known as the **new Standard**. 
It was renamed the SG **(solid guitar)** in 1963, when Paul’s contract with Gibson expired. ### A Rock’n’roll Icon **Paul was not impressed** with his new namesake guitar; he called Gibson and
 **had his name removed** from the instrument. Despite his disapproval, the SG has **remained in continuous production** since 1961.
 The guitar is now a rock’n’roll icon.
 Its **pointy, devil-horned silhouette**
 and **raw sound** have proved indispensable for heavy acts such 
as **AC/DC** and **Black Sabbath**. A 
comfortable, versatile instrument, 
the SG has also been employed 
to excellent effect by **slide
 guitarists** such as **Duane
 Allman** and **Derek Trucks**. ### Guitar Spec **Pickups:** Two **
Controls:** Three-way switch, two volume, two tone **Characteristics:** Lightweight and versatile, powerful, honking sound **Played by:** Duane Allman, George Harrison, Tony Iommi, Derek Trucks, Angus Young ![Gibson SG.jpeg](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gibson%20SG.jpeg?width=706&height=285&name=Gibson%20SG.jpeg) *Image of Gibson SG Standard courtesy Gibson.com*   *If you love Gibson’s style, we have a couple of amazing foiled notebooks featuring a Gibson Les Paul on the cover, one with a sleek black design, [available here](http://flametreepublishing.com/Gibson-Les-Paul-Deluxe-Foiled-Pocket-Journal.html); and another with a bright sunburst finish, [available here](http://flametreepublishing.com/Gibson-Les-Paul-Guitar-Red-Foiled-Journal.html). If you’re a guitar player, our book *How to Play Guitar (Pick Up & Play)* contains expert advice on chords, scales, notes and techniques, and is [available here](http://flametreepublishing.com/How-to-Play-Guitar-Pick-Up-%26-Play.html).* ### Links - Visit the official Gibson website [here](http://www.gibson.com) - Take a look at this article on 10 Interesting Facts about the SG, [here](http://www.dawsons.co.uk/blog/10-interesting-sg-facts) - TeamRock features the Gibson ES-335 amongst its ‘Guitars that Built Rock’ – read all about it [here](http://teamrock.com/feature/2016-11-20/the-guitars-that-built-rock-the-gibson-es-335) Topics: [Flame Tree Music](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/flame-tree-music), [Classic Guitars](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/classic-guitars), [Flame Tree Pro](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/flame-tree-pro) ### Subscribe for email updates ### FREE Download [![FREE Digital Rock eBook](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/293166/84fddcda-9601-4729-a225-103dee1b81c6.png)](http://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/293166/84fddcda-9601-4729-a225-103dee1b81c6) Download a digital book, this special edition on **The Origins of Rock: The Fifties.** **![Origins of Rock, Classic Rock Bands](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hs-fs/file-274821688-jpg/images/origins_of_rock_fifties_cover_final-resized-171.jpg) ** ### About Us We have some amazing books on classic rock bands, including the **brand new **books on** David Bowie, Pink Floyd **and [Rock, A Life Story](http://www.flametreepublishing.com/Rock-A-Life-Story.html): ![FLAME-TREE-Hubspot-Head.gif](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hs-fs/hub/293166/file-398222920.gif?width=251&height=354&name=file-398222920.gif "FLAME-TREE-Hubspot-Head.gif") ### Follow us: [![flame tree music, chord finder, guitar scales, piano chords](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/293166/5d8b636d-f159-46fe-879a-01da634bf5ef.png)](http://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/293166/5d8b636d-f159-46fe-879a-01da634bf5ef) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Posts by Tag - 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