Red Gibson SG (Monkey)
This is the original SG that was used on the majority of the original line-up
albums and tours. It has been identified by Gibson as a 1965 SG Special. It has
a Gibson P90 pick up in the bridge position that was fitted into a metal case by
John Birch. The neck pick up is a John Birch custom P90 type single coil. The
finger board is finished with clear polyurethane.
Instantly identified by the cartoon monkey sticker, this guitar became the main
instrument when the bridge pick up on Tony’s white Stratocaster failed after the
band recorded ‘Wicked World’ on the ‘Black Sabbath’ album. It was not, however,
without its problems. Due to the thin neck profile at the heel, there were
always tuning stability problems and the single coil pick ups were always
susceptible to picking up interference.
The guitar was donated by Tony to the Hard Rock Café organisation (as seen in
their documentary ‘Hard Rock Treasures’). At the time of writing it is on
display at the Times Square location in New York City.
 |
 |
|
