Gibson Certified Vintage 1960 Gibson SG Doublecut Special, Cherry, with Gibson GA-5 Skylark Amplifier

1960 Gibson Doublecut SG Special, Serial Number 0 1534, with Gibson Skylark Amplifier

An exceptionally clean and well-preserved example of our transitional double-cut solidbody, this 1960 SG Special represents one of the final iterations of the slab-body design introduced as the Les Paul Special before it would take on the beveled SG body style the name is known for. By late 1959 and into 1960, the “Les Paul” name and silkscreen were no longer applied to this model, and our catalog officially adopted the “SG” designation that would later define the next generation of Gibson solidbody guitars.

This example looks nearly identical to how it did when it left the factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The cherry finish is rich and full, with no visible tan lines beneath the pickguard or hardware from aniline-dye fading—an uncommon level of preservation for a UV-sensitive finish. Light wear along the headstock and body edges, a few dings near the lower strap button  and a small nick on the back of the neck near the 9th fret are the only notable signs of use. The tailpiece studs are well worn, consistent with playwear, but remain original and stable with no lean. The original bridge had disappeared long ago and was replaced with a later non-adjustable chrome stopbar tailpiece. A Custom Shop nickel wraparound tailpiece—aged to match the other hardware—has been fitted and both looks and functions as it should.

The electronics are untouched, and the control cavity is a pristine example of Gibson wiring—Centralab potentiometers (13946 date code visible) and Sprague Bumblebee capacitors with clean original solder. Both original P-90 pickups are well balanced and deliver the clean, articulate voice they’re known for.

The slim C neck profile is fast and comfortable, playing cleanly up and down the neck. The original frets are in excellent condition with only light wear and sit atop a rich, dark Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. Weighing just under eight pounds, this guitar is lightweight, resonant, and a joy to play. The vulnerable neck joint—often a weak spot on these transitional double-cut models where the neck pickup is placed very close to the fingerboard—remains stable and intact. A small gap on the bass side of the fingerboard at the neck-pickup cavity was filled with glue as an extra precaution, although no movement was visible and the neck is fully sound.

Accompanying this guitar, and purchased alongside it in 1960, is an equally clean blonde-tolex Gibson GA-5 Skylark amplifier (serial number 27563). Fully original aside from replaced filter capacitors within the last decade, the amplifier retains its original transformers, Jensen speaker, handle, and clean, unbroken gold Gibson badge on the grille. The silkscreened control panel remains remarkably well preserved, showing no corrosion or metal wear and near-mint legibility throughout. It’s a visually and sonically well-matched partner to the guitar.

An outstanding, unfaded, and structurally sound 1960 SG Special and matching Skylark amplifier, preserved together since new—a complete and exceptionally well-maintained example of our craftsmanship and innovation at the dawn of the SG era.

The guitar ships in a new Lifton Historic Gator Skin case specifically designed for slab-body Les Paul Juniors and Specials, with the original chipboard case included as well.

This instrument has received a professional setup and thorough inspection from Gibson Certified Vintage and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, Letter of Appraisal, and new Limited Lifetime Warranty.

Weight: 7.78 lb
Depth at 1st Fret: .80”
Depth at 12th Fret: .89”

Note: Vintage amplifiers included with Gibson Certified Vintage instruments are sold “as is” and are not covered under the Gibson Certified Vintage Limited Lifetime Warranty.