⚡️2011⚡️ Gibson 50th Anniversary Pete Townshend SG Special~ Alpine White + Case!

⚡️ 2011 Gibson 50th Anniversary Pete Townshend SG Special – Alpine White ⚡️ Original The Who Case & Certificate~ Limited Anniversary Model! One of those guitars that immediately feels a little bit special. This is a 2011 Gibson 50th Anniversary Pete Townshend SG Special in Alpine White, released as part of Gibson’s celebration of 50 years of the SG and built around the specification of the white SG Specials associated with Pete Townshend and The Who. These are not guitars we see very often, particularly complete with the original Pete Townshend / The Who stencilled Gibson hard case and certificate, and at £1,495 we think this represents a superb opportunity to own a genuinely interesting piece of Gibson and rock history. Pete Townshend’s relationship with the SG is legendary. The SG Special became a defining part of The Who’s late-1960s and early-1970s sound, most famously around the Live at Leeds era, where the combination of a lightweight mahogany SG and roaring P-90 pickups became inseparable from his huge rhythm tone. For the SG’s 50th anniversary, Gibson revisited that formula with this Pete Townshend model, combining the appearance and construction of an early ’60s SG Special with a number of features chosen to recreate Townshend’s favoured instruments. Finished in striking Alpine White nitrocellulose lacquer, this example has aged exactly as you would hope a characterful Gibson nitro finish would. The Pete Townshend Connection This model was inspired by the early ’60s SG Specials used by Townshend, including the white SG Special associated with the early British Quadrophenia performances of 1972/73, before he moved towards Les Paul Deluxes later in the decade. The design captures that classic early SG Special appearance with: * Small pre-1965 style five-ply pickguard * Twin P-90 pickups * Mahogany SG body * Mahogany neck * Rosewood fingerboard * Alpine White nitrocellulose finish * Distinctive 1961–2011 50 Years headstock emblem * Pete Townshend specification electronics * Lightweight, resonant SG construction There is very little unnecessary decoration here. It is essentially the classic SG Special formula, and that is exactly why it works so well. Custom Pete Townshend P-90 Pickups A major part of this model is its pair of Gibson P-90 pickups built to Pete Townshend’s specification. Using Alnico V magnets and 42-AWG wire, these were designed to deliver the muscular midrange, strong low end and cutting upper frequencies associated with Townshend’s SG tones. They sound superb. Clean, there is plenty of definition and that unmistakable open P-90 character. Add some gain and the guitar becomes huge, aggressive and extremely responsive, with the attack and clarity that makes an SG Special so good for rhythm work. It will obviously appeal enormously to a Who fan, but this is far from being a one-trick signature guitar. Blues, classic rock, punk, alternative, indie and straight-ahead rock tones are all comfortably within its range. Condition This guitar has been played and enjoyed and, importantly, it wears its age extremely well. The Alpine White nitrocellulose finish has developed extensive natural lacquer checking, particularly across the front of the body and along the neck. There is considerably less checking to the rear of the body. We think it looks fantastic. The checking gives the guitar exactly the sort of naturally aged appearance that many players actively look for in a nitro-finished Gibson. It is particularly visible under certain angles and lighting and has been photographed carefully. There are also the expected light handling marks, minor scratches and general signs of use appropriate to a guitar now around 15 years old. The frets remain in good condition with only minor fret wear, and the guitar has recently been restrung and set up. It plays beautifully and sounds every bit as good as it looks. Finish discolouration There is some pink/red discolouration to the rear of the headstock and around the upper neck area. This appears consistent with colour transfer or a finish reaction caused by prolonged contact with a guitar hanger or stand, something that can occur with Gibson nitrocellulose lacquer. It is cosmetic only and is clearly shown in the photographs. There are also some visible marks and areas of wear around the rear of the headstock, again photographed in detail. Replacement Tuners One important point to note is that the tuners are not the factory-original units. The guitar is currently fitted with a set of vintage-style three-on-a-plate tuners, rather than the original specification tuners fitted by Gibson. They suit the guitar visually and function as they should, but we want to be completely transparent that they are replacements. There is evidence around the rear of the headstock from the previous tuner installation, which can also be seen in our close-up photographs. Specification Model: Gibson 50th Anniversary Pete Townshend SG Special Year: 2011 Finish: Alpine White Country: USA Body: Solid mahogany Neck: Mahogany Neck Profile: Rounded C Fingerboard: Rosewood Frets: 22 medium jumbo Pickups: 2 x Gibson Pete Townshend specification P-90 single coils Pickup Magnets: Alnico V Pickup Wire: 42-AWG Controls: Independent volume and tone controls with three-way selector Pickguard: Small pre-’65 style five-ply B/W/B/W/B Bridge: Compensated wraparound style Tuners: Replacement vintage-style three-on-a-plate tuners Finish Type: Nitrocellulose Weight: 6lb 8oz That 6lb 8oz weight is also worth highlighting. This is a wonderfully light SG and feels incredibly lively and resonant before it is even plugged in. Original Pete Townshend / The Who Case A major bonus is the original Gibson hard case, complete with the distinctive The Who / Pete Townshend style stencil graphics. The case has its own signs of age and use, which is exactly what you would expect, but it is a fantastic piece in its own right and completes the package beautifully. The guitar also retains its original certificate, making this a particularly desirable example for a collector or serious Who enthusiast. Why We Like It There is a lot going for this guitar. It is an American-made Gibson SG with genuine historical relevance, a fantastic pair of P-90s, an extremely comfortable weight and one of the coolest signature-model backstories Gibson has produced. Then add the natural nitro checking, original Townshend case and certificate, and it becomes considerably more interesting than a standard modern SG Special. At £1,495, we think it is very competitively priced for a complete 50th Anniversary Pete Townshend example. Please study the photographs carefully as they form part of the description. What’s Included * 2011 Gibson 50th Anniversary Pete Townshend SG Special * Original Pete Townshend / The Who Gibson hard case * Original certificate Everything included is shown in the photographs. Why Buy From Chordplay Guitars? • Independent UK guitar specialist based in Darwen, Lancashire • Over 200 new and used guitars in stock • Open 7 days a week, including Bank Holidays • Free next working day UK delivery on orders over £470 • Part exchange and trade-ins always welcome • £50 deposit secures any guitar • International shipping available • First guitar? Ask about our starter packs from just £99 • Visit our website to browse our full range and view additional photographs International Buyers We are happy to ship internationally. Please note that all import duties, customs charges, local taxes and any associated fees are the responsibility of the buyer. These charges are determined by the destination country and are not included within our advertised price or shipping cost. We recommend checking any applicable import charges before purchasing.