Epiphone Les Paul SG Custom 1963 Maestro Vibrola Classic White IBGCSO

1963: The Pivotal Year for the SG Custom "Les Paul"

This Epiphone, made in collaboration with Gibson Custom, draws inspiration from a key period: 1963 marks the last year the "Les Paul" name appears on the SG Custom, and the first year the Maestro Vibrola was adopted. This model features all the high-end codes of the original: ebony fingerboard with binding, mother-of-pearl block inlays, and the "diamond" Custom inlay on the headstock, all highlighted by a vintage-style Classic White finish.

For Which Guitarists and Styles?

With its refined craftsmanship and Custom Shop-level electronics, this model is primarily aimed at intermediate to expert guitarists seeking a high-end SG with an iconic look. The 3 humbuckers configuration is ideal for rock, blues, hard rock, soul, and more vintage styles, while offering a wide range of tonal positions and textures for both studio and stage.

The Sound

The solid mahogany body (two-piece, center joint) delivers the typical SG tone: pronounced mids, great responsiveness, and generous sustain. The set neck with long tenon enhances vibration transfer, providing a "full" note feel and excellent note sustain. The three Gibson Custombucker pickups offer a vintage humbucker tone: warmth and roundness at the neck, clear articulation at the middle pickup, and a more biting attack at the bridge, with a good balance between clarity and thickness. Hand-wiring, CTS pots, and Mallory capacitors help maintain definition even when rolling down the volume, while the Maestro Vibrola favors subtle, musical variations rather than extreme dive bombs.

Technical specifications

Electronics: microphone configuration	HHH	Body	Mahogany
Category	Double cut	Bridge / tailpiece	Tremolo
Left handed	No	Electronics	Passive
Strings	Steel	Color	White
Nbr of strings	6	Finishing	Glossy
Fingerboard	Ebony	Hardware	Gold
Nbrs of frets	22

Body shape	SG	Pickguard	3-ply white; white tenon cover with "Les Paul Custom" in black text
Body material	two-piece solid mahogany, center joint	Truss rod	double action
Binding	5-ply on headstock, 1-ply on fingerboard	Truss rod cover	black 2-ply bell with "Les Paul Custom" in white text
Body finish	VOS (Vintage Original Sheen) polyurethane	Control knobs	black top hat with gold reflector and nickel pointer
Profile	SlimTaper	Switch tip	ivory
Scale length	24.75" / 628.65 mm	Switch washer	black with gold text
Fingerboard material	ebony	Control covers	white with "Inspired by Gibson Custom" logo in black
Fingerboard radius	12" / 304.8 mm	Strap buttons	2 - bottom and behind the heel
Number of frets	22	Mounting rings	black
Frets	Medium Jumbo	Pickup covers	gold
Nut material	Graph Tech	Neck pickup	Gibson Custombucker
Nut width	43.0 mm / 1.692"	Middle pickup	Gibson Custombucker
Inlays	mother-of-pearl blocks	Bridge pickup	Gibson Custombucker
Joint	glued-in, set neck; long tenon	Controls	2 Volume, 2 Tone, CTS potentiometers, Mallory capacitors
Finish	gold	Pickup selector	Switchcraft 3-position
Bridge	Tune-O-Matic	Output jack	Switchcraft 1" / 25.4 mm
Tailpiece	Maestro Vibrola	String gauge	.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
Tuners	Grover Rotomatic; 18:1 ratio	Case	black with gold interior, gold hardware, and Gibson Custom logo