Why Gibson’s Elvis SJ-200 has us all shook up

Gibson Elvis SJ-200
(Image credit: Future / Olly Curtis)

Elvis Presley received his 1968 ebony SJ-200 as a gift at a 60s recording session and, according to his guitarist Scotty Moore, first used it on stage in Tusla, Oklahoma, on 1 March at the start of his 1974 tour. 

Presley had been an SJ-200 convert since obtaining his original 1956 model, and its massive size and opulent appointments could not have been more suited to the king of rock ’n’ roll.

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**

Join now for unlimited access

US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year

UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year 

Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Prices from £2.99/$3.99/€3.49

Neville Marten

In the late '70s and early '80s Neville worked for Selmer/Norlin as one of Gibson's UK guitar repairers, before joining CBS/Fender in the same role. He then moved to the fledgling Guitarist magazine as staff writer, rising to editor in 1986. He remained editor for 14 years before launching and editing Guitar Techniques magazine. Although now semi-retired he still works for both magazines. Neville has been a member of Marty Wilde's 'Wildcats' since 1983, and recorded his own album, The Blues Headlines, in 2019.