NAMM 2020: Gibson makes Custom Shop clone of Tony Iommi's "Monkey" 1964 SG Special

(Image credit: Gibson)

NAMM 2020: Those who take their Sabbath black just like their coffee will be tolling the bell of doom in celebration with the news that Gibson has launched an Artist Series replica of Tony Iommi's iconic 1964 SG Special.

Nicknamed "Monkey", and featuring a sticker depicting the eponymous primate just below the bridge, the Monkey SG Special is the Holy Grail of electric guitars in Black Sabbath history. Here the heavily modded doublecut has been recreated in forensic detail. 

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Jonathan Horsley

Jonathan Horsley has been writing about guitars since 2005, playing them since 1990, and regularly contributes to publications including Guitar World, MusicRadar and Total Guitar. He uses Jazz III nylon picks, 10s during the week, 9s at the weekend, and shamefully still struggles with rhythm figure one of Van Halen’s Panama.