One of the earliest guitar lines to be overtly influenced by the SG was Yamaha ’ s own SG series , which originally appeared in the early seventies . As with Gibson ’ s standard-setting design , Yamaha ’ s SG designation also stood for “ solid guitar ” ( this was the beginning of the “ Lawsuit Era ,” after all ). Early entries in the lineup were thinner-bodied , bolt-neck models , but as time went on the Yamaha SG became a first-rate instrument , with a set neck , carved top , and fancy inlays , among other accouterments . In 1975 , Yamaha put one in the hands of Carlos Santana , who liked the guitar but suggested it should have a more substantial body and enhanced sustain . This partnership between Yamaha and Santana produced the SG2000 , which was basically a marriage of SG shape and Les Paul girth and curvature . The Yamaha SG family thus gained quite a bit of positive attention , resulting in negative attention from Gibson ’ s lawyers , and a rebranding of the line as the SBG series . The SBG series lives on today , and fine vintage models are ubiquitous .
Yamaha SG and SBG Series
One of the earliest guitar lines to be overtly influenced by the SG was Yamaha ’ s own SG series , which originally appeared in the early seventies . As with Gibson ’ s standard-setting design , Yamaha ’ s SG designation also stood for “ solid guitar ” ( this was the beginning of the “ Lawsuit Era ,” after all ). Early entries in the lineup were thinner-bodied , bolt-neck models , but as time went on the Yamaha SG became a first-rate instrument , with a set neck , carved top , and fancy inlays , among other accouterments . In 1975 , Yamaha put one in the hands of Carlos Santana , who liked the guitar but suggested it should have a more substantial body and enhanced sustain . This partnership between Yamaha and Santana produced the SG2000 , which was basically a marriage of SG shape and Les Paul girth and curvature . The Yamaha SG family thus gained quite a bit of positive attention , resulting in negative attention from Gibson ’ s lawyers , and a rebranding of the line as the SBG series . The SBG series lives on today , and fine vintage models are ubiquitous .
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