A c.1975 Gibson SG Custom solidbody electric guitar, refinished in white, owned and stage played by Pat Smear of Foo Fighters, formerly Nirvana and The Germs. Extensively used by Smear during the first Foo Fighters tour including highly-publicized appearances including the 1995 Mike Watt performance of “Big Train” on the Jon Stewart Show, and with Foo Fighters in 1995 on Saturday Night Live, at the 1996 opening of the NYC Virgin Megastore, and at the Tibetan Freedom Concert of 1996. Photo and performance matched.

Purchased just before Foo Fighters’ first tour supporting the band’s debut album at Black Market Music. According to Smear, it was in pieces and already re-finished when purchased, and subsequently put back together for touring use by Foo Fighters and former Nirvana guitar tech Earnie Bailey. ??Repairs include a neck break at the heel and one at the headstock, as well as cracks in the body. Used in this form throughout the tour, when Smear returned to Black Market music to “dig through their parts room for an elusive Maestro Vibrola to give my SG a classic look.” What he found instead was a vintage Gibson L5-style tailpiece with worn gold plating, “perfectly matched to the aged look of my SG.” Bailey then modified the anchor portion of the tailpiece to fit the SG’s much thinner body. ??

A 24.75” three-piece mahogany neck, 22 fret bound ebony fretboard (refretted) with mother of pearl inlays, with mother of pearl split diamond and Gibson logo inlays on the headstock. Mahogany body and neck refinished in white prior to Smear’s ownership, with breaks, cracks, and repairs present and expected for a touring instrument. “Tarback” humucker pickup in the neck position, Gibson patent stamp humbucker in the middle, and a Seymour Duncan in the bridge. Gold Grover Rotomatic tuners, pickup covers, “Harmonica” bridge, and tailpiece. Added white control knobs. Potentiometers date to 1975. Includes apparently original Gibson hardshell case, black exterior with red interior.

Guitars & Instruments