A guitarist who masters the SG model—a guitar with a distinctive look and sound.

Live Spot LugHirata Hiroyasu
I’m Hiroyasu Hirata from Live Spot RAG. When I was 15, I was blown away by how cool music—especially rock—was, and I started playing guitar and formed a band. I’m from Kochi Prefecture, where there weren’t many live houses or concert venues, so there were few opportunities to experience live music. Back then, our sources of information were magazines, CDs, and even VHS tapes (!?). Still, I was captivated by the sparkle of music, and I spent my days enjoying guitar and music, mostly neglecting my studies. I moved to Kyoto for university and “graduated” from the light music club, so to speak (laugh). Until then, I mainly listened to Japanese rock and Western hard rock, but thanks to seniors and peers I learned there was so much more music in the world. Now I listen to anything that strikes me as good, regardless of genre. After graduating, I joined RAG. After about six years in the office and about ten years in the music studio, I now work at the long-established Live Spot RAG, which has been around for 39 years, mainly handling promotions. Being exposed to the “real music” performed by Japan’s top musicians and delivering it to our audience lets me feel the brilliance of music anew every day. I still play guitar and keep a band going casually, and in recent years I’ve even started singing—better late than never. I’ve fully become an old guy by now, but I hope we can continue to chase “what lies beyond the dreams I painted with music back then” together.

The SG—one of Gibson’s most popular models—radiates a fierce individuality from its body shape alone.

Gibson is best known for the Les Paul, but the SG was created as the Les Paul’s successor.

It offers a different kind of appeal and has been loved by many guitarists.

Beyond being lighter than a Les Paul and easier to play in the higher frets, the SG is also beloved for what some consider drawbacks: its tendency toward neck-heaviness that can dip unless supported by the left hand, and its lively, mid-focused sound.

Here are some representative guitarists who favor the SG.

Guitarists who master the SG model—a guitar with a uniquely distinctive look and sound (1–10)

Kanako Nakayama

Kanako Nakayama: Looking Back on Masterpieces

Kanako Nakayama, the guitarist of Princess Princess, favors an SG-type guitar.

You can really tell from her playing that she loves rock ’n’ roll! As an aside, I’ve heard one reason female guitarists choose an SG is because it’s lightweight.

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Derek Trucks

The Derek Trucks Band – I’d Rather Be Blind, Crippled And Crazy (Live)

Derek Trucks, a player selected as one of the three great guitarists of the new generation, is also an avid SG user.

The hallmark of his playing style is, of course, slide guitar! His fingerpicked slide work goes beyond virtuosity and reaches a godlike realm.

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Ian MacKaye

Fugazi – Turnover – (Live 1991)

When it comes to the originators of emotional hardcore, isn’t Fugazi the first that comes to mind? Ian MacKaye, a central figure in Fugazi, is a devoted SG user.

Could it be that the reason many emo band guitarists frequently use SGs is Ian MacKaye’s influence?

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Guitarists who master the uniquely styled and sounding SG model (11–20)

Pete Townshend

The Who – Join Together

Pete Townshend of The Who, a leading figure of the mod bands, also uses an SG.

For garage-style sounds, the distorted tone of an SG—less thick than a Les Paul—fits perfectly.

This footage is from the legendary rock festival, Woodstock.

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Carlos Santana

Santana – Smooth (Official Video) ft. Rob Thomas

Carlos Santana, the central figure of the Latin rock band Santana, is also strongly associated with the SG, isn’t he? Here’s the live footage from Woodstock, the legendary music festival that catapulted the then-unknown Santana into the spotlight.

He’s totally playing with his face.

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Brian James

The Damned – New Rose (Official HD video)

Brian James, the guitarist of The Damned—one of the bands that represent London punk alongside the Sex Pistols and The Clash—is also an SG enthusiast.

The SG guitar, favored by people with a bit of a bad-boy vibe, was beloved by numerous punk bands, starting with Brian James.

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