The SG Special Faded is distinguished by its simpler headstock adornments, the businesslike dot inlays on its rosewood fingerboard (which is also left un-bound in keeping with its stripped-down ethos), and its elegant worn satin nitro finish. Under this thin skin, however, today's Gibson USA SG Special Faded runs neck-and-neck with the flagship of the SG family. Its solid mahogany body packs all the resonance and sustain that has helped to make SGs legendary, and it sports the beveled edge that is such a big part of this model's distinctive styling, while also enhancing playing comfort. Two deep cutaways with sharp, slightly asymmetrical horns offer unparalleled access to the top of its 22-fret neck, which you'll scale at lightning speed thanks to the SG Special Faded's fast, comfortable, rounded '50s neck profile. Cranking all this tonewood and superb playability to the max is a pair of Gibson's most popular humbucking pickups from the Modern Classics series: a 490R in the neck position, and a 490T in the bridge. Made in the style of the hallowed PAF humbucker, with genuine Alnico II magnets, but updated to meet the demands of today's player and 21st century rock's high-volume requirements, this pairing offers everything from smooth, creamy, vocal warmth in the neck to raunchy rhythm tones and searing leads in the bridge. It all runs through Gibson's classic control configuration of independent volume and tone knobs for each pickup, and three-way toggle selector switch. Keeping it all locked and loaded are a Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece, arguably the most emulated hardware configuration on the planet, and a set of vintage style tuners with vintage pearloid buttons. To top it all off, the SG Special Faded comes to you already looking like a long-played friend in your choice of two great satin nitrocellulose finishes: Worn Cherry and Worn Brown.