The Gibson SG Special (manufactured between 1963 to 1977) features a double cutaway mahogany body, mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay. It has a stop tailpiece, blackface peghead with pearl logo inlay, 3-per-side tuners with plastic buttons, nickel hardware, layered black pickguard, 2 single coil pickups, 2 volume/2 tone control, 3-position switch, available in Ebony, Natural, Cherry (most common), Walnut  or White.

The current models have a double sharp cutaway mahogany body, maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, blackface peghead with silkscreened logo inlay, 3-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, black pickguard, 2 humbucker pickups, volume/tone controls, 3-position switch. Available in Alpine White, Ebony, Ferrari Red, Ebony Stain, Plum, Creme, Wine Red, Blue Teal Flip-Flop, Platinum, Pewter , or TV Yellow  finishes.