Really cool 1964 Gibson SG Junior, made all the more special by its fascinating history and links to two influential figures in British music. Purchased in the early '70s by Neol Davies, guitarist, songwriter and founding member of Coventry's iconic 2 Tone band The Selecter, this SG later passed to Roger Lomas - guitarist for The Sorrows and The Dodgers, and now a Grammy Award-winning producer. 

Neol Davies played this SG Junior during the early days of The Selecter - a band at the forefront of the 2-Tone movement alongside The Specials. It was The Selecter's raw, rhythmic guitar-driven sound and mix of ska, reggae and punk rock that helped define British ska in the late '70s and early '80s. Included with the guitar are photographs of Neol playing it at a formative early gig - an event he personally described as "the birth of 2-Tone". Recently the guitar was loaned to the 2 Tone Lives and Legacies exhibition in Coventry, and Neol was reunited with it once again. 

Later in the '70s Neol sold the guitar to Roger Lomas - a guitarist whose early career with bands The Sorrows and The Dodgers (see case stencil) gave way to producing, most notably for acts like The Selecter, Bad Manners, The Specials and in later years earning a Grammy for his work with Lee Scratch Perry. 

As for the guitar itself, it's a really good example weighing in at a featherweight 2.55kg or 5.62lbs! The neck is particularly nice - a wide feeling 'C' profile that sits comfortably. The guitar has been routed to accommodate an original Gibson T-Top humbucker - something that first attracted Neol to the guitar when he saw it on display in a shop on London's Denmark Street. The combination of this humbucker with the lightweight, resonant, thin Honduras Mahogany body makes for a very dynamic instrument that has an excellent ring and a very pleasant 'airiness' to the sound, with nice bite and clarity. The pots hace their date codes covered by solder but are of CTS manufacture and appear from the period. It has a custom made circular 5-ply plastic jack plate, likely added for stability or to cover an old repair around the jack socket. While non-original, it's become part of the guitar's history and we think it looks great. 

This SG has clearly been used over the years and it has some attractive play wear, fading and patina to show for it. The cherry finish has faded nicely, with honest wear throughout htat adds tons of character. It's the kind of guitar you can immediately connect with: light, resonant, and a pleasure to play.

Whether you're a collector, a player, or a fan of the 2 Tone movement, this is a unique opportunity to own an inspiring instrument from the heart of that scene. Included in the sale is a large amount of research and correspondence provided by the current owner, as well as a '70s purple-lined Gibson hard case.