Ever wonder where heavy metal came from? We'll give you a hint: Tony Iommi. And now, thanks to the Epiphone Tony Iommi SG Special, you can own a piece of metal history. Dubbed "Monkey," this proto-metal machine is a spot-on re-creation of the actual axe Father Iommi used to create metal's first guitar riffs. This solidbody electric guitar is built around a resonant mahogany body, with an Indian laurel-capped mahogany neck that's ultra-easy on your fingertips (or lack thereof). The Iommi SG Special comes loaded with chrome-covered Epi Pro P-90 pickups, teeming with enough high-output single-coil bite to drive you insane. You also get high-quality CTS pots and Orange Drop capacitors. The Epi Tony Iommi SG Special sports an adjustable wraparound bridge, black witch hat knobs, and Grover Rotomatic tuners. It also comes complete with a static cling reproduction of Tony's "Monkey" sticker and a hardshell case.

The original heavy metal riff machine

The Iommi SG Special is a painstaking re-creation of Tony's cherished mid-1960s SG Special, a.k.a. "Monkey." This solidbody electric guitar is the axe that started it all — the genesis of the metal riff. This SG Special became Iommi's primary instrument during the recording of Black Sabbath's eponymous 1970 debut, after his spray-painted white axe bit the electric funeral pyre, and it was deployed on all of Black Sabbath's classic '70s-era recordings. The Epiphone Tony Iommi SG Special is a spot-on reproduction of the original "Monkey," sporting chrome-covered P-90 single-coil pickups, an adjustable wraparound tailpiece, and a head-turning vintage cherry finish.

Epiphone P-90 Pro pickups

We have many fiercely loyal P-90 fans here at Music Experience. These guitarists know that P-90 pickups offer a unique tonal palette that is distinct from — and complements — humbuckers and traditional single-coils. Epiphone's P-90 Pro soapbars are heavily inspired by Seth Lover's original designs. These pickups are super-versatile and supply their own brand of grit — a bit brighter, leaner, and less refined than a humbucker, and almost as hot. So, plug the Epiphone Tony Iommi SG Special into a treble booster, crank your amp, play a few ominous tritones, and brace yourself: thunderclouds will roll, seas will shiver, and winds will moan. With the Iommi SG Special, you'll finally achieve the classic Sabbath tone you've been aiming for.

Comfortable rounded neck carve

Comfort and playability were among Epiphone's primary concerns when they designed the Tony Iommi SG Special. You’ll be delighted by how this guitar's rounded neck profile comfortably fills your hand in just the right way. What's more, this beefy neck offers more resonance and sustain than a rocket engine burning fuel into the night sky.

What Epiphone Says...

Tony Iommi's iconic riffs, heavy tones, and massively influential albums created the blueprint for heavy metal and many other genres to follow. His career, like the man himself, is universally loved and revered. And while his innovative tuning and playing styles were a major part of his monstrous tones, a heavily modified 1964 Gibson SG™ was at the center of it all. Epiphone is proud to release a guitar based on the iconic original that launched countless heavy riffs. The Epiphone Tony Iommi SG Special features a two-piece mahogany body, a bound one piece mahogany neck with a rounded profile, an Indian laurel fretboard with 22 frets, a Graph Tech® nut, Grover® Rotomatic® tuners with contemporary style buttons, and chrome-covered Epiphone PRO P-90 pickups that are wired to CTS® potentiometers and Orange Drop® capacitors. A static cling reproduction of Tony's "Monkey" sticker is in the included hardshell case. A left-handed version is also available.