Warren Haynes Stage Plays Duane Allman's 1961 Les Paul Standard (SG) for the 1st Time in Decades

We were so excited to be able to connect legendary guitarist, Warren Haynes, with Duane Allman's iconic 1961 Les Paul Standard (SG) at Chattanooga's Riverbend Festival (June 3-5, 2022). This guitar is currently on display at the Songbirds Guitar & Pop Culture Museum in Chattanooga, TN.

Duane Allman kept this guitar tuned to open-E, his preferred tuning for slide. His guitar partner Dickey Betts gave it to Duane so he didn’t have to retune between songs. There is no clear documentation that Duane played this guitar on At Fillmore East.

Though this guitar is commonly called an SG, it is actually a 1961 Gibson Les Paul, which the original truss rod cover would have read. The screw holes in the body show that the guitar originally featured a Vibrola vibrato, which Betts had removed. Gibson Custom shop released a faithful recreation of this guitar as a Dickey Betts signature model—"From One Brother to Another.” Since 2011, Derek Trucks has played Artist Proof #4 of this reissue as his main stage guitar. It was a gift from Duane’s daughter Galadrielle Allman. This guitar is on loan courtesy of the George Fontaine Family.

WE HAVE SOME BIG SESSIONS COMING SOON: Jack Pearson and Duane Allman’s Firebird, Jimmy Herring + Duane’s SG, Tommy Emmanuel (Part 2), Jerry Douglas, Eric Tessmer, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, John Paul White, Reignwolf, and more Moon River Sessions. Follow us for more!

[stlrockn]

I visited the Songbirds Museum back in 2018 and took the backstage tour (incredible!). I had seen in a article online that the place closed a year or so ago and the collection was to be sold off. Was I misinformed? Is the place still open? Inquiring minds want to know....cuz if not then I need to go back! Thanks for any updates you might give me.

[jimmydeanbrooks]

The Duane Legend Lives On With Warren, Warren And Derek Know How To Keep The Sound And Memory Alive And Well.

[martinmcgimpsey]

What a guitar player! Awesome musician, well done Warren Haynes! Well done!

[dennisholehouse]

I saw Duane play that guitar at the Fillmore West

[KeyWestChrisRehm]

On a side note: This was Dickey's guitar before it was Duane's. The story goes that Dickey gave it to Duane, as the band had to stop and wait for Duane to retune from his slide tuning (open E) to standard. Duane is said to have taken a serious liking to the guitar, as it offered much easier access to everything above the 12th fret. It offered the ultimate guitar for his style and tone. He had this guitar for about the last year of his life. 1961 was the only year Gibson made this style Les Paul. Les Paul himself didn't design it, nor was he a fan of the guitar and had Gibson re-name it. From that point on, new production models were called SG, for "Solid Guitar".

[funkster]

Some serious mojo still in that SG. Sounds great. Warren doin Duane proud.

[Petequinn]

Glad it's being played and not a museum piece.. Warren!!

[LotharOfTheHillPeople]

Warren's such a monster on guitar, but that goddamn VOICE!

[TheGuitarMan]

A legend playing another legend’s gear.

[koornick]

I was there. Amazing set at Riverbend Music Festival in Chattanooga. I knew it was Duane’s guitar but people around us had no idea.

[RichardGriffis]

Everything about this vid is amazing!!

[groundhog]

Warren is doing Duane justice on that SG. I'm sure Duane is looking down from up there with a smile on his face.

[ArloTarr]

I needed this🤘Love the Mule and Skydog🎸

[michaelriley]

When the Mule walks on stage we Muleheads gets chill bumps!

[michaelmooney]

He sure can pley that thing love that sound

[mikemet]

Warren could make a "Sears Special" sound magical. Rock on.

[Tonetwisters]

I saw Duane or Dickey ... one or the other ... play this guitar in Tully Gym at Florida State around 1970 when they opened for Frank Zappa. What a show that was. Who ever played this guitar that night, I said to myself, I like that guy who's playing that red guitar! The closest I could come to it is a current VOS version ...

[paullevine]

God i hate to see these ads pop up almost in the middle of the screen near the end of the clips, WTF is wrong with YT !!! What stories that SG would have to tell if it could speak . Saw The Allmans twice in 1970 & I'm sure this SG was there as both Duane & Dickey had more than one . I do believe this is the one Dickey had given Duane so he wouldn't have to spend time retuning on stage so much. Miss those great old glory days of the original Allman Bros. Got to see them at RFK Stadium in Washington DC & at American University of which the latter is on CD, something I never though i would hear again & if memory serves that show was around 3 bucks to go see. It would have been cool to hear Warren play something off the Bros. first LP but this was still very cool.

[GuitarSwan]

I was at this show! Killer set and wish he would've played this guitar more, but seemed like he was having trouble keeping it in tune and didn't want to use it for too long.

[andrewdenine]

Rite on that had some wicked vibes I tell ya