# Pete Townshend's Smashed 1969 Gibson SG

> Pete Townshend smashed his iconic SG guitar during a 1970 Who show, now set to be played by musicians worldwide.
- Title: Pete Townshend's Smashed 1969 Gibson SG · Guitar World
- Summary: Pete Townshend smashed his iconic SG guitar during a 1970 Who show, now set to be played by musicians worldwide. Pete Townshend threw his 1969 Gibson SG on…
- Keywords: pete townshend, gibson sg, matt's guitar shop, binky philips, charles lobue, 1969, june 7 1970, Pete, Townshend's, Smashed, Gibson, Guitar World
- Source: Guitar World — https://guitarworld.com/gear/electric-guitars/pete-townshend-smashed-1969-gibson-sg-unearthed-after-five-decades
- Published: 2026-10-29T15:22:05+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: pete townshend, who, gibson sg, matt's guitar shop, binky philips, charles lobue, 1969, june 7 1970
## Pete Townshend's Smashed Guitar
Pete Townshend smashed his iconic Gibson SG at a 1970 Who show after it went out of tune.

> He touched the amps and went way off-tune during a cover of Shakin' All Over, which made him angry.
## The Incident
Pete threw the guitar on the floor after it went out of tune, causing the headstock to crack.

> Pete looked at Binky and said, 'You ready?'
## Binky Philips
Binky Philips, a Who superfan, caught the guitar after 56 years and fixed it with a luthier.

> Binky and Pete made eye contact when the SG's headstock got cracked.
## The Fix
Charles LoBue salvaged the guitar by grafting wood onto the headstock, making it playable again.

> He managed to salvage it by grafting a new piece of wood onto the headstock.
## 56 Years Later
Philips kept the guitar for 56 years before Matt's Guitar Shop founder Matthieu Lucas contacted him.

> Philips kept it for 56 years until Lucas got in touch with a private collector.
## The Story
Lucas confirmed the guitar was Pete's 1969 SG Special used at the 1970 Who show.

> This guitar was Binky's pride and joy, his connection to his guitar hero.
## Public Play
The guitar is now available for public play in Paris, with plans for musicians to use it.

> Everybody is welcome to come to the shop and play it.
## Key takeaway

Pete Townshend threw his 1969 Gibson SG on the floor after it went out of tune at a 1970 Who show, now available for public play in Paris.