Epiphone has announced the Fatoumata Diawara SG, a striking new signature model developed hand-in-hand with the Grammy-nominated Afrofuturist guitarist, singer-songwriter, and actress. The release marks a historic moment for the brand, as Diawara becomes the first woman of color to receive an Epiphone signature guitar.
Rooted in her long-standing connection to the Epiphone Muse SG, the Fatoumata Diawara SG translates Diawara’s artistic identity into a player-focused instrument that balances bold visuals with serious performance credentials. The guitar is available worldwide via Epiphone.com, at the Gibson Garage locations in Nashville and London, and through authorized Epiphone dealers.
“This guitar carries my Malian roots and my voice,” says Fatoumata Diawara. “It connects where I come from to where I’m going. As a Malian woman, receiving this signature guitar reminds me that our stories and our sounds truly belong on the world stage, and I hope it inspires women everywhere.”
The Epiphone Fatoumata Diawara SG features a Mahogany body adorned with Diawara’s signature graphic, immediately setting it apart from traditional SG fare. A Set Mahogany neck with a Custom C profile is paired with a Bound Rosewood fretboard, fitted with 22 Medium Jumbo frets and classic Pearloid Trapezoid inlays.
Gold hardware elevates the aesthetic while delivering stability and performance, including a LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge, LockTone Stop Bar tailpiece, and Epiphone Locking Tuners. A Graph Tech nut ensures reliable tuning under demanding stage conditions. The headstock features the Epiphone logo and Gibson Crown in Mother-Of-Pearl, while a two-ply truss rod cover engraved with Diawara’s signature in gold adds a personal finishing touch.
Visual details continue throughout the instrument, with Red pickup rings, Speed knobs, rear control covers, and a matching toggle switch tip providing bold contrast against the Mahogany body.
Under the hood, the Fatoumata Diawara SG delivers a wide tonal range thanks to a pair of Epiphone Alnico Classic PRO humbuckers. Each pickup is wired to its own volume control with Push/Pull coil-splitting, allowing players to access single-coil textures alongside classic humbucker tones.
Two tone controls offer further shaping, with one featuring a Push/Pull phase switch. When both pickups are engaged, this unlocks distinctive out-of-phase sounds, expanding the guitar’s sonic palette for both studio experimentation and live performance.
Get the Epiphone Fatoumata Diawara Signature SG here for $699 and keep up with all our Epiphone coverage right here.
