The fantasy Gibson SG

[Guildedagain]

Wanting an SG again, the problem is I can't stand most of Gibson's offerings.

Not into new guitars, has to be pre 2000, and they are rare and expensive, a small window of guitars that aren't a turn off. The 90's is probably the best period for SG ever, because they made stop tailpiece/ABR-1 SG's none of this silly vibrato tailpieces that plagued the instrument nearly since the beginning. The 80's are out, not a good period for Gibson. 70's even worse if you could afford it, horrid "harmonica bridges" weird pickup placements, 60's had Vibrola tailpieces, nylon saddles, cost $6k plus now, and no stop tailpieces.

I'd like an SG special like Townsend used to play, but pretty much unobtainium.

Had a Guild S100, didn't really do it for me, didn't really care for the pickups.

But I need a thin/light solid body guitar with humbuckers, Les Paul tone with Les weight. And that Gibson fingerboard can be very playable, the right ones.

Actually looking at vintagey Burny/Grecos as an option.

When it comes to Gibsons, it's hard to imagine how a company could produce a very appealing model, and make almost no appealing examples, but truckloads of very unappealing ones.

What gives?

 

[lungimsam]

'61 reissues are where its at for me. Stay away from Standards.
The special is one of the only reasonably priced guitars Gibson offers, but you are saying you also want humbuckers?:

Gibson SG Special - Vintage Cherry

Solidbody Electric Guitar with Mahogany Body, Mahogany Neck, Rosewood Fingerboard, and 2 Single-coil Pickups - Vintage Cherry

www.sweetwater.com

 

[Guildedagain]

Zero interest in new guitars. Never bought one, never will. The timbers used nowadays are really inferior to the older stuff, the hardware is often in the same boat. I recently thought I was falling for a 2008 LP flametop posted on CL. Went to look at it, cash in hand. Knew instantly it wasn't for me. Very so so looking lumber, 2 piece back, virtually a flat top, no carve, and the teaburst just wasn't right up close. It looked like a Les Paul flametop in a picture, that was about it.

I had a SG Special once, peddled it like most guitars, didn't warrant keeping, I'm really not into P90's, the only single coils I like are Fender.

'61 Reissue SG's were always a mixed bag, typical Gibson obstinacy, refusing to make the guitar correctly, bandying about a term like "61 Reissue" while having a huge headstock paddle a la Custom only, and threaded tuner bushings, very much not like a '61.

It took Gibson a while to come around to using the correct ABR-1 bridge instead of the 80's vintage Schaller made Nashville Tune-O-Matic on Reissue guitars across the whole range, LP/SG/335, as well as finally conceding to nickel plated parts instead of the really improper chrome, on reissues.

For these reasons I was unable to find an actual Gibson ES-335 Dot reissue that I liked for a long long time, and finally settled on something made in Japan, which has only gotten better with the passage of time.

This is the "61 RI" SG headstock on the Sweetwater site, Gibson apparently totally content to make this guitar wrong for 30 some years now.

Too big a headstock paddle, wrong tuners, but why?

It's tantamount to false advertising, but apparently Gibson junkies can't get enough.

 

[GAD]

Had a Guild S100, didn't really do it for me, didn't really care for the pickups.

What year? What pickups?

 

[Guildedagain]

The '73 I had, nice guitar, never did much for me tone wise. I don't get easily swayed by mentions of Soundgarden, who I liked a lot, when it comes to guitars. I either like them well enough to keep, or I don't.

Also to note, the bridge issues I had with it, worn rollers jumping threads, not something I'd want to deal with again. I prefer the ABR-1 design to the Guild/Mueller part.

A couple other notes regarding the S-100 vs the right SG besides the somewhat weaker p'ups, longer string length down to the TP, causes additional string tension, the lack of down angle at the bridge to the TP results in a different feel, not as responsive, as well the headstock pitch, less then 17º that vintage correct Gibbys will have cause the same in the nut area, a loss of tension and possibly sustain.

This is my last SG, a 1992, probably as good as an SG ever got, but I went through a phase where humbuckers really didn't do anything for me at all, a rebellion of 20 plus years of playing an SG.

You can see the steeply pitched headstock, as well as the sharp down angle of the string as they head for the TP. Also somewhat much better access to the high frets.

 

[Harp Tail]

I would consider a nice Greco knockoff from the 80s, and in fact I own two of those (plus one Burny) but sold my Gibsons

 

[Harp Tail]

Bacchus also made some very nice SG copies, including a Korina one and a made in the Philippines mango wood one

 

[DrumBob]

When it comes to Gibsons, it's hard to imagine how a company could produce a very appealing model, and make almost no appealing examples, but truckloads of very unappealing ones.

They're unappealing to you. They're not to a lot of players, who have kept SGs in production since 1961. Angus Young gets along just fine with his SGs. I have a recent Epiphone SG Special with P90s, and it's perhaps the best SG I've ever owned.

 

[Harp Tail]

Angus joined a long list... Harrison, Krieger, Zappa, Clapton and many more

 

[bobouz]

Here’s one that’s a bit unique & has stuck with me. Got this new in 2002, it was the first year of Gibson‘s Faded SG. ABR bridge, ebony fingerboard, & moon inlays. Iirc, the ABR & inlays were gone by the following year’s model, and the ebony board was gone the year after that. Stock 490s (added covers) are not my all-time favorite (might drop in a pair of P94s), but the medium-profiled fretboard access is superb & well worth the price of entry.

 

[Guildedagain]

Neat one.

I agree with adding the covers, and the ABR-1 is a very nice touch.

I liked this model from the same time period, bought every one I could get my hands on.

PS It looks like somebody quilts?

 

[bobouz]

PS It looks like somebody quilts?

Not me! That was a very thoughtful retirement gift. I remember the black SG model, with that cool inlay at the twelfth fret harkening right back to Orville’s original headstock design - neat stuff!