What are the best SG copies?

frankus

I'd quite like it to be Mahogany, a lot seem to be polar (is that similar)?

 

Advices please

mart

I think you'll find they're rather different: mahogany is quite warm, but polar is quite cold.

Elwood

ESP do some epic instruments and I have no doubt the Viper would be awesome. For a similar sound a Jackson SLSmg might fit the bill. Superstrat with TOM bridge and mahog neck through construction. Japanese made and fecking awesome instrument.

TonyR

frankus said:

I'd quite like it to be Mahogany, a lot seem to be polar (is that similar)?

Do you mean "poplar"?

Philly_Q

Depends on the price range I guess. 

I have an upmarket MIJ Tokai SG with one piece body, lacquer top coat, aluminium tailpiece, CTS pots etc which is really very good.  I also had a cheaper Tokai without all the bells and whistles but the construction was just as good.

Or you could go for an old Greco, Burny, Orville or something like that.  All relatively cheap and they are all mahogany (or a Far Eastern mahogany-equivalent species, at least).

Poplar's not much like mahogany, it's more like alder but doesn't look as nice.

RaymondLin

How about something out if left field, a PRS Mira.

p90fool

How cheap do you need to go? You can get a used Gibson SG Special for not a lot.

guitargeek62

Yep, a used SG Special would get my vote for a cheap one. I doubt you'll get a 'hog, or even meranti* model, for much less than one of those!

*Far-eastern 'hog substitute.

underdog

A used Gibson of the special variety, cheaper still an SGJ or Epi do some great SG guitars. If skinny neck is ok I can recommend an Epi SG 50th anniversary.

stimpsonslostson

Vintage VS6 is the best SG-a-like I've tried- much better than any of the epiphones I've played. Decent wilkinson hardware as standard too. They can be had CHEAP (sub £100).

Nunogilberto

Vintage, Epiphone or even a second hand Gibson Special at around £300ish...

frankus

RaymondLin;678785" said:

How about something out if left field, a PRS Mira.

I wasn't going mention it but PRS would be awesome but there's no chance of a lefty, also I'm interested in shorter scale

guitargeek62

Ah, just do a Jimi with one!

57Deluxe

Tokai - but not the Chinese ones...

RaymondLin

frankus said:

RaymondLin;678785" said:

How about something out if left field, a PRS Mira.

I wasn't going mention it but PRS would be awesome but there's no chance of a lefty, also I'm interested in shorter scale

Mira is 24.5" scale, that's shorter than a Gibson

Not left hand though !

Philly_Q

RaymondLin said:

frankus said:

RaymondLin;678785" said:

How about something out if left field, a PRS Mira.

I wasn't going mention it but PRS would be awesome but there's no chance of a lefty, also I'm interested in shorter scale

Mira is 24.5" scale, that's shorter than a Gibson

Only the Mira X and 25th Anniversary models.  The original Mira models (and the S2 Mira) are 25".

samzadgan

there's also the guild reissues they've recently done...i played one a while ago and it was really nice...looks and feels like an SG, sounds similar but a little different.

Sarge

I'd also go with an 80s Japanese affair, Burny, Greco or even a Westbury standard, it's mahogany and heavier than an SG, but much better balanced on strap.

Neil

Another vote for an SG special.

Very reasonably priced second hand with all the bits you want.

frankus

I'm looking at the SG Juniors atm - cooked maple boards, and a dog-eared p90 but apart from that they seem okay.

Sassafras

Find yourself an SG with a broken neck and fix it up or get a luthier to do the work.

I did that, fixed it myself, and it's been fine for about 20 years.