Gibson SGs

UnclePsychosis · January 2022

Guys, is there an idiots guide to the SG somewhere?

There seem to be about eighteen million variants, it's hard to know where to start.

stickyfiddle · January 2022

From about 1990 to 2010 it was easy:

Special - batwing, no binding, dot inlays, uncovered pickups. often made with Faded finishes.
Standard - batwing, binding, trap inlays covered pickups
Classic - batwing, P90s, dots
61 - small guard, binding, traps and cover pickups, big headstock, contours more like vintage ones.

…then they shuffled everything around and made them more like the original 60s models…

Standard - as earlier 61 but small headstock
Special - small guard, P90, dots, no binding (iirc)

then since the 2018 buyout and revamp…

Standard - like the OG 90s Standard model with batwing guard
61 available again, with optional maestro or sideways vibrola.

Special - small guard, P90s

They’ve also done a bunch of Tributes and stuff over the last decade but they made weird decisions on specs and they’re generally a bit naff imo. Likewise 1970-1990 or so. Vintage 60s stuff is a different ballgame but basically 3-pickup Custom with ebony & maestro, Standard with 2 pickups and usually a maestro, and Special with 2x P90s and wraparound.

And Juniors are always the same - single P90, no frills. Not always available but usually excellent.

sev112 · January 2022

There’s black one, and a red, one and white one and yellow one and they’re all made out of tricky tacky and they all look just the same

tony99 · January 2022

there are some with ebony boards and I would love one

Fozz · January 2022

Above all, remember that batwing guards just look cooler.

Alex2678 · January 2022

The current 61s have the neck joint at the 22nd rather than the 19th on the others iirc

Funkfingers · January 2022

The only real test is to grab one and try it. I'm not a great fan of them generally but the occasional example enthuses me enough to forgive all of the shortcomings.

The last such was a 2015 Standard with the Les Paul 100 headstock decal.

A friend of mine has one of the 1990 SG/LP Custom re-issues. Very nice … apart from the "out-of-phase" pickup selection.

If I had a "dream" SG, it would be a Junior.

TeleMaster · January 2022

Wait till you get into Ibanez's! 40 models released every year with a different number for each colour variation!

TINMAN82 · January 2022

Quite enjoyed Peach’s new video today https://youtu.be/w2LpCWCjaiM

GJK1959 · January 2022

I have a Special with crescent moon inlays

Philly_Q · January 2022

https://solidguitar.fandom.com/wiki/SG_Wiki

noisepolluter · January 2022

I’ll be after one myself sometime in the spring. Prefer a batwing guard and a round neck, and the 19th fret neck join, so I’ll be trying a few standards, and factoring in some ebony tuner buttons for the Grovers to tweak the balance if necessary.

Not fussed about paying extra for handwired pots etc or a hard case as I can sort those out separately, probably for less than the price difference between the standard and 61. Happy with the standard SG pickups as Estheroid has a great example of an early 00’s standard, so I’ve spent a bit of time playing that and know that something very similar would work for me.

BigPaulie · January 2022

tony99 said:

there are some with ebony boards and I would love one

I don't really lust after electrics these days, but an early 90s special in white with an ebony board still does it for me.

Nitefly · January 2022

I have a '94 Special with covered humbuckers AND ebony board.

Springywheel · January 2022

I recently acquired the 61 standard (2019) with sideways vibrola, it's a beauty. None of the neck dive or QC issues I’ve read about. I’m currently having it set up with with 12s in c# standard to make it growl a bit

https://i.postimg.cc/nVDXfdXS/IMG-20220114-143812.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/BbHb56Wf/IMG-20220114-143819.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/k4kDtSpy/IMG-20220114-143830.jpg

UnclePsychosis · January 2022

Thanks guys.

I'm sort-of-impulse-gassing. I know I want big pickguard, probably humbuckers, and I don't want a vibrola. I like the vintage aesthetic but I don't want a super skinny neck. I also know impulse buying a guitar known for marmite playability is very stupid, but I'm considering it anyway...

GavRichList · January 2022

Neck dive and AC/DC jibes from your mates

I wanted one. Ordered one. Tried to love it. Nearly did, but the terrible nut was enough to put doubt in my head and then I decided I could spend the £1650 more appropriately.

There’s my guide.

noisepolluter · January 2022

GavRichList said:

Neck dive and AC/DC jibes from your mates

I wanted one. Ordered one. Tried to love it. Nearly did, but the terrible nut was enough to put doubt in my head and then I decided I could spend the £1650 more appropriately.

There’s my guide.

That’s why I’ll be shopping in person - so many potential variables of balance, neck angle, resonance, aesthetics, nut and fret finishing etc. It would have to be one hell of a discount to convince me to buy unseen, and even then I’d probably want to speak to someone who’s actually got the guitar right there in front of them to do some specific checks for me. I appreciate not every retailer is geared up to do that.

stickyfiddle · January 2022

Sounds like a used Standard is the right answer. Plenty of 2000-ish era ones about and they usually have really nice middle-ish “rounded but not huge” neck profiles. And you’ll get back most of what you pay for it if you don’t like it

I love mine to bits and only use it for AC/DC about 5% of the time

EDIT: like this one! https://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/220900/fs-gibson-sg-standard-2000#latest

BigPaulie · January 2022

I love SGs, but really don't think they suit trapezoid inlays, hence I don't really like the look of Standards.

Up until a few years ago the best looking SG Gibson made was the (full gloss) Classic, but since they've released the Special with wrapover tailpiece, bound neck with dots and P90s they've surpassed themselves.

JanekLubanski · January 2022

And some have bigsby fitted. Don't know if this is an after market addition though

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Gibson SGs

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