Question: Talk me out of/into an SG

Pine Apple Slim

Pine Apple Slim

Armchair Expert
In 1979 I somehow got myself a 61' SG LP in sexy ebony. I knew what it was because for a college English class I had to write a company and get a response, so I wrote Gibson about it. I knew nothing really other than it said Les Paul on the truss rod cover. Sent em a couple of polaroids, the serial#, and a nice letter and they wrote me back.
It was real, but wasn't original. The bridge had been changed to a Leo Quann adjustable wrap around that was popular at the time.
I remember it being a really nice fast playing guitar, its the guitar I learned my pentatonic patterns on thru a little Yamaha practice amp. Only plugged it into a "real" amp a few times but I remember the sound was epic. But I got frustrated that the low E would never intonate quite right. So I sold it in about a year for what I paid, around $300, lol. After I learned a little about set up and realized I could have probably just turned the low E saddle around and solved the problem, that's a move I'll always regret.
Alas the mistakes of being young, poor, and dumb.
I've kinda wanted another black SG ever since. and have eyed SG Standards on on off for years but never bit the bullet and always seemed to wind up with something else.
I really hate to give the Gibson Corp money for a new one but the new 61' reissue has me gassing really hard.
Am I deluded by 40 years of nostalgia, or are the newer ones just as good or better than the one I remember?
New 61' Reissue worth it? or SG Standard, maybe used and a better deal?
Dont buy a Gibson?
SGs suck cause__?
 
SGs are great...decide on what pickup type you want, bound or unbound neck, inlays and off to the races ya go!

Edit: how could I forget batwing vs large guard?!
 
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Wait for a used one if you have distaste for Gibson corp. At least you're only paying some chap back his money and not the board room directly.
 
SGs are great. They’re lightweight and the pickups sound good. Totally worth owning.
 
They're unbalanced neck heavy monstrosities.

Depending on the year the necks are like tree trunks, not fast playing.

High fret access sucks.

They're small guitars for small people!!

There ya go, if that doesn't talk you out of it... go buy one. :evil:
 
cvogue said:
They're unbalanced neck heavy monstrosities.
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I’ve never played a Gibson SG that was substantially neck heavy. They might dip a little but it’s not going to tire your arm out. Epiphones are terrible for that but not Gibson.
 
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I love mine. Straight up rock and roll machine. Mine is not neck heavy at all. I have one of the Derek Trucks signature models. It has a thick neck and the 57 classics for pickups. I don't really like the modern pickups in the standards. The 57's are hot enough for my taste.

If you want one, get one. If you hate the current company, buy a used one.
 
Test drive any contenders, make sure you’re getting an instrument you really enjoy.

Avoid one with neck dive if you play standing up. It’s distracting.
 
I love the sound of an SG, but hate the feel, particularly the way they hang on a strap. They always want to fall forward, add in a touch of neck heaviness and I find myself fighting to keep the guitar in a good position. YMMV, of course, but if I was to ever buy another SG I'd be adding a strap button to the top horn, and playing every one I could find to make sure I got one that's not neck heavy.
 
It was a long time ago but as I remember the 61' SG LP had a fast slim neck and fairly low frets.
Ive always mostly played standing up even back then and I dont remember neck dive being a problem. The only issue I had was the intonation issue with the aftermarket bridge, and me being too green and uninformed to correct it.
Perhaps the vintage tuners and slim neck helped with the neck dive?
The reissue comes with Burstbuckers vs the 490s in the Standard, and vintage tuners.
Im no expert on Gibson buckers but those seem preferred by most people over the 490s?
But the 490s sound pretty good to me on YouTube, even clean. And theres something to be said for the longer tenon as far as stability and durability.
Still, I want the fast slim neck of old, not a fat one, and I dont mind vintage style tuners, in fact I'd prefer them.
The reissues are supposed to be 61' spec.
I'm very tempted to order up a reissue in ebony.
Gonna stew on it for a bit...may be a NGD coming.
 
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Just go with a mahogany top Les Paul variant. Same guitar, but better body/neck balance.
 
I love mine for many reasons. A wide, well made strap prevents any neck dive. The tone range is perfect for me.
Sadly, I can't play it (or any other) until I get surgery on my hand.

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Aahzz said:
I love the sound of an SG, but hate the feel, particularly the way they hang on a strap. They always want to fall forward, add in a touch of neck heaviness and I find myself fighting to keep the guitar in a good position. YMMV, of course, but if I was to ever buy another SG I'd be adding a strap button to the top horn, and playing every one I could find to make sure I got one that's not neck heavy.
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They do feel very different to play, and my left hand gets confused at first when I switch back to one. That said, I love them. My favorite model is the SG Classic.

For neck dive, I just duct tape a 6 oz lead weight to the bottom of a seatbelt strap. done.
 
Pine Apple Slim said:
I love an LP Custom as much as the next guy but aint paying $7000. I had a Epi LP Custom for a while. Nice guitar but a totally different feel.
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No.

Customs would have a maple top which would sound different than an SG. Look for a LP special with humbuckers. Should be in the same price range (or cheaper) than SGs. Although come to think of it, I think all LP specials have a thicker neck than SGs.
 
Well it looks like the new reissue 61s in ebony are impossible to locate. Sweetwater has a cherry one but I really want black. I can get a new Standard from many places no prob, be here in a couple of days.

Or if I want to wait a bit the CME specials have the slim taper neck and vintage tuners, and the Oxblood color looks good and is almost black. Also has different, more late 60s/70s humbuckers that sound good to me on the demos. Im kinda iffy on the tort guard but I kinda like the smaller block inlays on it.

Those of you with a fairly new Standard with the rounded neck profile vs the slim taper, how beefy is it? Still pretty slim or more a beefy Jr style profile?
 
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GomezAddams said:
No.

Customs would have a maple top which would sound different than an SG. Look for a LP special with humbuckers. Should be in the same price range (or cheaper) than SGs. Although come to think of it, I think all LP specials have a thicker neck than SGs.
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No Customs have always been solid mahogany with a carved top, no maple.
From the Gibson website:
The Original Black Beauty
Gibson Custom Shop is the pinnacle of craftsmanship, quality, and sound excellence. Each instrument celebrates Gibson's legacy through accuracy, authenticity and attention to detail.

With its elegant lines and Ebony/Pearl/Gold aesthetic, the 1957 Les Paul Custom is easily one of the most iconic and beautiful guitars ever made. It features a body carved out of a single large piece of solid mahogany, unique among Les Paul models. The resulting dark mid-range tone from the body pairs perfectly with its bright-sounding solid Ebony fingerboard. All together, it's the pinnacle of guitar craftsmanship, design and tone. Gibson Custom Shop is proud to revive every last detail of the original "Black Beauty" for this '57 Les Paul Custom Reissue, from the dimensions and contours to the precise inlay patterns to the entire ownership experience.

Specials, Jrs etc usually come with P90s, a wrap around bridge, and a beefier neck. Cool guitars but a totally different thing.



 
I can only think of pros: You get the twin-humbucker thing with less weight than a Les Paul, and the tone is probably a little more transparent too. It's got devil's horns. Stock PUs are good but can easily be replaced. If I were shopping for a Gibson today, I'd go for an SG rather than the LP I have, but that was a thing for me back then, and I'm not going to trade/sell it.

I did own a Special many, many years ago and I wasn't bothered by the neck dive - in fact I wasn't even aware of the 'problem'.
 
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