What do you think of the Gibson SG

[pearl_rocker]

What's your opinion?

[Gabriel E.]

Very cool guitars. Really brash and snarly sounding compared to the Les Paul. Much lighter too.

 

I like the ones with P-90s.

[rog951]

I think everyone should have two!

[Sylver]

Cool Guitars, I love the way they look and sound. I'd get one before an LP. It still wouldn't see much use unless I just wanted to rock out, though. They're kinda of a one trick pony, aren't they?

[WFTurner]

My ex-father-inlaw, whom I used to play bass for when

I was a teen in the mid 60's and long before I married

my first wife, had one, the cherry colored one and it was a dream to play and had a sweet sound. I was young and had little skills concerning technique at that time and that real long neck was a challenge to play and be in tune all the time. But that's something I wouldn't have a problem with now that I'm a hell of a lot older and wiser.

 

I always suspected he got it out and let me play with it as a way to keep me away from his daughter. LOL... it worked alot of times;)!!

[Gabriel E.]

They're kinda of a one trick pony, aren't they?

Not at all. Maybe not the best choice for country or jazz but for rock, blues and metal they rule. SG's work(ed) for these guys:

 

Pete Townsend (late 60s)

Duane Allman ("Live at the Fillmore East" is him using an SG)

Angus Young

Ian McKaye

Eric Clapton (in Cream)

Tony Iommi

[Wickerman]

Originally posted by Sylver:

They're kinda of a one trick pony, aren't they?

Nope.

 

Gibson has gone down the toilet. Older SGs, even ones from the mid-90s are much better than new ones I play. Even Epiphone's G-400 Deluxe and G-400 Custom (SG models) are better than the '61 reissue and Standard Gibson SGs. The new Gibsons don't sound or feel like an SG. The necks are uncomfortable and they sound constipated. They're just muddy and not so hot. The only SG that Gibson is making today that sounds or feels right is the Supreme. They sound and feel much better than the '61 reissue and Standards I've played but cost twice as much.

 

Don't get me wrong. I love SGs. They're versatile, have great necks and get the Gibson sound without the back breaking weight. I own one and love it. I just can't stand the ones Gibson is putting out now... I'd look for a used one or a high end Epiphone.

[Tedster]

http://w1.111.telia.com/~u11105257/p/pic18.jpg

 

A picture is worth a thousand words.

 

But...Wick, I know what you're saying. A buddy of mine prizes his early 60s SG (with 2 P-90s in it). The neck was awesome! Haven't played a new one in awhile...

 

But, my advice...listen closely to the guitar. If it's talking to ya, buy it.

[stanner]

two words:

every sound i will ever wanna hear from an electric guitar (and an SG at that) came from this guy-may he rest in peace.

s

[freddynl]

Originally posted by Sylver:

They're kinda of a one trick pony, aren't they?

No, they are not!

 

Remember Carlos Santana?

All his earlier music was done on an sg!

I still consider the sound of his earlier work much better as his later work!

 

I have the same model (1968) so I am not really objective but it is certainly not rock/metal only!

[Steve LeBlanc]

It's a fun guitar to play...easy to get a feel for.

[Dak Lander]

Gibson made a guitar on the SG design that had the pick up controls different. It was like my old Carvin DC150K in that you could fade/blend the pickups wtih out moving the volume controls. It seems it was something like the 550??? Not sure but I've read about it in (I think Guitar Magazine) & would buy one in a heartbeat. All the SG vibe & more. Anybody got one?

[sgguitarzz]

My SG was bought brand new in 1969 and has been my number one all that time. It has never let me down and has covered many styles of music. It is definitely not a one trick pony. I have covered everything from Beatles to Boston, Cream to Dion and the Belmonts . It can do it all. It is still the most comfortable guitar I have ever played.

 

Dennis

[jsull]

The funny thing is, when SGs were first made, they were released as the new "Les Paul" model, and Les made them take his name off. He hated them. So they were renamed "SG", causing decades of confusion for guitar geeks everywhere.

 

Agree on Carlos Santana. He sounded so great on the SG. Those PRS's are beautifully-built guitars, but they have no character.

[Gabriel E.]

Those PRS's are beautifully-built guitars, but they have no character.

Huh?? PRSi have tons of character. Every PRS I've played has sounded great - smooth and fat with a little more twang than Gibson.

 

BTW listen to Santana on "Blues For Salvador" and then tell me if those guitars have no character.

[Lee Flier]

I have a '63 cherry red SG Jr (single pickup, humbucker). It doesn't suck. I don't know what any of the newer ones sound and play like, but the old ones certainly get the job done.

 

Of course it has always taken a back seat to my LP, like everything. But I always dig playing it whenever I pull it out, it records very well, a very bold sounding in your face guitar for rock and pop.

 

--Lee

[Nollykin]

Hell.

 

Ive never played or seen one in real life. It looks absolutely beautiful - the doublt cutout symmetry makes me want to squeal. It looks wonderful...

 

Never played one though. I want to, though. The nexks... 1 11/16" ?? what the hell... how many millimeters is that? mines 42 mm... I like thinner necks...

 

Anyway they look pretty - but thats nothing to go on.

 

Nolly

[AliAlexandre]

I have 2 SGs : one is a 78 model (lefty) bought 2nd hand 8 years ago in NYC which is pretty much like the 61 in terms of design, and the other one is a standard with the wide neck bought new in Paris back in 96. Love them both, really.

 

Alex

[gtrmac]

SG's are a really nice gtr. I've owned three and two were original 1961 Les Paul/SG models. They were my main axes for years in the late sixties. I went back to Fenders after that since everyone was playing strats after Hendrix showed us what a Strat can do. I'd love to have a '61 Reissue SG but mostly for the nostalgia factor. I would probably still use my Strats and Tele all the time. I think if you're gonna buy a Gibson you might as well get a Les Paul. In any case you have to try a lot of guitars until you find THE one.

[dave123]

i have a '73 standard that will be celebrating it's 29th anniversary with me on june 15th. enough said.

[goodsgtr]

I have a buddy that has an older SG (not sure what year) that has the Gibson Logo carved into the headstock (it's indented). I've never seen one like it. Has anyone ever seen one, did they make them like this or did someone customize it themselves. If it's worth anything maybe I'll swindle it off him

[JonnyM]

The way SG's are carved, they are one of the MOST comfortable guitars ever designed. My current SG is a '74, one of a couple years that included a Bigsby standard. I collect Jr's and Special's. I'd like to find an SG Special with twin P-90's (60's era) someday.

 

SG's always have and always will ROCK!

 

JonnyM

[Tedster]

Originally posted by goodsgtr:

I have a buddy that has an older SG (not sure what year) that has the Gibson Logo carved into the headstock (it's indented). I've never seen one like it. Has anyone ever seen one, did they make them like this or did someone customize it themselves. If it's worth anything maybe I'll swindle it off him

Sounds like your buddy has one of the "Firebrand" SGs that came out in the late 70s/early 80s. They were natural walnut, unfinished, I believe. Kind of a woodsy look. I don't know that they're all that rare.

 

For me, I never particularly liked walnut as a wood for solidbodies. Oh, it looks sweet, but for me it sounds too muddy.

[jsull]

Gabriel E.

Huh?? PRS have tons of character.

Yeah, my statement wasn't really fair. I think what I mean is that to my ear, the old SG's just have a way of bringing out the individual character of the player. To me the PRS's (and others) almost sound TOO good, in a way that makes people sound more like each other. (Or maybe it's those boutique amps which I will never be able to afford in a million years.) It's almost like it's the flaws in the tone of the old guitars that give them a certain something.

 

Of course Carlos sounds awesome on everything. I guess I just prefer his sound on those early albums.

 

And maybe I should sit my butt down with a PRS some more before making blanket judgements. The ones I've played unplugged sure had fantastic necks.

[strat0124]

Mine's a 65 with P90's, and its a tone monster fo sho, great neck, terrible tuning stability! But so what? I had an early 70's Deluxe SG with humbuckers (stolen in Houston), and it was a great guitar but I prefer the honk of the P90's.

[Cubby_61]

I personally think the Gibson SG is a great guitar to play. It is much lighter that the Les Paul but still has good sustain. Of course with everything, beauty and a great sound are in the eyes and ears of the beholder.

 

For some great information and a lot of photos of past SG's check out http://www.everythingsg.com .

[Gtoledo3]

One thing about them is, and I'm surprised no one mentioned it, the quality of the neck joint is pretty variable. On a lot of them the joint is just not substantial enough, which makes it more susceptable to going out of tune with temperature/humidity changes. This doesn't mean that the guitars don't sound great; it's just something you should be aware of if you're going to buy one. -GT3

[JonnyM]

Sure trash SG's. While you're at it don't forget SG's are freakin' notorious for snapping their heads off if you look at 'em crosswise. By best friend back in the early 70's left his SG Standard leaning against the wall, and sure enough it slides over and BAM, broken headstock. And yes, he broke it again a few years later.

 

When you're looking at used SG's always check for the tell-tale crack that indicates the head's been glued back on, doesn't mean it won't be an excellent playable guitar, but clearly reduces the value and is an important bargaining tool when the seller is trying to gouge you on that "excellent" vintage axe.

 

Knowledge is Power

 

JonnyM

[retroguitarist]

i love my 74 sg. I prefer my Authentis 57 Black Beauty Les Paul any day over it. but since i got my 3 prs's and one ibanez i say i love those the most. but the sug i use for certain things like ill use it if someone asks for a gig that i shouldn't play loud on i use that.

[fantasticsound]

Originally posted by JonnyM:

Sure trash SG's. While you're at it don't forget SG's are freakin' notorious for snapping their heads off if you look at 'em crosswise. By best friend back in the early 70's left his SG Standard leaning against the wall, and sure enough it slides over and BAM, broken headstock. And yes, he broke it again a few years later.

 

When you're looking at used SG's always check for the tell-tale crack that indicates the head's been glued back on, doesn't mean it won't be an excellent playable guitar, but clearly reduces the value and is an important bargaining tool when the seller is trying to gouge you on that "excellent" vintage axe.

 

Knowledge is Power

 

JonnyM

Yeah, the Norlin years (1970 - 1984) were particularly bad for Gibsons. There are many good ones, but Norlin's first move was to cut every corner to save money. They ended up adding the volute (sculpted neck/headstock joint) to add mass to the neck structure, but this is a poor bandaid for the problem. As Jonny said, if you find one that plays well from the 1970's, but has telltale repair clues, it still may be a sweet guitar to own if you treat it with kid gloves.