Cheapie SG review demo & thoughts on SGs vs LPs

[pekbro]

heh see! I'm not the only one who thinks dem SGs is fugly...

[tapper mike]

I'm with you. I demo'd a used SG back in the 80's The high e string was way way to close to the end of the fretboard. Anytime I wanted to do a pull off it would slip around and get caught up on the frets (sprouts) I think it was a first year Tennessee but it could have been a last year Kalamazoo

[Naillerz78]

They’re revered because Jimmy Page and Peter Green played them. That’s about it.

Ps … u forgot Slash!

[tapper mike]

Les Paul's are not SG's even Les Paul said that, he hated them so much that originally they were named Les Paul Special Guitars and he demanded that Gibson take his name off.

I love me a good 70's era LP tone but not the rest of it especially the weight. Hate the tuning stability but one could say the same for 50's~70's strats.

I Love the new Les Paul Supremes. Love the finish, Love the fact they've finally slimmed the neck (sorta) Love the relief they've created at the neck. Love the weight relief. Mostly love the tone. To my ears it's the finest solid body guitar ever made.

[guitarzan]

Specifically regarding a “cheapie SG”, I bought a used Gibson Faded SG Special for something like $350. It was a while back (probably over 15 years ago), but I consider it one of my best bang-for-buck buys ever.

It is a faded brown one, so kind of ugly, but because of the no body filler and super light nitro overspray it is one of the lightest and most resonant solid body guitars I have played. Plus it’s fairly rapidly become a natural “relic” and I really have become attached to it.

I added one of the old style Les Trems right away (precursor to the current Duesenbergs that are quite popular now). You can use pretty much any vibrato arm you want on those early Les Trems and I put one of those aftermarket Vibrola trem arms on so the whole thing looks right on the SG.

Ultimately I just do not like any full size humbuckers I have ever tried including the 490s that came on the Faded Special. Tonerider HB size P90 were better, but still not my thing… so I am next going to mount vintage spec Firebird pickups.

Thanks to the batwing pickguard all I need is to switch to one intended for soapbar P90s, which I have had onhand for probably 10 years and still not got around to installing yet – I have several other guitars, went off on a big Gretsch full hollowbody/Dynasonic tangent for years, now into short scale… but I’m thinking this thread signifies that the time is nigh.

[Uncle E]

I Love the new Les Paul Supremes. Love the finish, Love the fact they've finally slimmed the neck (sorta) Love the relief they've created at the neck. Love the weight relief. Mostly love the tone. To my ears it's the finest solid body guitar ever made.

I had one. Sounded and played fantastic. Any complaints about Gibson quality don't apply to the Supreme and Traditional, IME.

[Naillerz78]

Specifically regarding a “cheapie SG”, I bought a used Gibson Faded SG Special for something like $350. It was a while back (probably over 15 years ago), but I consider it one of my best bang-for-buck buys ever.

It is a faded brown one, so kind of ugly, but because of the no body filler and super light nitro overspray it is one of the lightest and most resonant solid body guitars I have played. Plus it’s fairly rapidly become a natural “relic” and I really have become attached to it.

I added one of the old style Les Trems right away (precursor to the current Duesenbergs that are quite popular now). You can use pretty much any vibrato arm you want on those early Les Trems and I put one of those aftermarket Vibrola trem arms on so the whole thing looks right on the SG.

Ultimately I just do not like any full size humbuckers I have ever tried including the 490s that came on the Faded Special. Tonerider HB size P90 were better, but still not my thing… so I am next going to mount vintage spec Firebird pickups.

Thanks to the batwing pickguard all I need is to switch to one intended for soapbar P90s, which I have had onhand for probably 10 years and still not got around to installing yet – I have several other guitars, went off on a big Gretsch full hollowbody/Dynasonic tangent for years, now into short scale… but I’m thinking this thread signifies that the time is nigh.

That sounds rad. I wanna see a pic !
Firebird pickups are a great idea that’d be an interesting sound.

I had a LP standard faded
Got it at Guitar Centre sunset Blv on sale during a holiday to the states. The fadeds are good value.
Wish I’d spent the money on an SG or 335 or something else now but I was pretty stoked at the time .. An actual GIBSON LES PAUL!!

She was my “baby” for years.
I used to polish it and just look at it in the case a lot in awe (lol) . Almost afraid to play it in case I dinged it. They do look the business IRL the Gibsons.

Mannn that GC store was like paradise . I was a newbie fhen never seen a proper big store like that… jaw-dropping range.
The’ vintage section’ of the shop also
I remember I played a vintage Gretsch “ Corvette’ through a vintage fender silver face something what a sound!

Artic Monkeys were there that particular day gear shopping.

also saw Billy Gibbons across the road at some famous Mexican food joint!
My claim to fame. Shoulda asked him to autograph my new guitar

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Some of these models names sound like fast food orders. "Let me get the Gibson SG Deluxe combo." "I'll have the Les Paul Supreme with fries."

Dylan Adams covered the differences of a Les Paul versus an SG from a slide perspective. I thought it was interesting.


From a tone perspective, he describes both as being somewhat similar on the bridge pickup, but very different on the neck pickup due to the position of the SG neck being a little further off the neck. From a slide playability perspective, the SG wins due to the better upper access and smaller heel.

[Naillerz78]

Some of these models names sound like fast food orders. "Let me get the Gibson SG Deluxe combo." "I'll have the Les Paul Supreme with fries."

Dylan Adams covered the differences of a Les Paul versus an SG from a slide perspective. I thought it was interesting.


From a tone perspective, he describes both as being somewhat similar on the bridge pickup, but very different on the neck pickup due to the position of the SG neck being a little further off the neck. From a slide playability perspective, the SG wins due to the better upper access and smaller heel.

Yes.this. Neck pup is a few cms closer to bridge,
Much more useable middle and neck position sounds for me .can get very funky tones from an SG can’t get from an LP.

[pekbro]

thats only if you suck tho...

[Naillerz78]

thats only if you suck tho...

Haha. Give us a soundclip then Pekbro rip it up on the muddy neck position
Show us SGers what we’re missing

[pekbro]

thats only if you suck tho...

Haha. Give us a soundclip then Pekbro rip it up on the muddy neck position
Show us SGers what we’re missing

I never said I didn't suck...

*I could do it with a little practice, I don't use those frets a lot is all. Also I think what I said
is pretty accurate tbh.

[Uncle E]

It’s funny, I’ve got hours of recordings uploaded and only 2 clips of a Les Paul or an SG made it. Maybe that says something:

[guitarzan]

Specifically regarding a “cheapie SG”, I bought a used Gibson Faded SG Special for something like $350. It was a while back (probably over 15 years ago), but I consider it one of my best bang-for-buck buys ever.

It is a faded brown one, so kind of ugly, but because of the no body filler and super light nitro overspray it is one of the lightest and most resonant solid body guitars I have played. Plus it’s fairly rapidly become a natural “relic” and I really have become attached to it.

I added one of the old style Les Trems right away (precursor to the current Duesenbergs that are quite popular now). You can use pretty much any vibrato arm you want on those early Les Trems and I put one of those aftermarket Vibrola trem arms on so the whole thing looks right on the SG.

Ultimately I just do not like any full size humbuckers I have ever tried including the 490s that came on the Faded Special. Tonerider HB size P90 were better, but still not my thing… so I am next going to mount vintage spec Firebird pickups.

Thanks to the batwing pickguard all I need is to switch to one intended for soapbar P90s, which I have had onhand for probably 10 years and still not got around to installing yet – I have several other guitars, went off on a big Gretsch full hollowbody/Dynasonic tangent for years, now into short scale… but I’m thinking this thread signifies that the time is nigh.

That sounds rad. I wanna see a pic !
Firebird pickups are a great idea that’d be an interesting sound.

I had a LP standard faded
Got it at Guitar Centre sunset Blv on sale during a holiday to the states. The fadeds are good value.
Wish I’d spent the money on an SG or 335 or something else now but I was pretty stoked at the time .. An actual GIBSON LES PAUL!!

She was my “baby” for years.
I used to polish it and just look at it in the case a lot in awe (lol) . Almost afraid to play it in case I dinged it. They do look the business IRL the Gibsons.

Mannn that GC store was like paradise . I was a newbie fhen never seen a proper big store like that… jaw-dropping range.
The’ vintage section’ of the shop also
I remember I played a vintage Gretsch “ Corvette’ through a vintage fender silver face something what a sound!

Artic Monkeys were there that particular day gear shopping.

also saw Billy Gibbons across the road at some famous Mexican food joint!
My claim to fame. Shoulda asked him to autograph my new guitar

Somewhere I have a pair of cheapie (like $16 or something) Guitar Madness Firebird pickups that I bought for the SG a long time ago, but, even though most people that have them rated them highly and said they had the authentic ‘60s vintage tone, I always kind of questioned the construction (I believe I read that the G.M. guy bought stock Chinese import generic ceramic magnet FB pickup and simply replaced the magnets with Alnico 5 magnets – and that there wasn’t even bobbins per se, the coils just lay atop the magnets).

So I did some new searching and found almost universal approval for the Epiphone FB720 pickups (aka: ProBucker Minis designed by Epiphone USA, which were not around yet last time I did any research on Firebird pickups) with several preferring them over many boutique offerings. They have Alnico 2 magnets which is not authentic by most accounts, but I think it would be more to my liking and was something I had actually requested from Guitar Madness but the suggestion was discouraged. Anyway, only $26 for a pair and they are on their way!!

[edit: the FB720 is the same pickup that is in the Joe Bonamassa "Treasure" Firebird-I, and he endorsed those quite vigorously, even claiming they sound better than some of his vintage Firebird Ones in some cases.]

I think my SG has 300K pots, which seem to be recommended for FB pickups fairly often, so I’ll start with those. Now if I can just find the pick guard I bought…

I’ll post a picture if and when I get the gumption to put it all together.

[pekbro]

Yeah, its not really hard to play the high frets on a les paul, aside from the very first (or last or whatever) which is hard because its not flat. Let me try to write a quick something and I will post it. I only play original stuff since I've forgotten many songs I used to know well and am old. I go back and forth between the piano and guitar for long periods, so I blame that mostly.