GIbson SG - Which one to buy?

xRandomreg

Hi All

I am gassing for a Gibson SG as I am a huge AC/DC fan, however having had the original Angus Young Sig I was disappointed that it didn't stay in tune and the recent lightning bold one seemed to have a very narrow neck

I am therefore looking at the Standards or a 61 reissue

Any advice on what's best and any guide on what price I should be paying

Thanks

Andrew

stimpsonslostson

Did you get the nut checked on the Angus model? I've had a couple of SGs & tuning problems are almost always a nut issue. 

As far as model recommendations go- I think
P90 + SG = heaven. 

But if it's AC/DC you're after, you'll obviously want humbuckers. 

dazzajl

Go for the real AC/DC sound and get a Gretch double cut Jet

darthed1981

The basic Gibson one (the faded?  I dunno) without pickup covers sounds superb, played one in PMT one time.

I just didn't like the neck, a bit wide and flat for me.

xRandomreg

@dazzajl - I am also looking at the new MY signature Gretsch but had one of the early MY2 and didn't really get on with it but it's certainly on the radar

xRandomreg

@stimpsonslostson - didn't know that at time re the nut but it's putting me off a bit a the moment - one came up a little while ago and I wanted to buy but just didn't want to commit - I guess I could always drop it down to Feline for a once over as I am lucky enough to live close to them

Moe_Zambeek

Personally I’d call up Jaydee and place an order but the wait time is a year...

xRandomreg

Jaydee?

Bigsby

Randomreg said:

I am therefore looking at the Standards or a 61 reissue

It's really difficult to give advice on SGs - there are so many variables and I don't know which ones really matter to you, in terms of pickups, neck profiles, pick guards, body carves, etc. 

If you like the idea of a 61RI, you might want to look at the Standards from 2013 & 2014 - those years were pretty close to the '61 in many respects. They also came with a lot more colour choices. My own preference is for the '14 (which I did buy over the '13), as I can't stand the thick nibs Gibson USA have been using on bound necks for the last 20 years or so - see what I mean about variables and preferences? The '14 had fret over binding and coil splitters. You may prefer the '13 as it doesn't have the 12th fret inlay of the '14, which may matter if you really want to recreate the look of one of AY's SGs.

If you like thicker necks and batwings, the '16 HP would be worth looking at, or the '17 HP if you want an angel wing pickguard; those HP models also seem to have a deeper carve around the horns (not quite a '61), whereas, for some reason, Gibson put really shallow carves on the 'T' models in those years. Personally, I really like the wider 'soloist' necks on those HP models.

blueskunk

I’d buy the awesome SG Classic in classifieds , 2 p90s and hard case

stickyfiddle

I really like the batwing Standards (anything from 1990-2010-ish). For 600 quid you can't go wrong - nice middle-sized neck. Pickups are good for rock and a bit bland for anything else, but easily replaced. And I like nibs

The 61s are nice guitars with 57 Classics, which suit SGs very well. But more money, and more often neck heavy (due to bigger headstock and different strap button placement). 

Since 2012 they've been fucking about with the specs so much I've lost track, but the one I played in Perth a year ago was a nice guitar. Probably a 2017-model-year Std. I didn't like the bright white binding but otherwise it was great. 

xRandomreg

@Bigsby - You hit the bail on the head - so many changes in Gibson models from year to year and I gave up trying to work out what I want hence going back to what I know with the 2000-2005 standard or a 61 reissue which seems to fit the bill

Maybe I should get the sig model again and get the tuning issue sorted

Def want Humbuckers - can always change out and I prefer the wider neck , not too thin a profile and I like the nibs

Thanks

Moe_Zambeek

Randomreg said:

Jaydee?

Jaydee custom guitars.

https://www.jaydeecustomguitars.co.uk/donnington_sg.html

xRandomreg

thanks @Moe_Zambeek ;

TTBZ

stimpsonslostson said:

Did you get the nut checked on the Angus model? I've had a couple of SGs & tuning problems are almost always a nut issue. 

As far as model recommendations go- I think
P90 + SG = heaven. 

But if it's AC/DC you're after, you'll obviously want humbuckers. 

Yeah agreed - since a proper setup my SG is pretty much as stable as any other guitar I've had, tuning wise.

I struggle with a bridge P90 in my SG though, maybe it's just mine or the ones I've tried so far. Always sounds a bit too thin and lacking in balls compared to a humbucker. Which annoys me as in the right guitar P90s are my favourite! I have a neck P90 in mine which I love but even the Bare Knuckle Pig 90 I had sounded a bit lacking.

dazzajl

Randomreg said:

@dazzajl - I am also looking at the new MY signature Gretsch but had one of the early MY2 and didn't really get on with it but it's certainly on the radar

I was just joking of course but damn fine work sir. Will be a fabulous pair. 

stimpsonslostson

TTBZ said:

stimpsonslostson said:

Did you get the nut checked on the Angus model? I've had a couple of SGs & tuning problems are almost always a nut issue. 

As far as model recommendations go- I think
P90 + SG = heaven. 

But if it's AC/DC you're after, you'll obviously want humbuckers. 

Yeah agreed - since a proper setup my SG is pretty much as stable as any other guitar I've had, tuning wise.

I struggle with a bridge P90 in my SG though, maybe it's just mine or the ones I've tried so far. Always sounds a bit too thin and lacking in balls compared to a humbucker. Which annoys me as in the right guitar P90s are my favourite! I have a neck P90 in mine which I love but even the Bare Knuckle Pig 90 I had sounded a bit lacking.

I have the opposite issue: I dislike neck humbuckers- I find them a bit muddy, a good p90 always keeps the clarity I like. 

That said, my main guitars don't have neck pickups at all. I have an Esquire & SG Jr which just sounds like rock and roll to me. 

TTBZ

Yeah I'm not keen on neck humbuckers, nor neck pickups in general either. Just wish I could find a bridge P90 that works well in my SG.

TheMarlin

A red one. 

andyp

I found the same nut / tuning issue with my 2016 Faded. I had the nut replaced and a setup done and it’s now super stable and plays amazingly. I’ve no idea what neck shape it has, but I really really like it. Not too fat and not too skinny. I’ve been wanting a 2016 P90 Standard for ages but just can’t justify it. May try a set of P90s in my Faded though for a while. Mine has the 490R/T combo humbuckers and there’s nothing wrong with them at all.

One issue I had was with the PCB being too big for the cavity. My Dad and I replaced that with standard wiring and upgraded the pots. Made a huge difference. I expect the Standards etc of similar age could have this issue too.

xRandomreg

thanks @andyp the nut seems the key - you'd think Gibson might have got it right by now