Gibson SGs - various models and used market

TimmyO

I have 2 confessions:

1. I've never owned, but often admired , the Gibson SG
2. I completely lost track with various model varations in the modern market so struggle with understanding what's what used and their sensible prices

For me an SG has a bound neck, and is in a classic colour (cherry, white, or plain mahogany) and has either a batwing plate (acceptable) or a '61 style plate (preferable, but not a deal breaker) 

What model names am I looking out for and what cost-cutting variations am I avoiding? 

lovestrat74

If you are particular about the neck profile then this would be another question I'd ask as some of them have flat and wide necks and others have a more rounded profile which in my book makes a huge difference to feel and playability 

stickyfiddle

Generally, and in the modern ranges (1990 onwards)...

Special = no binding, dots, open humbuckers, mostly batwing. Usually BIG necks.
Special Faded = as Special but with "faded" finish and an ebony fretboard on the early ones (2003 and 2004-ish)
Classic = binding, dots, P90s, batwing. 
Standard = binding, trap inlays, covered humbuckers, mostly batwing but some with small guard since 2012-ish. 
61 RI = binding, traps, most vintagey neck joint and horn carving, covered humbuckers, small guard and sometimes a maestro trem

Over the last decade they've variously fucked about with that so you have Tribute models which are basically Specials with different pickups, and Standards with P90s. 

Essentially, anything called Standard should see you right. Great guitars

stickyfiddle

FWIW I like ABR-1 bridges, which were phased out around 2001, so anything before that is good.

Worth considering a pickup upgrade, as they're often specced with the 490r/498t set, which are great for Stereophonics-type rock, but not so subtle for lighter styles. They're actually a great guitar for clean-ish stuff if you put something more PAF-y in there.

TimmyO

stickyfiddle said:

FThey're actually a great guitar for clean-ish stuff if you put something more PAF-y in there.

Cheers for all that - yep sounds like Standard or 61 are my bag

And yep I hate the 490/498 pickups - 57 Classics are my fave PAF type 

stickyfiddle

TimmyO said:

stickyfiddle said:

FThey're actually a great guitar for clean-ish stuff if you put something more PAF-y in there.

Cheers for all that - yep sounds like Standard or 61 are my bag

And yep I hate the 490/498 pickups - 57 Classics are my fave PAF type 

Wis for that. I have 57s in my own SG and they're great. Mine are alnico 3 rather than the usual al2, which I think make them a tad snappier. 

Some of the Standard models since 2012 have come with 57s, but I'm not sure which tbh. You'd have to google n a per-model-year basis (thanks, Henry!)

JonHosker

Picked up a great priced 2011 Std. last week on a com sale in my local guitar shop.
Necks vary dep on year.
Still trying to work out pup type. 
Ace guitars...happy boy!

terada

There was also the 61 contour on the 13 standards.

TimmyO

Things like contour I really don't care about.

Neck profile might however be a thing hmm. I like a good round 50s style neck.

My R7 and PRS DGT are my fave necks, closely followed by a Warmoth '59 roundback' neck I have 

stimpsonslostson

TimmyO said:

Things like contour I really don't care about.

Neck profile might however be a thing hmm. I like a good round 50s style neck.

My R7 and PRS DGT are my fave necks, closely followed by a Warmoth '59 roundback' neck I have 

The 50s tribute model I had had an amazing neck. It was really chunky & immensely comfortable, add in the P90s & I wonder why the hell I sold it!*



*just remembered- It was because the neck felt SO long & the whole guitar seemed to be 2" to the left of where I wanted it to be. 

TTBZ

I have a 2008 Standard in a nice orangey cherry red (the hue varies depending on the lighting), has a nice 50s rounded neck. The only thing I don't like is the batwing pickguard, much prefer the smaller style but it's a nice guitar so I let it slide. The 490r/498t actually aren't bad in an SG imo if you're playing hard rock etc. They work better in the thinner body than they do in a LP. The trick to getting the neck to hang in the right position is to sling it down your right side slightly and tilt the neck up.

blueskunk

Classic or faded models. Must have p90s. 

Nitefly

No doubt Rocker will be along in a bit to tell you not to bother on account of neck-dive. 

I've had 3 SG's (still have 2 of them) and I've had no such issues - I simply use a wide strap.

DrJazzTap

I have a late 90s standard, I really like the 490 and 498 pickups. I've been a bit narked off by Gibson as they seem to have diluted the resell value of SGs over the last five years by releasing a million variants. Personally some of the SG faded guitars have felt incredibly cheap, getting a new Gibson for 400 quid really affects the quality. 

shaunm

I have had a real awakening to SG’s. 

I have bought two LP’s lately and an SG Standard. and the SG has quickly become my go to guitar in my house. It does everything I need it to do and sounds fantastic! 

Don’t discount those 490/498 pickups, they sound great in the SG but yes rubbish in a LP. They clean up quite well too. 

Use a large strap and there’s no dive. 

Light weight, sounds huge, can do clean, can do rock, can do subtle and has unparalleled upper fret access. Just brilliant. 

pintspiller

Try as many as you can coz they differ. Only pay what you think it's worth to you.

TTBZ

You don't really need a wide or grippy strap if you get a good well balanced one. Mine balances nicely on a Couch racer strap which isn't particularly grippy or wide.

stickyfiddle

TTBZ said:

You don't really need a wide or grippy strap if you get a good well balanced one. Mine balances nicely on a Couch racer strap which isn't particularly grippy or wide.

Same here. I have mine on a regular Levys cotton one and it's fine.

rico

shaunm said:

I have had a real awakening to SG’s. 

I have bought two LP’s lately and an SG Standard. and the SG has quickly become my go to guitar in my house. It does everything I need it to do and sounds fantastic! 

Don’t discount those 490/498 pickups, they sound great in the SG but yes rubbish in a LP. They clean up quite well too. 

Use a large strap and there’s no dive. 

Light weight, sounds huge, can do clean, can do rock, can do subtle and has unparalleled upper fret access. Just brilliant. 

Is that my SG?

Longtallronnie

Had a 2007 Classic with P90s. The neck was fairly slim compared to my 93 LP studio. No neck dive whatsoever, lovely guitar. Pretty sure the lower horn was shorter than the top. Not sure where it ended up, think @impmann had it from me? 

impmann

Yup, it went to @ChrisMusic in the end - I wish I’d kept it actually...