Buying a used Gibson SG.

[Jessie Sammler]

I have a friend who wants to buy a used SG. He says he's been seeing Standards on Craig's List for around $600. Aside from real vintage pieces that would be out of his price range, are there any production years of the SG Standard that he should avoid?

Thanks,

Jessie

 

[80's_Metal]

Re: Buying a used Gibson SG.

beware craigs list altogether. IMHO of course. lots of ppl getting burned there daily.

 

[tab]

Re: Buying a used Gibson SG.

$600 for a SG Standard is a solid price as long as the guitar isn't beat to hell -
SG Classics are even tough to come by for that price.

All of the Standards I've seen and played are close to the same - the reissues have some inlay flair and custom neck profiles though. I don't know that there was a bad or preferred year for your every-day SG Standard though.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: Buying a used Gibson SG.

I would check the SG out before you buy it. If it is local, go play it and check its condition

 

[blueman335]

Re: Buying a used Gibson SG.

$600 for a SG Standard is a solid price as long as the guitar isn't beat to hell -
SG Classics are even tough to come by for that price.

Gibson significantly changed the SG in the early 1970's, and had a string of ugly models then, that don't have as much resale value. It wasn't until the early 1980's that they went back to the original 1960's dimensions.

That's a suspiciously low price for a Std in good condition. Be wary.

 

[Dirtyking]

Re: Buying a used Gibson SG.

Ideally you want to play it first, but I got one of my SG's(an SG-X) off of the 'bay for $385 shipped. Turned out to be the best SG I've ever owned compared to my Gothic and Standard SG's.

 

[ilovebender.com]

Re: Buying a used Gibson SG.

buying used guitars and having them restored back to as good as new/custom is like a buying a new guitar, it just takes longer and you have to pay for the guitar, and the parts & labour. I find it some what satisfying though.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Buying a used Gibson SG.

+1 on the SG-X suggestion. Excellent value-for-money, straightahead Rock guitar.

My personal tastes would lead me towards the SG Junior but don't take any notice of me.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Buying a used Gibson SG.

I've been seeing dot-inlaid, big-pickguarded SGs passed off as "Standards" for a decent price lately, but IMO an SG Standard has to have the batwing pickguard and blocks (70s)or traps or it's only half-baked. Granted Glenn Tipton used one effectively on Vengeance, but really, if it doesn't at least look good....

 

[rts99]

Re: Buying a used Gibson SG.

I'm told that there we some versions of Gibson's in the 70's that were made from basswood or balsawood. Don't know it for a fact, but that's what I've been told. If so, I would avoid these.

I think if you're looking for a "vintage" guitar it would be worth some time getting educated about what to look for. If you're just looking for a budget guitar the worst thing you can do is buy sight unseen from an individual (through e-pay, Craig's or any other web site). You should inspect it and play it through an amp. Caveat Emptor.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Buying a used Gibson SG.

He's not interested in a vintage piece for collector/investment value; I think he just wants a solid player -- hence the interest in the 1997 model.

He's definitely looking to buy from a local Craig's Lister so he can go play the guitar before buying.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Buying a used Gibson SG.

I'm told that there we some versions of Gibson's in the 70's that were made from basswood or balsawood. Don't know it for a fact, but that's what I've been told. If so, I would avoid these.

Never heard that one, but they did use alder/poplar on some models in the early 80s. I had an '83 Explorer that was alder.

 

[richard parker]

Re: Buying a used Gibson SG.

Gibson made some real dogs in the seventies so avoid them. SG's can very enormously in tone from very bright to very dark and all points in between. If I was trying one out, new or used, I'd want to hear it through my own amp.

 

[bluesbend]

Re: Buying a used Gibson SG.

Be carefull that it's not one of those $250 Chinese knock offs.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Buying a used Gibson SG.

I'm told that there we some versions of Gibson's in the 70's that were made from basswood or balsawood.

Never heard that one, but they did use alder/poplar on some models in the early 80s. I had an '83 Explorer that was alder.

Gibson + Balsa = chambered/weight-reduced models. e.g. LP Studio Lite, LP Studio Lite MIII.

 

[Grandturk]

Re: Buying a used Gibson SG.

I've been seeing dot-inlaid, big-pickguarded SGs passed off as "Standards" for a decent price lately, but IMO an SG Standard has to have the batwing pickguard and blocks (70s)or traps or it's only half-baked. Granted Glenn Tipton used one effectively on Vengeance, but really, if it doesn't at least look good....

SG Standards have had crown inlays and large pickguards for a long, long time.

I'm told that there we some versions of Gibson's in the 70's that were made from basswood or balsawood. Don't know it for a fact, but that's what I've been told. If so, I would avoid these.

You may be thinking of Walnut. Gibson made a few models out of Walnut in the 70's and early 80's, including, but not limited to, the "The" series, as in "The Paul" and "The SG." Others were percieved to be Walnut because of the brown transparant finish they used as opposed to the classic Heritage Red. The Brown finish was always just called "walnut" whether it was over mahagony or something else.

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Buying a used Gibson SG.

SG Standards have had crown inlays and large pickguards for a long, long time.

I think that's what he's getting at. You sometimes see people trying to sell an SG Special as a Standard.