Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

[kmk108]

I've always loved les pauls. I used to have a epi les paul with the hot rodded humbucker set and my fender strat, but I needed money and sold the les paul. I got some money, and missed the good ole humbuckers, so I picked up a Gibson SG faded. I've had it for a little while and I find myself missing the Les Paul sound and sustain. I toyed around with the idea of selling the sg, and using the extra money to upgrade an epiphone les paul. I soon found out that i wouldn't get enough for the sg, and would basically be traded my sg for a new les paul and not have enough left over to do any real mods.

So my question is, what should I do? I like Les Pauls better, but getting around 400 something back which is just enough for a epi standard just sounds wrong to my brand-associating mind.

Saving a little more for a studio and then also having to mod that doesn't sound too great unless there is a significant upgrade from the studio to the epiphone.

To give you an idea, I was wanting to completely change the wiring, pots, and switches, and change the pickups

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

Can you stand saving up some extra scratch and waiting? I wouldn't bother buying something that I'm not (mostly) convinced I'll like.

 

[kmk108]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

Well, every epiphone les paul standard I've had, i've liked. I've never owned a gibson les paul, but have heard that its also a hit and miss like epiphones. The thought that fuels my idea of the epiphone is that i'll end up changing out all the electronics. There's people who own gibsons that bash epiphones, and theres people who own epiphones who bash the epiphone haters. I've got some time, so If i find a well priced studio, i'd be all over it, but if I had to get a guitar today, I wouldn't want to spend 1000 for a guitar i'm going to mod anyway.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

I'd rather have a real SG than a fake Les Paul. You can upgrade an Epiphone 'til the cows come home, and it'll never be a Gibson. Take it from someone who's owned three and still plays them. They're great values, but there are reasons why people pay more for a Gibson. They might be hit-or-miss, but when they hit, they really hit.

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

what dont you like about your sg? why not mod that? cheaper with better results than buying a new guitar knowing you'll have to mod everything on it!

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

I've got a faded Flying V that's basically a different-shaped version of the faded SG, and it's an absolute monster. A good setup and a bone nut are all it needed. I play it a hell of a lot more than my Epi LP Custom.

 

[Grandturk]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

I wouldn't settle for second rate. Save up or sell off to buy the real deal. You'll be glad you did.

 

[kmk108]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

but is it really worth $900 more to get a studio that i'm going to change a lot of the parts anyways? I know gibsons are great guitars and that a lot of people won't go back from owning a gibson les paul, but right now, playing 1300 for a studio or 800 for the faded studio AND THEN changing out the pickups, wiring, etc just doesn't sound right when I don't have that kind of money.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

but is it really worth $900 more to get a studio that i'm going to change a lot of the parts anyways? I know gibsons are great guitars and that a lot of people won't go back from owning a gibson les paul, but right now, playing 1300 for a studio or 800 for the faded studio AND THEN changing out the pickups, wiring, etc just doesn't sound right when I don't have that kind of money.

What makes you think you'll have to change everything out?

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

but is it really worth $900 more to get a studio that i'm going to change a lot of the parts anyways? I know gibsons are great guitars and that a lot of people won't go back from owning a gibson les paul, but right now, playing 1300 for a studio or 800 for the faded studio AND THEN changing out the pickups, wiring, etc just doesn't sound right when I don't have that kind of money.

Another option is to buy a Gibson and wait on changing out the electronics.

 

[kmk108]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

what dont you like about your sg? why not mod that? cheaper with better results than buying a new guitar knowing you'll have to mod everything on it!

There's just something about the feel, body size, and sound that i like about the lp better than the sg.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

Another option is to buy a Gibson and wait on changing out the electronics.

+1. It's not going to turn to dust while you save up the money.

 

[kmk108]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

What makes you think you'll have to change everything out?

I know that the pickups will be changed. They never stay the same in any of my guitars, especially since sd pickups have 4 conductor and gibson are 2 conductor.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

There's just something about the feel, body size, and sound that i like about the lp better than the sg.

Then you should get rid of the SG—at least at a point when you can afford to get something that you'll like immediately or after some modifications. The last thing you want to do is put money into yet another guitar you won't be all that satisfied with. Go with your gut.

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

ye i thought epiphone les pauls were the beez kneez untill i played a gibson, with an epiphone everything needs modding right away, with a gibson nothing really "needs" modding right away, its mainly your preferences and the odd upgrade, but a stock gibson will still be better then an ugraded epiphone, think of how good an upgraded gibson would be

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

I know that the pickups will be changed. They never stay the same in any of my guitars, especially since sd pickups have 4 conductor and gibson are 2 conductor.

Depends on the SD pickup. A lot of the PAF-types come with 2-conductor wiring as an option.

 

[kmk108]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

Another option is to buy a Gibson and wait on changing out the electronics.

The issue I take with buying a g lp is that I just don't see myself paying that much for guitar when I just play because I like to. I'm not in a band and don't plan to make a living off of playing guitar. I'm a college student and find it hard to save money as it is, but saving up to buy a nice guitar just doesn't work out when i'm going to change things about it.

I know it sounds like i just posted this question and just turned down all input, which I'm not. I just hate to pay 1300 for a guitar.

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

u might like the sound of the stock pickups in a gibson, they get it right sometimes!

 

[kmk108]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

Then you should get rid of the SG—at least at a point when you can afford to get something that you'll like immediately or after some modifications. The last thing you want to do is put money into yet another guitar you won't be all that satisfied with. Go with your gut.

I think i'd be happy with an epiphone les paul after switching out just the pickups. The other electronics will slowly move their way into the guitar.

I'll be going to my local guitar store later and playing a few epis and a couple gibson sg's to see the big differences.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Gibson SG faded or Epiphone Les Paul

I'll be going to my local guitar store later and playing a few epis and a couple gibson sg's to see the big differences.

I think that's your best approach. Let us know how it goes. Good luck!

- Keith