Gibson SG Tribute or PRS S2 Standard 24 Satin?

Rex_Rocker

Well-known member
I'm trying to decide what my next guitar will be.

Right now, my No. 1 is a Gibson Les Paul Tribute. Love the tone and the feel. The look is growing on me too. Would prefer it it was either a solid color top and a slimmer neck with bigger frets, but it is what it is. I've also got an Epi 1959 Standard which I'm in the process of improving, so I'm set on LP's for now, I think. I've also got a Squier Esquire, which is kinda cheap and ratty, and I love it for what it is.

I've never owned an SG. I've always LOVED the looks. Like OG pointy metal guitars. However, I'm not sure about the neck dive problem. 99% of the time, I'm playing sat down, so I'm not super concerned about that. I'm not super sold on a thick rounded neck profile on an SG, though. And the tiny frets.

I've been kind of love/hate with PRS, but I tried one at the store, and I kinda liked it. Didn't love the neck profile, but I didn't hate it as much as I thought I would. Didn't hate the bridge, though I definetly definitely definitely prefer a Tune-O. I do think I would find the shape more comfortable overall. And honestly, aesthetically... I kinda like the Modern-ish meets Classic-ish hybrid look a lot too.

In either case, I just love modding guitars. Swapping hardware and pickups out and trying out new stuff. So modability is a big factor, and the SG might be the winner here. But maybe there is stuff that can fit the PRS as well which I don't know about?

Tonewise... I don't know. I mean, I've always wanted an SG, and I'm aware SG's are bitey and raunchy. But what is the PRS sound? It looks like the PRS bridge pickup is much further away from the bridge itself than what it's like on an SG. Should I expect smoother/fatter tone when comparing both assuming they both have the same bridge pickup in them? And how does the 25" scale contribute to the tone? 'Cause maybe I'm overgeneralizing, but I was under the impression 25.5" guitars usually sound twangier and more Fender-like (even if they're made of Mahogany or Gibson-ish woods) than 24.75" which tend to sounds growlier and fatter. Or am I overgeneralizing?

So... not sure... help me decide? Please!

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Oh... looks like they updated the 2023 S2 Standard 24 with a Wide Thin neck. That honestly throws it way ahead if I can find a newer one.
 
I like the wide thin more than the wide fat, but personally, I don't like 24 fret guitars, either. However, the balance of the PRS will be better than the SG.
 
I like the wide thin more than the wide fat, but personally, I don't like 24 fret guitars, either. However, the balance of the PRS will be better than the SG.

I have no use for 24 frets either, and I do prefer the tone of the neck pickup on a 22-fret neck... but there is something aesthetically pleasing about a 24-fretter, LOL. And it's not like the SG has the pickup in the "sweet spot" either even if it's 22 frets. Not too bothered, though. My Les Pauls all have FAT-sounding neck pickups that I can reach for. Some inherentely different-sounding neck pickup guitars would be cool. Not that I use the neck pickup all that much, though.

However... that bridge on the PRS... not sure how I feel about it, TBH. Seems a bit higher-maintenance than the Tune-O, TBH. And it's more Fender-feeling. I don't usually have a problem adapting, but I do prefer the raised feel of a good Tune-O slightly.

Not sure...
 
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I had a SG Classic (P-90) and still have an SG (standard humbucker model). Yes, they neck dive. I use straps that don't slip and/or keep my hands on it while playing.

I'd be curious to try the PRS. Vibrato would be handy. Like the straight string through the nut. Also liked the neck when I played my friends SE years ago.

My Jackson is 25+" and it's snappy and twangy on-demand, so I could believe the PRS has some snap.

I don't think you'd be disappointed with either. Just a question of how much adapting are you willing to do to get 'your sound' out of either.
 
You are right, the neck pickup in an SG isn't in the 'right' place either.

The bridge on the S2 models is a cool piece of engineering. It does feel more Fendery, and the strings don't sit as high as they do off of an SG body. I also like the location of the PRS controls, better.
 
The neck profile is making me lean towards the PRS. But I still don't like the trem. It's fine, I can always block it, but he fact that it has a pickguard might mean if I use my typical active pickups in it, replacing the battery might be a drag.
 
I'm an SG and PRS fanatic so this is pretty interesting.

From a quality perspective you really have to look Gibson's over good.. if it was made on a Wednesday the chances are better :-) never had any PRS issues whatsoever.

24.75 to 25 is not a very big move, but I like it. Some of it is feel, but there is a bit of a tonal difference. The way I look at it a little extra snap and sparkle isn't bad because you can always roll the tone back if you need to kill it.

Regarding tone overall, PRSs tend to be a bit thicker and may have more sustain than their Gibson equivalent. The PRSs aren't the variable, but Gibson's can be significantly different.

With that said, for me it would come down to the role. If you want an SG for what SGs do, the rude cutting snarly thing that cleans up nicely, and the quality is there, the SG will probably win.

If you want a guitar that can get close to the SG thing and give you some more fatness, with all things equal the PRS could win.

Keep in mind that I've put bass roll offs on many , many PRSs so that they could get thinner and get bitey.

Never once had to do that mod on an SG :-)
 
Yeah, I'm honestly leaning for the PRS here.

I've had all sorts of trouble with PRS SE quality, but these S2's seem pretty well-regarded.

It's just the pickguard... I guess I'd be limited with passives with that one. Or get the Fishman rechargeable battery, but I don't know how a guitar would look with a USB port on the pickguard, LOL.
 
The PRS looks more unique so I'd vote for that one!

However, I have a Guild Polara (in between the two) that comes back from the shop today, I love that thing! It has split options as well as series, parallel so good!
 
Pick whichever one you think looks better, because you'll pick it up more often.

For me this would be an easy choice, I really miss my SG, that thing was awesome!
 
you can see what daves talking about in the pics in the first post. the sg neck pup is set back from the end of the fingerboard
 
Yeah. SG's are kind of odd in pickup placement. The bridge pickup is extra mega close to the bridge and the neck pickup is really far away from the "sweet spot" 22 frets guitars usually have it in.

I kinda like the bridge pickup being so close to the bridge. Extra mega bitey! And I'm not sure I like the pickup being so far away on the PRS. It's not abnormally far, but I do remember I had a Jackson which had the bridge pickup like a mile away from the bridge (like they usually do on Jackson imports), and it was REALLY dull and took almost quasy-neck-pickup characteristics.
 
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totally get what you are saying, but i dont mind the bridge pup being a bit further away. for my blues/rock/funk stuff, and using the lower output pups i tend to prefer, i dont need that much bite.
 
Generally I want my neck pick up at the "24th fret" and yes the SG pup is really close to the bridge..

But the variation is a big part of the classic SG sound and it just works.

I've played a ton of different SGs, one of my favorite was a three mini version... however, if you're after the classic SG sound, those pups are right where they need to be.

That brings up an interesting issue about aesthetics. I'm a totally "form follows function" kind of guy, so I really don't care what it looks like if it gets me the sound I'm looking for...
 
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