I want to buy my first SG, SG owner input please. :)

ChickenFingers

ChickenFingers

New member
OK, I have a ton of strats, and strat-type guitars, never owned anything else!!...I've always wanted a Gibson SG, a solid color one, none of this sunburst or classic look business.. now, before I plunk down big money for one (675-1000), do you think I should give a Epiphone a try and see how I like it? I got my eye on one for $200 (Canadian), G-400, in mint condition, set neck, mahogany body (most of my strats are alder or basswood).

OK so what should I look for, and I'm not against modifying or piecing one together.

How would you describe the tone compared to most bolt on neck strats, I'm looking to play blues, detuned metal and rock, and music like that, and want a gritty tone. Also what pickups would you recommend for it, either the epiphone or a real SG. Thanks

http://vancouver.craigslist.org/msg/350543615.html

episgfbody.jpg
 
Re: I want to buy my first SG, SG owner input please. :)

I have a couple Epiphones and with a little pickup swap they sound and play awesome in my humble opinion of course.

I'd recommend a Duncan Distortion for the bridge, or perhaps an invader.
Leave the neck pup, not that many people in drop tune playing metal play their dang neck pup anyhow.

My two cents worth.
 
Re: I want to buy my first SG, SG owner input please. :)

SGs are sweet. Compared to a Strat, expect more bass, more mids, and more people saying "Hey that's a sweet guitar."

Those Epiphone G400 aren't bad, anything lower than G400 is a bolt-on POS if you ask me. As for pickups, I dunno. I have a Gibson 500T in my SG but I'm thinking of changing it to either a Custom Custom or a Distortion.
 
Re: I want to buy my first SG, SG owner input please. :)

man except a much smoother tone overall! These things have the smoothest overdrive/distortion ever! They lack a bit of the "bite" of a Les Paul and don't really have the twang of Fenders. They are just beautiful melodic instruments. I didn't expect the smoothness from a guitar typically known for hard rock, but it's totally there!
 
Re: I want to buy my first SG, SG owner input please. :)

Awesome, thanks for the tips! For pickups, what about blackouts? Or even the dave mustaine livewire pickups with will at least look semi-stock.
 
Re: I want to buy my first SG, SG owner input please. :)

I haven't been able to experiment much with the pickups in my G400, but the C5 i dropped in it really melded well with the mid-happy SG shape. The slightly scooped C5 really balanced the EQ.

For me, the G400 was a better buy than the faded series Gibsons (I attest the finish) and I couldn't justify spending $1000 on an honest Gibson at the time. The G400 has filled in pretty nicely.
 
Re: I want to buy my first SG, SG owner input please. :)

If you can get a G-400 for two hundred and it is in good shape I would get it.....There very nice.....
 
Re: I want to buy my first SG, SG owner input please. :)

If I were you, I'd go straight for the gibson, either a new faded finish one, or maybe a used one from ebay. I dont really trust epiphones because everyone that I know who owns one has had some type of problem with them.
 
Re: I want to buy my first SG, SG owner input please. :)

dgk2448 said:
If I were you, I'd go straight for the gibson, either a new faded finish one, or maybe a used one from ebay. I dont really trust epiphones because everyone that I know who owns one has had some type of problem with them.
Click to expand...

I've have never owned an Epi SG, so I can't comment on those, but I have owned Epi Les Pauls... Epi's are great guitars, but they just aren't the same as a Gibson...

I would say save up for the Gibson. I even like the stock 490/498 pups that come in the standards.
 
Re: I want to buy my first SG, SG owner input please. :)

I'd get a Gibson. You can change the pickups and pots, but wood quality and finishes are a bit harder.

I'd get an SG Special ($900ish, probably bargain down to $750ish or go used) and put in a Gibson '57 Classic and '57 Classic Plus, or SD/BKP/ETC's equivalent. And then an RS GuitarWorks electronics upgrade kit.
230141.jpg


It may seem like a lot of $$$ for the first month or two, but 5 years from now, you'll be glad you got it instead of a compromise. To quote some rapper I heard my dad talking about... 'Plan ahead and your life will be better'.
 
Re: I want to buy my first SG, SG owner input please. :)

I'm going to say don't get a Gibson. The stuff that I've played that's by Gibson, especially the faded, is borderline. I've only played the middle to lower end stuff, because I'm afraid to touch the other stuff. :D

I just don't think they deserve the amazing rep that they have.

I've played an Faded SG, Faded V, an SG Classic, A LP double-cut, various LPs. None of them were worth it. IMO.


I'd go with MIJ, I haven't heard a whole lot about them that's negative. It's cheaper too. I wouldn't just fall for hype - try before you buy and decide what you want. Don't buy a guitar for resale value. It's nice if one has a nice resale values but you shouldn't need to sell it, in most cases. ;)
 
Re: I want to buy my first SG, SG owner input please. :)

I've played the lower end Gibson SG's (special and special faded), and the higher end Epiphones (G-400, G-400 deluxe), and the Epiphones were much nicer. I'd say buy an Epiphone and then swap the pickups if you are unhappy with the stock ones. You'll be much happier.
 
Re: I want to buy my first SG, SG owner input please. :)

mrturtle_91 said:
I've played the lower end Gibson SG's (special and special faded), and the higher end Epiphones (G-400, G-400 deluxe), and the Epiphones were much nicer. I'd say buy an Epiphone and then swap the pickups if you are unhappy with the stock ones. You'll be much happier.
Click to expand...

+1 I've played some really nice G400s.
 
Re: I want to buy my first SG, SG owner input please. :)

OK, I bought the G400 today, I checked it out and unfortunatly it wasn't in as good condition as it seemed in the pictures, it had a number of dings on the top and bottom (just barely were you can't see from the front), 2 small dings on the neck, one wasn't an issue, the other was on the neck where your palm touches on the bottom... I could feel it, but it didn't bother me much...neck was dead straight and set neck, great action, no buzzes, frets in great shape...stock pickups are weak sauce, I will be changing them for sure, one volume pot was scratchy.... part of the nut by E string got broken at some point and crazyglued back on so I'll be replacing that...I ended up paying $140 after seeing the condition, pretty good deal since that's what the really cheap ones with the bolt on necks go for. Tone was nice!! It was missing the pickup cover, but he threw in one from an older SG, it almost fits needs a bit of trimming, and one of the screws doesn't line up.

When I got home, with my cheap 12watt practice amp I could tell the tone was a bit different but not by much, I need to get a good amp BADLY and replace the pickups. One thing that I never had a problem with on strats, when I mute a chord with my palm, I get this low end WHOOOMMMMPPP!!! Why is that, perhaps the strings are to close to the nickel covers and transmitting low end vibes?

af049d21.jpg


fbb513b6.jpg


Also bought some pickups for various guitars, dimarzio tone zone humbucker, dimarzio fast track 1 humbucking single coil size...and the complete pickups and electronics from a 2000 fender american standard strat for one I'm building...got the whole shebang for $180 which is a crazy deal, especially the fender setup!! The guy I bought that stuff from is a guitar maniac, over 40 guitars, 20+ amplifiers, built in studio, mobile studio!!
 
Re: I want to buy my first SG, SG owner input please. :)

OK, I need some tips or help setting it up, I guess I didn't play it in enough places at the shop but when I got home and started playing I noticed that the strings weren't buzzing but hitting the frets so they wouldn't ring out well
at the 12th fret and higher...the action was set really low. I raised the bridge on the low side and it improved things a lot but I still can't play a chord at the 12th fret without a loud percussive THWAK sound. I've raised the action about as much as I want, don't really want to raise it higher and I don't think it will solve the problem, maby the neck is too straight?? On these guitars can adjusting the truss rod help this problem? Maby I should get a professional to set it up.
 
Re: I want to buy my first SG, SG owner input please. :)

Also another thing I noticed about Sg's, the body is horizontal and the neck dips down at an angle and the pickups and bridge slant down like a wedge shape, interesting.
 
Re: I want to buy my first SG, SG owner input please. :)

ChickenFingers said:
Maby I should get a professional to set it up.
Click to expand...


that's a good idea. As knowledgable as we are, the problem sounds like it could be a number of things. It's a lot easier just to give it to a good tech.
 
Re: I want to buy my first SG, SG owner input please. :)

.. the mahogany grain on epiphone SG's is better than Gibson SG's!!!!... lol.. I wonder what's under those epi veneers
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Jermo3178
NGD Triple Threat
Replies
5
Views
81
80's_Metal
80's_Metal
Aceman
1 Year and 3 months guitar sober
2
Replies
25
Views
242
Mincer
Mincer
IMENATOR
What happened to Planet Waves cables?
Replies
5
Views
111
fretburner
F
blakejcan
I want to buy your old project that's just sitting around
2
Replies
26
Views
303
pittbull
P
G
What should I do with this Kramer 210, 1990
Replies
2
Views
74
greekdude
G
Back
Top