I'm an idiot.

CTN

CTN

The Drama Dude
Remember my non-Gibson SG thread?

Well after doing some research I've come to the conclusion that I'm not going to chance a real Gibson falling apart because of bad design. Also, if i ever meet TLD, he won't be able to break my guitar by looking at it.

So I decided to do the only thing more idiotic than looking for a better built copy of a Gibson SG.

After I earn my 2nd university degree which I'm starting next year, I'm going to build a better SG, from scratch. Slightly thicker body, bigger/more solid neck joint, nice chunky volute under the truss rod access. Possibly with a flamed maple top and a nice burst to go with it.

Yes, my graduation present to myself will be planks of wood.
 
Re: I'm an idiot.

nothing wrong with any of that. of course the more you change it, the less sg like itll sound
 
Re: I'm an idiot.

not gonna change it much...figured I'd add a 1/4" maple top to it to bring the whole body thickness to just under 1 3/4", a little bit thinner than a strat/tele. may even do a very subtle carve like the SG Diablo.

I realize i'll be changing up the fundamentals of the SG style, especially with the neck tenon size, but I also think it'll make a fantastic sounding guitar.
 
Re: I'm an idiot.

A real gibson SG is not going to fall apart unless you abuse the hell out of it! lol
Its a guitar design that has stood the test of time for thousands and thousands of players both amateur and pro alike.
The internet has a lot to answer for as far as myths and rumors are concerned.

Still, if you want to build an axe from scratch for the fun of having a project, go for it and enjoy.
 
Re: I'm an idiot.

gibson175 said:
A real gibson SG is not going to fall apart unless you abuse the hell out of it! lol
Its a guitar design that has stood the test of time for thousands and thousands of players both amateur and pro alike.
The internet has a lot to answer for as far as myths and rumors are concerned.

Still, if you want to build an axe from scratch for the fun of having a project, go for it and enjoy.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly. I've had an SG, and gigged the **** out of it. It was a workhorse that thing was.

But yeah man, looking forward to the build! Rock on!
 
Re: I'm an idiot.

That is what I'm basically going to do too. I won't change much at all though, just a CRAP LOAD of reinforcement where the headstock meets the neck, a shallower headstock angle, and maybe a really thick neck/area under the truss rod.
 
Re: I'm an idiot.

Just read your other thread...

Take a look at the mid to upper level ESP/LTD Vipers. They might be ugly to you, but they fit your requirements. At least play one and see what you think.
 
Re: I'm an idiot.

gibson175 said:
A real gibson SG is not going to fall apart unless you abuse the hell out of it! lol
Its a guitar design that has stood the test of time for thousands and thousands of players both amateur and pro alike.
The internet has a lot to answer for as far as myths and rumors are concerned.
Click to expand...

Oh, I don't know about that. I can't tell you how many times I've seen SG's fall apart on stage; the guy's playing along minding his own business, and all of a sudden there's a big noise and he's holding a handfull of strings and a dangling PU, with a pile of kindling wood at his feet. Happens all the time, man. At festivals, if you go behind the stage, they'll be a mound of miscellaneous SG parts as high as your chin. They just keep tossing them on there, band after band. They know it's going to happen, so they contract a trash removal service to come by on the Monday afterwards and use a bulldozer to load it into a dump truck, I swear to god...:naughty:
 
Re: I'm an idiot.

dominus said:
Just read your other thread...

Take a look at the mid to upper level ESP/LTD Vipers. They might be ugly to you, but they fit your requirements. At least play one and see what you think.
Click to expand...

I like you, and you're cool, but no. Those things are hideous. Aside from that I don't jive with ESP necks and their jumbo frets.
 
Re: I'm an idiot.

blueman335 said:
Oh, I don't know about that. I can't tell you how many times I've seen SG's fall apart on stage; the guy's playing along minding his own business, and all of a sudden there's a big noise and he's holding a handfull of strings and a dangling PU, with a pile of kindling wood at his feet. Happens all the time, man. At festivals, if you go behind the stage, they'll be a mound of miscellaneous SG parts as high as your chin. They just keep tossing them on there, band after band. They know it's going to happen, so they contract a trash removal service to come by on the Monday afterwards and use a bulldozer to load it into a dump truck, I swear to god...:naughty:
Click to expand...

LOL

I just want to know that if the guitar accidentally takes a fall or an impact, it's not going to be a write off.
 
Re: I'm an idiot.

It's likely that my first neck-through build will be a lot like that, except I won't need the huge neck joint. I'm thinking it will be a sort of tribute to Tony Iommi.
 
Re: I'm an idiot.

ConvoysToNothingness said:
LOL

I just want to know that if the guitar accidentally takes a fall or an impact, it's not going to be a write off.
Click to expand...

LatsMcGee said:
Ever try an old Yamaha?
Click to expand...

Any headstock will break if you abuse it bad enough. I have a beautiful Yamaha Weddington Special that suffered that fate, despite some fantastic construction, and I've seen LPs face-plant without any problem. I saw a Gibson Nighthawk hit concrete TWICE (no strap locks) and come out with no more than a small ding in the clear coat. I just got an SG recently and it feels pretty durn solid to me. I am as rough on my guitars as Pete Townsend, too. I don't buy guitars because I expect them to be indestructible, I buy guitars that play well and sound good.

You may have good reasons not to get an SG, but durability is not one of them.
 
Re: I'm an idiot.

Thing is I have seen more Gibsons with headstock breaks than any other brand. I'm looking at the SG Plans right now. Right where the truss rod access is, at point closest to the nut, there's only 5mm of wood below the truss rod nut. The thickness of the headstock in comparison is 15mm thick. Then you add string tension and the weight of the tuners...I'm no professional luthier by any means, but that's a really weak and vulnerable area that's just asking for trouble.

I want my guitars to be rock solid workhorses. I don't want to have to baby them and worry about them breaking if they aren't treated just so. Hell, an SG with a broken headstock just popped on my local CL, aside from the break, it's in good condition. It's not like this thing has been abused and manhandled, it probably took a fall and *SNAP*
 
Re: I'm an idiot.

Correct me if I am wrong, but you are not supposed to drop a guitar on it's headstock.
Any guitar has a serious chance of breaking the head stock if you drop it and it lands on it.
Buy whatever guitar you want and whatever you do DON'T drop it.
 
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Re: I'm an idiot.

guitarrob said:
Correct me if I am wrong, but you are not supposed to drop a guitar on it's headstock.
Any guitar has a serious chance of breaking the head stock if you drop it and it lands on it.
Buy whatever guitar you want and whatever you do DON'T drop it.
Click to expand...

Oh, you're wrong alright. Any guitarist worth his salt bounces his guitars off the stage a few times a night. What, you're babying yours and not letting it free fall? You pansy! I suppose you don't run your car into mailboxes and phone booths either! Has the world gone effeminate??? Oh how I long for the old days. Give me a cave man with a club (or guitar) anyday! You didn't see them polishing and feather-dusting things, with all that hoity-toity fannying about! :cool2:
 
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