New Custom Shop SG: Review and Porn!

[jonnymangia]

Fellas,

My travails with SG's have been well documented. Every one I owned just didn't do it for me as the bridge tone always seemed too thin or I had issues with the neck. Here's what I have owned since May 2005:

- SG Standard heritage cherry (had her for over a year and went through Duncan 59's, a PG neck, Custom Custom bridge, Phat Cat neck and a RIO grande BBQ bridge)
- SG Standard nat burst (dumped her in 3 days!)
- SG 61RI (beautiful neck tone from the '57 pup, but the bridge was far too mid-focused and I didn't like the neck)
- SG Classic

I had just about given up on the SG line when I happened to be in a local GC in late December and noticed that they had marked down the '62 reissue from the Custom Shop. I picked it up, plugged it into a Marshall stack and was floored. My buddy JPP-1 from the LP Forum was with me and he thought it had the bottom-end of an LP, while still maintaining that famous SG "cut".
The guitar has a resonance and explosiveness that I have not encountered in many guitars. Even when playing acoustically the notes bloom. There is an ordinate amount of energy running through this wood, so I have to give kudos to the men and women at Gibson's Custom Shop. Great job indeed.

I've had the guitar for over 2 mos now and finally got around to taking some pics for your enjoyment. Quite frankly, this gtr slays. It came stock with A2 Burst Buckers which are OK ( I think the neck is a little muddy), so I am placing an Antiquity pup in the neck and I am probably placing a '59 in the bridge, as I crave the vintage Angus Young tone.

I'll post a review when the new pups are installed.

 

[ErikH]

Re: New Custom Shop SG: Review and Porn!

Stunning, absolutely stunning. Don't go '59 in that one. Spend the extra and order a Brobucker from the Custom Shop. Just ask Mr. Spina what he thinks. That pickup gets closer to the Angus tone than the '59 does.

 

[metlking]

Re: New Custom Shop SG: Review and Porn!

That's sweet looking! I always liked them better with that pickguard rather than the "batwing" type!

Now I have G.A.S............

 

[jonnymangia]

Re: New Custom Shop SG: Review and Porn!

Stunning, absolutely stunning. Don't go '59 in that one. Spend the extra and order a Brobucker from the Custom Shop. Just ask Mr. Spina what he thinks. That pickup gets closer to the Angus tone than the '59 does.

Thanks for the compliments guys. Erik, I have considered the Brobucker, but the problem is that 1) I haven't heard any clips 2) It's wound pretty hot so i thought it would lose the vintage-vibe. I don't like Angus' tone post-"Flick of the Switch".
It's too hot. I had a Custom Custom and I didn't think it was vintage sounding. I know you guys swear by the BB, so maybe I'll have to reconsider :smack:

 

[ErikH]

Re: New Custom Shop SG: Review and Porn!

Thanks for the compliments guys. Erik, I have considered the Brobucker, but the problem is that 1) I haven't heard any clips 2) It's wound pretty hot so i thought it would lose the vintage-vibe. I don't like Angus' tone post-"Flick of the Switch".
It's too hot. I had a Custom Custom and I didn't think it was vintage sounding. I know you guys swear by the BB, so maybe I'll have to reconsider :smack:

It's not too hot. Mine is right under 10k and it's perfect for everything from blues to rock to metal. And it has all that vibe going and then some. The CC is a different beast. To me it has a little vintage vibe going (thanks to the A2 "squish") but not as much as the BB. The CC is quite a bit hotter than the BB. Can't really compare the two, IMO.

 

[PoorMan]

Re: New Custom Shop SG: Review and Porn!

Congrats! She's a real looker!

 

[Brewtone]

Re: New Custom Shop SG: Review and Porn!

very nice!!!!

I may have to look into owning an SG now!!!

 

[pixelpusher]

Re: New Custom Shop SG: Review and Porn!

SAWEEEEEEET dammit GAS coming on and i thought i had talked myself out of the '61 in favor of an LP gold top w/p-90's

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: New Custom Shop SG: Review and Porn!

Beautiful! Love the darker cherry finish. I've got a great '61 reissue, but the finish is way brighter. Enjoy. Try a set of Seths in it. Mine kicks major butt with them in it.

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: New Custom Shop SG: Review and Porn!

Fantastic!

 

[jimmy]

Re: New Custom Shop SG: Review and Porn!

That looks orgasmic.

I still think the ultimate SG is the SG Supreme.

 

[Voxman]

Re: New Custom Shop SG: Review and Porn!

sweeeeet

 

[Gunny47]

Re: New Custom Shop SG: Review and Porn!

Beautiful guitar! - gotta love those historic SGs (not exactly my cup of tea when it comes to owning one but its still one of my favorites). I like the grovers tuneres there too. Im surprised that you found the neck pickup muddy, I always found the Burstbucker 1s killer pickups. I was the opposite, I found the bridge pickup (burstbucker 2) too harsh and bring - different tastes I guess there. SGs always came with 57 Classics for the longest time until about a year ago with the VOS SGs came the burstbuckers. The burstbuckers always sounded dirtier and ballsier to me compared to the cleaner 57 classics.

 

[jonnymangia]

Re: New Custom Shop SG: Review and Porn!

SAWEEEEEEET dammit GAS coming on and i thought i had talked myself out of the '61 in favor of an LP gold top w/p-90's

Dude you made the right move in getting the LP Goldtop. R4 or R6?
Those guitars will smoke the SG61.

 

[jonnymangia]

Re: New Custom Shop SG: Review and Porn!

Beautiful guitar! - gotta love those historic SGs (not exactly my cup of tea when it comes to owning one but its still one of my favorites). I like the grovers tuneres there too. Im surprised that you found the neck pickup muddy, I always found the Burstbucker 1s killer pickups. I was the opposite, I found the bridge pickup (burstbucker 2) too harsh and bring - different tastes I guess there. SGs always came with 57 Classics for the longest time until about a year ago with the VOS SGs came the burstbuckers. The burstbuckers always sounded dirtier and ballsier to me compared to the cleaner 57 classics.

If you're a DT fan you've got to snatch an SG!
I love the Grover tuners...far more stable than the stock jobs on the 61RI and the Standard. I can't compliment the neck on this guitar enough. It's a bit heavier than most SG's I've played, but that's a plus, as I feel the added girth, especially in the neck is resulting in the HUGE tone that is almost LP-like (which makes sense...as it is technically an LP...says so on the truss rod cover!). Like I said, when I first played it, my buddy who has several LP Historics flipped his wig. He could believe the bottom end on this guitar, especially after hearing me play the 61Ri at his house the prior two weekends.

 

[Gunny47]

Re: New Custom Shop SG: Review and Porn!

Yea I played a bunch of SGs recently, they were supposed to be my next guitar - either that or a nice strat. I played mostly 61 Reissues though, which have those 57 Classics that I am not too keen on. I will give the historic a better change, but Im a big guy, I like big tone and I like big guitars. SGs always felt too small for me. Now if you given me one with a slightly thicker body and a nice fat 50s neck, then youd have my attention! I think I decided on a Firebird VII though as my next guitar - I just love its mojo, weight, tone and it gives me a nice change from the traditional humbucking equipped Lesters I play. I will own something like yours one day though, maybe when you see me play the garden Ill break one out! Gotta have a maestro tailpiece though, I love the look. Ill get it Trucks style. Standard stopbar but with the sweet lookin tailpiece behind it.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: New Custom Shop SG: Review and Porn!

That's a great SG! How is the neck profile on the 62, compared to the regular Std? I had a 61 Reissue, and like you, I didn't like the slim tapered neck.....it wasn't rigid enough. I could use the neck like a tremolo, so I sold it.

I'm sure the 59/Ant will be authentic Angus out of that thing. I'm curious about your thoughts on the PGn in that guitar? I'll be using it in a LP or McCarty.

 

[tubeman87]

Re: New Custom Shop SG: Review and Porn!

That is a very nice gee'tar, I'm not one for SG's but man thats nice. hows the neck feel on it?

 

[Sleeping Martyr]

Re: New Custom Shop SG: Review and Porn!

I love SGs, especially the 61's. To me they look, feel and sound way better than all other SGs . . . . . I am now quite jealous:27:

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: New Custom Shop SG: Review and Porn!

That's awesome! I really love the looks of SGs, I think I just need to play "the right one". Looks like I'll have to save some cash and play everything I can, that's how I ended up with a killer Explorer.