Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: ailean on August 07, 2008, 07:40:48 PM
-
Hi all
Been a while since I posted last so *wave* to you all.
Ok, assuming I'm stupid and go ahead with this, I'm looking at buying an SG. I have 2 in mind and would like peoples opinons on them.
1st option: Gibson SG Special Platinum. £550. This is a nice (in my opinion) looking guitar and a bit different to the norm. I'd have bought it already but it's a 'Special' which as far as I can tell is Gibson language for 'shitee'. I love the look, but I'm not sure I want to spend my money on a cr@p guitar. It will have BK's in it, but has anyone had any experience of these 'Specials'?
2nd option: Tokai USG75 (Black) £500. I love my Toaki Love Rock (les paul), it's a nicely built guitar and I faith in the brand, again it will have BK's whatever the outcome.
3rd option: This one is only an option if I really lose my mind. Johnathans re-worked Gibson 'Painkiller' SG. I only mention this because I have been known to be really stupid in the past so I can't rule it out. I don'tknow if this is a Standard or a Special.
I know I should put the money to better use, but that hasn't stopped me before, so I'd be greatful for your thoughts. :)
-
If you have he money Jonathans, without trying prob tokai...but there are nice Gib Sg's but consistancy is not gibsons strong point
-
I'd go with Jonathans. It'll be set up properly and have BKP's in already, so it'll sound and play good, which is most of the problems with 'off the shelf' SG's
Apart from that, SG's rule! I would play anything else (except maybe a les paul haha!!)
-
Well, I've got a special, and it's pretty good... but I'd go for Jonathan's - for much the same reasons as everyone else...
-
I would also say go with the Feline. I used to dislike SG's but over the years have grown to like them a lot.
-
I had a special, was a nice guitar, just never got on with the neck. As long as you try them out first you can gauge the build quality. Then again, it does supposedly suffer from Gibsons silly design choices and a weak as hell headstock. Again, i never had a problem in the 2 years i had mine, your milage may vary.
-
I like 'em.
But I prefer PRS Miras.
I'll be selling my '61 Gibson '61 reissue shortly...
-
Jonathans Painkiller looks as mean as hell, and I can't imagine it sounds or plays badly. If I had the cash, that's what I buy.
Mark.
-
Sorry to hijack..but is the epi going twinfan
-
I have an SG special, i don't know if i got lucky but mines fantastic. It's built really well and sounds great with the BK pups.
-
Personaly I love SGs though it is fairly hard to find a real nice one, foerunitely it's not a design fault :?
-
Hi Ailean!!. My first choice would be the Feline SG., it has everything on it and what I consider very important, a close hands on BKPs for a while. I have customized my 2 SGs, and it has been lots and lots of time and money consuming. That is why you might want to skip the hassle and go for it. Just my thought....
-
I'd love an SG, either in a stained mahogany similar to those vintage G400s or in that cool blue colour like adammato has. I've been tempted to sell my Pearl LP to fund one but I dont think wez wanted to do any more SGs for a while and I dont think I can get a gibson after seeing the neck through one he made for Phil :)
-
Jonathans Painkiller looks as mean as hell, and I can't imagine it sounds or plays badly. If I had the cash, that's what I buy.
Mark.
Mark - you can try it out when you come in for your Charvel....
(http://www.felineguitars.com/spec_sheets/guitar_images/Gibson%20Painkiller%20SG/Gibson-Painkiller-SG-horiz5.jpg)
We did the following as a "Pimp my axe" treatment to a Gibson SG special:
added binding,
refretted with Dunlop 6100,
fitted an Earvana nut,
fitted new Gotoh Machineheads
Made new scratchplates & truss rod cover
Added BKP Painkiller Pickups
Reshaped the neck just a little to make it very slinky
Had it finished in a lovely satin black
She is pretty lovely - the inspiration was the black SG special that Judas Priest's Glenn Tipton had modified & used to play live all the time.
-
well, it depends if you want to sell it in future.
if you think you might want to - buy the gibson... no question. you'll lose less money, and might even make some with the unusual finish.
on the other hand, if you want a players instrument, then the tokai and the feline offer different price/playability/sound options. i would accept jonothan's offer of trying her out, and then ponder it.
frankly (hopefully jonothan stays modest and keeps chilled) i don't think a gibson with refret and feline neck reprofile could play anything but excellently, even if jonothan wanted it to. we're players here, and i doubt you want an investment instrument.
-
I looooooooooooooooooove SGs, best standard body shape imo.
Some of the best playing guitars ever made, and they sound great too!
-
Jonathans Painkiller looks as mean as hell, and I can't imagine it sounds or plays badly. If I had the cash, that's what I buy.
Mark.
Mark - you can try it out when you come in for your Charvel....
(http://www.felineguitars.com/spec_sheets/guitar_images/Gibson%20Painkiller%20SG/Gibson-Painkiller-SG-horiz5.jpg)
We did the following as a "Pimp my axe" treatment to a Gibson SG special:
added binding,
refretted with Dunlop 6100,
fitted an Earvana nut,
fitted new Gotoh Machineheads
Made new scratchplates & truss rod cover
Added BKP Painkiller Pickups
Reshaped the neck just a little to make it very slinky
Had it finished in a lovely satin black
She is pretty lovely - the inspiration was the black SG special that Judas Priest's Glenn Tipton had modified & used to play live all the time.
Hmmm... Tempting, but I suspect that way madness lies... I can just imaging the conversation with my wife... Went in for a fret dress, came out with an SG...
-
Hmmm... Tempting, but I suspect that way madness lies... I can just imaging the conversation with my wife... Went in for a fret dress, came out with an SG...
:lol::lol:
I've pondered that Feline a few times - luckily it's a bit "metal" for me, much as I was a BIG JP fan when Mr Tipton was playing his SG!
I suspect you should only try the Feline if you're prepared to spend that much :D
Personally, I'd be very keen to try the Tokai - like you, I love my Love Rock. I was even tempted by Philly's white one a few weeks back, if it had been black I'd have been in grave danger...
-
For what it's worth, I've played a couple of SG's recently - Special faded worn cherry model - and found them to be pretty good.
There was no obvious build quality issues and they were well set up, although I didn't ask if it was a factory set or if the shop did it.
Playing wise they were both excellent, with a nice resonance unplugged and a ballsy tone through a Marshall stack.
For the money (£449 new) they seemed to be quite a bargain - if you can get on with the finish on them.
The shop was Guitar Guitar in Glasgow, although other online outlets have them at a similar price I think.
Clearly the advantage is that you get to play the guitar first at a shop....
Link here,
http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/search_detail.asp?
stock=04031619245618&page=search&search=gibson&offset=&order=1&BrandName= (http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/search_detail.asp?
stock=04031619245618&page=search&search=gibson&offset=&order=1&BrandName=)
(http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/large/a800/156.jpg)
-
I've had 5 Gibson SG's (still got two), plus I've played many others. I've found them to be pretty consistent, always great players.
Specials are most definitely not cr@p. They have lower cost finishing and less trim, but the ones I've played have been excellent, and great value.
Tokai's are great too, but some of the cheaper ones just seem to have less "vibe". My friends 1980 Love Rock is the best LP I've ever played, bar none.
-
Thanks for all the posts people, I'm still undecided, but highly tempted by the Painkiller!
-
Thanks for all the posts people, I'm still undecided, but highly tempted by the Painkiller!
I reckon this means that next time you post on this topic you will be the owner of the painkiller!
-
Yeah, it's gonna be the painkiller or keep the money I think.
-
Thought about the painkiller before but already have an SG
-
Thought about the painkiller before but already have an SG
... and? :)
I've thought about it too... and I haven't got the room for at least two of the guitars I've already got...
-
Well, I played Jonathans SG this morning, and WHOEVER buys it is going to be very happy.
-
Well it won't be me (sorry Johnathan)
I went into a local shop and played around with a SG Standard. SG's aren't for me I think, I'm not a particular fan of the way they feel and much prefer the feel of a Les Paul.
Sue on the other hand has decided she likes them and it will be her next purchase :)
-
OK - as I have been asked the special price on the PainkillerSG and also the Gothic Warpig SG is £999 each
I am lowering the price on these and also the rest of my stock to have a good clear out to make space for some new stuff that I want to build .
So if you have seen any of my other guitars and want to make a sensible offer - you may be surprised/lucky
(http://felineguitars.com/spec_sheets/guitar_images/Gibson%20Painkiller%20SG/Gibson-Painkiller-SG-horiz5.jpg)
(http://felineguitars.com/spec_sheets/guitar_images/Gothic%20Warpig/Gothic%20Warpig.jpg)