Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: dobbins on March 16, 2011, 01:27:50 PM
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Hi guys,
Basically title says it all, I want an SG Junior with a wraparound bridge and a single p90. I can't afford the prices Gibsons are going for, but I want original-ish specs. So far I've come up with:
Vintage VS6 Icon Jr - seems like a good guitar judging by peoples' experiences, but I don't like the relicing.
Epiphone SG Junior - I think its OOP but seems readily available second hand, I've had an epi and not had problems but people say the vintage is better. However, I think I would still want a better guitar if I bought it.
Tokai USG 90 Junior - this is what I really want, but OOP and no one is selling.
Are there any other manufacturers up to £700 mark that makes a decent SG Junior? Any experiences?
Cheers,
Dobbins
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I had a Japanese Tokai Special that was great, so if your budget is that much I'd hang out for one.
£700 is Gibson money though, they made some non-CS SG Juniors a few years ago I *think* with a wraparound?
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Epi Japan - can be tough to find, but I had one a couple of years back for £300 - better made than the basic USA ones, imo.
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I find it strange that Gibson currently only make an LP Junior, IMO SG Juniors are far better looking. Will keeo an eye definately for a non-CS one.
HTH, how would I spot an Epi Japan? I imagine they are just as sought after now as Tokais.
Are there no other manufacturers that make them?
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The Japanese Epis like HTH mentioned have a proper Gibson headstock shape, not the usual ugly (IMO) Epi shape.
They were made for the Japanese market, as far as I know they stopped making them around 2006(?). They were introduced to replace the Orville/Orville by Gibson lines which were discontinued in 1998(?) and, from what I've seen, they're pretty much identical to Orville/ObG.
I don't think there was ever an SG Junior model, though. The other Japanese companies like Greco, Burny, Edwards etc may have made SG Jrs, but I can't recall ever seeing one. I'd say your best bet is the Tokai USG-90, if you can find one (I sold mine last year).
Or, with your £700, you could just about get this Gibson:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120689845082&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120689845082&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT)
:D
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Or, with your £700, you could just about get this Gibson:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120689845082&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120689845082&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT)
:D
And it's in Super Excellent Minty condition!
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Or, with your £700, you could just about get this Gibson:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120689845082&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120689845082&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT)
:D
And it's in Super Excellent Minty condition!
I've bought guitars from that seller a few times, he's very efficient and honest. Shipping's not cheap though, and of course there's VAT and import duty to pay when it reaches the UK.
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So it would end up about £780. I say go for it. It looks a gem.
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that sg looks good. bear in mind though, shipping from Japan is going to be disrupted at the minute. be best to contact him before buying
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^
Good point! Most of the Japanese eBay sellers are saying EMS are collecting and shipping as normal, because the Tokyo area hasn't been much affected (physically that is).
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maybe consider an LP jr for £650... http://www.dawsons.co.uk/acatalog/gibson_les_paul_junior_satin_cherry.html
or a P90 SG special for £699... http://www.dawsons.co.uk/acatalog/gibson-sg-special-60s-tribute-worn-satin-cherry.html
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^
I didn't know about that SG Special model (shame about the slim taper neck though).
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I have had a look at the SG Special, and LP Junior models, they did take my fancy. However, they are not gonna scratch my SG Junior itch - I think if I were to get anything else I would still only end up cheating on that guitar when an SG junior comes along! Saying that a few days ago there was a shop selling a used LP junior on the bay for £450 and was nearly tempted to open my wallet... I guess I’ll have to play the waiting game and waste many of my employer’s hours searching the bay.
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I have had a look at the SG Special, and LP Junior models, they did take my fancy. However, they are not gonna scratch my SG Junior itch - I think if I were to get anything else I would still only end up cheating on that guitar when an SG junior comes along!
I know that feeling, you gotta have what you gotta have. :lol:
I like SGs a lot, but over the last couple of years I've been getting more into singlecut, then doublecut, LP Juniors (MIJ ones). They do turn up on eBay fairly frequently, which means I have ended up with a few of 'em.... :roll:
SG Juniors are definitely harder to come by. Shame we didn't have this thread when I was selling my Tokai.
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I seem to remember that thread, but I think at that time I was lusting after my Calibre Mockingbird :? .
Damn you GAS!!! Why is one guitar never enough?!
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There's a P90 Special for sale here if that's any good?
Great price too: http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=18218
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I seem to remember that thread, but I think at that time I was lusting after my Calibre Mockingbird :? .
:lol: We must have similar tastes, I was GASing for a Calibre Mockingbird for ages! Never pulled the trigger because I'm not very familiar with BC Rich and I was worried it would be heavy or I'd hate the neck. And now they seem to be impossible to find.
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^ yeah that's why when i saw one a while back turn up on thomann, i jumped on it... one of those "now or never" things. :D
EDIT: regarding the original question, i would probably try to hold out for an MIJ tokai (or other MIJ copy). If you know that's what you want, you might as well get a good one.
Though I think gibson might be releasing one (maybe it's the two pickup special- don't want to get your hopes up), might be worth waiting for that too to see what it's like, as there seems to be a backlog on pretty much all tokais that aren't LP standard copies or fender copies at the moment... :?