Author Topic: Gibson SG Jr vs. PRS SE One (Read 27642 times)

Armchair Bronco · « **on:** November 18, 2007, 07:35:19 AM »

Please compare & contrast these 2 bare-bones, single-pickup, P90-based guitars with wraparound bridges -- I want 'em both, but can only afford one :( (same old story...) Whichever axe I end up buying will be played through a Tiny Terror paired up with an Avatar 1x12 cab & Hellatone 30 (G12H30) speaker.

Gigson SG Jr @ $699 retail

Tone + volume pots, 24.75" scale

PRS SE One @ $499 retail

Volume pot only, 25" scale

Armchair Bronco · « **Reply #1 on:** November 18, 2007, 07:40:55 AM »

The SG Jr is classic and kool and is dripping with mojo. It probably also has horrid fret ends and a low-end, mass-produced vibe typical of lots of cheaper Gibsons nowadays. (Still: it says GIBSON on the headstock.)

The PRS SE One is sleek and modern, but with a hint of the past. It's more like a modern version of the Les Paul Junior. It only has a single tone pot, but that's easily fixed with a concentric, stacked pot. Almost everyone agrees that PRS's (even the Student Edition SE line from Korea) are built to a much higher standard than comparable Gibsons. (But, alas, it's NOT a Gibson...)

Here's a YouTube video of the PRS SE One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoCK6N2XEO4

maverickf1jockey · « **Reply #2 on:** November 18, 2007, 10:23:53 AM »

I'd go for the PRS on quality (those SEs are quite nice, if a little rough in finishing).
Or the SG on looks.

I'd say the quality of the instrument is of paramount when you're looking at entry-level guitars from these big-name brands.

Perhaps you could shop around for other brands like Tokai (although I don't know if they do jr models). Brands which have to prove themselves as a quality alternative are generally cheaper and sometimes better than they ought to be.

indysmith · « **Reply #3 on:** November 18, 2007, 10:55:24 AM »

?

$642 + shipping

Both the models you mentioned are pretty much readily available in all music stores. why not just go and try them both out - see which you prefer?

Philly Q · « **Reply #4 on:** November 18, 2007, 11:00:59 AM »

Quote from: Armchair Bronco

The SG Jr is classic and kool and is dripping with mojo. It probably also has horrid fret ends and a low-end, mass-produced vibe typical of lots of cheaper Gibsons nowadays. (Still: it says GIBSON on the headstock.)

I don't think Gibsons ever feel mass-produced exactly - they seem to still do a lot of the work by hand, and the individual guitars vary a lot. The trouble is, on the cheaper guitars, that hand-work can be pretty sloppy, and the timber quality isn't always very good either. But if you shop around, you will find a good one - eventually.

With the SEs, the quality control is better so you're much more likely to be able to pick up a good one "off-the-shelf". To me, that all-the-same quality says "mass-produced", much more than the Gibson - not that there's anything wrong with that. And for $499(!!), it's a steal - the UK price is the equivalent of $800 and I'd say they're still good value.

As the guys have mentioned already, there are also great Jr-style guitars made by other manufacturers, mainly for the Japanese market but available to the World through the wonder of eBay!

gwEm · « **Reply #5 on:** November 18, 2007, 11:39:48 AM »

i've always had my eye on a 'junior' P90 style guitar of some sort. however, only the SG shape really looks 'right' in my eyes, maybe i'm somewhat of a traditionalist in that regard (remembering heros townshend and so on). i'll be monitoring this thread for ideas.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #6 on:** November 18, 2007, 11:53:15 AM »

I've played those SG juniors and wouldn't say they feel sub-par. A setup and fret-dress are unfortunately required for most guitars these days, and not always just with cheaper guitars. Many shops will do a setup and basic fret-dress in with the price though so they're good to go right out the door.

Theres something about the SG construction too, the neck joint and thinner body - it just resonates like mad and the guitar feels alive. The sound is rawer and more direct too.

The PRS is a nice guitar too, but they 'play' too sleek and modern for me and the tone is towards the contemporary end too. By this point you'll tell I'm not much of a PRS fan, they just sound 'generic' imo - no individual character.

:twisted:

Henk · « **Reply #7 on:** November 18, 2007, 02:19:49 PM »

I would find an SG-X in one of those surfer colours and put a BKP in there, it allready has a standard split switch.

Like this one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1998-Gibson-SG-X-in-Deluxe-Gibson-Case-MINT-CONDITION_W0QQitemZ180180780727QQihZ008QQcategoryZ47073QQcmdZViewItem

Mr Ed · « **Reply #8 on:** November 18, 2007, 02:20:03 PM »

I'd side with the PRS SE everytime... modern Gibsons can kiss my arse quite frankly.

indysmith · « **Reply #9 on:** November 18, 2007, 03:34:06 PM »

does anyone else feel like the SE Ones look far to modern with that PRS headstock? They should have put the old-skool Santana headstock on it.

Henk's idea of buying a humbucker guitar sticking a MQ in it is a pretty good one; Keep ur options open, and you could put a humbucker in there one day if yu fancy

AdamB · « **Reply #10 on:** November 18, 2007, 03:42:06 PM »

I think an SG X would do you nicely too, unless you really want a soapbar

Philly Q · « **Reply #11 on:** November 18, 2007, 03:52:05 PM »

Quote from: Henk

I would find an SG-X in one of those surfer colours and put a BKP in there, it allready has a standard split switch.

Like this one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1998-Gibson-SG-X-in-Deluxe-Gibson-Case-MINT-CONDITION_W0QQitemZ180180780727QQihZ008QQcategoryZ47073QQcmdZViewItem

SG-Xs are great - I have two of them! :D Unless you're set on a P-90, of course, but you could put a Mississippi Queen in an SG-X.

They're out of production, but as Henk has demonstrated they do turn up on eBay occasionally.

Quote from: indysmith

does anyone else feel like the SE Ones look far to modern with that PRS headstock? They should have put the old-skool Santana headstock on it.

No, I must say I like the newer PRS headstock a lot. The Santana one always looks like the result of an accident with a belt sander.

maverickf1jockey · « **Reply #12 on:** November 18, 2007, 03:55:37 PM »

what music do you actually want to play?
It seems odd that no-one as asked yet actually.

AdamB · « **Reply #13 on:** November 18, 2007, 04:00:28 PM »

I got my SG X on ebay, was about £300, well worth it. Got a rebel yell in it now :D

Henk · « **Reply #14 on:** November 18, 2007, 04:10:42 PM »

Quote from: Philly Q

SG-Xs are great - I have two of them! :D Unless you're set on a P-90, of course, but you could put a Mississippi Queen in an SG-X.

They're out of production, but as Henk has demonstrated they do turn up on eBay occasionally.

Damn...... GAS...... must not give in...... :lol:

There are alot around still, think they went for about 600-700$ back then so they should be a bargain by now.

Just the thought of a RiffRaff with 4-conductor cable in there would be fantastic, im confident that there is something that sounds close to a P90 when split by the way, a P90 being a single coil anyway AND this way you can profit from the hum cancelling.

To top that even off, this guitar would be pretty much future proof, meaning that if you change your style you will be able to just flip another pickup in there out of an enormous variety of possibilities.

Owell, maybe someday one will turn up on my path.....