SG choices for the budget buyer

[tomjackson]

Is there much difference between the following:-

Epiphone SG
Gibson SG faded
Gibson SG special

Obviously I don't care about the pickups as they will be replaced by Riff Raffs, but just quality and acoustic tone wise.  I ised to own an Epi SG and thought it was okay, just a little shiny.

SG experts??

I think everbody should have at least 1 SG.  Just need to explain this to the missus......

[Twinfan]

Not a lot of difference between those three in my experience.  The Standards and 61 reissues are a step up in tone though.

[ailean]

Not an SG expert, but have you considered a MIJ Tokai USG75?

Tokai SG on eBay:http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Tokai-USG75-Electric-Guitar-Black-Finish_W0QQitemZ270251065276QQihZ017QQcategoryZ112670QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262

[hunter]

Cheap option: get one with a broken headstock and repair it
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350076288013

The headstock is broken behind the nut. It won't have any noticeable impact if you glue it properly (same happened to my Hamer Sunburst and I was so worried, turned out to make no difference whatsoever).

[AndyR]

Wooo - that MIJ Tokai looks very nice.

I've got an Epi SG, it's actually the least favourite of my guitars at the moment (poor thing,  :( ) - I think you could be right, the "shiny" bit might be putting me off... and the bridge has issues (the previous owner's fault, and it's fixable) which make it less than a joy to play sometimes.

However, I did get a MIJ Tokai Love Rock a month or two back - very VERY good in my opinion. Same day I was trying Gibson faded something or other for same price, but it wasn't in the same league for me... So if i was looking to replace my SG, I'd be looking at MIJ Tokai if I could find one to try before buying. I've also heard nice things about Vintage - though I didn't manage to try any that day, there was a whole wall of them (for cheaper!) but "my" Love Rock had already found it's way into my hands!!

I don't think I'm brave enough for Hunter's option! (Although I agree with him - I had a broken headstock on a Westone Rainbow years ago, seemed like the end of the world, and that fixed up nicely)

[dave_mc]

i'd definitely consider looking into some japanese copies, you should be able to pick one up (new) for a similar price to those gibson fadeds... second hand, more like the price of an epi. Obviously if you prefer the epi or gibson, go with that, but you won't know unless you try the tokais etc. it won't hurt you financially trying them (well, maybe will if you have to travel far, i guess...)...

:)

EDIT: i should add that i'm not an SG expert, far from it; i'm basing this on the other japanese copies i've tried (of les pauls, strats, teles etc.). :)

gordon smith might be worth a look too, i guess.

[gibsongaz#1]

Is there much difference between the following:-

Epiphone SG
Gibson SG faded
Gibson SG special

Obviously I don't care about the pickups as they will be replaced by Riff Raffs, but just quality and acoustic tone wise.  I ised to own an Epi SG and thought it was okay, just a little shiny.

SG experts??

I think everbody should have at least 1 SG.  Just need to explain this to the missus......

I've justr sold my SG Special. Great guitar but would have upgraded the pickups to BKP Mules for a truely awesome guitar. Look on Ebay for some bargain SG's at the moment!

[MDV]

FWIW (I'm not an SG guy) Yamaha make both the best and best value SGs I've played.

[badgermark]

Is there much difference between the following:-

Epiphone SG
Gibson SG faded
Gibson SG special

Obviously I don't care about the pickups as they will be replaced by Riff Raffs, but just quality and acoustic tone wise.  I ised to own an Epi SG and thought it was okay, just a little shiny.

SG experts??

I think everbody should have at least 1 SG.  Just need to explain this to the missus......

I've justr sold my SG Special. Great guitar but would have upgraded the pickups to BKP Mules for a truely awesome guitar. Look on Ebay for some bargain SG's at the moment!

I'm regretting selling my SG special, albiet the neck was a bit iffy for me but it was a great guitar. Traded it in for a strat, which i sold on a few months later. I'd totally get another SG, possibly something with a slightly thinner neck, closer to my epi les paul.

And Yamaha SGs seem to be more les paul than SG, well worth trying though.

[Ben_W]

I have an SG Special, and I love it, although I have no other SGs to compare it to, apart from my friends ancient Epi SG, which isn't too nice, although I think it was pretty cheap, but it just feels a bit cheaply made, and the neck isn't nice... Although I have a friend with a newer Epi SG, and he really likes his. I haven't ever played/seen it in person, so can't really make any comparisons i'm afraid.

Also, I think the Special and the faded are pretty similar, just the finish is slightly different. Don't quote me on that though, as it's probably wrong... :P

[samoth2]

Cheap option: get one with a broken headstock and repair it
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350076288013

The headstock is broken behind the nut. It won't have any noticeable impact if you glue it properly (same happened to my Hamer Sunburst and I was so worried, turned out to make no difference whatsoever).

That actually looks like a great deal  :)

[ericsabbath]

epiphone sare fine
i had the g400 custom
but the cheapest gibson sg is still a bit better
i have a faded sg and it's made of true honduras mahogany (i know cause honduras mahogany = brazilian mahogany and the guitar smells the same on the cavities) and very resonant
the epiphone was nice but had some cheap wood
i think the neck was mahogany, but the body felt like alder
my only complaint about the gibson faded is the extremely ugly rosewood they use on the fingerboard

[tomjackson]

Well I guess it would be the SG Special faded or Tokai although I'd have find somewhere to try the Tokai near Manchester.  If anything, leaning towards the faded as I like the idea of the thin finish, the Gibson pickup rasale value would be quite good (to put towards BKP's) and you can pick them up for £450.

As I remember the necks are fairly fat as well, and I like that. 

I'm not bothered about the name however and I do wonder whether the build quality would be better on the Tokai.....

[noodleplugerine]

Might want a look at some of the ESP Vipers, basically based on the SG, but structurally improved, get Wez to explain it to you, I'm no Luthier.

[Philly Q]

I'm not bothered about the name however and I do wonder whether the build quality would be better on the Tokai.....

The Tokai build quality is certainly a bit "neater" (assuming we're talking MIJ Tokai, I don't know about the MIK ones), but in terms of playability the Gibsons are fine, if you can find a good one.