'80 Gibson SG standard - opinions please

[BigB]

Hi gentlemen (and the few ladies around, if any...)

A mate on a forum is selling his 1980 Gibson SG Standard, asking for 1000€. The guitar is not stock (pups "upgraded" - err - to SD, brass nut, and replacement bridge).  Would you say it's a bargain, market price or way too much ?

FWIW, I know the guy from a small (but very friendly) guitar forum where we're both moderators, he's obviously a nice and honnest guy and he has a pretty good reputation so I'm not worried about the transaction itself. Now he lives at the other end of France so I won't have a chance to try this guitar before buying, and as much as I fancy a good SG, 1000€ is quite a lotta money for me and well, I can get a new one for less on thomann's. So, well, educated opinions welcome ;)

[Telerocker]

The price seems ok for a vintage Gibson (1980, 30 years old) when it has all the vibe and sustain you expect from an old SG. Have you played it and looked at the condition (fretwear, repaired headcracks)?. Some Gibsons of this era sound really great, some sound dead.

[BigB]

The price seems ok for a vintage Gibson (1980, 30 years old) when it has all the vibe and sustain you expect from an old SG. Have you played it and looked at the condition (fretwear, repaired headcracks)?

No headcrack - I know enough about the seller to know he would have mentioned it -, can't tell about the frets, don't know for sure if the guy is knowledgeable enough to notice weared frets or not but well, I own 2 '81 guitars and the frets are ok so I'm not _too_ worried about this.

Now as I said, the guy lives too far away so I won't have a chance to try this guitar before buying, and that's one of the reasons why I'm asking for opinions - if I had a chance to play this guitar, I'd know for sure how much _I_ think it's worth :-/

[gwEm]

does your mate still have the original bits?

[Philly Q]

I don't think the early '80s (or the '70s, for that matter!) were a great time for SGs. 

The body shape and contouring were changed from the original design, the selector switch was in that strange position between the neck pickup volume and tone controls, and loads of details just looked "wrong".

I don't know much about vintage values, so no idea on the price.  In general, for that money I'd rather have a new(er) SG Standard than an '80s one, just because I prefer the current design.

But it all comes down to the individual guitar - it may be a great one, but you're gambling if you can't try it first.

[BigB]

does your mate still have the original bits?

Nope, he bought the guitar already modded.

I don't think the early '80s (or the '70s, for that matter!) were a great time for SGs. 

Yeps, I googled this afternoon and that's something I read on a quite a few occasions - but from people I'm not sure I can trust.

I don't know much about vintage values, so no idea on the price.  In general, for that money I'd rather have a new(er) SG Standard than an '80s one, just because I prefer the current design.

But it all comes down to the individual guitar - it may be a great one, but you're gambling if you can't try it first.

Well, that's really the problem - I just can't afford gambling on a 1000+€ guitar (FWIW I just can't afford a 1000€ guitar :-S ).

[Philly Q]

I don't think the early '80s (or the '70s, for that matter!) were a great time for SGs. 

Yeps, I googled this afternoon and that's something I read on a quite a few occasions - but from people I'm not sure I can trust.

Even if they were people you could trust, whether a guitar is "good" or not is very much a matter of opinion!

Of course some people repeat stuff they've read rather than describing personal experience, but a lot of people share the opinion that the '70s to early '80s were generally not the best of times for either Gibson or Fender.  I think that's one of the reasons Japanese guitars made such a big impact - they were making copies, but doing it "right", which the US companies weren't doing any more!

As I said, personally I just don't like the look of SGs from that period.  I've only actually played two or three of them, and they weren't great.  Doesn't mean great ones don't exist.

[gwEm]

does your mate still have the original bits?

Nope, he bought the guitar already modded.

Then I'd be tempted to leave it to be honest. Its a bit overpriced, at least in my opinon, and as Philly says you might have luck with a more modern one too. vintage guitars are very cool though, but its usually a big risk buying remotely - having said that i've done that a few times and its come off

[Philly Q]

By the way, is 1980 officially "vintage" now?  That makes my old Hamer Special a vintage guitar!  :o

It was new when I bought it.  Shame I didn't keep it original.  :lol:

[Telerocker]

Well vintage... maybe better say ''youngtimers''.   :)  But when you see how early PRS's are getting collectible, well,  it depends on the brand and the type I think.

I agree with Philly that it is too risky to gamble. Maybe you buy a so-so-guitar. Actually if you want an SG, I would be looking for a Yamaha SG700, 1000 or 1500. You should get those under a grand. I had one (SG700) in the past, and a friend of mine had a SG2000 and the quality was good and more consistent then at Gibson at that time. Downside: they weigh a ton. Or look at a new Gibson SG. Maybe sales after Christmas.  :)

[Telerocker]

By the way, is 1980 officially "vintage" now?  That makes my old Hamer Special a vintage guitar!  :o

It was new when I bought it.  Shame I didn't keep it original.  :lol:

Those Hamers are superb guitars. A pity you don't see them much/seldom in Holland. I would definitely gasing on a used one.

[gordiji]

thomann, if you don't like it , it goes back and THEY pay for it.sg prob will need a set up and fret dress at minimum
which will be 125+ en france.also second hand values are very high in france which is why i use e bay uk while
living in france.i know nothing about sg's though.

[BigB]

thomann, if you don't like it , it goes back and THEY pay for it.sg prob will need a set up and fret dress at minimum
which will be 125+ en france.

I can take care of the setup by myself. Fret dress is something else :-/

Anyone else on it ? SG lovers, where are you ? Twinfan, _tom_ ?

[Tellboy]

If I was going to buy an 80's SG without being able to try it I would at least want to see some high resolution photos of it (including neck/head joint, frets etc). I agree with Philly - the SG build/quality has varied since it was introduced with 70/80s being suspect - definitely wouldn't touch the early 70's type 3 with raised controls/scratchplate. My son has a late 90's black SG which is one of the best SGs I've played but I have seen others from around that period which are not so good.
At that price I think I would probably be looking for a more modern SG that I could try before I buy.

[BigB]

If I was going to buy an 80's SG without being able to try it I would at least want to see some high resolution photos of it (including neck/head joint, frets etc).

I've seens the pics and as far as I can tell, no cracked head and the frets look like they still have years of life. Also as I said, the seller is a mate moderator on a guitar forum and has a pretty good reputation so I'm not _too_ worried about him trying to cheat me.

I agree with Philly - the SG build/quality has varied since it was introduced with 70/80s being suspect - definitely wouldn't touch the early 70's type 3 with raised controls/scratchplate. My son has a late 90's black SG which is one of the best SGs I've played but I have seen others from around that period which are not so good.
At that price I think I would probably be looking for a more modern SG that I could try before I buy.

Uhu... ok, thanks you (and everybody else that bothered answering).