P90 Gibson SG vs Weirder Axes

[ztikmaen]

Ok guys, so it's nearing Christmas and I'm looking for a guitar spend. I went to Australia for a holiday and saw a Gibson stand at a music shop. For some reason the SG had this hold on me the whole time... So realistically I'm looking at the Gibson SG Special 60's Tribute. Any thoughts on it? Basically a P90 SG with a thin finish

In just wondering if it would be good... I have a Humbucker axe and a Tele too, so I figured P90s are what's left. And ALSO since I was so happy with the Tele because of the sheer simplicity, I thought this could impress using the same logic.

AND the fact that I'm spending relatively quite a bit for a simple but Branded axe makes my heart race  >_< (Must be good right? Aha...)
I was previously considering a weird "why not" guitar like a Reverend but I'm wondering if I should be more "sensible" and get a less radical axe with a Brand too

[Ratrod]

Does this answer your question?

[Telerocker]

Ask yourself this question: am I an SG-player? Do I like the specs like mahogany body and neck, the neckshape, the way it hangs on my shoulder, the weight etc. I'm personally not crazy about SG's, but that doesn't mean it could be not the right guitar for you.

[choucas09]

There's something so right about an SG with p90's.

[Philly Q]

Personally I prefer a singlecut Les Paul Special, because the pickups are further apart which gives a little more variation in tone.

But the SG Special is a very cool guitar.

[BigB]

Ask yourself this question: am I an SG-player? Do I like the specs like mahogany body and neck, the neckshape, the way it hangs on my shoulder, the weight etc. I'm personally not crazy about SG's, but that doesn't mean it could be not the right guitar for you.

I tried quite a few SGs and not all feel and play the same. My own ('80 SG Standard) was an instant love affair (despite being in urgent need of a refret and setup), but the 2 60s tribute I tried recently just didn't "click".

@OP : better to try out "in the flesh" if you can.

[Andrew W]

I don't think there's any right or wrong answer. Try a few and see which one makes lights go off in your head. The worst guitar I've played recently was a 1964 SG Junior, but I've played other SGs that were great. Reverends also look fun and then there are Dusenburgs and PRS do some soap bar pickup guitars so there's a lot to choose from. Try before you buy would be my advice.

[ztikmaen]

Thanks for the feedback guys... Well the 60's Tribute seems to be the cheapest SG with P90s... I've tried it at a shop but unfortunately their amp selection was poor. Otherwise I liked it and the cleans from the neck pickup were nice. I like the neck thickness too

I don't know if I'm an "SG Player", it didn't really click at the shop because of the Marshall Valvestate amp (or whatever it's called, it has no decent drive channel to speak of)

I tried looking at the Les Paul Special 60's Tribute but I concluded that when I saw it in the shop nothing stood out too much, the SGs basically ripped my eyeballs towards them xD

I've heard things about Gibson's "faded" finish guitars being below par in quality compared to the others... Is this true? Is it all Gibsons with that thin finish or only those with the title "Faded" in the name? The finish of the SG Special 60's I saw in the shop didn't seem worn/faded (You couldn't really see the grain too much), just thin and matte

Oh and just while I'm at it, are Gibson's stock pickups good enough to last a while? It seems MIA Fender pickups are pretty decent, so what about Gibson? Thanks heaps :D

[gwEm]

dual p90 gibson sg can definitely be good! iommi, townshend, santana :)

give it a try

[gwEm]

on the faded series, i do think they can use some well shonky looking timber! the woodworking seems up to par, and i'm sure the wood comes from where they say it does, but they often aren't the choicest of cuts.

[BigB]

Thanks for the feedback guys... Well the 60's Tribute seems to be the cheapest SG with P90s... I've tried it at a shop but unfortunately their amp selection was poor. Otherwise I liked it and the cleans from the neck pickup were nice. I like the neck thickness too

If it feels good to you then well, go for it. And yes, nothing like a neck P90 for warm clean tones.

Oh and just while I'm at it, are Gibson's stock pickups good enough to last a while?

I don't have much experience with P90s, but from what I heard from a few people I do trust and my own experience, P90s (I mean 90, not 94 etc) and C57 are possibly the best pups you can get from Gibson nowadays. As far as I'm concerned, I didn't like the "feel" of the two 60s tribute I recently tried (nothing obviously wrong just, well, not for me), but the pups seemed pretty good (tried on a Fender HRDx and a Vox AC30).

This being said, I once played a Reverend Flatroc, and while I just couldn't stand the shape, I have to say it's a darn good guitar for the money. The Sensei 290 looks good and if it's on par with the Flatroc tonewise, it might be an interesting alternative.

[ztikmaen]

Thanks Gwem and BigB :)
Yeah I think I know what you mean Gwem, perhaps if a get it in black or white the wood will be less apparent :/
@BigB Ah ok I see... And yeah I just watched a ProGuitarShop video of the Sensei 290 (I've watched it at least a million times now) and yeah it seems awesome! I personally love the flat top, like the most gorgeous mirror ever :D
But then my heart sinks a tad when I see "Made in China" (NO RACISM, just my stupid mentality -__-") and Id like to say I've owned a Gibson... I wish Gibson was more experimental in the 60's and made about 2 more models that caught on in the same different (but not oddball) way the SG did... I'd like to have seen Gibson respond to the Jazzmaster/Jaguar

[Philly Q]

I wish Gibson was more experimental in the 60's and made about 2 more models that caught on in the same different (but not oddball) way the SG did... I'd like to have seen Gibson respond to the Jazzmaster/Jaguar

About the nearest you'll get to that is an old Melody Maker, with its low-output single-coil pickups and Maestro tremolo.

[ztikmaen]

I wish Gibson was more experimental in the 60's and made about 2 more models that caught on in the same different (but not oddball) way the SG did... I'd like to have seen Gibson respond to the Jazzmaster/Jaguar

About the nearest you'll get to that is an old Melody Maker, with its low-output single-coil pickups and Maestro tremolo.

Oh that's true, but maybe something with a different shape to a Les Paul or SG

[Telerocker]

I would not care if it is made in China, when the woodselection and the workmanship is happening. I've got a Korean-made all mahagony (veneer maple top) Saint Blues Mississippi Bluesmaster (yes assembled in Memphis Tennessee blabla..) with Mules in it and I think it is at least on par with the Tribute, maybe even better.