The general consensus is that the Black Golds are better made than the 1979s and 1980s. They are effectively the top of their lines for the MIK Deans, same as the 4.0 and Select ranges for the other guitars. Their general fit is better, their necks have a certain something and the pickups are better. The reason may simply be because they're made in smaller runs than the 79s (which they make thousands of) so the attention to detail is better (although the pickups must simply just be better). Also they're not the same woods, the black gold has a maple top, and also there's mahogany and there's mahogany, so the fact that they both say mahogany doesn't really mean anything. Think of it another way, the Cadillac Select is made in the same factory as the 1980, also have a bound body, also have a mahogany neck and body AND have a carved maple top, but are MUCH cheaper than the 1980, so there must be something else to it, as on paper the 1980 would be much cheaper to make all other things being equal.
Anyway, YOU may think that the Black Gold looks bad, but in fact most guitarists think that trans black is cooler than cool,and that gold hardware offsets black really well, and if you're looking at getting one chances are (like me) you already have a couple of solid black gutars anyway.
