It's SG time, get the DEVIL within thou ready!

[JJretroTONEGOD]

HI


I am looking for the best Gibson SG I can possibly find, I really like the older classic ones aka USA from the 60's and 70's. I love the custom ones even more than the normal ones, what would you recommend???

I am saving up and I'm willing to spend £1000-£2000 on one, my favourite tones are from Angus Young and Frank Zappa, who both used SGs a lot, and unsurprisingly John Mchlaughlin (early stuff) mahavishnu. How the hell can somebody like me get a tone that good? If you know what model of SG guitars they use/used then please let me know!

As you've guessed I know nothing on the subject of relevante' accord in order to help doth make a 'suitable' decisione'

thanks me mateys,

Ben.

[WezV]

one with P-90's!!

If you are going down the SG route it needs to have P-90's

[Philly Q]

If you are going down the SG route it needs to have P-90's

Hmmm... not necessarily.  I thought you weren't a fan of SGs, Wez?

Angus's main SG is, I believe, a '68 with a batwing pickguard (Twinfan'll know better than me).  Zappa's best known SG wasn't a Gibson at all, but a custom job with a 23rd fret and all sorts of weird electronics fitted by Rex Bogue - the man who built John McLaughlin's doubleneck.

But I don't think there's any point trying to copy anyone's gear too closely.  You won't sound like them, you'll sound like you!

More importantly, how do you like a guitar to feel?  e.g. thin neck, fat neck?  Ebony or rosewood?

[JJretroTONEGOD]

I like FAT necks, as that's what I'm used to, it has to have to chunk to it. I like Rosewood fretboards, with Pearl inlays, and I like mahogony bodies, because of the sustain and tone, also I like through necks, not bolt on.

I refuse to copy anyone else's tone, so that's not an issue. I have my own sound, I 'm just looking for something of a 'similar' nature to my favourtie tones, aka a 'vibe'

I'm thinking of putting very high output pickups something like Abraxas or a high output Mule w/an Alnico V magnet, not Alnico IV, somthing that really emphases the natural sustain, and makes it go into controllable feedback. I want this guitar to be capable of getting very heavy, thick and sustained.

I like P90's but I'm looking for an SG with 2 Humbuckers.

[Twinfan]

If you want thick necks, then don't go for a late 60s or early seventies SG.  They are famous for having narrow necks that people either love or hate - I'm guessing hate in your case.  Angus has very small hands which is why his '68 batwing guard Standard (well done Phil  ;)) is perfect for him.

Your best vintage SG would be a mid-sixties version which has a thick neck, but they are well over your budget.  Try £4000+.  The late seventies/early eighties SGs had strange specs so I'd avoid them.  Who wants a bridge that looks like a harmonica or a side mounted jack???

In the newer SG line, the good old Standard has a nice full neck.  The '61 reissue has the slim-taper neck which will be too thin for you, but I love mine.  If you want to splash out, I believe the Custom Shop SGs have quite chunky necks so they may suit you well.

For what you say you like, I reckon a good old Standard from any time over the last 15 years would be great.

[JJretroTONEGOD]

cheers, that's great, what I'll do is try some of the thinner neck SGs first and then, I'll look out for a modernish standard, the 61 reissue sounds nice though! I do have big hands which is why I prefer big necks, I can cope with thin necks if it feels and sounds right, but basically until I try a guitar and actually 'feel' what it's like to play I won't be able to tell.

p.s I saw YCDC a few months back, w/J Peel, you ROCKED!

[WezV]

If you are going down the SG route it needs to have P-90's

Hmmm... not necessarily.  I thought you weren't a fan of SGs, Wez?

thats well documented and doesnt need repeating - but since you metnioned they are a very bad design, structurally at least...

I used to love them till i played one and it felt wrong.  Then when i started making guitars and became very aware of all the issues with the design  that made me not want to do a copy.


They do look cool but i have always said i wouldnt make one unless i could at least do it as a through-neck, or at least a very deep set tenon like the explorer i am making now.  I also wouldnt like to use a single piece of wood for the neck and i would use carbon fibre reinforcment bars for extra insurance... with all of that i might actually quite like an SG

[Twinfan]

p.s I saw YCDC a few months back, w/J Peel, you ROCKED!

You sure you saw us?  Who is J/Peel?????

By the way, if you want to try any of my SGs out you're only round the corner.  Drop me a PM and you're welcome to bob round and see what you think.  I have:

* Gibson '61 reissue with vibrola and stock Classic '57s
* Epiphone '65 reissue with vibrola and Riff Raffs
* Tokai Special with wrapover bridge and stock P90s
* Gordon Smith Junior with tune-o-matic and a Mississippi Queen

[Philly Q]

I'm a fan of big necks too, regardless of hand size!  I've tried a couple of late-60s SGs, and the skinny, narrow-at-the-nut neck feels quite weird.  The '61 reissue has a pretty slim neck, but a least it has the "normal" nut width.  The current SG Standard is just fine, but you might have to shop around a bit to find a good one.

This is a really good reference book, but it looks like you might have trouble getting a reasonably-priced copy:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Guitar-History-Gibson-Sg-2/dp/0933224206/ref=sr_1_6/203-6467591-8079959?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189028306&sr=1-6

[Philly Q]

They do look cool but i have always said i wouldnt make one unless i could at least do it as a through-neck, or at least a very deep set tenon like the explorer i am making now.  I also wouldnt like to use a single piece of wood for the neck and i would use carbon fibre reinforcment bars for extra insurance... with all of that i might actually quite like an SG

I guess you could make all those changes without changing the basic shape, feel or balance of the SG.  Sounds good!

[PhilKing]

See if you can find a John Birch SG - they are exactly what you are looking for!  Neck through and wide flatish neck.  Narrow HB's with a great almost P-90 sound.  Of course they are like rocking horse shite, I have been looking for one for years.

[Philly Q]

There was a guy who advertised in the "Wanted" column of just about every issue of Guitarist for years looking for John Birch SGs.  That wasn't you was it Phil?

[PhilKing]

There was a guy who advertised in the "Wanted" column of just about every issue of Guitarist for years looking for John Birch SGs.  That wasn't you was it Phil?

No - it's this guy:

http://johnbirchsg.com/

I think he has all of the ones that were ever for sale!!!

[Kilby]

Similar to the John Birch models these where built to Mr Iommis specs and turn up quite often http://www.patrickeggleguitars.com/artist.html usually at very reasonable prices. The only one I can find ATM is a P90 equipped Jr model though.

Jay Dee also did a version http://www.jaydeeguitars.com/html/sg-tony-iommi.asp which apart from the headstock are nice looking SG like guitars.

Rob...

BTW can anybody gimme a hint how to do nice looking embedded urls ?

[Philly Q]

No - it's this guy:

http://johnbirchsg.com/

I think he has all of the ones that were ever for sale!!!

After establishing a world monopoly on John Birch SGs, he could at least have a proper website with pictures the rest of us can look at!   :lol: