OT - Gibson SG Owners...a question

[Resonant Alien]

Hey guys - I know this is way OT, but I know several of you own SGs. I am having trouble figuring out what the real differences are between the SG models. Mainly, are there any differences other than cosmetic ones between the "Faded" series and the "Standards". I figure there has to be something since the Fadeds are about 1/2 the cost of the Standards. I am eyeing a used Faded that is about $600. Great price, but I don't want to get stuck with something that is far inferior.

Thanks!

Rick

 

[jmgman69]

Hey guys - I know this is way OT, but I know several of you own SGs. I am having trouble figuring out what the real differences are between the SG models. Mainly, are there any differences other than cosmetic ones between the "Faded" series and the "Standards". I figure there has to be something since the Fadeds are about 1/2 the cost of the Standards. I am eyeing a used Faded that is about $600. Great price, but I don't want to get stuck with something that is far inferior.

Thanks!

Rick

Cosmetics,Inlays,binding and the headstock rose or inlays.Some of the fadeds need some personal touch ups but are cool soundings sticks.I have a Voodoo that has no bells and whistles and a swamp ash body!!I had the frets crowned and cleaned up cause who ever sent that out the door at gibson real needs to be kicked in the ass!!I threw some MCP Nukes in there and it is truly one of my favs!!!Long Live SGs

 

[Resonant Alien]

Thanks Jason. I saw your Diablo in the "Bling" thread....wow. If I was in a position to part with $2k plus, I'd be all over one of those, but....

So, if buying a Faded, I should probably plan to put another $300-400 into it I suppose ($240 for a set of MCPs, plus a set up and possibly some tweaking on the frets). That's still under $1k....not bad.....

 

[aeroic]

Thanks Jason. I saw your Diablo in the "Bling" thread....wow. If I was in a position to part with $2k plus, I'd be all over one of those, but....

So, if buying a Faded, I should probably plan to put another $300-400 into it I suppose ($240 for a set of MCPs, plus a set up and possibly some tweaking on the frets). That's still under $1k....not bad.....

I'm always a fan of change out the STP and tune-o-matic bridge to TonePros and upgrading the tunes to Schaller / Sperzel locking tuners and putting a better nut on it. Take that, pickups, and such, and you'll have a killer guitar for the money .

Eric

 

[Resonant Alien]

I'm always a fan of change out the STP and tune-o-matic bridge to TonePros and upgrading the tunes to Schaller / Sperzel locking tuners and putting a better nut on it. Take that, pickups, and such, and you'll have a killer guitar for the money .

Eric

Yeah, I could see that - I have a Tone Pros in all my guitars but two, and I love it. I've actually never played a Gibson for any length of time, so don't know how the T-O-M compares to the Tone Pros.

Ok, so $600 for the used Faded plus $600 in upgrades and tweaks.....That's still cheaper than a stock Standard, so still not a bad deal......

Of course, maybe I should just build one from Warmoth parts I was actually thinking of doing that before I saw the used Faded - I was thinking of building one out of Swamp Ash and putting the MCP Pit Bull P90s in it. Looks like I could do that for $1k or so as well.

 

[aeroic]

I'm always a fan of change out the STP and tune-o-matic bridge to TonePros and upgrading the tunes to Schaller / Sperzel locking tuners and putting a better nut on it. Take that, pickups, and such, and you'll have a killer guitar for the money .

Eric

Yeah, I could see that - I have a Tone Pros in all my guitars but two, and I love it. I've actually never played a Gibson for any length of time, so don't know how the T-O-M compares to the Tone Pros.

Ok, so $600 for the used Faded plus $600 in upgrades and tweaks.....That's still cheaper than a stock Standard, so still not a bad deal......

Of course, maybe I should just build one from Warmoth parts I was actually thinking of doing that before I saw the used Faded - I was thinking of building one out of Swamp Ash and putting the MCP Pit Bull P90s in it. Looks like I could do that for $1k or so as well.

I'm a huge fan of warmoth stuff man. I think for the money, you'll get a better guitar that will be set up exactly the way you want it. I have 4 warmoth guitars (a petrucci style, a soloist, a strat, and a bass) and man I've loved all of the others I've built. I've probably built or bought about 15-18 warmoth guitars. Get a good luthier to do a fret leveling, and set it up for you (unless you are good at that) and you'll totally be set up . I'd do that before I bought another guitar from Fender / Gibson / etc.

Eric

 

[Resonant Alien]

Thanks for the feedback....

Eric - how did you finish your Warmoths? I was considering just a oil-rub finish (Tru Oil, or some other Tung or Linseed oil). Seems like the easiest option..

 

[aeroic]

Thanks for the feedback....

Eric - how did you finish your Warmoths? I was considering just a oil-rub finish (Tru Oil, or some other Tung or Linseed oil). Seems like the easiest option..

Well...i've had warmoth finish a few of them in Poly. I have done a couple in TruOil (well...I didn't..my Luthier did), and I've had my luthier do most of them in Nitro.

Eric

 

[RockStarNick]

The faded SG are great guitars for the money. But to me, something about the nicer gloss finish on the Standards DOES change the tone, and makes it feel more substantial. If you get the Faded, though, you're at $600. Add $200 for some pickups, $100 for a fret level and nut work (maybe more) and $60 for tuners. So now you're getting close to the $1K mark.

I'm getting the feeling that you're not buying this SG to be a collectors piece, nor are you buying it to be a vintage-correct replica. You're getting it to be a player.

That being said... I'd vote for a Warmoth.

I built this sucker, and it clocked in a little under $1K. Plays and sounds amazing. Totally my dream guitar. So I built another one to match it in cherry sunburst - finishing it up this weekend.

Warmoths DO require a pro fret level 90% of the time, but the fact that you can pick your neck shape, frets, finishes, inlays, etc, etc... There's a real sense of satisfaction in playing a guitar that is 100% designed to your exact specs. Even if it's kind of a no-name guitar. You can get any option you want. How about a maple neck satin finish, with a gloss body? how about a body made of swamp ash?
The possiblities are endless.

NOTE: If you're not handy, HAVE SOMEONE ELSE DO IT. Lots of people complain about their Warmoths. My first question is: WHO put it together, and how much do they know about guitars? A hack job putting it together will result in a hack guitar.

Here's mine:

 

[aeroic]

The faded SG are great guitars for the money. But to me, something about the nicer gloss finish on the Standards DOES change the tone, and makes it feel more substantial. If you get the Faded, though, you're at $600. Add $200 for some pickups, $100 for a fret level and nut work (maybe more) and $60 for tuners. So now you're getting close to the $1K mark.

I'm getting the feeling that you're not buying this SG to be a collectors piece, nor are you buying it to be a vintage-correct replica. You're getting it to be a player.

That being said... I'd vote for a Warmoth.

I built this sucker, and it clocked in a little under $1K. Plays and sounds amazing. Totally my dream guitar. So I built another one to match it in cherry sunburst - finishing it up this weekend.

Warmoths DO require a pro fret level 90% of the time, but the fact that you can pick your neck shape, frets, finishes, inlays, etc, etc... There's a real sense of satisfaction in playing a guitar that is 100% designed to your exact specs. Even if it's kind of a no-name guitar. You can get any option you want. How about a maple neck satin finish, with a gloss body? how about a body made of swamp ash?
The possiblities are endless.

NOTE: If you're not handy, HAVE SOMEONE ELSE DO IT. Lots of people complain about their Warmoths. My first question is: WHO put it together, and how much do they know about guitars? A hack job putting it together will result in a hack guitar.

Here's mine:

That's a good looking guitar man . You need to ditch those Seymour Duncans though. Get some Motor City Pickups. You WON'T be sorry!

 

[RockStarNick]

I know, I know... one thing at a time though. Still gotta fully fund my Mod50 rig before I go messing my pickup situation...

 

[jmgman69]

I agree!I put on graphtec nuts and saddles and put in CTS pots and orange drops and all the crap but when you put gibson pickups up on ebay they always fetch good money and so do the tuners on Ebay which takes the bite out of new stuff but I do all my own nuts and such except frets and I have a good luthier/friend that does super work for lobster

 

[felineguitars]

I reworked an SG Special that I got hold of

Took a lot of work but's it's a great guitar - inspired by the one Judas Priest's Glenn Tipton used - Gibson version pictured below

Satin Black with mirror parts
I added binding too as it was unbound to begin with
Big Dunlop 6100 frets and an Earvana nut
I used the Bareknuckle Painkiller pickup set - sounds just like British Steel

 

[jmgman69]

I reworked an SG Special that I got hold of

Took a lot of work but's it's a great guitar - inspired by the one Judas Priest's Glenn Tipton used - Gibson version pictured below

Satin Black with mirror parts
I added binding too as it was unbound to begin with
Big Dunlop 6100 frets and an Earvana nut
I used the Bareknuckle Painkiller pickup set - sounds just like British Steel

Sweet!!!!