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Thinking of an SG, Need Advice

jholcomb

New member
Joined
Sep 10, 2003
Messages
269
So I'm GASing again for a cherry SG. I'd really like a Historic with Maestro Vibrola, but it's probably out of my price range and I've read enough bad stuff here and on other forums about the crappy Vibrolas that are going on the current Historics to scare me off.

So I'm actually considering a "regular" SG Standard. Don't mind the bigger pickguard (Gary Louris' SG has the same), I understand the necks may be a little bigger than the '61 reissues, which I HOPE is true. What do folks here think about the stock PUs? I know I can buy aftermarkets if I'm not happy with them, and my main priority is neck size, but I'd rather not have to drop money on PUs right away if I buy one.
 

Dave G

Active member
Joined
Nov 21, 2004
Messages
1,283
The new standards that I've tried all have had HUGE necks.
If you're looking for a large neck you probably won't like the 61 reissues.
 

getchar()

Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2004
Messages
65
The stock pickups in the standard are good but I prefer the '61s 57 classics. Either way you will probably want to upgrade the pots.

Around 2000 - 2001 Gibson released '61s with vibrolas as options. If you can find one it will be cheaper than a custom shop.

WRT neck size (and without measuring) the '61s feel flat but wide which I like - something different from my LP. The standards fret board feels thinner but thicker and rounder neck profile. Different strokes for different folks.
 

EFLOW

Active member
Joined
Jan 21, 2006
Messages
591
The SG Standard have a bigger nesk, consider the SG Supreme
 

zombiwoof

Active member
Joined
Feb 22, 2003
Messages
3,565
I'd suggest finding an older Standard that has an ABR and nickel hardware. Mine is a '92 (in a limited blue metallic finish), and they had CTS pots, nickel hardware, and ABR bridges back then. I don't know exactly when they changed to the Nashville and chrome, but I'd look for one of those older ones. I think the newer models also have circuitboards for the electronics, the older ones have the normally wired pots. The '59 rounded neck profile on mine is great, not too big or too small. I previously had the older '62 RI SG, and could never bond with the slim taper neck on that one.

Al
 

EFLOW

Active member
Joined
Jan 21, 2006
Messages
591
I think that before 2000 the SG had the Gibson ABR-1 bridge.
Mine is a 2000 SG Standard limited edition

sgstandard22.jpg
 
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