Used, discontinued Gibson SG Special price?

RayO5421 · #1 08-19-2008, 01:55 AM

Hey guys,
Bass has been my main instrument for 4 years now but as of late I can't find too many decent guitarists who are on the same level musically and in friendship with me. I have a really good friend who plays drums, and another old friend who played guitar briefly (they're friends with eachother too).

I plan on teaching the former guitarist bass and letting him use my gear while I take a guitar and be a frontman because singing and playing a loud 6 stringed instument is better than a dumb 4 string bass.

I believe our friendship will make the band strong and the new-to-bass player will get better as he plays around 2 good musicians like me when I started playing with a great drummer and a great guitar player.

I've been writing songs on my acoustic guitar yet I want to start a rock band with these dudes. Naturally I thought Epiphone or a MIM Fender but looking through my local pawn shop and found a black (well, "ebony"), used Gibson SG Special from the early '90s for $600. It played well and sounded decent through the Crate half-stack but I'll be using it through an ancient '70s Peavey tube 212 from my the depths of my mom's cousin's husband's basement.

So is $600 a good price for that kind of guitar? That or more looked about the range for the old SG Specials on ebay. You can see it at the very top of this page here: http://www.everythingsg.com/discontinued_models.htm

Get back to me soon, I don't know how long it'll be around. Thanks!!!

troyus · #2 08-19-2008, 02:07 AM

It's OK but the 490 pickups are not all that imho. I've always liked the SG as a rhythm with a 500T in the bridge but the body is too thin to really sing like an LP junior. Have you considered the Canadian Dillions?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dillion-guitar-brand-new-TV-JR_W0QQitemZ110279659736QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item11 0279659736&_trkparms=72%3A552|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A1 2|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14

I still play my Gibson SG (was rocking on it today actually!) but the little LP Junior clone Dillion Canada puts out blows it into the weeds tonally.

Do you want to do Rhythm or leads? If leads I say LP Junior with a P-90, otherwise go for the SG I guess...

Hawaii Islander · #3 08-19-2008, 02:11 AM

New Faded SG Specials sell for $699 http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...tar?sku=517222

The Ebony SG Special (non-faded) are back in production and sell for just over $1000 new http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...tar?sku=517260

If you shop around, you could probably find a used SG Standard between $800 and $1000 depending on condition.

Short answer: the price is just a little high, but not outrageous.

I used to own an ebony SG Standard.

Try contacting members of Everything SG for sources of used SG's.

Post pics of whatever SG you end up getting. They are great playing guitars!

RayO5421 · #4 08-19-2008, 10:26 AM

"Do you want to do Rhythm or leads? If leads I say LP Junior with a P-90, otherwise go for the SG I guess..."

I will be playing the rhythm and singing at the same time in this project but I kinda want a guitar that can do whatever rock stuff I need it to. I guess I can always swap the back pickup out later right? To tell you the truth my ideal guitar would be a '60s slimneck SG in heritage cherry with P90s but that or the reissue is something I can't afford right now!

"Post pics of whatever SG you end up getting. They are great playing guitars!"

Agreed. I really like them and they're probally my favorite guitars along with Telecasters. The guitar in the shop was the non faded model btw.

troyus · #5 08-19-2008, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayO5421

"Do you want to do Rhythm or leads? If leads I say LP Junior with a P-90, otherwise go for the SG I guess..."

I will be playing the rhythm and singing at the same time in this project but I kinda want a guitar that can do whatever rock stuff I need it to. I guess I can always swap the back pickup out later right? To tell you the truth my ideal guitar would be a '60s slimneck SG in heritage cherry with P90s but that or the reissue is something I can't afford right now!

"Post pics of whatever SG you end up getting. They are great playing guitars!"

Agreed. I really like them and they're probally my favorite guitars along with Telecasters. The guitar in the shop was the non faded model btw.

Right on. For the money, you might want to look for an SG-X. They only have a bridge pickup, but they get 24 frets, and a coil tap so the humbucker can go into a single coil voice. It's also worth noting that dillion sells an SG clone too...

http://www.jsdguitarshack.com/dillio...g_guitars.html

Bard2dbone · #6 08-19-2008, 01:21 PM

I'd go along with Troyus and say snap up that white Dillion with the P-90's(It's the last one, so hurry.). You'll have a good starter that should do what you want. And then if you want to go with the Gibson you can wait for a great deal on a used one while you have something to actually play in the interim.

troyus · #7 08-19-2008, 01:46 PM

If you get a Dillion just make sure you get the Canada stuff. There is also a USA distributor using the name but they tend to use the wrong woods (Alder and maple instead of Mahogany) for the bodies, giving you a different sound than the originals. My Canada Dillion Jr sounds VERY much like a Gibson LP JR reissue....