Gibson SG bass worn brown

[Ostie]

The price is good for what it is. If you don't like the finish, don't buy it (or buy it and spend significant money on a refinish). These basses aren't rare here in Sweden so no point in jumping on one with the wrong finish just because of GAS. Personally I see no added value in the Babicz bridge, I like the 3 point and think it's a great and easy to use design, but that (like the finish) is a matter of personal taste.

A cheapskate option is to find a nice example of an Epiphone EB-0 and mod it. My 2017 one plays as good as any Gibson SG I've had my hands on (several through the years). Adding a bridge pickup is easy, and economical with the savings compared to spending Gibson money, and you can customize the wiring to your liking.

I've got a 2018 Epiphone EB-0 that was set up by the shop where I bought it and it is probably the best player I own. These are probably the best "starter" basses ever produced. I don't know what they sold for back then but I paid $120 USD used.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

I never understood why they called these "worn" finishes. It was not worn-looking, it was a satin finish, as in, not glossy. It's just cheaper to produce than a full gloss, less steps in finish work, and imperfections don't show. The satin finish FWIW, can be buffed out somewhat to a semi-gloss. It looks a little bit better to me that way...

I had the 'fireburst' one, a 2014 model. It wore kinda' shiny everywhere you touched it anyway. It was an okay bass. I'm thinking I paid $750 usd for it probably close to 10 years ago. Sold it for the same.

 

[J Wilson]

Didn't Gibson offer the EB/SG basses in a brown (walnut?) finish for many years, besides the Robitussin Red ?

 

[ravelax]

I've got a 2018 Epiphone EB-0 that was set up by the shop where I bought it and it is probably the best player I own. These are probably the best "starter" basses ever produced. I don't know what they sold for back then but I paid $120 USD used.

I got mine for slightly more, also used. They go for at least twice that when new, now, but the quality seems to match. They're really only limited by the pickup, but add a good bridge pickup and they really shine!

(20 years ago however it was a different story, back then they had a plywood body, weighed a lot and were generally uninspiring basses).

 

[bobba66]

Best bass for playing the "Brown Note."

 

[Sparky Mark]

I've got a worn cherry red SG bass which I much preferred over the higher specification gloss Standard SG that I sold on. I found the gloss neck stickier than the faster satin. You could use a thin coating of tung oil to add a little more sheen, which I've done to a few matt finish basses to good effect IMO.