Broke down and bought a Gibson SG - brand new, for $500...

[Jimi D]

Has anyone else seen the insane deals on Gibson "faded" guitars that Guitar Trader have been running the last few days? I finally broke down and ordered a brand new faded cherry SG for $499 this afternoon... These are crazy bargains for a US made set-neck guitar! Flying V's are only a few dollars more, but both models are going in and out of stock so fast that you pretty much have to be on the phone when they arrive or you're ordering against the next shipment... Here's the pic on their website:

[darren wilson]

I think SG's have got to be my least favourite body style ever. But tons of people love 'em, and that is a crazy-sweet deal on a US-built guitar. How do they do it for that price? That's cheaper than Epiphones, for cryin' out loud!

I'm almost tempted to by a sunburst Epiphone Firebird VII from ***************.com... i don't know why, but i've totally had a thing for Les Pauls and Firebirds in the last six months or so.

[Polaris20]

The only American (mass-produced) guitar I'd ever buy is a Jackson or a Carvin. Gibson QC is way lower then it ever has been in the past.

My friend owns 10 Les Pauls, all from the 70's or earlier. He absolutely refuses to own the current ones. He also owns a guitar repair shop. That says something to me.

Actually, come to think of it, the US Hamers are quite nice too, just not my style. *

[Gabe Nickelson]

Geez, this is an incredible deal for a REAL Gibson SG. *Granted, you could kill someone with the horns, but the SG has a distinct sound. *Jimi - You made a good choice. *Congrats. *I can't tell what kindof pickups are in there but they can't be too good. *Drop in a couple of Iommi pickups and you'll be good to go.

Polaris20, tell your friend to buy a new Historic Les Paul - he won't be sorry!!!

Gabe

[caprile]

great price indeed. congrats! how about some EMG's??

[Polaris20]

Gabe Nickelson on 9:44 pm on Mar. 21, 2002
Geez, this is an incredible deal for a REAL Gibson SG. *Granted, you could kill someone with the horns, but the SG has a distinct sound. *Jimi - You made a good choice. *Congrats. *I can't tell what kindof pickups are in there but they can't be too good. *Drop in a couple of Iommi pickups and you'll be good to go.

Polaris20, tell your friend to buy a new Historic Les Paul - he won't be sorry!!!

Gabe

A historic Gibson costs as much or more than a real vintage Gibson, at which point you might as well buy the vintage one. He generally pays $2-$3K for his when he aquires them.

[gkelm]

Pretty cool...great deal. *My first "real" guitar was a mid-60s SG special..like this one except whammy, soapbars, and a diff pick guard. *SGs hold a special place in my heart (although the neck imbalance used to drive me crazy!).
Greg

[Jimi D]

This guitar is sporting a 490R and a 490T - those will probably stay in it until it's paid for, anyway... the money's not the issue, but my wife's gonna make me pay

Guys and gals on the FDP and Les Paul Forum have grabbed a number of these and the reviews are universally thumbs up! :thumbsup: *The nut and fret work is reportedly excellent, the finish is very cool (how - exactly - could you screw it up ) and the quality of the woods and hardware are top flight... Rumour has it that these are guitars they had started building for the defunct Gothic line - the Gothics failed miserably, so they were stuck with a bunch of pre-made, unfinished bodies with a moon inlay at the twelfth fret... what do they do to clear the inventory? Slap on a funky but simple finish, throw on some common chrome hardware, add a couple more moon inlays to the fretboard so its not too obvious, and throw 'em out the door at bargain basement prices...

I don't think there's a better deal out there at this price point... I mean, given a choice between this and a Tom Delonge strat or one of the thousands of Korean cookie-cutter laminates being spit out of the Cort and Samick factories, I think I'll choose... um... THIS! :biggrin:

[jippy]

I just saw a couple of these at a local music store this afternoon (although at a higher price point). Not a bad deal. (If I ever got an SG, though, it would have to be a 24-fret neck & I'd put in the Iommi pickups). BTW- Do any SG's sport a 24 fret neck other than the Iommi signature model? I'd love one, but the price point is a bit steep...

[Two hands31]

Just looking at that strap button position makes me want to vomit. *lol *Although, you must admit, it does have the most upper fret access out there. *And you could easily make it a 24-fretter without any pickup relocation.

[Jimi D]

hehehehe... Two hands31, I'm with you on the strap button, but at a measly 5 bills I think I can relocate it to the upper horn without getting too bent out of shape... I'll just be advancing the relic'ing process :biggrin:

[Two hands31]

Jimi D on 11:10 pm on Mar. 23, 2002
hehehehe... Two hands31, I'm with you on the strap button, but at a measly 5 bills I think I can relocate it to the upper horn without getting too bent out of shape... I'll just be advancing the relic'ing process :biggrin:

Sounds fair enough to me. *:biggrin:

[babahi]

SG's surprised teh he!! out of me. I picked up a custom Les Paul SG, the cream one with the 3 gold humbuckers. Oh wow, I plugged it into my Marshall and the thing just wailed. On top of it all, it plays so easily. For myself, the rock-solid Ibanez devotee, that was a shock...

Congrats!

[Gabe Nickelson]

jippy on 8:15 pm on Mar. 23, 2002
BTW- Do any SG's sport a 24 fret neck other than the Iommi signature model? I'd love one, but the price point is a bit steep...

Yes. *The SG Supremes have 24 fret necks. *I don't like the spilt diamond inlays on the fingerboard, but at least they have '57 Classics in them, and 24 fret necks. *There is one though that you can order with P90's and I think it's only available in a sunburst finish which they call 'Fireburst'.

Gabe

[nuno]

Jimi,
how many guitars a week do you buy!?!
is 'Gates' your surname?