I picked out my '76 SG Standard when it was brand new in 1977. I loved the look and the tone I heard from earlier players of the model. It was my first real guitar, and I knew nothing about Norlin or anything else for that matter... the look, the tone.
I also loved the way it felt right out of the box. It felt like quality, and played like a dream. I didn't have an amp for the longest time, but played through a friend's Marshall that must've been a plexi considering it was a beat up looking head setting on top of a 4x12. I thought it sounded great, but my friend - who was a gigging musician - wasn't so impressed. I thought it was because he was jealous that mine was new, and his old Les Paul was tired and worn out (it was a '58!). Again, I knew nothing about guitars then.
Anyway, I still have this guitar, and over time I was 'educated' that my guitar was inferior because it was made during the Norlin era. The only thing I found inferior was the electronics and hardware - probably some Norlin cost-cutting thing. The fit and finish have held up nicely - but I decided that since I will always own this guitar to make some changes. Although my friend's '58 Les Paul was never a fair comparison, I'll put my SG up against any slim 60s neck'd SG.
Swaps (all original stuff is in the case):
Tarback humbuckers to Gibson Pat. No. Sticker'd humbuckers
Stock elex to RS Guitarworks Superpots 500K & 500K tones; vintage .022uF Bumble Bees
Stock Schaller (harmonica "weird large bridge") to Callaham ABR-1 & studs
Stock stopbar to Gotoh aluminum & TonePros locking studs
Speed knobs to 1971 Gibson knobs (came with my ES-175)
Granted, the upgrades cost more than what I paid for my '76 SG w/ case in 1977, but it's 4 times the guitar it was.