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Gibson SG Standard with substantial neck


glennc

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Hello to all,

Hoping someone can refresh my memory. Several years ago, around the time the Jade Pearl Strats came out, I was looking at one. I also at the time tried a new (probable old stock), SG Standard that IIRC had a very substantial fat neck. It was wonderful and I now regret not having gotten it. Does anyone have an idea of what recent years they were produced without the slim neck?

Thanks for any assistance,

glennc

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My 2012 SG Standard has a 50's rounded (fat) neck and that was the last year they made them with it. From 2013 they changed them to the 60's slim profile and they also changed the pickguard from a full SG style one to a small one, like the original 60's SG's had. Oddly, they brought out the SG Traditional earlier this year which is pretty much the same guitar as the pre 2013 SG Standard but with different pickups (57 classics) and this has a 50's chunky profile. You should still be able to find the traditionals for sale at the moment, other than that you can always find old SG standards with the fat neck used/second hand quite easily.

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My 2012 SG Standard has a 50's rounded (fat) neck and that was the last year they made them with it. From 2013 they changed them to the 60's slim profile and they also changed the pickguard from a full SG style one to a small one, like the original 60's SG's had. Oddly, they brought out the SG Traditional earlier this year which is pretty much the same guitar as the pre 2013 SG Standard but with different pickups (57 classics) and this has a 50's chunky profile. You should still be able to find the traditionals for sale at the moment, other than that you can always find old SG standards with the fat neck used/second hand quite easily.

 

Hello cody78,

Thanks for the info! Did not know about the traditional SG, cool! Will go about trying to find some!

Much appreciated!!

 

glennc

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I'm under the impression that since the SG made its debut in 1961, that the standard that it was designed for was specifically the 60's Slim Taper.

 

The guitar never existed in the 50's so it doesn't make sense to me that there would be a model with a 50's neck profile, but I suppose in recent years it has been offered with such an option during limited runs of different SG models...

 

To say up until 2013 they had 50's neck profiles I suspect is simply a miscommunication of the intended thought...

 

The concept confuses me that they would put chunky 50's necks on a guitar designed to be light, sleek, and ergonomically slim in comparison to the original Les Paul design as the SG originally was the Les Paul newly redesigned when it was released in 1961...

 

But I do possess enough ignorance to account for that...

 

I must also admit that a fat chunky 50's neck on an SG intrigues me and I think I'd like to try one in such a configuration, but suspect it would make it very top heavy and have a tendency to nose-dive the headstock toward the floor while slinging in a standing position...

 

My buddy has an Epiphone G400 SG that is very headstock heavy and if you let go of the neck it will dive for the floor...

 

My own Vintage (brand) VS6 (SG copy) is better balanced...

 

The whole notion you bring up is a curiosity for me now...

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Jimi Mac, the ones I was referring to were the standard SG models from the 90's & 2000's up until 2013. The originals from the early 60's did have the slim taper profile, but I would have to look up exactly when they changed them to rounded 50's ones.

 

It does seem a strange thing to do to put a 50's profile on a 60's based guitar, but I assume many players like the idea so Gibson starting doing this.

 

My 2012 with the 50's profile is only slightly neck heavy, but not too much more than my others with the slim taper. I don't really notice a significant pull with the 2012 particularly - not like the neck heavy feel a Flying V or Explorer would have for instance.

 

PS, if you look up pre 2013 models (1990's, 2000's) you'll see they had the 50's style profile and they have transferred these specs to the new SG Traditional now.

 

Here's a link to the Traditional which my 2012 is pretty much identical to

 

http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/electric_guitars_detail.asp?stock=14042811430332&gclid=CPvx4Mmr2cECFfMZtAodX1wAsg

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Jimi Mac, the ones I was referring to were the standard SG models from the 90's & 2000's up until 2013. The originals from the early 60's did have the slim taper profile, but I would have to look up exactly when they changed them to rounded 50's ones.

 

It does seem a strange thing to do to put a 50's profile on a 60's based guitar, but I assume many players like the idea so Gibson starting doing this.

 

My 2012 with the 50's profile is only slightly neck heavy, but not too much more than my others with the slim taper. I don't really notice a significant pull with the 2012 particularly - not like the neck heavy feel a Flying V or Explorer would have for instance.

 

PS, if you look up pre 2013 models (1990's, 2000's) you'll see they had the 50's style profile and they have transferred these specs to the new SG Traditional now.

 

Here's a link to the Traditional which my 2012 is pretty much identical to

 

http://www.guitargui...CFfMZtAodX1wAsg

 

That Epiphone of my buddies that is headstock heavy has their Slim 60's profile I believe so Gibson must take better care when picking a slab of wood for the body when they are putting a thicker neck on it...

 

I suspected the 50's neck on an SG was because enough folks asked for it as an option...

 

It does seem counter-intuitive to me though...

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My 2012 SG Standard has a 50's rounded (fat) neck and that was the last year they made them with it. From 2013 they changed them to the 60's slim profile and they also changed the pickguard from a full SG style one to a small one, like the original 60's SG's had. Oddly, they brought out the SG Traditional earlier this year which is pretty much the same guitar as the pre 2013 SG Standard but with different pickups (57 classics) and this has a 50's chunky profile. You should still be able to find the traditionals for sale at the moment, other than that you can always find old SG standards with the fat neck used/second hand quite easily.

 

Good Day cody78,

I don't know for sure, but it seems that the Traditionals are not offered in the US, bummer. Having a Epi 400 Pro which has a huge neck, I put on a leather fairly wide strap and there is no problem with the guitar staying in place. Now I have to figure which of the later SG standards have the maple fretboards.......

Thanks again

glennc

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@Glenn - I had a 2008 SG STD with a 50s Rounded neck. Not sure if those were limited in number or part of the standard factory output. I still have a 2008 SG Robot which I know was spec'd with the 50s Rounded neck - fairly meaty and I really like it.

 

Gibson has been providing customers with a range of neck profiles for a long time now. In the last few years they've even added a couple: the asymmetrical and the 30/60. While the whole range of profiles isn't always in regular production, if you willing to pay the extra money, you can have a dealer special one for you.

 

.

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@Glenn - I had a 2008 SG STD with a 50s Rounded neck. Not sure if those were limited in number or part of the standard factory output. I still have a 2008 SG Robot which I know was spec'd with the 50s Rounded neck - fairly meaty and I really like it.

 

Gibson has been providing customers with a range of neck profiles for a long time now. In the last few years they've even added a couple: the asymmetrical and the 30/60. While the whole range of profiles isn't always in regular production, if you willing to pay the extra money, you can have a dealer special one for you.

 

.

 

Hello BigKahune,

Looks like I am going to have to go with a used older model, not able to pay the extra money. The guitar was light and felt so good, didn't want to trade an ES-135 and cash for it. Still trying to come up with a plan!!!!! Now need to locate the appropriate years.

glennc

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Good Day cody78,

I don't know for sure, but it seems that the Traditionals are not offered in the US, bummer. Having a Epi 400 Pro which has a huge neck, I put on a leather fairly wide strap and there is no problem with the guitar staying in place. Now I have to figure which of the later SG standards have the maple fretboards.......

Thanks again

glennc

 

Interesting. The Traditionals must be just for the European market or something? Seems odd the US wouldn't have them [confused]

 

I found this link to the old spec SG Standards that were around for ages with 'rounded SG' necks.

 

 

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/SG/Gibson-USA/SG-Standard/Specs.aspx

 

 

Also, I had a look through my old Gibson product literature from the 90's onwards. I collected most of the catalogues they used to put out each year from when I was a kid in the 90's and still have them all!... a bit nerdy perhaps, but there's lots info on old discontinued models in them which is pretty cool, as well as factory specs. All the SG standards from the first one I have onwards (circa 1996 - 2004) have the rounded chunky SG profile listed, but I couldn't find any standards with maple boards though.

 

Bear in mind in the old days as well as now Gibson changed/ changes specs from time to time without letting customers know via the website and via the old catalogues I have, so it's possible some limited maple neck ones came out and some slim tapered instead of rounded ones even though they weren't listed in my brochures. With this in mind it's an idea to play the used ones you find before you buy - incase they are different specs profile wise.

 

Hope all this helps and good luck with the SG hunt!

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Interesting. The Traditionals must be just for the European market or something? Seems odd the US wouldn't have them [confused]

 

I found this link to the old spec SG Standards that were around for ages with 'rounded SG' necks.

 

 

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/SG/Gibson-USA/SG-Standard/Specs.aspx

 

 

Also, I had a look through my old Gibson product literature from the 90's onwards. I collected most of the catalogues they used to put out each year from when I was a kid in the 90's and still have them all!... a bit nerdy perhaps, but there's lots info on old discontinued models in them which is pretty cool, as well as factory specs. All the SG standards from the first one I have onwards (circa 1996 - 2004) have the rounded chunky SG profile listed, but I couldn't find any standards with maple boards though.

 

Bear in mind in the old days as well as now Gibson changed/ changes specs from time to time without letting customers know via the website and via the old catalogues I have, so it's possible some limited maple neck ones came out and some slim tapered instead of rounded ones even though they weren't listed in my brochures. With this in mind it's an idea to play the used ones you find before you buy - incase they are different specs profile wise.

 

Hope all this helps and good luck with the SG hunt!

 

Hey there cody78,

Well to ease my pain I purchased a 2014 SGJ. Sounds great, thick neck and lighter than a Squier Strat. At the price, for a real American made Gibson, it will do for a while. Thank you for the info as I now have more time and your information to begin an earnest search. First for funds and then a real Standard. Sure like the specs on the European Traditional, fat neck, 57's..... very cool mate!

Take care

Glenn

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Hello to all,

Hoping someone can refresh my memory. Several years ago, around the time the Jade Pearl Strats came out, I was looking at one. I also at the time tried a new (probable old stock), SG Standard that IIRC had a very substantial fat neck. It was wonderful and I now regret not having gotten it. Does anyone have an idea of what recent years they were produced without the slim neck?

Thanks for any assistance,

glennc

 

glennc, I have a 2011 model of the Gibson SG Standard. The neck seems to be thicker than the current 60's Slim Taper necks. Mine isn't as thick as some of the other 2000 model

years I tried before finding the one I bought. Some of them really felt like baseball bats and I didn't like that, as I have small hands. I'm happy with the neck profile on my

2011 Gibson SG Standard, and it's much different than the neck on my Gibson CS-336, which seems to be more like the 60's slim taper neck.

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  • 2 months later...

Just picked up my traditional here in the uk. Don't know about other SGs but the fat neck on this feels great. It was made in feb 2014 and has batwing pickguard 57 classics and it is heritage cherry. Not as red as some but what a beauty. Sustain to die for !

I'm very happy with this and my natural Casino. That will do now. All the sounds I need.

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Just picked up my traditional here in the uk. Don't know about other SGs but the fat neck on this feels great. It was made in feb 2014 and has batwing pickguard 57 classics and it is heritage cherry. Not as red as some but what a beauty. Sustain to die for !

I'm very happy with this and my natural Casino. That will do now. All the sounds I need.

 

Congratulations on your 2014 SG Standard. I love mine, but wish it had the '57 Humbuckers. Mine's a 2011 and it has 490R and a 498T. My CS-336 has the '57 Humbuckers and sounds great. The pickups on my SG however are hotter than the

'57 Humbuckers but a different sound.

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