Dadgad1046 Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 I have a urge for one of the base model SG's. There are some 2018 SG faded versions on close out here and there. Both have a maple neck which I happen to like. I have a older Gibson Maestro SG with a Maple neck which I have upgraded and really like it. The 2019 version which gets the Standard Tribute name looks a bit better. Obviously the 2018's are lower priced. Anybody have a opinion on these? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 I have a urge for one of the base model SG's. There are some 2018 SG faded versions on close out here and there. Both have a maple neck which I happen to like. I have a older Gibson Maestro SG with a Maple neck which I have upgraded and really like it. The 2019 version which gets the Standard Tribute name looks a bit better. Obviously the 2018's are lower priced. Anybody have a opinion on these? I like the 2018 SG Faded a bit better, but only in the Worn Bourbon finish. The red finish is a bit too red for me, if that makes any sense. The 2019 SG Standard Tribute is indeed nice, and I like the Walnut finish just a bit better than the standard red finish. Though the Tribute shade of red is more pleasing to the eye than the Faded red. Which only makes as much sense as getting involved in a land war in Asia, but slightly less sense than going against a Sicilian when death is on the line! Okay, I'm gonna shut up now. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcticsg Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 If the 2019 Tribute comes with the grain filled for the Satin finish, I would choose that one. Otherwise, I'd go for the less expensive 2018 Faded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadgad1046 Posted February 24, 2019 Author Share Posted February 24, 2019 I like the 2018 SG Faded a bit better, but only in the Worn Bourbon finish. The red finish is a bit too red for me, if that makes any sense. The 2019 SG Standard Tribute is indeed nice, and I like the Walnut finish just a bit better than the standard red finish. Though the Tribute shade of red is more pleasing to the eye than the Faded red. Which only makes as much sense as getting involved in a land war in Asia, but slightly less sense than going against a Sicilian when death is on the line! Okay, I'm gonna shut up now. :( I'm with you on all that.. I already have a Cherry Standard so that leaves room for another color. Sweetwaters photos of the Tribute line make them look much better than they do in person. The one Tribute I have seen in person was at Guitar Center and it looked less interesting than a Faded and a Faded's aren't exactly beauty queens. There are some Faded Worn Bourbon's still around at close out. They are less expensive and for all that I see its the same product just dressed up different. Its meant to be a working Guitar with less frills and the Maple neck to me is a improvement. I am probably a minority on the Maple neck but they make them and I like them so.. I guess I needed a opinion to validate me going the cheap route on the Faded. I think I like it better and they are going away.. With JC saying model years are coming to a end this may be about the last round of closeouts unless 2019 gets a shove out the door. Here is my $65.00 Gibson Maestro I modded. It taught me to like a maple neck.. I routed it for a second Humbucker and rewired it. Got about $100.00 in it now and its great for that kind of money. Ooops I forgot it has a wrap around bridge with adjustable saddles I put on it. Its a $120.00 Guitar now.. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadgad1046 Posted February 24, 2019 Author Share Posted February 24, 2019 If the 2019 Tribute comes with the grain filled for the Satin finish, I would choose that one. Otherwise, I'd go for the less expensive 2018 Faded. The photos of the Tributes look to be grain filled. I saw one at Guitar Center and can't recall exactly but I don't think the grain was as evident. The Faded's are a bit raw. But thew price is better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 I don't know how much the SG Faded has in common with my Les Paul Faded, but I can say that the finish on mine really is lovely, and the neck plays like a dream. This is her, hanging next to my SG Naked. Also a very pretty natural wood finish. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadgad1046 Posted February 24, 2019 Author Share Posted February 24, 2019 I'm going by some by some of the photos the vendors use. Sweetwater has taken theirs down. They have the lighting and skills to make items look their best. If everything was equal the lower price speaks like its on overdrive. I'll probably make myself ponder and suffer until Monday.. Do Faded's smell like Vanilla? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 Do Faded's smell like Vanilla? :) My LP Faded does not. It smells like wood and strings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadgad1046 Posted February 25, 2019 Author Share Posted February 25, 2019 My LP Faded does not. It smells like wood and strings. Ahh... less Nitro = less Vanilla... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 I have heard people say that the vanilla smell comes from the hard Gibson case, and I have heard people say that it is in the finish. I'm not sure. My Faded arrived in the soft Gibson case, and the SG in the padded gig bag, but neither have ever rested in a hard case. LP Faded SG Naked Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadgad1046 Posted February 25, 2019 Author Share Posted February 25, 2019 I have a Les Paul brown new style Gibson case I got new and it didn't have the Vanilla smell. I doubt it sat open and aired out. I dunno.. :unsure: When I opened up the 2018 Standard it was a strong Vanilla smell. That case is the same type as the Les Paul case I have. Same color, same logo and both made in Canada. Well I guess I'll have to order a new Faded to to see what it smells like.. :) Gibson sniffing is a expensive habit! I feel for those that have never smelled the Vanilla. Its a treat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadgad1046 Posted February 25, 2019 Author Share Posted February 25, 2019 I dropped the hammer on the 2018 Faded. Musicians Friend had them for $649.00 and still kick back 8% on the Back Stage program. There are a lot of used one's on the market at higher prices than that.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcticsg Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 1551045921[/url]' post='1979644']I'm going by some by some of the photos the vendors use. Sweetwater has taken theirs down. They have the lighting and skills to make items look their best. If everything was equal the lower price speaks like its on overdrive. I'll probably make myself ponder and suffer until Monday.. Do Faded's smell like Vanilla? :) They are back up. But I can't tell for sure if they are filled or not... looks like maybe they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcticsg Posted February 25, 2019 Share Posted February 25, 2019 1551127057[/url]' post='1979808']I dropped the hammer on the 2018 Faded. Musicians Friend had them for $649.00 and still kick back 8% on the Back Stage program. There are a lot of used one's on the market at higher prices than that.. Nice! Congrats, and post pics when ya have them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadgad1046 Posted February 27, 2019 Author Share Posted February 27, 2019 Gotta give a big thumbs up to Musicians Friend on the Faded I bought. I placed the order late on the 25th and the next morning before it could even ship they show up on the Deal of the Day at $499.00 I called them and they gave me a credit from the days earlier price to the Deal of the Day price. No fuss no hassle its part of their price guarantee. I have a feeling new Gibson's at $499.00 may be hard to come by in the future. If JC gets Gibson running profitable and does away with year models then close outs will be harder to find. Not that I'm looking forward to no hot deals but where they want the brand to be cheap close outs is not ideal for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col Mustard Posted March 14, 2019 Share Posted March 14, 2019 great score... and congratulations on an excellent choice of guitar. the answer to your OP was of course: They are both good... Go where they sell them, and play as many as they'll let you. Buy the one that comes alive in your hands. But you didn't do that. You ordered one online, without ever playing it. But you got such a great deal, that now you can afford to do several things: 1. Play your new Gibson for a couple of weeks intensively, just to get acquainted with it and get a feel for what it can do. Play the hell out of it, which in the case of an SG is really not possible. 2. Take your new Gibson to the best luthier you can find and/or afford and get it professionally set up. This will enhance your SG experience more than any other thing... as long as you choose the best luthier. Use what you didn't pay for this instrument to pay the luthier. 3. Watch for the SKB-61 case to go onsale. If your Gibbie came with a gig bag, that's fine. But you should put her in a hard case that will protect her better. The SKB-61 fits your SG perfectly, and is impervious to any damage, and also will NOT harm other guitar cases when thrown in the back of a minivan with a bunch of lesser instruments. Use your gig bag until you see M/F put the SKB-61 onsale for less than $100... then pounce. Use the money you didn't pay for this guitar, to buy a great case to protect it. Congratulations again... that's a great price on one of the best guitars ever designed and built. No matter what happens to Gibson in the future, you got yours. Tip from the Voice of Experience: An SG with a maple neck is a great innovation. I bought one in 2013, and have had eight years with it. The maple neck is quite rigid and stable, and feels great. An additional benefit I didn't know about until getting the guitar and putting her to work was that the maple neck is more stable tuning-wise than my other SG with mahogany (traditional) neck. See if I'm not right about this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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