freddyfingers Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Hi all. New to this forum, and new to the world of Gibson. Made my tenth post, so I feel compelled to come in here. Years ago, when I first started out, I played a strat. Still got it. a 91 deluxe plus. Anyway, got so used to the small neck, every time i tried a LP or and SG, the necks felt like I was playing my fore arm. So I just ignored them. two years ago, I was introduced to gretsch. After playing many , what i though was wide thick necks, I settled on a hotrod version 6120. Got used to it. A short while back, while looking for something with a P90 sound, I tried a sg,just for giggles. It was different. Didn't give it much thought, occasionally when i visited the stores, I would play one. Last week, having time on my hands, i went to the store again, and played5 LP's, ranging from 800 to 3000, and a few SG's. All played better in my hands than ever before. The lp's had a great sound, in the 3000 price range, but are still top heavy. The SG on the other hand, man, I couldn't put it down. I started with the pete townsend white P90 version. Lousey set up, but a good blues tone. Eventually I played the 61 reissue. The gloss cherry played the best, but the worn satin played very well, and if it had a proper set up, would have been put on layaway. I played for about an hour, the store was slow that day, so no one minded. You got to remember that I played a strat for 30 years, and the gretsch for the past 2. I guess my hands were being primed for this! These were my first real hum bucker pickups. what a different sound! Yes, the gretsch has a different sound with the tv jones hum buckers, but nothing like the blues sustain that came out of these. So, short story long, I am a member here, absorbing all I can about these SG's. And will add one to my collection, as soon as I can explain why I need to get another guitar, after the hotrod was purchased by selling off a kidney. Anyone have anything to add about the sg61? or the pete townsend? I liked the humucker sound over the p90, and thought they played better as well. Anyway, I took up enough of your time. Thanks all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoreyT Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 I recently picked up a new '61 SG Reissue after not picking up a guitar in nearly 30 years, and I absolutely love the neck, and the whole guitar. Much better than my old '73 Les Paul Deluxe I had back then. I often just open my case to stare at my SG :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddyfingers Posted May 31, 2012 Author Share Posted May 31, 2012 Nice! I hope to do the same soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoreyT Posted May 31, 2012 Share Posted May 31, 2012 Ooops, I posted this in my locking tuners thread for you, meant to post it here. PS, Freddy, I ran across this link from a member here, a lot of SG info there, and some very cool wallpaper too.http://www.everythingsg.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddyfingers Posted May 31, 2012 Author Share Posted May 31, 2012 Great link, Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1998StandardSG Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 I was the same way, I loved slim necks and hated anything that was just short of gripping a baseball bat... But now, I really like thick necks. I think that developed after I played in a gypsy jazz group and was "issued" a 1955 Sherwood Deluxe to play. That neck was just like holding onto a baseball bat! I guess it's just like anything else, tastes develope and change over time. I recently purchased an Epiphone Dot. Not a bad guitar... if you play the right one. I think I played three that day. I originally went in for a Casino but they didn't have any then and if I want something, I guess I can be impatient, but I'm working on that lol. Anyways, one was from I remember one was from China and the other Indonesia(?) and the third I can't remember. Despite all these guitars being the same year, they were all different! Indonesia had a black painted on stripe between the white "binding" and had a slim taper neck and the one from China had a 50s style neck and no black stripe. China played and sounded a lot better too. The third mystery location guitar wasn't good at all and I think I just touched it and said "NOPE!"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1998StandardSG Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Oh but you'll definitely love the SG. Some can be stiff but others will play like nothing you've ever played before. Just keep trying them out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeppelinguy Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Hah, I'm from the opposite side of the lake. Only ever played an SG. I used to hate the feel of Fenders, and I still don't particularly love them, but I enjoy playing them on occasion. Maybe later in life I'll even prefer them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Freddy, Yea, SGs are the bomb man. easy on the shoulder, and great access to the upper frets. the 61SG has PAFs, those by nature will be a bit darker then the single coil P90s. And when you ask about the Pete Townsend, are you asking about the SG Classic? (aka stock with P90s?) I have one of these, it was my first SG ever (got that one in 2007). Those P90s are NASTY, but they clean up nicely as well. Great definition from these pickups, works good for blues as well as that classic British bite. Love that axe. And the new 2012 standards with 490/498s are great. I picked one up a few weeks ago, and I have a hard time putting it down. The action and the response of the baked maple fretboard is insane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiamondJig Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 check the USA Angus Young SG if you can find one. The smallest neck Gibson makes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zigzag Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 My experience is just the opposite. My '99 American Standard Strat neck feels like playing the business end of a baseball bat. All of my other guitars have slimmer necks, and of all of them, I think I like the neck on my '96 Studio LP best. I've never played an SG. Also, to me, the way a guitar is set up in a store has absolutely no bearing on how I judge the guitar. I know if I take it to a good tech, he can set it up the way I want it. I can do the set up myself, if I have to, but I've noticed if I take a new guitar to a good tech, he can find flaws faster than I can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddyfingers Posted June 1, 2012 Author Share Posted June 1, 2012 I was the same way, I loved slim necks and hated anything that was just short of gripping a baseball bat... But now, I really like thick necks. I think that developed after I played in a gypsy jazz group and was "issued" a 1955 Sherwood Deluxe to play. That neck was just like holding onto a baseball bat! I guess it's just like anything else, tastes develope and change over time. I recently purchased an Epiphone Dot. Not a bad guitar... if you play the right one. I think I played three that day. I originally went in for a Casino but they didn't have any then and if I want something, I guess I can be impatient, but I'm working on that lol. Anyways, one was from I remember one was from China and the other Indonesia(?) and the third I can't remember. Despite all these guitars being the same year, they were all different! Indonesia had a black painted on stripe between the white "binding" and had a slim taper neck and the one from China had a 50s style neck and no black stripe. China played and sounded a lot better too. The third mystery location guitar wasn't good at all and I think I just touched it and said "NOPE!"... Years ago, I got a dot. same story. went to sam ash, and played 4 of them. each one played and sounded differently. I settled on one and took it home. I really wanted a 335, but that wasn't going to happen. I eventually put a set decent pickups in it, and the sound improved, but never improved enough for me to keep playing it. Eventually sold it off. But you are right, the same guitar plays differently, and you need to try out as many as you can. Thanks for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddyfingers Posted June 1, 2012 Author Share Posted June 1, 2012 Freddy, Yea, SGs are the bomb man. easy on the shoulder, and great access to the upper frets. the 61SG has PAFs, those by nature will be a bit darker then the single coil P90s. And when you ask about the Pete Townsend, are you asking about the SG Classic? (aka stock with P90s?) I have one of these, it was my first SG ever (got that one in 2007). Those P90s are NASTY, but they clean up nicely as well. Great definition from these pickups, works good for blues as well as that classic British bite. Love that axe. And the new 2012 standards with 490/498s are great. I picked one up a few weeks ago, and I have a hard time putting it down. The action and the response of the baked maple fretboard is insane. I get confused with all the models. I know some people refer to pete townsends guitar just as an SG. The one i tried out was the white, P90, selling for around 1350 or so. I have noticed they made about three different townsend models. I was after the P90 sound, but the day I tried it, it had a poor setup, and i could not bond with it. But the satin 61 reissue was set up better, and the sg 61 cherry was set up dead on, led me down this path of searching and gassing. Thanks for the tips! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 A couple months ago I spent a few hours in a shop deciding between the Pete Townsend SG and the SG Classic. I wanted P90s since I already had an SG with humbuckers so those were the two I focused on. While I liked the Townsend, I was ultimately too worried about the intonation (due to the tailpiece/bridge combination). I ended buying the SG Classic and could not be happier. I guess my suggestion is - if you want P90s you should check out the Classic. If you want humbuckers, hard to beat the 61. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoreyT Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 I was led to believe the '61 Reissue has the slimmest neck too out of all of them? Now I read above the Angus one might? I know the neck on my 2012 '61 is a lot slimmer than my old '73 Les Paul Deluxe, and I prefer the simmer neck by far. http://www.everythingsg.com/index.php/61reissue.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddyfingers Posted June 1, 2012 Author Share Posted June 1, 2012 A couple months ago I spent a few hours in a shop deciding between the Pete Townsend SG and the SG Classic. I wanted P90s since I already had an SG with humbuckers so those were the two I focused on. While I liked the Townsend, I was ultimately too worried about the intonation (due to the tailpiece/bridge combination). I ended buying the SG Classic and could not be happier. I guess my suggestion is - if you want P90s you should check out the Classic. If you want humbuckers, hard to beat the 61. Thanks. What is the intonation issue on the townsend model? I didn't try the classic, as they did not have one when I went. I have read in other places that the classic with the P90's is basically the townsed, minus the name and price tag. ANy truth to this? And I am also leaning to the 61 reissue as well, liked the full sound. I still like the P90 growl, but do not have a budget for both. In a perfect world, I would get a es 125 tic for the P90 sound I really want, but the ones that are in okay condition cost a few kidneys and spleens! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted June 1, 2012 Share Posted June 1, 2012 Thanks. What is the intonation issue on the townsend model? Not specific to the Townsend - just that it is a one-piece, wraparound and is therefore not adjustable. It is compensated, but I prefer the ABR or Nashville so that intonation can be fine tuned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddyfingers Posted June 1, 2012 Author Share Posted June 1, 2012 Now I can picture what you meant. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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