My S.G.

61sg · 02-03-2011, 11:12 AM

I posted this on a different page, but it is at home here I think.

This is my SG, handed down to me from my father, it is the best guitar i've ever played, it's my Pearly Gates! Ive tried loads of other sg's, none ever come close.

61SGLP · 02-03-2011, 11:41 AM

That's the first time I've seen a B7 on an SG. Very cool.

How much of that guitar is original?

Kevin James · 02-03-2011, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 61SGLP

That's the first time I've seen a B7 on an SG. Very cool.

How much of that guitar is original?

My 60/61 (issues/player... see NVGD thread a few threads down in this section) has the side pull trem but at one time it had a B7 on it as well. It has scars on the top where the two mounting screws would be from a Bigsby and it has four filled holes at the bottom where the strap button is that could only be from a B7 Bigsby.

I have no idea which trem was original to my guitar though. My thought was that the side pull was removed and a B7 installed probably soon after the guitar was purchased new out of necessity because the sidepull is a huge pile of crap functionally speaking. And then the sidepull was probably put back on later after the guitar became valuable (but before it suffered its issues). But who knows.... maybe the Bigsby was original???

61sg · 02-03-2011, 12:00 PM

Cripes....here we go....

The neck is maple, it got smashed 3 times during it's years on the road, the third time was almost game over. The chAnge of wood and the weight of the bigsby actually balanced the guitar out.

One tone and one volume knob was replaced.

the tree of life logo has gone from the headstock.

old tuners were replaced with grovers in about 74 I think.

This is one of the few SG's I have seen with a B7, Andrew Stockdale (Wolfmother) plays another

This guitar was bought in 71, the bigsby was already on it. Chances are, it originally has a sideways Vibrola.

Dolebludger · 02-03-2011, 01:35 PM

61:

I'm almost 100% sure your 61 came from the factory with a side pull trem. Do you happen to still have it? As you say, the side pulls were and are musically crap (and I believe that having the rear of the strings attached to a spring loaded attachment is a tone sucker, too.) And the lower pot metal arms have had a bad habit of breaking.

And a couple of questions. As to the "tree of life" logo on the headstock being gone, are there indentations where it used to be? And you say the neck is MAPLE (not mahogany)? This is the first early SG I have ever heard of with a maple neck, if the neck is original.

kharrison · 02-03-2011, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dolebludger

61:

I'm almost 100% sure your 61 came from the factory with a side pull trem. Do you happen to still have it? As you say, the side pulls were and are musically crap (and I believe that having the rear of the strings attached to a spring loaded attachment is a tone sucker, too.) And the lower pot metal arms have had a bad habit of breaking.

And a couple of questions. As to the "tree of life" logo on the headstock being gone, are there indentations where it used to be? And you say the neck is MAPLE (not mahogany)? This is the first early SG I have ever heard of with a maple neck, if the neck is original.

Sounds like it has a maple reneck. Looks like a real cool guitar and quite possibly a dealer installed B7 at the time.

61sg · 02-04-2011, 04:12 AM

The guitar must of had a sideways vibrola, no I do not have it. The tree of life logo was lost when the guitar was smashed for the 3rd time in 75, a new headstock face was put on and the tree of life logo was not included in the repair.

The maple neck was a replacement, after it was smashed the 3rd time as well.

This guitar has done a lot of gigs......

Here is one of them

YouTube - Babe I'm Gonna Leave You by MAN

and here is the guitar on the O G W T

YouTube - Man 'Day and Night' (live BBC 1975)

61SGLP · 02-04-2011, 10:26 AM

Is that you or your father? Pretty great playing!

61sg · 02-04-2011, 05:33 PM

No, that was my father. He is in the great Jam in the sky now.

Dolebludger · 02-05-2011, 03:52 PM

Your Dad was a great player. Even through my cheap computer speakers, I can hear the greater tone definition the maple neck gives. I've always felt that the 61 (and early 62) SGs have a problem as the bodies are thin, as are the necks, and made of mahogany which is not a particular dense and heavy tone wood. (And not very strong either, as your Dad and many others discovered the hard way.) I strongly suspect that the maple replacement neck, while hurting collectors' value, actually increases this guitar's musical value.

Someday, I will have a luthier friend of mine build me a true custom guitar. We've talked about it, and it will be shaped much like a 61 SG -- except the fretboard will be narrower as I have small hands. But it will have a maple neck (maybe a neck-through) with a thicker body made of denser wood than mahogany. Cost quote is $1800, so it will be a while. But hearing the tone your Dad got out of an SG with a maple neck reinforces my theories that a "denser" SG would be worth going for.

Kevin James · 02-05-2011, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dolebludger

Your Dad was a great player. Even through my cheap computer speakers, I can hear the greater tone definition the maple neck gives. I've always felt that the 61 (and early 62) SGs have a problem as the bodies are thin, as are the necks, and made of mahogany which is not a particular dense and heavy tone wood. (And not very strong either, as your Dad and many others discovered the hard way.) I strongly suspect that the maple replacement neck, while hurting collectors' value, actually increases this guitar's musical value.

Someday, I will have a luthier friend of mine build me a true custom guitar. We've talked about it, and it will be shaped much like a 61 SG -- except the fretboard will be narrower as I have small hands. But it will have a maple neck (maybe a neck-through) with a thicker body made of denser wood than mahogany. Cost quote is $1800, so it will be a while. But hearing the tone your Dad got out of an SG with a maple neck reinforces my theories that a "denser" SG would be worth going for.

Sounds like what you need is a mid/late 65 SG. I just picked one up. It has the look of a early 60's small guard/short neck joint SG, Both the body and the neck are just a little bit thicker and it has an improved longer neck tenon. It also has the narrow 1 9/16" nut. Sounds like a perfect match for you, although your quote of $1,800 is certainly less expensive.

Fletch · 02-05-2011, 06:06 PM

Wow, nice story and your dad was a REALLY outstanding player. I liked both videos.

fletch

SingeMonkey · 02-06-2011, 04:27 AM

Wow. He played some awesome slide guitar. Great voice. And a seriously hip looking dude too.

And that SG sounds the bollocks.

BadBeat78 · 03-02-2011, 10:35 AM

Man thats awesome.
And what a great story behind that guitar.
Everytime you play it you can remember your father!

Lebo · 06-18-2011, 02:07 PM

Awesome, great history and great player

02-03-2011, 11:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
61sg Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	My S.G. I posted this on a different page, but it is at home here I think. This is my SG, handed down to me from my father, it is the best guitar i've ever played, it's my Pearly Gates! Ive tried loads of other sg's, none ever come close. geochem1st, Nils, Alvinfan and 1 others like this.

02-03-2011, 11:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
61SGLP Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: middle coast, USA Posts: 35 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: My S.G. That's the first time I've seen a B7 on an SG. Very cool. How much of that guitar is original?

02-03-2011, 12:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
61sg Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: My S.G. Cripes....here we go.... The neck is maple, it got smashed 3 times during it's years on the road, the third time was almost game over. The chAnge of wood and the weight of the bigsby actually balanced the guitar out. One tone and one volume knob was replaced. the tree of life logo has gone from the headstock. old tuners were replaced with grovers in about 74 I think. This is one of the few SG's I have seen with a B7, Andrew Stockdale (Wolfmother) plays another This guitar was bought in 71, the bigsby was already on it. Chances are, it originally has a sideways Vibrola.

02-03-2011, 01:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dolebludger Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durango, CO Posts: 3,838 Thanks: 11 Thanked 21 Times in 8 Posts	Re: My S.G. 61: I'm almost 100% sure your 61 came from the factory with a side pull trem. Do you happen to still have it? As you say, the side pulls were and are musically crap (and I believe that having the rear of the strings attached to a spring loaded attachment is a tone sucker, too.) And the lower pot metal arms have had a bad habit of breaking. And a couple of questions. As to the "tree of life" logo on the headstock being gone, are there indentations where it used to be? And you say the neck is MAPLE (not mahogany)? This is the first early SG I have ever heard of with a maple neck, if the neck is original. __________________ '62 Gibson LP SG Standard '09 Epi Goldtop LP P 90 Two Carvins Custom Strat Electra Strat type Hondo Longhorn Durango Guitar Works "Contender" (ask me about this one!) Sterling SUB AX3 (ask me about this one too) PRS SE "Orianthi" Genz Benz El Diablo 60 TS. Bugera V22

02-04-2011, 10:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
61SGLP Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: middle coast, USA Posts: 35 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: My S.G. Is that you or your father? Pretty great playing!

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02-04-2011, 05:33 PM	#9 (permalink)
61sg Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: My S.G. No, that was my father. He is in the great Jam in the sky now.

02-05-2011, 03:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
Dolebludger Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durango, CO Posts: 3,838 Thanks: 11 Thanked 21 Times in 8 Posts	Re: My S.G. Your Dad was a great player. Even through my cheap computer speakers, I can hear the greater tone definition the maple neck gives. I've always felt that the 61 (and early 62) SGs have a problem as the bodies are thin, as are the necks, and made of mahogany which is not a particular dense and heavy tone wood. (And not very strong either, as your Dad and many others discovered the hard way.) I strongly suspect that the maple replacement neck, while hurting collectors' value, actually increases this guitar's musical value. Someday, I will have a luthier friend of mine build me a true custom guitar. We've talked about it, and it will be shaped much like a 61 SG -- except the fretboard will be narrower as I have small hands. But it will have a maple neck (maybe a neck-through) with a thicker body made of denser wood than mahogany. Cost quote is $1800, so it will be a while. But hearing the tone your Dad got out of an SG with a maple neck reinforces my theories that a "denser" SG would be worth going for. __________________ '62 Gibson LP SG Standard '09 Epi Goldtop LP P 90 Two Carvins Custom Strat Electra Strat type Hondo Longhorn Durango Guitar Works "Contender" (ask me about this one!) Sterling SUB AX3 (ask me about this one too) PRS SE "Orianthi" Genz Benz El Diablo 60 TS. Bugera V22

02-05-2011, 06:06 PM	#12 (permalink)
Fletch V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 2,719 Thanks: 53 Thanked 109 Times in 16 Posts	Re: My S.G. Wow, nice story and your dad was a REALLY outstanding player. I liked both videos. fletch

02-06-2011, 04:27 AM	#13 (permalink)
SingeMonkey Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Cape Town, South Africa (Yes. It's a real country) Posts: 790 Thanks: 3 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Re: My S.G. Wow. He played some awesome slide guitar. Great voice. And a seriously hip looking dude too. And that SG sounds the bollocks.

03-02-2011, 10:35 AM	#14 (permalink)
BadBeat78 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 127 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: My S.G. Man thats awesome. And what a great story behind that guitar. Everytime you play it you can remember your father!

06-18-2011, 02:07 PM	#15 (permalink)
Lebo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: In your mind Posts: 1,404 Thanks: 41 Thanked 37 Times in 27 Posts	Re: My S.G. Awesome, great history and great player

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