Epiphone SG

[Mr Teeny]

If they're good enough for the Captain

 

[RaSTuS26]

Whoever he is, LOL.

 

[Dr. Pain]

ESP LTD Viper-1000 Black [ESP_LVP-1000BLK] - $1,199.00 : bmusic, Premier Australian On-Line Musical Instrument Store. For guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, amps, effects, brass, woodwind, sheet and print music, accessories and more.

It's $100 more and about $35 for shipping but these guys are good and you have the guitar in a few days. They are in Adelaide. I buy stuff off these guys and I've never had any issues with bad gear or damage in transit from the couriers. It's more expensive to buy in Australia but I figure, less time the guitars in travel the less damage done. All the guitars and a bass I got came set up but I'd ask them first just in case.

 

[MadWolfZX]

For some reason, I just despise the angular offsets on the body with the ESP SG variant.

I have been looking at a lot of SGs since this thread started, and I think the current SG 61' Special seems to be the overall least offensive to my sensibilities of the current available products.. It has correct bevels, for the most part, and has the proper neck binding. I hate the bridge on it(fixed intonation), but it looks like it would probably be easy to install a stanard Tone-O-Matic. Does anyone know for sure if that can be done without having to modify the existing bridge mounting holes? I know I have to make new holes for the stop-bar; I just am not sure about the actual bridge mounting inserts.

Looks like the 61' Special may be out of production though, as some retailers are now listing it not available.

In this case, I think white is probably my preferred version. But I don't like black on the P90s and I don't like the black pickguard.

You can probably tell this is me grasping straws. The real solution would be for Epiphone to do what they did with the LP: make accurate versions. Why it is so difficult for them to release a standard SG with correct bevels and neck binding is beyond me....

The Gibson SG is not nearly as expensive as LPs, and I could buy a Gibson Standard SG after a little saving, but I'll tell you: I just don't want anything to do with nitro. That is a HUGE negative.

 

[RTH]

The Tune-o-matic bridge posts have narrower spacing. Definitely not a "drop-in". I'm really partial to the Schaller 456, but at $120, its not really on many peoples' radar. But in its defense, it is a big chunk of metal with separate bridge and string-threading areas with fine tune adjustments. Its a wonderful bridge option for a wraparound if you can swallow the price.

There are other options for an intonatable wrap-around though.

 

[MadWolfZX]

So, that Schaller is a drop-in replacement? $120 is not unreasonable for a very high quality bridge; especially with fine tuners.

I've even considered taking my Pelham Blue SG w/Maestro, removing frets, and routing the fingerboard to install binding myself.

 

[Barcham]

If you want binding on the fret board, just shop around for a nice used Vintage Faded G-400. They are probably the best SGs Epi ever made, outside of Japan of course, with a nice one piece, bound neck They pop up quite often on eBay.

Or you could pick up a nice Elitist.
Epiphone Elitist '61 Reissue SG Electric Guitar Cherry Red One Piece Neck w HSC | eBay

 

[Ratmick]

Or you could pick up a nice Elitist.
Epiphone Elitist '61 Reissue SG Electric Guitar Cherry Red One Piece Neck w HSC | eBay

We do really get screwed down here:

Shipping: $218.64 International Priority Shipping to Australia

Yeah...ok .

Mick

 

[MadWolfZX]

Thank you for the suggestion. However, when it comes to a SG, I do not care for a wood finish appearance; this includes any transparent type finish showing the wood's natural figuring/grain. I prefer solid colors on a SG.

If you want binding on the fret board, just shop around for a nice used Vintage Faded G-400. They are probably the best SGs Epi ever made, outside of Japan of course, with a nice one piece, bound neck They pop up quite often on eBay.

Or you could pick up a nice Elitist.
Epiphone Elitist '61 Reissue SG Electric Guitar Cherry Red One Piece Neck w HSC | eBay

 

[dennistruckdriver]

 

[Ratmick]

Seeing the bottom has just dropped out of the Aussie Dollar I have been half toying with the Epiphone SG G-400 Pro in Ebony OR the
Epiphone 1966 G-400 Pro in Cherry.

They both look pretty good, although I'd like to replace the PUPs with a 57 Classic/57 Classic Plus pair or a 498T/490R pair.

Got me a saved eBay search for an Epi Elitist SG too...

Mick

 

[jeffdemann]

I recommend a MIK Vintage G-400 if you can find one. One of the best Epi's ever made. Mines an 04 and play fantastic. It will surprise you.

 

[Ratmick]

I recommend a MIK Vintage G-400 if you can find one. One of the best Epi's ever made. Mines an 04 and play fantastic. It will surprise you.

Very nice and thanks...although I may need to search hard here in Australia to find one...

One of the other guys (Barcham?) also recommended the same model.

Will have to have a look...

BTW this looks surprisingly similar to the one that is in the current Epi catalogue but this one is without a bound neck. You wouldn't have any better pics so I can tell them apart would you?

Found some on a thread a bit further down... http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/other-epiphones/257585-new-old-sg-day.html

Mick

 

[Ratmick]

Found a 2004 in the US.

Looks expensive...and slightly dinged and also modified.

Postage to Australia is a killer, $186 .

With postage and the conversion rate it ends up being dearer than new...

Mick

 

[Barcham]

That's WAY over priced. You should be able to find one for about half that.

The big differences between the old and new model is that the Vintage Faded has a one piece, bound neck with no veneer on the body. The new faded/worn models have the usual neck with a heel and scarf joint, no binding on the neck and veneer on the body.

It's well worth taking the time to find a Vintage Faded.

 

[jeffdemann]

You wouldn't have any better pics so I can tell them apart would you?

Mick

Here's some pics. Sorry but all I have is my phone.

 

[Ratmick]

That's WAY over priced. You should be able to find one for about half that.

I've offered him half...

Mick

 

[Barcham]

Here's a few pics of my '04 MiK Vintage Faded Brown...

 

[Ratmick]

Here's a few pics of my '04 MiK

Very nice, although I think I prefer the original knobs .

Mick

 

[Barcham]

Those were on it, along with the Seymours, when I bought her . I have original knobs on my Elitist. I like variety.