Epiphone SG

[Mark V Guitars]

Since we're discussing SG's, are there any real fundamental differences between say an Epi G 400 and one of the newer Gibson SG's in Choco brown for 599 at Guitar Center? I'm pulled between the two.

Well, I mean other than maybe pickups and wiring.

 

[Kamen_Kaiju]

SG's are pretty badass.

I like my faded brown G400 a lot. It does need new pots and pups though. The pots especially are crap. "on/off" switches more then anything. And some frets needed leveling past the 15th.

Gibson SG's are cheap, it's the LP's they really gouge you on with prices.

You can get an amazing Gibson SG for less then the price of an LP Studio.

 

[Barcham]

I have no idea what the new low end Gibson SGs are like but chances are that they are quite good. You must be talking about the new SG-J model they recently brought out which is a very basic guitar with no binding or pick guard and blacked out pups. I will say that it's different looking! It's available in 4 different finishes but I think the Chocolate looks best.

Gibson SGJ (Chocolate) | Sweetwater.com

 

[truckermde]

I have no idea what the new low end Gibson SGs are like but chances are that they are quite good. You must be talking about the new SG-J model they recently brought out which is a very basic guitar with no binding or pick guard and blacked out pups. I will say that it's different looking! It's available in 4 different finishes but I think the Chocolate looks best.

Gibson SGJ (Chocolate) | Sweetwater.com

Me too, man. I especially dig 'em because of the maple neck

 

[Ratmick]

I've offered him half...

Mick

He came with a counter-offer of $450.

I'll think I'll pass.

Mick

 

[Ratmick]

Found a MIK 2005 Faded Brown or maybe Cherry...I think.

Alas I don't read or speak Japanese

Google Translate says:

Epiphone SG Faded G-400
Serial No. "U05081748"

I gather this is a 2005, looking at your guitars the serial number follows the same pattern (2005, August, #1748?).

...if anyone is interested it is here.

FWIW it seems to be in pretty good condition, albeit slightly dinged on the upper edge. Seeing it's a solid block of wood and not a veneer I'm thinking an easy fix.

About $284 in AUD, not sure on the postage...if anyone reads Japanese please let me know.

I've emailed the store, lets see if anyone speaks English better than my Japanese (which really shouldn't be too hard).

Seeing I found it I have first dibs!

Mick

 

[Barcham]

Yup, that's a Faded Brown and looks to be in great shape! And that would be a fantastic price for Oz! From what I can tell, it looks like a very small chip on the top edge and that should be easy to fix or you could just fill it in with one of those furniture repair pencils.

Good luck!

 

[Ratmick]

Did some more digging, looks to be a Yahoo Auction.

I've put a bid on, so far I am the only bidder.

The guitar landed in Australia looks to be between $380 and $400 of which around $75 is postage (the rest being fees and tax).

The shop in Sapporo doesn't return emails...I asked for some more photos, they haven't been forthcoming.

Mick

 

[Ratmick]

Well it appears I won the guitar with my one and only bid.

25,800 Yen + 10% 'Service Fee' + 200 Yen 'Payment Fee' = 28,580 Yen or $314.82 in Australian Dollars. The company I went through is called 'Buyee' and is for non-Japanese people buying stuff from Japanese companies that advertise on Yahoo Japan (in Japanese).

When you compare this to the one on eBay in the US that was $US450 + $186 postage then it's not too bad...

Overseas freight to come, shouldn't be too bad as SGs are light, expecting around $70 .

Anyway let's see if it appears and what I get if it does.

Is there a repair thread on here, as distinct to a setup thread? I'm wanting to fix the ding in the top edge rather than just fill it in with colour. I'm guessing there may be more too, never did get any interaction with the underlying shop.

Did I mention my tendinitis has flared up and I can't play at the moment as my middle two fingers on my left hand lock? Booked myself in to see a surgeon at the end of July, will get it fixed permanently...hoping it will continue to improve over the next day or two so I can start practicing again.

Mick

 

[jeffdemann]

Well it appears I won the guitar with my one and only bid.

25,800 Yen + 10% 'Service Fee' + 200 Yen 'Payment Fee' = 28,580 Yen or $314.82 in Australian Dollars. The company I went through is called 'Buyee' and is for non-Japanese people buying stuff from Japanese companies that advertise on Yahoo Japan (in Japanese).

When you compare this to the one on eBay in the US that was $US450 + $186 postage then it's not too bad...

Overseas freight to come, shouldn't be too bad as SGs are light, expecting around $70 .

Anyway let's see if it appears and what I get if it does.

Is there a repair thread on here, as distinct to a setup thread? I'm wanting to fix the ding in the top edge rather than just fill it in with colour. I'm guessing there may be more too, never did get any interaction with the underlying shop.

Did I mention my tendinitis has flared up and I can't play at the moment as my middle two fingers on my left hand lock? Booked myself in to see a surgeon at the end of July, will get it fixed permanently...hoping it will continue to improve over the next day or two so I can start practicing again.

Mick

Sorry to hear about the tendinitis but I am sure you will enjoy the new SG when you get a chance to play her. Power cords!

 

[Ratmick]

Sorry to hear about the tendinitis but I am sure you will enjoy the new SG when you get a chance to play her. Power cords!

Thanks mate, it's actually improving on it's own and should be ok in a couple of days. Still will go to the surgeon at the end of July though...

I have been trying to work out how I aggravated it and all I can think of is that it was caused by me lifting up my daughter. She has been doing the hard yards studying for mid-year exams she gets a stiff back. I pick her up from behind and her back cracks back into place. Alas she's 17 and about my size and really I should be careful as she's a fair percentage of my weight...and it's a bit of strain. I nearly did it again tonight and caught myself in the act of being just about to hurt myself again by doing it with my sore hand/good hand fingers interlocked...idiot .

Looking forward to starting on power cords...

Mick

 

[truckermde]

Since we're discussing SG's, are there any real fundamental differences between say an Epi G 400 and one of the newer Gibson SG's in Choco brown for 599 at Guitar Center? I'm pulled between the two.

Well, I mean other than maybe pickups and wiring.

I would say the maple neck on the SGJ is a pretty major difference. I have found the mahogany necks on SGs, and especially Epiphone SGs, to be a bit unstable. The wood and the neck joint combine to be a touch flexible, but maple necks are way harder, and more stiff.

FWIW, YMMV...

 

[IndianScout]

just got an email from MF, they have the Pelham Blue G400 SG on special for

Epiphone Limited Edition 1966 G-400 PRO Electric Guitar Pelham Blue »
WAS: $349.00
Special Pricing! $289.00

link...

 

[Mark V Guitars]

I would say the maple neck on the SGJ is a pretty major difference. I have found the mahogany necks on SGs, and especially Epiphone SGs, to be a bit unstable. The wood and the neck joint combine to be a touch flexible, but maple necks are way harder, and more stiff.

FWIW, YMMV...

Thanks for bringing that to my attention. I didn't even notice they had a maple neck. That could be why I like the sound of em when I demo them at GC. Great little guitars. Got a set of unpotted 57 Classics ready to jump in one of em.

 

[Ratmick]

25,800 Yen + 10% 'Service Fee' + 200 Yen 'Payment Fee' = 28,580 Yen or $314.82 in Australian Dollars. The company I went through is called 'Buyee' and is for non-Japanese people buying stuff from Japanese companies that advertise on Yahoo Japan (in Japanese).

When you compare this to the one on eBay in the US that was $US450 + $186 postage then it's not too bad...

Overseas freight to come, shouldn't be too bad as SGs are light, expecting around $70 .

Just thought I'd add for anyone contemplating this for future purchases.

It's not as cheap as it first appeared, although you don't find this out until you buy something and the fees start accruing.

So far the breakdown of charges is:

• 25,800 Yen for the guitar
• 2,580 Yen for the 10% Service Fee
• 200 Yen for the Payment Fee

...these are covered above. To this add:

• 2,000 Yen to ship it from the shop to Buyee
• 50 Yen Shipping insurance
• 500 Yen for extra protective packaging (this is an optional, and it increases weight, hence increasing international shipping)
• 1,290 Yen Consumption Tax
• 8,200 Yen International Shipping Fee

So for a big purchase these fees will appear smaller in comparison to what you are buying. However I have spent 14,820 Yen in fees, or 57% of the cost of the guitar .

This works out to $449 in Australian dollars landed in Australia. Cheaper than the one I was looking at in the US by $187 AUD, but still a bit more expensive than I was expecting by a good $60-70.

Thanks, Mick

 

[jeffdemann]

Just thought I'd add for anyone contemplating this for future purchases.

It's not as cheap as it first appeared, although you don't find this out until you buy something and the fees start accruing.


So far the breakdown of charges is:

• 25,800 Yen for the guitar
• 2,580 Yen for the 10% Service Fee
• 200 Yen for the Payment Fee

...these are covered above. To this add:

• 2,000 Yen to ship it from the shop to Buyee
• 50 Yen Shipping insurance
• 500 Yen for extra protective packaging (this is an optional, and it increases weight, hence increasing international shipping)
• 1,290 Yen Consumption Tax
• 8,200 Yen International Shipping Fee

So for a big purchase these fees will appear smaller in comparison to what you are buying. However I have spent 14,820 Yen in fees, or 57% of the cost of the guitar .

This works out to $449 in Australian dollars landed in Australia. Cheaper than the one I was looking at in the US by $187 AUD, but still a bit more expensive than I was expecting by a good $60-70.

Thanks, Mick

Hidden fees, that's just wrong. They know you can't do anything about it too.