If you could only own one… SG Standard vs Les Paul Special

[Pilgrim of the dark]

I’m looking for a be-all, end-all guitar and I’ve narrowed it down to a SG Standard or a Les Paul Special.

I play through a UA Lion preamp pedal. I play a lot of classic and hard rock (Van Halen), grunge (Soundgarden and Alice In Chains), AC/DC, some newer stuff like Audioslave.

What would be my best bet if I could only have one for the foreseeable future?

 

[Leee]

If you could only own one… SG Standard vs Les Paul Special​

For me?
Completely implausible scenario.

 

[Leee]

As much as I love a P-90, my vote would be for the Les Paul Standard.

 

[pondcaster]

Would make a good poll question? You know, just to see the MLPthink for that.

For me given those choices, I'd probably go SG even though both could be great players.

Good luck in your search!

 

[DeafDumbBlind Kid]

I'd probably go with the SG Standard

 

[01GT Eibach]

The SG "61 Standard"... all day, every day, and twice on Sunday. The decision is not even close for me. They also came out with a bunch of new color options recently, too, if you want something off the beaten track.

 

[Leee]

If you don’t need P-90s, the SG 61 is absolutely the way to go.
Never shoulda sold mine.

 

[Zr.King]

Humbuckers > P-90s for me, if I have to choose.

Love 'em both though.

 

[Note Milker]

SG all the way. Never had one. I like the neck binding and nice inlays. And what I heard from Angus Young, Tony Iommi. Frank Marino, even if he changed his pickups to who knows what. I'd like one!!!

Had a special, it was OK, but not special enough. Shoulda kept it anyway. Just one more mistake...

 

[CB91710]

Ya... LP Special is a great guitar and it does what it does very well, but P-90s are not really the best pickup for high gain applicaitons like grunge/alternative.
It DOES excel for classic rock and blues.

Best "can only own one guitar" would be the SG Standard.
The SG does have a difference in tone than the LP Standard, not only because of the construction, but the pickup spacing is different... the neck pickup is a bit closer to the bridge.

 

[Southwest]

Yep - SG Standard for me too. If I only have one guitar I prefer humbuckers and the SG ergonomics and weight are brilliant.

But I'm glad I'm not faced with having to give up my Studio for it. That would be a much harder decision.

 

[JTM45]

SG, the necks are just fantastic and they’re light as hell to play live

You get a myriad of tones out of them and even though they’re a little brighter than a les Paul to my ears, the clean up incredible well

 

[mdubya]

For me, it would be the P-90 LP Special.

Sounds like you might prefer humbuckers, though?

 

[sixwires]

Not even close for me. I consider the LP P90 special with wraptail the greatest guitar design ever.

 

[Pilgrim of the dark]

Not even close for me. I consider the LP P90 special with wraptail the greatest guitar design ever.

Could you elaborate? I’ve never owned a p90 guitar, or one with a wrap-around tailpiece. I have heard p90 guitars on YouTube and they do sound amazing. You think they could cover the above mentioned musical styles? I appreciate any insight you can offer; these forums are a wealth of knowledge, experience, and more informed opinions than I could ever hope to have so thank you in advance.

 

[firehead]

As much as all I love my Les Pauls, the SG Standard is what I’d have if I could only have one.

It’s very versatile tone-wise and the playability is way better for me with how the SG neck sticks out.

 

[thetalonguy]

Save up...own both. Play both and figure out which order YOU'd like to purchase them in. Don't let the spec sheets or internet sway your personal findings.

 

[Dogbreath]

SG Standard is my all time favorite. I currently own two, a Custom Shop ‘64 and a 1976. I probably will add more.

 

[68 Greenback]

I’m looking for a be-all, end-all guitar and I’ve narrowed it down to a SG Standard or a Les Paul Special.

I play through a UA Lion preamp pedal. I play a lot of classic and hard rock (Van Halen), grunge (Soundgarden and Alice In Chains), AC/DC, some newer stuff like Audioslave.

What would be my best bet if I could only have one for the foreseeable future?

At one stage about 4 years ago, I owned a ‘13 SG Standard with 57 Specials, and a 06 singlecut Faded LP Special with Pearly Gates humbuckers, and I compared them many times as I was looking to downsize and one had to go. I had moved to these lighter guitars after being a LP Std player for many years.
I’d owned a 05 SG Std previously and was pretty comfortable with the SG ergonomics.

Anyway, the LP Special was the winner for me as I found the tone a little more complex/refined, with better sustain and punch. On both my SG’s I found the bridge pickup, clean or crunch, to be a little bland and midrangey in comparison to a LP. The middle position clean/edge of breakup sounds I thought the LP had a slight edge in complexity (more tops and bottoms)
It was only in the neck position that I could have gone either way. The LP had the vocal sustain, but the SG had this bluesy, smokey, very vintage sound to it. Sounded like old 60’s blues or Cream records.

I still have the Faded Special, but my #1 is a ‘19 singlecut LP Special with P90’s and wraparound. It’s an excellent guitar, but I tend to play a lot of cleaner, bluesier, more old school material and definitely nothing post early 80’s. Out of your list probably the heaviest I play consistently is ACDC. I’d probably lean more towards the SG Std if I was playing all your influences/styles.
The P90’s are great, and very versatile, but humbuckers have a more instantly identifiable crunch sound and will be much quieter with the gain you’d be using for that material.

 

[zontar]

Well I have an Epi Special and no SGs, so I’d go with the SG.
But I agree with those who said tr6 both.