SG Standard spec questions

[srmd22]

I have owned a couple of SG's - a '61 RI from 2012, and a 2013 standard, which is almost identical to the '61 RI. I am pretty sure the only differences are the smaller headstock, non-one piece body (presumably) and maybe a slightly different neck profile (mine feels slimmer, the RI was more rounded, but not like the fat standard).

I want to pick up a standard as well, because I really consider my standard to be more of a 'RI - it sounds (with the '57 classics) and feels nearly identical. But I also like the darker, heavier sounding standards.

So I would either want a pre-2013, or a later one. Question is, when did they go back to the batwing, 498/490 pups, and what other changes are there since 2013? I think the neck joint is still the same, like the RI's were, with the attachment higher up the neck, and thinner.

Which year would be better for the classic standard (non-RI, non-"vintage") sound? A pre-2013, which has the 490/8, batwing, fat neck and neck joint, or post-?2015/16, with most of that, but the thinner neck joint/neck profile (if it is still)? Are the headstocks still skinny, or did they go back to fat? I saw picks of a 2014 and a 2016 on reverb, and I could swear they are back to the fat ones.

 

[drpietrzak]

The 2014 Standard I have has the 61 RI specs (essentially). So it is not 2014.

 

[Pulp Les Paul]

Every modern standard before 2013-2014-2015 its batwing and has a round neck.
On 2016 they came back on SG standards to 2011 specs so it hasnt the 60 slim taper of the 2013 standard or 61RI.
In my opinion, before buying another SG, try to put a gibsons 498t-490R combo on one that you already got, or just swap a 57 bridge for a 498T, leave the other 57 on the neck, and look if you like it more.
In my opinion if you like how the slim taper neck plays, and you want more modern sound, a pickup swap is the key.
Also if you are going to swap the pickups from 57 classic to modern, I recomend you to leave the 300k factory volume pots and the modern wiring.
Cheers!!