My number 1 guitar

Great playing no nonsense rock guitar (much more versatile than that honestly). Stock pickups are surprisingly good, would consider replacing at some point down the line but for now they fulfill all my needs and then some.

SG's naturally have a bite that Les Paul's don't have. In my experience they stand out in a full band mix and play well with other guitars no matter the genre or application. Only real con is the head/neck dive and possibly the body shape, I know the body isn't for everyone but for some (like me) it looks awesome. The Neck Dive is a real thing that you have to consider with this kind of guitar though, I've owned 4 SG's and all of them had this issue, I got used to it but for some that's the deal breaker.

However, If that's not a deal breaker for you, you're going to be hard pressed to find a better guitar in this price range.

Great playing and sounding guitar

I own a black SG Special. Fat mahogany neck with unbound rosewood fretboard, dot markers, two piece mahogany body, 490R/490T pickups. This is an amazing guitar, it is highly resonant, sounds warm and throaty on the neck pickup position, has an awesome rhythm sound on the middle position and a clear and aggressive bridge pickup sound. All pickup positions are very well balanced. Although the neck is chunky, it is very easy to play. My impression is that the fat neck improves both the stability and sound of this SG compared to slim taper neck SGs. This guitar is very versatile and can be used in every possible style of music.

From Gear Setup

Workhorse Gibson SG & Modding Platform

If you want the beef of a solidbody Gibson but have never got on with the weight of the average Les Paul, then an SG should be part of your arsenal. It's got the grunt and the looks and putting it through any decent valve amp and hitting an open G chord will remind you of why you started playing electric guitar in the first place. The two humbucker special came fitted with the hot 498T in the bridge position and a 490R in the neck, but the big batwing pickguard means that a conversion to the soapbar P-90's for period correct late-60's spec can be done easily. (Just buy a pickguard ready cut for those pickups and you're away).

Great guitar!

Just picked up a 2021 Gibson SG Special in Vintage Sparkling Burgundy from Sweetwater. Played and sounded great right out of the box/case. The finish really pops too! P90 pickups can be sweet or raw with simple volume and tone adjustment. Stays in tune and intonation is very good for a lightning wraparound tailpiece. 50s wiring with orange drop caps as it should be.

Awesome sounding! Very comfortable to play!

Sounds very nice, just like a standard SG! Love the feel of the guitar, the very thin finish makes it much easier to move about the neck and just gives the whole guitar a very nice feel, which I personally prefer to the finish on the standards. The thin finish also looks awesome, and wears very nicely, giving it a cool aged look. Also love the slightly beefier, but still easy to play, rounded 50's neck profile. Such a shame they discontinued this model, as I really cannot fault it, although I wasn't too sure about the baked maple fret board (as opposed to rosewood), before purchasing it, but it feels really nice. Really hope Gibson bring the SG Special Faded back, as it represented outstanding value (I picked one up for £599), for what is an amazing guitar.

A great lightweight but large profile guitar.

I have a modified Gibson SG I bought secondhand. There are custom crescent moon inlays on the fretboard, and the insides had been ripped out and cut to fit a third pickup, which was an AMG. I then sanded down the cherry red and dyed it a dark brown. I couldn't refit the AMG and it was missing the bridge pickup already so now it's just one single coil. Great for slide.

"It's like it's playing itself!"

I was very skeptical at first. I've been a huge Gibson fan ever since I first started playing and always wanted (and still do) the SG standard which is pretty much my favorite guitar of all time. I was never too into anything with labels like "special" or "faded" put into them so my inner cynic believed that these particular guitars are crap.

Long story short: My brother generously bought me a 2016 Gibson SG Faded for my birthday and it was damn near playing by itself. The sound was a little weak and nasal for my taste, but it seems to be about right after raising the pickup a little. I still might have to change the original bridge pickup because it can't quite hold up to the amounts of distortion my amp produces. I'll see if I get used to the decreased amount of gain for now, though.

rare silver finish

I just picked this up... its in a rare silver 'pewter' lacquer that matches my LP platinum, has a fat neck like my standard... haven't spent a lot of time with her yet, but I am pleased to have another silver Gibson. I am sure a 70s t-top at the bridge will have her making 'jim' sounds. I will get to her when I have a sec....

UPDATE: good guitar, needs pickup surgery... not playing her much yet, but I am sure I will

Versatile and an amazing value.

I have had this guitar for about 5 years, and this thing is by far my number one. The neck finish feels excellent. I love the fatter neck, it's nice for people with bigger hands. The sound exceeds the price by far. This may be a "cheaper" Gibson, but the guitar is easy to use in almost any application. This thing can play nice full jazz tones and can scream with metal tones. Definitely worth every penny.

No way inferior to the standard.

Someone thinks that non-standard Gibson guitars are less valuable than the standard. Apart of the lack of binding, and the cheaper pickups, they are the same guitar. Great Gibson sound, classic bass voice and also rich of middle tone. I put Seymour Duncan III Pro Slash signature replacing pick-ups and it works divinely. Guns n Roses and AC/DC come easely out from them.