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This is where you can recommend to readers an alternative - or gear that goes with - Gibson SG Special. What gear sounds similar, is less expensive, higher-end or boutique, etc.?
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Reviews
Trusted musician and artist reviews for Gibson SG Special
Based on 25 Reviews
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
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.
Had an epi SG for awhile, always loved the look - but being a big guy, the body felt too insubstantial and the neck dove ALL the time - probably the grover style tuners on a less well balanced body. Not something the Gibson suffers from! The neck was great though, and the stock pickups powerful enough to do the whole Angus thing.
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:
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.
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.
no, they are not... I did not get my SG standard for the binding (I do not care about such a small detail), all the standards I played sounded and felt generally better than the glossy specials, more work was put into the neck shape and joint. And the really good standards smoke on the best specials. Sorry. I would put my Standard against your special any day of the week. The tone test would be irrelevant as I modded mine a bit to get MY sound, just like you modded yours and they will sound VERY different I am sure... but everyone who plays my standard makes me an offer to buy it, and its not the BEST standard I have played.
The major up side of a non-gloss gibby is that you won't stick to the nek when you sweat, but your sweat is penetrating the lacker thanks to the poorly prepared wood of the faded or worn finish and its fcking with the mahogany's stability. No joke. The acid in your hand will penetrate a thin coat of lacquer and its not good for the wood.
I understand what you want to say. I didn't want to say that they are the SAME, I would say they are to similar in the sound. As regards the paint, the non-glossy finish are better for the wood because they allow the wood to breathe. In any case, in my opinion can't exist only one think, everyone has his taste and it's right! grez
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).