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Average Price: $1,049
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$400
$1001+
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High-end
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Description
Experience the power and elegance of a rock legend with the Gibson SG Special 2018. Crafted in Nashville, this guitar is renowned for its Mini Humbucker pickups, offering a unique tonal palette that strikes a perfect balance between the robust sound of full-sized humbuckers and the clarity of single-coil pickups. These pickups deliver crisp, bright tones that effortlessly cut through the mix, making them ideal for both rhythm and lead work.
The SG Special features a lightweight mahogany body that ensures both comfort and exceptional sustain, allowing you to perform for hours without fatigue. Its SlimTaper neck provides a fast, smooth playing experience, while the rosewood fretboard, meticulously Plek'd for precision, ensures effortless playability. The iconic double-horned cutaway design grants easy access to the higher frets, making it a favorite among soloists.
The guitar's satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish not only enhances its classic aesthetic but also contributes to its resonant tone. This finish is thinner than modern alternatives, allowing the wood to breathe and age gracefully, enriching the guitar's sound over time. With its blend of vintage charm and modern playability, the Gibson SG Special 2018 is not just an instrument but a piece of rock history.
Key Features:
- Mahogany SlimTaper neck with 24.75" scale length
- Rosewood fingerboard with Acrylic Small Block inlays
- Plek'd fretboard for precise action
- 24 cryogenically treated medium frets
- 1.695"-wide Tektoid nut
- Lightweight aluminum Tune-O-Matic bridge and stop-bar tailpiece
- Black Top Hat knobs with silver inserts
- Vintage Style Keystone tuners
- Nickel-plated hardware
- 2 Gibson Mini Humbucker pickups
- 2 volume, 2 tone controls; 3-way toggle selector
- Includes softshell case
Product specs
| Brand | Gibson |
| Model | SG Special |
| Finish | Natural Satin, Satin Cherry |
| Year | 2018 |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | Solid Body Electric Guitars |
| Body Material | Mahogany |
| Body Shape | Double Cutaway |
| Body Type | Solid Body |
| Bridge/Tailpiece Type | Stop-Bar |
| Color Family | Red, Tan |
| Finish Style | Gloss |
| Fretboard Material | Rosewood |
| Model Family | Gibson SG |
| Model Sub-Family | Gibson SG Special |
| Neck Construction | Set-Neck |
| Neck Material | Mahogany, Maple |
| Number of Frets | 24 |
| Number of Strings | 6-String |
| Pickup Configuration | HH |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Scale Length | 24.75" |
| Top Material | Maple |
| Wood Top Style | Plain |
FAQs
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What is the neck profile of the Gibson SG Special 2018 Satin Cherry?
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The Gibson SG Special 2018 Satin Cherry features a SlimTaper neck profile, providing a comfortable and fast playing experience ideal for both rhythm and lead guitarists.
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What kind of pickups does the Gibson SG Special 2018 Satin Cherry have?
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This guitar is equipped with dual mini humbuckers, which offer a bright and articulate tone, suitable for a variety of music genres, from rock to blues.
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Is the Gibson SG Special 2018 Satin Cherry suitable for beginners?
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Yes, the Gibson SG Special 2018 Satin Cherry is suitable for beginners due to its comfortable neck profile and versatile sound, although its quality and features also appeal to more experienced players.
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What is the body material of the Gibson SG Special 2018 Satin Cherry?
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The body of the Gibson SG Special 2018 Satin Cherry is made from solid mahogany, known for its warm tone and excellent sustain.
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Does the Gibson SG Special 2018 Satin Cherry come with a case?
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Yes, the Gibson SG Special 2018 Satin Cherry comes with a softshell case to protect the guitar during transport and storage.
Videos
Guitar Center
Gibson SG Special 2018 Electric Guitar
Gibson SG Special 2018 Electric Guitar
Guitar Center
Gibson USA 2018 - SG Standard 2018, SG Special 2018 and SG Faded 2018 Electric Guitars
Musician's Friend
Gibson SG Special 2018
session
GIBSON 2018 SG SPECIAL Satin Cherry - Demo
Artyom Reborn
Gibson SG Special 2018, Satin Cherry | Gear4music demo
Gear4music Guitars
Improvise guitar l Gibson SG Special 2018
Music Arms
Gibson SG special 2018 - mini humbuckers
MADMALKO
Playing a 2018 Gibson SG Special at Guitar Center in Las Vegas, NV
Christian Phifer
Reviews
PROS
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Lightweight design yet maintains a high-quality, solid feel
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Mini-humbuckers offer unique, versatile tones for rock and blues
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Slim, tapered neck with satin finish enhances playability
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Resonant wood offers rich tonal quality, even unplugged
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Maintains value as a collectible, despite being a modern model
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Inspires play with comfortable feel and classic vintage appearance
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Fast, comfortable neck improves shredding beyond the seventeenth fret
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Unique sound with a charming chime not found in other humbuckers
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Appealing satin walnut finish resembles vintage Gibsons
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Ideal for clean tones or when pushing tube amps
CONS
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Strap screws may loosen over time
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Included gig bag instead of a hard case could be disappointing for some
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Pickups lack clarity compared to classic firebird models
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Rough fret edges may affect initial play experience
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PCB wiring may not appeal to traditionalists
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Tuning stability issues may require upgrades
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Output jack design may cause popping noise through the amp
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Gibson SG Special 2018.
Setup and maintenance
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Consider replacing the wraparound bridge with a compensated version for improved intonation without sacrificing vintage aesthetics.
Source
Features and functionality
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The SG Special's P90 pickups are praised for their wide tonal range and suitability for various musical styles, adding a unique "mojo" compared to modern humbuckers.
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The mini humbuckers in the SG Special 2018 are noted for their compressed tone, offering more brightness than typical humbuckers while still maintaining the iconic SG sound.
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Custom-painted pickguards using paint markers and top coat lacquer resist chipping, adding personalized aesthetics.
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Comparisons
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The SG Special offers a lighter body and longer neck compared to a Les Paul, making it more comfortable for players with longer arms.
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Compared to an Epiphone LP with 57 Classics, the SG Special's mini humbuckers deliver a unique sound, likened to a "pissed off Telecaster," with more low end than a typical Telecaster.
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Use cases and applications
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The guitar's combination of P90s and lightweight body makes it ideal for dynamic live performances, offering energy not found in heavier models.
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The guitar's sustain is highlighted as a standout feature, with owners describing it as having seemingly endless sustain, perfect for long, sustained notes.
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User experience
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Users consistently note the exceptional comfort and playability of the SG Special, making it a favored choice among SG enthusiasts.
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Owners appreciate the satin finish for its smooth feel, describing it as "butter in the hands," enhancing playability.
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Some users report minimal neck dive when playing seated, though it's not significant enough to be bothersome for most players.
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It's noted that the SG's slim neck profile facilitates faster playing, particularly favored for lead guitar work.
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Other
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A store's 30-day return policy provides an opportunity to thoroughly evaluate if the SG Special meets personal preferences and expectations.
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Mods and upgrades
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Owners replace stock pickups with Seymour Duncan SM1-N in the neck and vintage Gibson mini-humbuckers for a unique tonal blend.
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4.5 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 4 Ratings
143
Awesome Guitar Terrible Craftmanship
Bought this new at full retail price online and I love it. It's the best playing guitar I've ever held or owned in 35 or so years of playing.
The satin nitro finish is the best finish Gibson offer as far as feel of neck. The fret job is 100% perfect. You can't get a better fret lay. Robots are good!
This guitar is the T model. No stupid robot tuners or other stuff no one wants.
Now the problems :
2 of the gibson deluxe tuners are dead on arrival. They turn and sort of work, but it feels like the screw that mounts the shaft to the gear is lose. The shaft slants from left to right as you turn the peg. Not wobble, but actually lean left for half the rotation, then lean right. They bind and catch as you tune. They sometimes need 1/4 turn to catch up with the gears. They are complete crap and it makes me sad that I have to repair a brand new guitar.
The pickups are mini buckers in the firebird style. They have a bar magnet in the center of each coil and no string height screws. For some insane reason gibson decided the bridge pickup should be 25k output... yeah, that's right. It sounds OK if all you want is hot hot hot sound from your guitar. I might get them rewound down to about 10k, replace the ceramic with alnico and make them usable, or just swap them for p90s. Again... sad face.
But wait! There's more!
The fret marker blocks are not centered. They are over 1/8 inch too high on the board and 1/16 inch too close to the nut. WTF gibson.. you suck.
But wait! We'll also include an off center holly/pineapple on your SG! That's right... the freaking holly is 1/8 inch off center on the head stock.. so very sad. After 100 years of making a guitar they can't even come up with a jig to center basic things like the FREAKING LOGO.
Now how much would you pay?
But wait! There's even more!
The input jack pushes against the back service plate when you have a standard cord plugged into the guitar. This causes the guitar to snap and crack and the plug gets moved around as your body contacts the plate. Isn't that a nice design feature? A 60 year old design and they can't even sort out the ()#$)(@ input jack. I ripped out the PCB board that had the 4 pots and input and put in dedicated hardware.. you suck gibson.
And finally... one of the 4 screws that hold the service plate is half the length of the other 3 and does not catch threads... serious... a 1200$ guitar.
Ah, what can I say. This is my third gibson. I made the mistake of buying this one blind. I will continue to buy gibson, but never again blind and I will no longer defend their reputation. Gibson deserve all the mud that people can sling.
41029
even higher end SGs suffer form comically hot/midrangey bridge pickups.... I always change 'em
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