NGD: Gibson SG Special Aged Cherry with Short Vibrola.

gball said:
Torn between the Junior and Special. On the one hand, the Jr. is so pure and straightforward and on the other hand I really like neck pickups. Yes, this does signal my general intent to try another P-90 guitar, it's been too long and my general taste has "evolved" a bit since I last had one.
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To be honest, you can't go wrong with either.

I mean look at the options: juniors in polaris white and the newer vintage cherry options, and the specials in pelham blue, burgundy, cherry... Maybe a black one too or a yellow... Lots of amazing options with different pickguards, cool bridge options, vibrolas, angles, straight lightening bars, bridge/stop piece. Everyone should have a junior or a special at least. Having had both, I want both: junior for rawk and special for looks and coolness.
 
Mr Grumpy said:
With the specials, I'd say it's the look and style more than the sound alone. You have the 60s junior and a superb standard, so I'm not sure the special will add tone. But, I'm not sure any SG looks as sexy as a 61, 64 or 67 special (I love the 61 bridge, the 64 vibrola and the 67 batwing...).

But, as we've said a few times, a 64-ish special, a 61-ish junior or standard and a 67 junior or standard to fill the trio would really be a treat. So, I reckon you're right because I'd love to have that trio.
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In an ideal world I would have at least six SGs: A small guard 1961-66 Junior (I have a 1965), a Special and a Standard (my modded 2014 Derek Trucks is close enough) from the same years (small pick guards). Then I would have the same trio from the original batwing years (1967-1971). But I would really be content with one Junior, one Special and one Standard. For some reason I have never really had any gas for SG Customs. I would, however, really love to have a 1968-1973 Les Paul Custom!
 
Mr Grumpy said:
Another gripe while I'm at it... :) I knew it when I bought the guitar, but the chrome is too much, nickel would have been better, much better - aged cherry, very glossy and shiny hardware just doesn't suit a throwback to '64 (that's what I'm calling it, right or wrong!:oops:); thin lacquer and nickel hardware would have been the way to go, imho.

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This is my fourth Gibson SG (2011 faded, 2013 future tribute and 2018 junior), and it's noticeably heavier than the others - my nonscientific bathroom scale test had it at over 7lbs/3.2kgs. The body, to me, and I could well be wrong, feels thicker - I don't think that comes across in pictures though; let's try:

Special:

View attachment 36778

Junior:
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(That junior was just a beautiful looking guitar, I was mad to sell it...)

Soooooo, this is the end of my first impressions: the lacquer is too think; the wood grain does show through, but not as much as I'd like; the headstock logo is a bastard for this model; I don't like the look of the chrome hardware; didn't really want the circuitboard either; not sure about this lightening bridge (it's ugly, the bridge on the junior was so much nicer) - I'm now gonna have to spend some time understanding that and setting it up right.

It does, despite my whinges, look good, and the looks are growing on me. I reckon that playing this everyday for a year or two will bring it's looks out; it needs some wear, then it'll look amazing.

I'm gonna play for a while then review the playability and sounds, but the first impressions of playing are excellent (I haven't plugged it in yet): the neck is really comfortable and changes shape a LOT - very thin, and comfortable at the nut, but becomes a lot flatter and wider as you move up the neck; your hand notices a dramatic neck shape change from the 4th/5th frets onwards, and it works for my hand well. It's very loud and extremely resonant; she just sounds really sweet played unplugged.
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I'm also a little annoyed that they used silkscreened logos on the current Specials instead of the proper inlayed type. I mean, they did an inlay on the LP Special, why not the SG? At least they kept the binding.
 
gball said:
Torn between the Junior and Special. On the one hand, the Jr. is so pure and straightforward and on the other hand I really like neck pickups. Yes, this does signal my general intent to try another P-90 guitar, it's been too long and my general taste has "evolved" a bit since I last had one.
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Easy solution is to get both. But to pump you up a little more towards the Junior and its chemistry:

1: There's no neck pickup, and therefore less magnetism pulling on the strings... Resonance!

2: Even though it's just a tiny bit, there's more solid wood between the nut and bridge... Resonance!!

3: Fixed/solid bridge (except for the adjusting screw to the posts)… Resonance!!!

4: One volume and one tone pot with one cap... simple circuitry... Pureness?

And if P90-single coil hum is too much for you on gainy days, then allow me to suggest the best P90 pickups in the universe: Kinman P90 Hx (Zero Hum)
 
syscokid said:
Easy solution is to get both. But to pump you up a little more towards the Junior and its chemistry:

1: There's no neck pickup, and therefore less magnetism pulling on the strings... Resonance!

2: Even though it's just a tiny bit, there's more solid wood between the nut and bridge... Resonance!!

3: Fixed/solid bridge (except for the adjusting screw to the posts)… Resonance!!!

4: One volume and one tone pot with one cap... simple circuitry... Pureness?

And if P90-single coil hum is too much for you on gainy days, then allow me to suggest the best P90 pickups in the universe: Kinman P90 Hx (Zero Hum)
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net video

 
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^ both are lovely, but those Classics are one of the best SGs Gibson have made, and great value too (although the prices are rising now).

SG John said:
That really does look nice. It's hard to tell in the photos with the reflections, but is it a one-piece body? It sure looks it.
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John, you have eagle eyes; I never really looked until you mentioned it - I'm terrible at noticing joins as Gibson often matches the pieces so well. Just had a good look at the back and I can't see any joins, so maybe it is a one piece.

Also, I've got to add that this guitar is getting better and better; the f1 oil has bought out the rosewood fretboard beautifully, it stays in tune, feels organic and alive, looks beautiful - making me wanna play a lot more. It doesn't have the punch of the junior with regard to sound, but in every other way this special is at least it's equal.
 
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eSGEe said:
I can say I think the SG with 2 P90's is a STELLAR idea

I have your guitars cheap slutty cousin --- and I LOVE IT!!!!
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An SG with any P90 is a stellar idea!

I loved that cheap slutty cousin.
I picked her up out of the two humbucker gutter, showed her some love and my router, bestowed a few trinkets & some lacquer upon her and she became the proper sassy slut that she is.
But alas, we had to part ways when my eyes fell upon her slutty sister in eSGEe's harem.
However all was not lost as this new lass was just as willing as her sister to submit and go my way.

She too met the same fate as her sister, stripped of her mini humbuckers and left alone with the router.
Time passed and lacquer dried and before we knew it, she had been blessed with triplets.

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So the moral of this overly dramatic story is, P90 SG's of every persuasion ROCK! :dood:
 
Hackmaster said:
An SG with any P90 is a stellar idea!

She too met the same fate as her sister, stripped of her mini humbuckers and left alone with the router.
Time passed and lacquer dried and before we knew it, she had been blessed with triplets.

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Lovely effort there, Hack. The 70s style block inlays always look good.
 
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