'77 SG Special Fretboard a deal breaker?

[Psychic_Fuzz]

*(Sorry for the multiple posts in the wrong forums, apparently I'm blind today. My apologies!)*

A local shop has a really cool black '77 SG Special (K-Zoo) for sale, but it has some issues. It's on it's 3rd re-fret, which isn not an issue for me, but the fretboard has been sanded past the side dots.

Asking price is $2100 usd. Is this a deal breaker for you?

I've already passed on the guitar but part of me still wants it, just not at that price. Should mention it does have the original PU's...

just looking for some feedback




^ Not actual guitar, same model. Pic for reference

 

[Col Mustard]

For that much money you could have a fine
modern SG and a decent amp to play it through.

But I am not a fan of old worn guitars.
Some on this forum are collectors of such things.
Let them pay too much for this guitar, and keep it
in a glass case.

The question for you is:
What do you want to do with this guitar?

1. If you just want to own it, as a collector, and if you can afford
it, then you should have it. It is NOT a good investment IMHO
but for a collection its value is in how happy it makes you to have it.

2. If you are a musician and you intend to play an SG guitar at gigs,
I would not buy it. I would spend my money on something practical
that would fit well with the type of music you intend to play, and for
the audience you hope will come. For gigging you need a decent
neck, and a decent fretboard, and decent frets... all strung together
with decent pickups, good balance and a excellent amp that fits
well with the stage setup and with your band mates.

For a musician, dependability is much more important than
vintage vibe, which no one in your audience will appreciate.

 

[Go Nigel Go]

The only caveat I would add to the above from Col. M is that if you played the thing, found a few issues that would need to be addressed and you STILL want it, I would listen to my gut a bit more. Not saying throw caution to the wind or pay "crazy money", but find out WHY you like it.

At the very least figuring out what it is about this guitar that trips your trigger will help you find that quality or characteristic in another instrument. You might also just find out this thing is "your" guitar in whatever mystical sense that happens. In such a case it may be time to put on your best negotiator hat and try and strike a deal. If it is truely meant to be yours the deal will happen.

I am not overly mystical or anything, but I have purchased more than one guitar that made an instant visceral connection the first time I picked them up. I have never regretted purchasing one of these "special" instruments when the strong "good vibe" is there. It has absolutely nothing to do with the value others would place on it.

One of the strongest connections I ever made with an instrument was with a little red Mexican Strat sitting forgotten on a rack in the back room of the music store I typically went to for Country/Bluegrass supplies. I was between rock bands at the time, had my Gibsons, was not a Fender guy at all, and honestly the guitar has nothing overt that makes it different from the thousands of other similar guitars out there. Except that it is "Mine", and I had no idea I wanted such a thing until I picked this specific one up and literally couldn't put it down. I just went in for Banjo strings.

 

[PermissionToLand]

$2,100 is INSANE for that guitar. That's more like a $1,000 guitar. If even.

 

[Psychic_Fuzz]

Thank you guys for the great insights!

I sat down with it and loved the way it felt and played. Pickups sounded great and yes tons of mojo. Just looks so cool too me. I like old beaten up guitars and yes, I’m a sucker for mojo lol

But then I noticed the fretboard, bummer. I know it would’ve bothered me in the end. I’d be having FOMO for that 1/8th” of fretboard and full dots (as irrational as that might be)

If the guitar was $1k I probably would’ve traded some old pedals + cash and been a happy camper. But I agree, way over priced.

I just wanted to hear some of your guys takes on the guitar. So I thank you!

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

Here is my most expensive SG. Yes, it was less than $2100, plus the frets and everything about it is in tip-top shape. It even came with some " Extras" and the Original Case, Pups, Pots etc.

It is the cream color 1976 SG Std I got locally to me here in Baltimore Md. a few years ago.
The Black and Brown SG's are my number 1 and Number 2 players. They are the type Col Mustard describes as excellent players, reliable and not too hard on the wallet to come by.



Also, here is my number 3 SG. With a little finesse and patience, I believe you or numerous other players on here could easily buy 2-3 of these SG's for that same $2100 that SG Special with the multiple fret jobs and sanded board was listing for.

I passed on a 60's LP JR at a local Guitar Center that had the frets so worn down, I knew it was due for new ones. For the $2k+ they wanted for it, there was no way I was going to go for it.

Heck, I have a beautiful ES335 clone with Seymour Duncan pickups and other nice features I was blessed by the seller to acquire for not much more than the PUPS alone cost. That guitar really sings to my ears, and it feels great and plays great for 1/10 to 1/15th of what a new ES 335/345/355 costs. I'll take my Washburn any day.

 

[Snake Plissken]

Unless there’s something special or magical about it, just because it’s old doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good or worth the asking price.

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

Good luck to you, @DjPsychic on any of your current guitars and any future ones you may look to purchase.

I still believe I have been very very fortunate to have picked up each and every guitar and bass I currently own.
Yes, there are amazing guitars dating from the early 1900's on up to some 2022 models of factory or boutique maker guitars.

I totally am in love with all my guitars and basses. The cool part is that most cost me between $30 on up to just shy of $1000. However there are the couple I splurged on that cost more than $1000-$1500+ because of their condition, model, features and how they suit as a tool to do what they were made to do.

This sweet V is not a USA made Set neck model, but it has a good Floyd, Duncan Pups and is light as a feather.



This baby is my 2010 Epi LP STD with a bone nut I had installed, pro setup and outfitted with 1979 T Top Gibson Pups.
For what I have invested in it, The pups and luthier work cost me more than the guitar did. But it is a great-sounding Les Paul Standard that I enjoy as much as any $3k to $4k Les Paul could afford me. Although, I did pick up an original 1979 LP Std this year to go with it.

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

@DjPsychic, I am glad you made a wise decision to pass on a guitar that was sketchy. Better to pass on a questionable purchase and have almost buyer's remorse, than to overpay for someone else's headache or junk and find out too late and have purchaser's remorse.

 

[papagayo]

$2100 is expensive, prefer a modern SG Standard, you will be satisfied. $1200 for a used SG Std is a nice price.

 

[Psychic_Fuzz]

Nice! I actually have a great modern SG,
a ‘61 standard that I love, but have always wanted something a little beaten up and vintage.

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

Nice 61, DjPsychic.

 

[papagayo]

Nice! I actually have a great modern SG,
a ‘61 standard that I love, but have always wanted something a little beaten up and vintage.


View attachment 49947

You can make your sg more desirable and improve it with Faber studs and a Gibson ABR-1 bridge, wide bevel pickguard, vintage repro knobs, M-69 pickup rings...

 

[Psychic_Fuzz]

I mean has anyone else seen a guitar sanded down that far? I don’t know what the guy was thinking, and he’s one of the “go-to” luthiers in the area.

 

[Col Mustard]

prolly trying to sand off some kinda damage.

someone carved their initials in the rosewood.
We've seen pictures of SGs that had swastikas carved into
the back by some skinhead punk. and other stupid stuff.

Some great guitars on this thread...
I recommend you look at a used "faded special" SG
You can pick one of those up for five, six hundred, and then mod it
with some vintage accents and rock. I sure like my faded special.
Guys who own them usually do.

 

[Psychic_Fuzz]

prolly trying to sand off some kinda damage.

someone carved their initials in the rosewood.
We've seen pictures of SGs that had swastikas carved into
the back by some skinhead punk. and other stupid stuff.

Some great guitars on this thread...
I recommend you look at a used "faded special" SG
You can pick one of those up for five, six hundred, and then mod it
with some vintage accents and rock. I sure like my faded special.
Guys who own them usually do.
View attachment 49958

I spoke to the previous owner, he happens to work at the store that the Guitar’s at. He said he asked the luthier not to sand the fretboard any further but did anyway. So I can understand why he was bummed and got rid of it.

 

[Col Mustard]

good reason not to buy, IMHO

 

[MR D]

*(Sorry for the multiple posts in the wrong forums, apparently I'm blind today. My apologies!)*

A local shop has a really cool black '77 SG Special (K-Zoo) for sale, but it has some issues. It's on it's 3rd re-fret, which isn not an issue for me, but the fretboard has been sanded past the side dots.

Asking price is $2100 usd. Is this a deal breaker for you?

I've already passed on the guitar but part of me still wants it, just not at that price. Should mention it does have the original PU's...

just looking for some feedback

View attachment 49940
View attachment 49941

^ Not actual guitar, same model. Pic for reference

A '77 SG SPECIAL, OK ! But I do not get IT ? WTF?W W W- why anyone would sand the fuckin fret-board ? WTF ?

Now, WTF WAS THE IDIOT WHO SANDED THE FRET-BOARD DOWN A 1/4" (AT LEAST ?) DOIN ?
WHY ANYONE WOULD DO THAT MUCH SANDING TO THE FRET-BOARD...... I can not come up with a single good reason........whoever did it is a FUCKIN NUMBSKULL.....AND I WOULD HAVE TO PASS ON THE GUITAR !

 

[Psychic_Fuzz]

A '77 SG SPECIAL, OK ! But I do not get IT ? WTF?W W W- why anyone would sand the fuckin fret-board ? WTF ?

Now, I realize people took lots of drugs and getting drunk and mistaking an SG for a table that needs to be sanded could happen.....BUT WTF WAS THE IDIOT WHO SANDED THE FRET-BOARD DOWN A 1/4" (AT LEAST ?) DOIN ?
WHY ANYONE WOULD DO THAT MUCH SANDING TO THE FRET-BOARD...... I can not come up with a single good reason........whoever did it is a FUCKIN NUMBSKULL.....AND I WOULD HAVE TO PASS ON THE GUITAR !

Yeah I don’t get it man. I don’t know too much about luthiers and what’s normal but I feel like I’ve never seen someone sand that far into the fretboard.

I almost want to save the guitar and buy it, but at 2100 I can’t justify. I’ve tried talking with the store owner but he’s not budging.

 

[Go Nigel Go]

It is very odd to take a fretboard down like that, not something I have ever seen or heard of before. I will hold off on slamming the Luthier because I don't know what the condition of the fretboard was or why he/she did what they did. If it plays good, then they did at least something right because after removing that much material, only a full setup done correctly would make it play well.

It still doesn't mean it is "good as new" or worth the asking price. If the seller won't budge on the price, all you can do is wait and see if they drop it at some point. I doubt anyone else will pay what they are asking either, so they will either have to lower their expectations or they will be keeping it. Their call.

The changes will affect the entire neck geometry which might just make it a great Player for someone who's hand likes the new dimensions around the neck profile, but it is still a Player's Grade axe and should be priced accordingly. You are wise to hold off for now.