BEST YEAR FOR SG QUERY THREAD

[Westernrider]

ya, for Norlins I'd really love to have a '79 The SG...
Walnut body, ebony fretboard, velvet brick pickup in the bridge position
I think it has a Tim Shaw "regular" humbucker in the neck position...
Note how close to the fretboard the neck p'up is... this gives the '70s SGs
a very special tone that we don't get forty some years later.
View attachment 49539
typical '70s SG minimalistic beveling... these just attract me.
Very desirable, to me at least. I would NOT mod one of these.
But oh well... I don't need one of them either.

If I remember correctly, these were introduced as guitars for the budget minded guitarists. The series included a Melody Maker - instead of a toggle switch to select pickups, it had two small slide switches, the SG, LP, and a 335.
The "SG" and the Firebrand SG are unique guitars. The necks are a thin taper and the ebony fretboard gives the guitar an incredible freaky, slippery feel. Mine has tulip tuners which are still tight after all these years. And its bridge set up has a non stock TP6 fine-tuning tailpiece. I bought it used for about $300.00 in the early 90's.

 

[Demon Dave]

+1 2013 (standard)

 

[cerebral gasket]

Doesn’t matter what year.
It’s all about the neck.
If it doesn’t have a thick rounded profile, then it gets kicked to the curb.

Hardware and electronics can always be changed out if needed.

 

[Pointyfan]

1965

 

[destroyerrock]

Doesn’t matter what year.
It’s all about the neck.
If it doesn’t have a thick rounded profile, then it gets kicked to the curb.

Hardware and electronics can always be changed out if needed.

My thoughts exactly. Cant stand the 61 reissue necks, but my 2022 tribute that is supposed to be their lowest end model is the best sg ive come across, love the rounded c profile and satin finish

 

[Maguchi]

Among the ALL-STOCK Gibson SG's you have availible to play at this time . . .

What YEAR is the best ?

Please post your determination -

Just post the year, Don't go in to details.

I will start -

2020 Gibson SG '61 Standard

 

[Steve D]

For MOI ? I used to really like the Norlin era 'SG's. I had two, 1977 SG Standard and a 1979 SG Standard, both weighed over 8 Lbs. and were 100% BAD-A$$ !!!....that was until I got my hands on my 2017 SG Standard, new, in March, 2017. My 2017 SG Standard is 'Hands Down' the best SG I've ever played. 100% STOCK w/'57's, Locking Grover TM's, Rolled Binding.....I keep the neck as close to DEAD STRAIGHT as possible w/out kinking the binding and the Guitar is TIGHT and soooooo BAD-A$$...its 'THE ONE' I will never ever sell !

I really like Norlin era SGs. I've had two 1974s so I favor that year. Ebony fretboards, tarback pickups in the standards (I like the sound, some don't), mini humbuckers in the Specials (I also like the sound, some don't). They are heavy by SG standards though. Beware: very narrow necks. Some people with big meaty hands do not like playing them for that reason. Not an issue for me. But it gets to the point that there is no single best year, everyone's preferences will dictate.

 

[Snake Plissken]

I've fond of this 2019 '61 Standard...

...but with that said there are amazing examples and duds in each year. The 2013 Standards get lots of love and they were spec'd really nice that year with 57 Classics, nice appointments, etc., but the one I had felt like the neck was made out of rubber. Doesn't mean every other 2013 Standard was the same way. I've also had a 2008 Standard that was incredible and several SG Classics w/ P90s (2000, 2008, 2010). All three of those were ridiculously consistent from one to the other and all three were stellar. I know it's hard for some to believe, but there are also vintage examples out there that are absolute dogs.

 

[laza616]

@Snake Plissken - nice deck and nice SG

 

[lcw]

I had a 98 that was killer. I foolishly traded it for a 2011 that was “prettier”. Then I foolishly traded that for a super strat. A short phase.

Now I have a 2022 and it’s my best one so far.

So lots of good years I think. Just need to find the right one.

 

[MR D]

I've fond of this 2019 '61 Standard...

...but with that said there are amazing examples and duds in each year. The 2013 Standards get lots of love and they were spec'd really nice that year with 57 Classics, nice appointments, etc., but the one I had felt like the neck was made out of rubber. Doesn't mean every other 2013 Standard was the same way. I've also had a 2008 Standard that was incredible and several SG Classics w/ P90s (2000, 2008, 2010). All three of those were ridiculously consistent from one to the other and all three were stellar. I know it's hard for some to believe, but there are also vintage examples out there that are absolute dogs.

WOW, NOICE ! I have one of those....in 2019 GIBSON USA called the one I got an SG 'Original'. In 2019 the SG 'Original' was the only SG GIBSON issued w/'57 Classic pickup's out of the factory ! The SG 'Original' was an 'EXCLUSIVE' THAT YEAR from AMS dot com and 1 or 2 other on-line retailers had them...they were in 'AGED CHERRY' w/Maestro Vibrola and Lyre Tail-piece in CHROME (BAD-A$$ !) w/19th fret neck joint......and of course I can not post a picture......

I've fond of this 2019 '61 Standard...

...but with that said there are amazing examples and duds in each year. The 2013 Standards get lots of love and they were spec'd really nice that year with 57 Classics, nice appointments, etc., but the one I had felt like the neck was made out of rubber. Doesn't mean every other 2013 Standard was the same way. I've also had a 2008 Standard that was incredible and several SG Classics w/ P90s (2000, 2008, 2010). All three of those were ridiculously consistent from one to the other and all three were stellar. I know it's hard for some to believe, but there are also vintage examples out there that are absolute dogs.

The SG above is 2019 ? and it has '57's, yes ? I have that guitar but in 'AGED CHERRY' and neck joint at the 19th Fret ! The one above is the SG '61 Standard, yes? Mine is the 2019 SG 'Original' and I had thought the 2019 SG 'Original' was the only one in 2019 that had '57 Classic Pickup's STOCK from the factory.I had been thinking the SG '61 Standard has the '61 R&T's but maybe that's only in 2018, yes?

 

[Snake Plissken]

WOW, NOICE ! I have one of those....in 2019 GIBSON USA called the one I got an SG 'Original'. In 2019 the SG 'Original' was the only SG GIBSON issued w/'57 Classic pickup's out of the factory ! The SG 'Original' was an 'EXCLUSIVE' THAT YEAR from AMS dot com and 1 or 2 other on-line retailers had them...they were in 'AGED CHERRY' w/Maestro Vibrola and Lyre Tail-piece in CHROME (BAD-A$$ !) w/19th fret neck joint......and of course I can not post a picture......

The SG above is 2019 ? and it has '57's, yes ? I have that guitar but in 'AGED CHERRY' and neck joint at the 19th Fret ! The one above is the SG '61 Standard, yes? Mine is the 2019 SG 'Original' and I had thought the 2019 SG 'Original' was the only one in 2019 that had '57 Classic Pickup's STOCK from the factory.I had been thinking the SG '61 Standard has the '61 R&T's but maybe that's only in 2018, yes?

It's a 2019, but it's a Standard '61 with 61R & 61T pickups, not 57's. A little different than the "Original". I almost picked one of those up a few months ago until the seller changed his mind at the last minute.

 

[MR D]

I've fond of this 2019 '61 Standard...

...but with that said there are amazing examples and duds in each year. The 2013 Standards get lots of love and they were spec'd really nice that year with 57 Classics, nice appointments, etc., but the one I had felt like the neck was made out of rubber. Doesn't mean every other 2013 Standard was the same way. I've also had a 2008 Standard that was incredible and several SG Classics w/ P90s (2000, 2008, 2010). All three of those were ridiculously consistent from one to the other and all three were stellar. I know it's hard for some to believe, but there are also vintage examples out there that are absolute dogs.

This reply got all messed up...BUT I KNOW, that guitar is a CANNON !

I have the 'Original' (almost the same axe, ALMOST !) and I put a '61 T in the Bridge position to go with the '57 Classic in the Neck position..making the Middle toggle position blistering !...I had bought a 2020 SG Standard w/490's in it and I had a 2015 SG Special that was the only guitar I ever disliked (the xtra wide fret-board was just too much and the LES PAUL Halogram and G-Farce Tuning system, OMG !) but that li'l '15 SG Special had the '61R/T combo Pickup's, JACKPOT ! so I swapped out the 490's from the new SG Standard and put them in the 2015 SG Special........ and sold it right quick....a Win-Win, got rid of the 490's (and the SG w/LES PAUL Hologram on it FFS !) and found that a '57 Classic and '61R or '61T is a damn good set of pickups.....GIBSON has always done pickup's right....but putting 490's in a Standard ?.......NAH !

BTW, I almost remember who Snake Plissken was, or is ? The Anti-Hero Supremo, IIRC ?..... but, ugh...ICB I just cant place him, DANG ! ! and I don't want to google the name....I gotta remember......

 

[MR D]

I really like Norlin era SGs. I've had two 1974s so I favor that year. Ebony fretboards, tarback pickups in the standards (I like the sound, some don't), mini humbuckers in the Specials (I also like the sound, some don't). They are heavy by SG standards though. Beware: very narrow necks. Some people with big meaty hands do not like playing them for that reason. Not an issue for me. But it gets to the point that there is no single best year, everyone's preferences will dictate.

I've been meaning to ask if either of the '70's SG's you had, had a 3 piece neck ? Not all of them did BUT I did actually have a '79 SG that had a 3 piece neck........I could never really tell if it made a difference at all....so I guess it didn't, BUT collectors go berserk over those !

 

[Steve D]

I've been meaning to ask if either of the '70's SG's you had, had a 3 piece neck ? Not all of them did BUT I did actually have a '79 SG that had a 3 piece neck........I could never really tell if it made a difference at all....so I guess it didn't, BUT collectors go berserk over those !

My '74 Standard and '73 Special both had a three piece neck. I didn't feel any difference from it. That said, they are very narrow and slim necks so perhaps the three part construction makes it more stable. You wouldn't know unless you had one of similar parameters that was a one-piece. Below is the heel of the '74 Standard. You can see the three pieces clearly.

 

[MR D]

My '74 Standard and '73 Special both had a three piece neck. I didn't feel any difference from it. That said, they are very narrow and slim necks so perhaps the three part construction makes it more stable. You wouldn't know unless you had one of similar parameters that was a one-piece. Below is the heel of the '74 Standard. You can see the three pieces clearly.

Yeah, thats BAD-A$$.....dioes that have the Volute too ?... it has Tarbacks in it, yes? and it probably weighs in over 8 Lbs. ? Oh, I know that axe is a CANNON !! BION, I'd rather get a '73-'79 SG Standard than one of the older ones (unless I could get a 1966)...more BANG for the BUCK$$$ and I like the heavier SG's too !

KEEP ROCKIN THAT BAD-A$$ !!!