Considering Other Guitars

[pancake81]

Question for you fine folks.

I have 4 electric guitars. A 2001 Gibson SG 61 RI, a 2007 Custom, n Angus Young Custom shop and lastly a 2001 Epihone Sheraton. Yup, 75% SG's with a one off Semi Hollow. I have had others in the past, but I loved the weight and feel of the SG, any of them over the feel and function of pretty much any other guitar I have picked up.

After playing, buying and selling SG's for 20 years, I feel like I now have THE BEST SG's in the world. ok ok.... That's a personal preference, but what i am referring to is I can sit down at the Gibson Garage store for hours, play every SG in the house and wouldn't trade any of mine for one on the floor. That is not depressing, that is fulfilling! But if I were to buy another guitar, what would I buy..?

I love the look of Les Pauls, although I am always somewhat underwhelmed when I play one. Or at least not as impressed as I expect to be. But man, they are beautiful! I am not necessarily looking for another guitar today, or even in 2022, but it will happen one day. What should I be looking at if I love the SG so much? I surely don't need a 4th SG. Should I look at weight relieved LP's or a PRS. Do I just need more time with a LP to bond with it. Aesthetically they are stunning. Those R8's and honeybursts with plane tops just grab my heart!

What do you guys have in the stable that you wouldn't part with. I am not going to run out and buy anything. But when I go t a music store I B-Line it for the SG's. Work my way through them, and then go, "meh, love mine more". And that's perfect. But what should be picking up and plugging in to play with? As I stare at the walls of guitar art, I always snag a few to grab. But they don't sin me over.

Would love to hear your stories of how you ventured out of SG territory, or how what you were playing before you came into the SG world.

 

[PermissionToLand]

Cheating harlot!

 

[Huntroll]

I have been through a ton of guitars, the one I like next to an SG is an ESP/LTD H1001 .
The older version with EMG's.
Seems like when they built these in Korea years ago, they were shooting for the best they could do, within reason.

 

[cerebral gasket]

I'm done with all SG.

 

[njpaulc]

If I were you buying a new guitar, I would buy a real Fender Telecaster, with 2 siggle coils because, nothing else is a Telecaster.

 

[Go Nigel Go]

My philosophy when I look for a new guitar today is to look for something radically different that offers features or characteristics that will encourage me to play differently and expand my skill set. My advice would be to start looking at anything that was not the same as a Gibson. A Les Paul would definitely be different, but not different enough to qualify. Look at things like Strats and Tele's for a start. I would be hitting up pawn shops and music stores all over town and trying out anything that was heavily modified or was radically different in design from the guitars I was comfortable with. Something wil call out to you sooner or later as being something novel that offers you new sounds, feel, and possibilities that you never considered before. That can lead to growth and development as a player. It probably will not replace your current favorites, but will expand you as a musician.and probably lead you in a wonderful new direction.

 

[NMA]

Yes, venture into a world that is far away from solid body SGs.

Hollow body guitars are sooooo different than SGs, Les Pauls, Strats, and Teles. You will play differently, you will come up with different ideas. Your approach to music will change when you place a hollow body in your hands.

I love my hollow bodies - I have a number of them being Rickenbackers, Gretsches, and Epiphone Casinos. The Casino is the cheapest (and best) way to get into the world of hollow body guitars. They are thousands of dollars cheaper than my big Gretsch White Falcon, and they are actually better.

 

[DrBGood]

Get a LP shape with the feel of a SG then. Are you afraid by used gear ? If not, look for a PRS SE Soapbar, either single or double cut. If you asked me to choose between my SG ant the SE, good chance the SE would win. It is as light and nimble as a SG. Very very resonant and the neck is to die for.

 

[Decadent Dan]

I have a short-scale bass that gets a thump sometimes.

 

[plankton]

Try a Flying V or maybe a Firebird, you'll either love them or hate them. I've found that the V has become my second favourite style of guitar, and Firebirds are just different and cool.

I can't help but notice you don't have an SG with P90s though...

 

[pancake81]

Try a Flying V or maybe a Firebird, you'll either love them or hate them. I've found that the V has become my second favourite style of guitar, and Firebirds are just different and cool.

I can't help but notice you don't have an SG with P90s though...

this is true, I have never found a niche for me and the P90’s, just never really been on my buy list.

although I was pretty dam tempted when this guitar came out to snag one.

 

[pancake81]

Yes, venture into a world that is far away from solid body SGs.

Hollow body guitars are sooooo different than SGs, Les Pauls, Strats, and Teles. You will play differently, you will come up with different ideas. Your approach to music will change when you place a hollow body in your hands.

I love my hollow bodies - I have a number of them being Rickenbackers, Gretsches, and Epiphone Casinos. The Casino is the cheapest (and best) way to get into the world of hollow body guitars. They are thousands of dollars cheaper than my big Gretsch White Falcon, and they are actually better.

some great advice here! I had a Gretsch semi hollow for a long long time. Liked it but eventually sold it to buy a sheraton. Other than my acoustic this is currently the only outlier from the SG on my music room. I definitely prefer the thinness of the Sheraton over the Gretsch. Bit the Gretsch could really dial in that Cult sound perfectly

Old Gretsch



2001 Sheraton

 

[DrBGood]

... I have never found a niche for me and the P90’s, just never really been on my buy list.

What is your niche ?

 

[pancake81]

What is your niche ?

yeah, fair question. I am mostly playing Blues to be honest, but also dial in a good rock sound. The P90’s I am sure would do this as well as a humbucker, perhaps better. But saying a never found a niche for the P90’s I suppose I was referring to the fact that I have been able to get the sounds I am aiming for with the humbuckers. Mostly, 57 classics and a 57/57+ combo. The pearly gates have also treated me really well in this department.

The P90’s sure have their followers. I have never played with them enough to get excited for them. Maybe I should take a P90 equipped axe home for a bit?

 

[AngelDeVille]

Cheating harlot!

Get a rope!



I have had many SG's and I now have just the one that I absolutely love.

and it's the cheapest one... it's the special with the mini's from a couple years ago.

A couple years ago, I would have insisted the SG was the end all be all of geetars.

Now for me the cream has risen to the top, and I'm focusing on my favorites.

#1 with a Bullet is my Epiphone Crestwood

#2 is my first reissue Danelectro U2

#3 is tough, I have a 2004 flying V and a 2017 HP Flying V. I am only keeping one. I like the 2017 more but it will be much easier to sell...

#4 is my SG special

#5 is between my Gretsch duo jet, and my gold top set neck mahogany 7ender telecaster.

I did learn I don't like strats, offsets and standard telecasters.

The geetar world is too big to just play one type.

I really like Les Paul Juniors and specials, but I really have enough to keep me busy.

 

[DrBGood]

I have never played with them enough to get excited for them. Maybe I should take a P90 equipped axe home for a bit?

Yes you should. If you want a real cheap way to experience P90s, get yourself a bottom feeder Epiphone LP Special 1, the one with the bolt-on neck. It is by very far the best $ to tone ratio out there. They can sound monstrous with the right amp and also piano like with a good clean setting. From my point of view, 50 years from now, they will be sought after like the 50's LP Jr is today, they're that good.

​

 

[NMA]

...I had a Gretsch semi hollow for a long long time....the Gretsch could really dial in that Cult sound perfectly

The Cult is the very reason why I went Gretsch.

I love Billy Duffy's tone so I went full out in order to get it - guitar, amp, and little BOSS dirt pedal he used:

 

[smitty_p]

Pancake…how do you feel about Stratocasters?

I really like mine.

That is something to consider that is sonically quite different from your SGs. It would put you into different territory.

 

[pancake81]

The Cult is the very reason why I went Gretsch.

I love Billy Duffy's tone so I went full out in order to get it - guitar, amp, and little BOSS dirt pedal he used:

Beautiful Falcon NMA. How don’t what Gretsch does to get the beautiful tone, bit man, they have it dialled in!

I have been watching this series called “my first Gibson”, great little short flicks. Here is Billy’s

 

[Decadent Dan]

I had a black 69 Gretsch Duo Jet. It was already somewhat modified so I converted it to a Malcolm.