In 2023 what are the best Non-Gibson SG guitars at the American Standard and Custom Shop price levels?

[Kirk Dahnke]

Dunable Guitars USA

Custom guitars, pickups, and effect pedals

dunableguitars.com

hagstrom's are fantastic but I don't think any of their modern lines hit that custom shop mark. Vintage? maybe... but the HII (most sg-like model) feels way more fender than SG.

Gretsch guitars are also fantastic but really don't feel or sound much like an SG.

Home - Maybach Guitars

maybach-guitars.de

Maybach makes SG's. Czech made German Marketed and they easily hit that mark for quality. maybe a little cheaper??

Dunable! that's who I was trying to think of. Rad.

 

[ChubbyFingers]

If you want an SG that looks like an SG and doesn't have the Gibson or boutique price tags, have a look at the Epiphones. $449 and up.

 

[MR D]

MAYBACK is selling guitars made from PINE wood for Eu-2200, a step up from flakeboard, maybe, for $2400 ! GTFOH !

This is only one reason why I always buy a GIBSON Standard...

Dunable, on the other hand, looks interesting..........made in USA too !and close to GIBSON prices.....

Roger Griffin makes some interesting CUSTOM Guitars as well.........and.........better get out your Mastercard too !

But for me ? Seriously? its GIBSON (Standards) thru a U.K. MARSHALL.....becoz..... if its good enough for ANGUS....... its good enough for me.

 

[Gary Gretsch]

If you want an SG that looks like an SG and doesn't have the Gibson or boutique price tags, have a look at the Epiphones. $449 and up.

Totally agree. The only downfall is all Epiphone offers is the slim taper neck. With Gibson you can buy the standard and get a chunkier neck.

 

[Norton]

Mr D. that's simply not true. Maybach's aren't made from "cheap wood". If that's what the Pine comment is about.

Although... I love my sugar pine Telecaster and wouldn't have any problem with that material in a different shape.

the Maybach's are spendy yes... but they are top notch. Which is what the OP was looking for.

 

[Kirk Dahnke]

I know you specifically said NO Gibson. But have you considered a Wildwood spec Gibson. They have them made to certain specifications and are gone through one by one and sent back if they aren't 100%. I'm just saying this because if youre worried about Gibson QC. I think I would go that route only because its the real deal and its only going to go up in value. You can get someone on the phone there and have them pick out the one that meets your needs and no long wait. Always can send it back which you can't probably do as easily as some of the others we've mentioned. I would imagine you could get a salesman to make you a quick video of how it sounds etc. They're very serious about what they do.

Wildwood Spec 1964 SG Standard - VOS | Historic Collection, SG, Wildwood Spec SG | Wildwood Guitars

Gibson Custom Wildwood Spec 1964 SG Standard VOS .80-.89/7.04 lbs. Ultra-Faded Mahogany

wildwoodguitars.com

Gibson Custom Shop SG Guitars | Electric Guitars from Gibson Custom Shop | Wildwood Guitars

View the selection of Gibson Custom Shop SG guitars currently available online at Wildwood Guitars. Huge selection of Gibson Custom Shop guitars!

wildwoodguitars.com

 

[Kirk Dahnke]

MAYBACK is selling guitars made from PINE wood for Eu-2200, a step up from flakeboard, maybe, for $2400 ! GTFOH !

This is only one reason why I always buy a GIBSON Standard...

Dunable, on the other hand, looks interesting..........made in USA too !and close to GIBSON prices.....

Roger Griffin makes some interesting CUSTOM Guitars as well.........and.........better get out your Mastercard too !

But for me ? Seriously? its GIBSON (Standards) thru a U.K. MARSHALL.....becoz..... if its good enough for ANGUS....... its good enough for me.

Did you see the Woodbine I linked? Gotta wait till September but damn, this is a beautiful guitar. And I know a couple of people with them and they are amazing pro level stuff. Check out the specs too. Top of the line.

Woodbine Double Cut 2022 Emerald Green | Reverb

***Please note this is not a Brent Hinds signature model, he just really likes the guitar and plays it a lot***Specs:Neck: One piece genuine Honduran mahogany (no ears or scarf joints)Body: One piece genuine Honduran mahoganyFretboard: RosewoodInlays: Mother of Pearl TrapezoidsTuners: ...

reverb.com

 

[Gary Gretsch]

Mr D. that's simply not true. Maybach's aren't made from "cheap wood". If that's what the Pine comment is about.

Although... I love my sugar pine Telecaster and wouldn't have any problem with that material in a different shape.

the Maybach's are spendy yes... but they are top notch. Which is what the OP was looking for.

I also have a sugar pine Esquire that sounds great. Very resonant. I t is a surprisingly heavy wood. If I do build another Telecaster my choice of wood would be sugar pine.

 

[Kirk Dahnke]

I also have a sugar pine Esquire that sounds great. Very resonant. I t is a surprisingly heavy wood. If I do build another Telecaster my choice of wood would be sugar pine.

I have a Squier CV 50s Tele. Made of pine. Sounds great, one of the nicest teles ive had or played. Always in tune and I was with a buddy who had a 52 custom shop Tele and I swear mine was better playing and sounding. But I kept that to myself since his guitar was a gift from his elderly mother. Been thinking of turning it into an Esquire. Currently it's in a Keef configuration. I wish mine wasn't covered in poly but it still sounds great. I'm a CV fanboy. Currently have 3.

 

[Gary Gretsch]

I have a Squier CV 50s Tele. Made of pine. Sounds great, one of the nicest teles ive had or played. Always in tune and I was with a buddy who had a 52 custom shop Tele and I swear mine was better playing and sounding. But I kept that to myself since his guitar was a gift from his elderly mother. Been thinking of turning it into an Esquire. Currently it's in a Keef configuration. I wish mine wasn't covered in poly but it still sounds great. I'm a CV fanboy. Currently have 3.

My Esquire is currently up for sale locally. I love it but lately I am very comfortable with a chunky neck. That one never got played a lot but is a great guitar. I believe it was one of the first Runs of that guitar. Then they stopped making them. Now they started again. Kind of like the SG Junior. Sometimes they are in production and sometimes not.

 

[PermissionToLand]

Did you see the Woodbine I linked? Gotta wait till September but damn, this is a beautiful guitar. And I know a couple of people with them and they are amazing pro level stuff. Check out the specs too. Top of the line.

Woodbine Double Cut 2022 Emerald Green | Reverb

***Please note this is not a Brent Hinds signature model, he just really likes the guitar and plays it a lot***Specs:Neck: One piece genuine Honduran mahogany (no ears or scarf joints)Body: One piece genuine Honduran mahoganyFretboard: RosewoodInlays: Mother of Pearl TrapezoidsTuners: ...

reverb.com

Man, for $4,200 they can't even taper the horns? I wonder how they get away with the shape being so close to a Gibson.

 

[MR D]

Did you see the Woodbine I linked? Gotta wait till September but damn, this is a beautiful guitar. And I know a couple of people with them and they are amazing pro level stuff. Check out the specs too. Top of the line.

Woodbine Double Cut 2022 Emerald Green | Reverb

***Please note this is not a Brent Hinds signature model, he just really likes the guitar and plays it a lot***Specs:Neck: One piece genuine Honduran mahogany (no ears or scarf joints)Body: One piece genuine Honduran mahoganyFretboard: RosewoodInlays: Mother of Pearl TrapezoidsTuners: ...

reverb.com

I did not, no ! The thing about PINE wood is that it is cheap, compared to Mahogany.AND it is not considered a HardWood as Mahogany is....My only points ! IDC how it sounds. I do not ! Paying more $$$/Euro's/YEN for a Guitar made out of PINE rather than Mahogany is not something that interests me !

According to the American Hardwood information center PINE is not a HARDWOOD. But they say that POPLAR is , go figure ? I have played Guitars made from Poplar and they were dreadful.

Now, I am not saying MAYBACK Guitars sound dreadful, NO (I hav never even seen one in person) what I am saying is that paying HARDWOOD prices for PINE wood Guitars just doesn't cut it for moi ! NO WAY ! Sorry I repeated myself.

 

[An Abiding Dude]

Man, for $4,200 they can't even taper the horns? I wonder how they get away with the shape being so close to a Gibson.

I was thinking the exact same thing. You'd think Gibson's patent lawyers would be all over them. Of course, at that price point you might as well go all in on a custom shop and get the OG.

 

[WelhavenT]

This is my Maybach. Made of one piece mahogny, the neck are mahogny too. Amber P90.

 

[papagayo]

KAUER guitars

 

[Kirk Dahnke]

I did not, no ! The thing about PINE wood is that it is cheap, compared to Mahogany.AND it is not considered a HardWood as Mahogany is....My only points ! IDC how it sounds. I do not ! Paying more $$$/Euro's/YEN for a Guitar made out of PINE rather than Mahogany is not something that interests me !

According to the American Hardwood information center PINE is not a HARDWOOD. But they say that POPLAR is , go figure ? I have played Guitars made from Poplar and they were dreadful.

Now, I am not saying MAYBACK Guitars sound dreadful, NO (I hav never even seen one in person) what I am saying is that paying HARDWOOD prices for PINE wood Guitars just doesn't cut it for moi ! NO WAY ! Sorry I repeated myself.

If you're referring to the guitar I linked that was on topic. Its made of one piece Honduran Mahogany.

 

[MR D]

If you're referring to the guitar I linked that was on topic. Its made of one piece Honduran Mahogany.

No, I looked at Mayback's website actually. EU 2200 was the price I remember seeing for what looked like an SG made from PINE.......it looked real good too ! BUT, that would be $2400+/- for the PINE Wood SG I saw, that's a real lot to pay for PINE wood. Ridic actually.

 

[MR D]

KAUER guitars

View attachment 50910


View attachment 50911

WHOA, Nearly $5,000.00, maybe over w/tax & shipping....it's a sharp guitar but my 2018 FIREBIRD Standard was less than 25% of that @ $1300 @ a G.C. Moron-a-thon........only thing about my 'BIRD is the MINI-Humbuckers.....but 'BLACKIE' gives any TELE/STRAT out there w/out H-Buckers a run for their $$$$...... and then some.

 

[papagayo]

WHOA, Nearly $5,000.00, maybe over w/tax & shipping....it's a sharp guitar but my 2018 FIREBIRD Standard was less than 25% of that @ $1300 @ a G.C. Moron-a-thon........only thing about my 'BIRD is the MINI-Humbuckers.....but 'BLACKIE' gives any TELE/STRAT out there w/out H-Buckers a run for their $$$$...... and then some.

They are not Epiclone ... LOL

 

[MR D]

Did you see the Woodbine I linked? Gotta wait till September but damn, this is a beautiful guitar. And I know a couple of people with them and they are amazing pro level stuff. Check out the specs too. Top of the line.

Woodbine Double Cut 2022 Emerald Green | Reverb

***Please note this is not a Brent Hinds signature model, he just really likes the guitar and plays it a lot***Specs:Neck: One piece genuine Honduran mahogany (no ears or scarf joints)Body: One piece genuine Honduran mahoganyFretboard: RosewoodInlays: Mother of Pearl TrapezoidsTuners: ...

reverb.com