Looking for advice... 61 Reissue vs Standard T

[19AT5]

Hey folks... First time poster, long time reader! Looking for a steer on the differences between the two. Obviously a slight difference in price but nothing hellish. Has anybody experienced playing both?

 

[papagayo]

Well, both are great guitars, the neck profile is slim taper on the '61 Reissue, body design are different too.

 

[Mitchey75]

I assume it is a 2017 standard. At that time, the Standards were almost the same as the 61 Reissues in terms of specification.

Therefore, both should have a slim taper neck and also the 57 Classic pickups.

In the end you should try both and decide for yourself which one suits you better!

 

[19AT5]

I assume it is a 2017 standard. At that time, the Standards were almost the same as the 61 Reissues in terms of specification.

Therefore, both should have a slim taper neck and also the 57 Classic pickups.

In the end you should try both and decide for yourself which one suits you better!

Thank you, that's what I thought. I've got an Epiphone '61 RI (in white) and I do like the feel of that. So I have an understanding of what I'd be getting. The blue T model would be coming from States to UK and having just found out the additional taxes I'd be due, I'll not be pursuing that purchase! Thanks for the steer!

 

[Mitchey75]

Thank you, that's what I thought. I've got an Epiphone '61 RI (in white) and I do like the feel of that. So I have an understanding of what I'd be getting. The blue T model would be coming from States to UK and having just found out the additional taxes I'd be due, I'll not be pursuing that purchase! Thanks for the steer!

You're always welcome :)

 

[Norton]

body design is different?????

outside of a 1 piece body on the 61 reissue.... what's the difference in body design??

 

[Mitchey75]

body design is different?????

outside of a 1 piece body on the 61 reissue.... what's the difference in body design??

Of course the body shape is slightly different from the 61 RI as these have deeper bevels for a more historical look, the neck heel is also different and they have a larger headstock. But in terms of the neck shape and pickups the standards were quite the same back then and quite similar in look - unlike today's standards with the batwing pickguard, different pickups, neck shape etc.

 

[Colnago]

Neck joint is different. The controls are closer to the edge on the ‘61, headstock size, pickups are ‘61 in the Standard and ‘57 classics in the ‘61.
Body bevels are different.
Lots of differences. I didn’t know if any until I bought a Standard.
Have fun shopping!!

 

[Norton]

different neck joint, yes. body design I'd say is the same.. I mean both are obviously SG's.

Most of the 61 reissues have a more pronounced set of bevels and carves, but historically, not all of them. In the past if you wanted to deepest curves and carves you either had to do a bunch of searching or go custom shop.

Are they more uniform in the curves and carves now?? that would be nice.

 

[Mitchey75]

Neck joint is different. The controls are closer to the edge on the ‘61, headstock size, pickups are ‘61 in the Standard and ‘57 classics in the ‘61.
Body bevels are different.
Lots of differences. I didn’t know if any until I bought a Standard.
Have fun shopping!!

These 2017 Standards had the 57 Classics as well…

 

[SGBreadfan]

body design is different?????

outside of a 1 piece body on the 61 reissue.... what's the difference in body design??

Not all ‘61’s have a one piece body.

 

[Snake Plissken]

You can't say that one model is better than another. It all comes down to the individual guitar.

I've owned amazing examples of several SG Classics, Standards and currently have a 2019 '61 Standard with the Maestro Vibrola.

You just have to play it for yourself and decide it it's what you're looking for and haas the features and specs you want. I'd lean toward the '61, but I really wanted the Vibrola and deeper bevels on the horns along with the smaller pickguard. Luckily I found one with a surprisingly substantial neck despite it being s slim taper. It's a bit chunkier than the other '61 Standards I played. I've been really happy with the 57 Classics that were in a 2013 Standard I sued to have and am starting to love the '61R/T pickups in the '61 Standard. Didn't much care for the 490/498 combo in the 2008 Standard I had.

 

[Colnago]

I love them all. Every version of the SG. I even have a Robot SG!!

 

[Maguchi]

Hey folks... First time poster, long time reader! Looking for a steer on the differences between the two. Obviously a slight difference in price but nothing hellish. Has anybody experienced playing both?

I assume it is a 2017 standard. At that time, the Standards were almost the same as the 61 Reissues in terms of specification.

Therefore, both should have a slim taper neck and also the 57 Classic pickups.

In the end you should try both and decide for yourself which one suits you better!

So I have a 2020 '61 Standard reissue and it does have a slim taper neck, but I like it. I'm not a stickler about necks though. Chunky, slim it all feels fine to me after about 5 minutes of playing.

But what is a Standard "T" please? Haven't heard of that term before yet. Judging from other posts it could be a circa 2017 SG Standard. Anyways, yes, I can see from the pics that the neck joint is different.

I played several different models at Sam Ash before buying and chose the '61 for the better upper fret access due to the neck joint. Among other reasons like light weight, resonance, no neck dive etc.

 

[19AT5]

I am delighted I have found this site, folks! I'm a relatively new convert to the beloved SG, but have been bitten by the bug... big time. Went from having a 2000s Standard, which I never really used much, early last year... to purchasing an Epiphone 61 Reissue (in white), an Epiphone Classic (in Inverness green with P90s... unreal guitar), an Epiphone Custom (beautiful) and now a Gibson 61 Reissue. The Mrs thinks this is getting out of hand and we need a bigger place. I did suggest we could try living apart for a bit!

 

[Mitchey75]

But what is a Standard "T" please? Haven't heard of that term before yet. Judging from other posts it could be a circa 2017 SG Standard. Anyways, yes, I can see from the pics that the neck joint is different.

At that time Gibson had used the addition "T" for traditional models (meanwhile "Original Series") and "HP" for high performance models (meanwhile "Modern Series") - to not confuse us even more

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

I am delighted I have found this site, folks! I'm a relatively new convert to the beloved SG, but have been bitten by the bug... big time. Went from having a 2000s Standard, which I never really used much, early last year... to purchasing an Epiphone 61 Reissue (in white), an Epiphone Classic (in Inverness green with P90s... unreal guitar), an Epiphone Custom (beautiful) and now a Gibson 61 Reissue. The Mrs thinks this is getting out of hand and we need a bigger place. I did suggest we could try living apart for a bit!

@19AT5, you better watch it with that " we could try living apart for a bit" suggestion.

She may take you up on it and TAKE her SG's with her and leave you guitarless.

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

Hey folks... First time poster, long time reader! Looking for a steer on the differences between the two. Obviously a slight difference in price but nothing hellish. Has anybody experienced playing both?

@19AT5, You found a very good resource here at the forum.

I suspect that you are obviously not in the USA, but we can still give you good advice about these and other SG's. The first bit of advice is when looking to buy a guitar, whether it is an SG, ES, Strat, ESP, V, Acoustic etc. GO PLAY the actual guitar you are wanting to buy. This way you know if it has flaws, is great, so so, set up poorly, etc.

If you do not do this, you will never know until you spent good money on a LOSER of a guitar, that now you either have to fix or do the right thing on when you go to sell it to someone else.

I will leave it at that, as I know next to nothing about the 2 models you asked about.

Of course the body shape is slightly different from the 61 RI as these have deeper bevels for a more historical look, the neck heel is also different and they have a larger headstock. But in terms of the neck shape and pickups the standards were quite the same back then and quite similar in look - unlike today's standards with the batwing pickguard, different pickups, neck shape etc.

View attachment 50045

@Mitchey75, I feel that you exhibited and explained exactly what some of the differences are in both these pics and your words.

 

[19AT5]

Been meaning to post an update on this... I got the Gibson 61 Standard and Jesus H Christ, it's bloody amazing. To the absolute detriment of all the other guitars I have in the house! Thanks all for the advice with the original question! A great resource site this.

 

[cerebral gasket]

61 style has thinner horns than a batwing style body.
Everything on a 61 style feels thin compared to a batwing SG.

For me it's about the feel, not so much the looks.