Why I’m returning my new ‘61 Reissue SG

[Robzoid]

Just got a 61 SG from Sweetwater. Unlike many, I like the ergonomics of the SG. However, I may be done with the SG. Here are my experiences with the new 61 SG:

The bad:

• dead spot on 11th fret G string. My other SG had the same problem. I’ve never encountered another guitar that’s so prone to dead spots. I think it’s due to the long neck but I’m not 100% sure. I didn’t mess with the truss rod so I can’t say if it’s a truss rod fix or anything inherent to the guitar. Even so, the guitar went through Sweetwater’s 55 point inspection and I left the guitar in the case 24 hours prior to opening.

• Quality control issue - the neck is slightly wider than the fretboard which creates a “lip” or a noticeable indent that you can feel with your hand. This is an ongoing issue. I had a Gibson DC tribute with the same problem. The same model was featured in a Trogly video and he mentioned the same issue.

• super tiny frets. I know this is likely done to be faithful to the original but the original also had unpotted pickups. So, Gibson is ok with making some practical changes. Does anyone actually like their frets this tiny these days? Actual medium jumbos would be preferable to the average player.

• The nitro is sticky and smells weird. Although, those problems are supposed to go away with time so not a huge deal.

•The pickup covers look good but they really just muddy things up. My epiphone sg with uncovered burstbuckers sounds noticeably more clear and open.

• Rosewood these days is looking pretty bad. The fretboard also didn’t feel great when playing. At the same time, I didn’t put any fretboard cleaner/lemon oil on it. That may have fixed the issue.

The good:

• it looks amazing even though the red SG has been done to death and is a bit cliche at this point. No guitars look or sound as good as Gibsons imo.

• Great tone. I would prefer the nickel covers off but still a great sound.

• Great case. Best looking case I’ve ever had.

• Nice neck profile. Not too big or thin.

Honestly, if it weren’t for the quality control flaw, I’d be tempted to work with it and see if I could get it up to snuff.

Maybe a used custom shop SG is the way to go.

 

[Juan Tumani]

Just got a 61 SG from Sweetwater. Unlike many, I like the ergonomics of the SG. However, I may be done with the SG. Here are my experiences with the new 61 SG:

The bad:

• dead spot on 11th fret G string. My other SG had the same problem. I’ve never encountered another guitar that’s so prone to dead spots. I think it’s due to the long neck but I’m not 100% sure. I didn’t mess with the truss rod so I can’t say if it’s a truss rod fix or anything inherent to the guitar. Even so, the guitar went through Sweetwater’s 55 point inspection and I left the guitar in the case 24 hours prior to opening.

• Quality control issue - the neck is slightly wider than the fretboard which creates a “lip” or a noticeable indent that you can feel with your hand. This is an ongoing issue. I had a Gibson DC tribute with the same problem. The same model was featured in a Trogly video and he mentioned the same issue.

• super tiny frets. I know this is likely done to be faithful to the original but the original also had unpotted pickups. So, Gibson is ok with making some practical changes. Does anyone actually like their frets this tiny these days? Actual medium jumbos would be preferable to the average player.

• The nitro is sticky and smells weird. Although, those problems are supposed to go away with time so not a huge deal.

•The pickup covers look good but they really just muddy things up. My epiphone sg with uncovered burstbuckers sounds noticeably more clear and open.

• Rosewood these days is looking pretty bad. The fretboard also didn’t feel great when playing. At the same time, I didn’t put any fretboard cleaner/lemon oil on it. That may have fixed the issue.

The good:

• it looks amazing even though the red SG has been done to death and is a bit cliche at this point. No guitars look or sound as good as Gibsons imo.

• Great tone. I would prefer the nickel covers off but still a great sound.

• Great case. Best looking case I’ve ever had.

• Nice neck profile. Not too big or thin.

Honestly, if it weren’t for the quality control flaw, I’d be tempted to work with it and see if I could get it up to snuff.

Maybe a used custom shop SG is the way to go.

Hard pass on the Custom Shop IME.

I still own 2 out of these 3 SGs. Guess which one didn't make the cut.

While beautiful this Custom Shop SG didn't stack up to my 61s. My 61s are a 2001 and a 2012 so no they don't have the same specs as the one you described. I have the medium/jumbo taller frets.

The Custom Shop had the low frets and I also don't like them. It didn't play as good or sound as good either (IMO). I really tried to like it but couldn't.

Obviously, what's good is subjective and not all Custom Shop guitars are going to have the same specs but before laying out the cash I'd get my hands on one first.

For my CS the nut wasn't cut right, the pickups were microphonic and the guitar just played lifeless. Out of the over 300 guitars I've owned only 2 were Gibson Custom Shop and both were sub par on a quality/performance level.

On the flip side my 2001 61 RI is the single best guitar I've ever owned.

Edit. IMO instead of saying you're done with SGs say you're done (at least temporarily) with new Gibsons. Just go buy an older model 61. It'll have all the specs you want and be of better quality IMO.

 

[Gary Gretsch]

• Quality control issue - the neck is slightly wider than the fretboard which creates a “lip” or a noticeable indent that you can feel with your hand. This is an ongoing issue. I had a Gibson DC tribute with the same problem. The same model was featured in a Trogly video and he mentioned the same issue.

I am surly not sticking up for Gibson with the problems I have had with the last couple guitars I bought from them, but the above problem is something you find on many brands of guitars. I noticed it on a Gretsch guitar and a luthier told me it is a common thing with many guitars.

 

[DrBGood]

Just got a 61 SG from Sweetwater. Unlike many, I like the ergonomics of the SG. However, I may be done with the SG. Here are my experiences with the new 61 SG:

The bad:

• dead spot on 11th fret G string. My other SG had the same problem. I’ve never encountered another guitar that’s so prone to dead spots. I think it’s due to the long neck but I’m not 100% sure. I didn’t mess with the truss rod so I can’t say if it’s a truss rod fix or anything inherent to the guitar. Even so, the guitar went through Sweetwater’s 55 point inspection and I left the guitar in the case 24 hours prior to opening.

• Quality control issue - the neck is slightly wider than the fretboard which creates a “lip” or a noticeable indent that you can feel with your hand. This is an ongoing issue. I had a Gibson DC tribute with the same problem. The same model was featured in a Trogly video and he mentioned the same issue.

• super tiny frets. I know this is likely done to be faithful to the original but the original also had unpotted pickups. So, Gibson is ok with making some practical changes. Does anyone actually like their frets this tiny these days? Actual medium jumbos would be preferable to the average player.

• The nitro is sticky and smells weird. Although, those problems are supposed to go away with time so not a huge deal.

•The pickup covers look good but they really just muddy things up. My epiphone sg with uncovered burstbuckers sounds noticeably more clear and open.

• Rosewood these days is looking pretty bad. The fretboard also didn’t feel great when playing. At the same time, I didn’t put any fretboard cleaner/lemon oil on it. That may have fixed the issue.

The good:

• it looks amazing even though the red SG has been done to death and is a bit cliche at this point. No guitars look or sound as good as Gibsons imo.

• Great tone. I would prefer the nickel covers off but still a great sound.

• Great case. Best looking case I’ve ever had.

• Nice neck profile. Not too big or thin.

Honestly, if it weren’t for the quality control flaw, I’d be tempted to work with it and see if I could get it up to snuff.

Maybe a used custom shop SG is the way to go.

This could be the solution to your problem.
https://www.epiphone.com/en-US/Electric-Guitar/EPIE517/Aged-Classic-White

Look at the specs, Burstbuckers, CTS pots, Mallory caps, Switchcraft toggle and jack, etc. Basically a Gibson in disguise.

 

[Gary Gretsch]

I would have bought one in a minute. I went over the specs a bunch of times. Then played one. The neck feels slimmer than the Gibson slim taper. But the quality was there. And possibly better than Gibson. So definitely if you like a slim taper it is the way to go.

 

[skelt101]

Edit. IMO instead of saying you're done with SGs say you're done (at least temporarily) with new Gibsons. Just go buy an older model 61. It'll have all the specs you want and be of better quality IMO.

There’s no guarantee of getting a keeper guitar, regardless of the year/era. The best practice is (if possible) “Try before you buy.” Otherwise, you’ll always be rolling the dice.

 

[PermissionToLand]

• dead spot on 11th fret G string. My other SG had the same problem. I’ve never encountered another guitar that’s so prone to dead spots. I think it’s due to the long neck but I’m not 100% sure. I didn’t mess with the truss rod so I can’t say if it’s a truss rod fix or anything inherent to the guitar. Even so, the guitar went through Sweetwater’s 55 point inspection and I left the guitar in the case 24 hours prior to opening.

Sorry bud but I'm roasting you for this one. Somebody who doesn't even know what a truss rod does is questioning a 100 year old company's expertise?

Wood comes from a living organism and therefore is never 100% consistent and predictable. If it's even possible to build a guitar with no dead spots, it would require extensive testing of each piece of wood to determine its resonant frequencies and continued testing as it is shaped and sanded because that will also change it. Unless you're paying a luthier $10,000 you have unreasonable expectations.

Quote from John Suhr of Suhr guitars:

"All guitars will have a dead spot some place unless they are made out of concrete.

The more alive the guitar is the more dead spots you will have."

The bump around the binding is a result of the fact that the paint is thicker where the color coats are. The binding is masked off while it's being painted. This is common, especially with high quality finishes that are thinner than your typical Epiphone polyurethane armor coating.

Gibson uses standard Dunlop medium-jumbo frets on everything, always has.

All nitro is sticky and smells weird. It's nitro.

Pickup covers do not influence tone.

Every guitar you've ever heard on all your favorite records had a dead spot. Jimi Hendrix was not rejecting guitars because there was a slight bump between the binding and neck.

 

[Lxndrlk]

I

Sorry bud but I'm roasting you for this one. Somebody who doesn't even know what a truss rod does is questioning a 100 year old company's expertise?

Wood comes from a living organism and therefore is never 100% consistent and predictable. If it's even possible to build a guitar with no dead spots, it would require extensive testing of each piece of wood to determine its resonant frequencies and continued testing as it is shaped and sanded because that will also change it. Unless you're paying a luthier $10,000 you have unreasonable expectations.

Quote from John Suhr of Suhr guitars:

"All guitars will have a dead spot some place unless they are made out of concrete.

The more alive the guitar is the more dead spots you will have."

The bump around the binding is a result of the fact that the paint is thicker where the color coats are. The binding is masked off while it's being painted. This is common, especially with high quality finishes that are thinner than your typical Epiphone polyurethane armor coating.

Gibson uses standard Dunlop medium-jumbo frets on everything, always has.

All nitro is sticky and smells weird. It's nitro.

Pickup covers do not influence tone.

Every guitar you've ever heard on all your favorite records had a dead spot. Jimi Hendrix was not rejecting guitars because there was a slight bump between the binding and neck.

I had the same staggering of the fretboard on the neck on my ‘22 standard sg that I returned. It was not a matter of the binding being taped before painting. I could tell because where the edge of the fretboard dipped along one edge of neck, it protruded on the corresponding opposite side of the neck.

 

[Juan Tumani]

There’s no guarantee of getting a keeper guitar, regardless of the year/era. The best practice is (if possible) “Try before you buy.” Otherwise, you’ll always be rolling the dice.

Agreed. IMO ordering a guitar is for people who really don't have a strong preference. I very very rarely buy without try.

What I was getting at though in my post was that the OP (in addition to possibly quality issues) didn't like some of the specs. In that case the older ones have the right specs.

 

[Gary Gretsch]

I was noticing all gibsons that I have here all use the same fret wire. Not as big as the medium jumbo that I have on my fender but it is real easy to get used to.

 

[Juan Tumani]

I was noticing all gibsons that I have here all use the same fret wire. Not as big as the medium jumbo that I have on my fender but it is real easy to get used to.

You can't use the descriptions for anything.

"Medium/Jumbo frets" much like "60's Slim Taper neck" are not all the same.

If you read the descriptions for the guitars I posted earlier in this thread they would seem to basically be the same guitars with different pickups and appearance.

The 61s and the Custom both have Slim Taper necks with Medium/Jumbo frets but the 61s have a Slim Taper D and the Custom a Slim Taper C.

The 61s have the frets at their full height but the Custom has been leveled and crowned (plek'd at the factory) to the point there's no comparison between the feel of the two models.

As @skelt101 said guitars really should be played before buying. Even my two 61s don't feel/play the same.

My Red 61 is the best playing guitar I've ever owned but in truth I don't particularly like Red guitars. So I went through a handful of other Gibson SGs that in the description should've played the same (including the Custom) but none compared. I finally decided to just buy the next Black 61 I found for sale and had this one shipped from Japan. It's a perfectly playable quality guitar but still doesn't compare to Red.

 

[Huntroll]

The upper horn on that red one was beveled so deep, one of a kind, I do believe !
I always loosen the truss rod so the nut isn't even making contact while the guitar acclimates to its new surroundings for a few months. You got to be patient.
Fibers of the wood, the glue, the finish etc. have to solidify.
I just revisited a couple Epi SG Muse that I had going through this process and now they're much straighter with action that I couldn't obtain before. Even their intonation had to be re-tweeked.
Did the guitar have nibs ?

 

[DrBGood]

I always loosen the truss rod so the nut isn't even making contact while the guitar acclimates to its new surroundings for a few months. You got to be patient.
Fibers of the wood, the glue, the finish etc. have to solidify

​

 

[Juan Tumani]

The upper horn on that red one was beveled so deep, one of a kind, I do believe !

I assume you're talking about mine.

Yeah, that bevel is certainly deeper than any of the other SGs I've owned incl the Custom which was also well beveled.

I guess this Red 61 was beginner's luck because while it wasn't the first guitar I owned it was the first SG for me. I never thought I'd be an SG guy but took the plunge for curiosity sake.

Within a few months it became top dog in my collection kicking out the previous best guitar I've ever owned (a 98 Gibson Lucille).

I'll never part with it. That's why it saddens me when someone says they're done with SGs.

 

[PermissionToLand]

I

I had the same staggering of the fretboard on the neck on my ‘22 standard sg that I returned. It was not a matter of the binding being taped before painting. I could tell because where the edge of the fretboard dipped along one edge of neck, it protruded on the corresponding opposite side of the neck.

Oh no... better throw it in the trash...

 

[benzin_98]

Reading this just makes me wonder and as a lot of others had mentioned always go to your local music store and try out the guitar before you buy it. And it seems that this I forgotten knowledge try before you buy, every guitar is different even same model same year no one guitar is the same

Support your local music stores try before you buy/ Daniel

 

[Lxndrlk]

Oh no... better throw it in the trash...

Or maybe just get something of good quality that I like and enjoy with a lot of my hard earned money. Sorry you can’t explain away poor craftsmanship with your big brain.

 

[Bettyboo]

The OP should probably be going to the shops thus making sure he likes the guitar in his hand before purchasing.

 

[Decadent Dan]

I love the assumptions that there are new Gibsons in nearby stores. It must be nice.
You just walk in and try them out.
As if GIbson dealers are everywhere.
Gibson screwed the little stores a long time ago.

 

[Juan Tumani]

Reading this just makes me wonder and as a lot of others had mentioned always go to your local music store and try out the guitar before you buy it. And it seems that this I forgotten knowledge try before you buy, every guitar is different even same model same year no one guitar is the same

Support your local music stores try before you buy/ Daniel

Ultimately, the customer is the final QC. If a guitar doesn't pass your inspection it stays at the store.