I am so spoiled I have a 61 SG white with mastero tailpiece tremelo, just love it

If it's a real '61 not a reissue I dare say you are spoiled.I passed up a chance to buy a 3 pup 61 in the mid 70s for $400 and I've been kicking myself ever since,the action was about 1/16" all the way down the neck with no buzzing whatsoever.Is yours the 3 pup model?If you say yes depression will set in.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

I'm sorry that there are some who've had negative experiences with Gibson. I have a Gibson SG (I'm afraid that I don't know the year) and although I'm a Strat guy, I find it to be a wonderful guitar with fine tones and I enjoy playing it very much.

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"To Be Is To Do" --Locke
"To Do Is To Be" --Thoreau
"Do Be Do Be Do" --Sinatra

Out of curiosity, I just looked up the serial number on my SG and it was made in 1976. I have no idea as to whether that's considered good or bad, but I like my guitar all the same.

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"To Be Is To Do" --Locke
"To Do Is To Be" --Thoreau
"Do Be Do Be Do" --Sinatra

So call me crazy but why not just buy a dual humbucker Strat?

You may want to check the Epiphone line of SG's and Les Pauls. I recently bought an Epiphone Propehcy EX, it's basically their SG with a fancy wood top and EMG 81/85 pickups. It's a great sounding, great playing guitar. If you aren't all "hung up" on what names on the headstock, they are a great deal.

And finally, don't ever forget that "Special" really means inexpensive. Not the highest grade wood, not the highest grade workmanship. I'm not saying that they are crap, but it's the SG for those who don't want to pay for the Standard.

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

Just played my Gbson SG Special, impressed once again.

Adding the option of switching the stock pickups parallel made playing with brighter tones a lot more sweet. But the dark humbucker tone with just a little bit of tube amp growl is the "raison d'etre" of an SG.

For decades, I thought I had a '76 SG Std. But a few months ago, I decided to check and found out actually I had a '79 this whole time. Either way, I think the late '70s SGs are phenomenal. They kill ...

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

i've been playing my sg400 and what a sound , bloody lovely

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Although I never owned a Gibson there is no denying there greatness over the years. Right now I believe the idiot that is running that empire would do the world a great favor if he just sold it and took his millions and let someone takeover who can right the ship before the company is run into the ground. You would think by now with all the complaints about the guitars straight out of the box by consumers and magazines where it is a running joke, that heads would of rolled already and the quality control issue would have been taken care of already. Instead it seems to be getting worse.

I love the tone of an SG but I hate the feel and playability of one. I am still waiting for the Les Paul that I have wanted since I was a kid as there is no denying the greatness of a Paul. Besides the fact I could care less about the weight these days as after I blew my back out I play seated.

Hi Straycat,I have lost all faith in Gibsons recently I tried out an Epi 59 Les Paul reissue and it was the finest Les Paul I've ever played.The workmanship was flawless and the tone and playability was far better than anything I've seen come out of the Gibson plant since Henry J. took over the helm,all for 1/3 the price.What good is a name once it becomes so tarnished?

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

I have the SG standard. The standard has the fatter 50s neck the 61 RI has a thinner 60s neck alot like a strat. My standard is a very good looking guitar however the SG is just not for everyone. I like the SG for rock and the strat for bluesey stuff. The standard and 61 RI are the only SG,s I like at all though. Les Pauls are to heavy.