• Guys, we've spent considerable money converting the Les Paul Forum to this new XenForo platform, and we have ongoing monthly operating expenses. THE "DONATIONS" TAB IS NOW WORKING, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY DONATIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO KEEP THE LES PAUL FORUM GOING! Thank you!

If happy with LP do you need an SG?

kevs

Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2019
Messages
35
I'm a Fender guy mostly so far, Stat, Tele... but I like SGs
After much research I landed on the SG standard last week. Great. 490's. Happy.

Question: Still intruiged one day of getting a Les Paul, I like the P-90 special limited edition, and some other ideas....Maybe a used Studio from 90's...
YEt Shopping for a good locking economical LP, way harder nice looking one for reasonable price compared to SG.

Which is why went with SG... Light and beautiful, and has almost the sustain and growl of an LP, maybe 10% less? close enough for me.

But the LP is clearly is king of sustain and growl, so the desire remains for an LP possiblly... possibly....

So, for those those here, who are LP guys, who also are SG guys: If I got an LP one day that sounded great. Would there be a point sonically, sound wise to keep the SG?

If the LP surpassed the growl and sustain of the SG, as they seem to do......then only the cool look, and lighter weight and feel remains to keep the SG?. Is there something sonically your SG's give you the LP does not?

Best,
 

Progrocker111

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 10, 2003
Messages
4,013
Sure you need one. :) SGs are very different feeling (the feeling like the neck is longer) and sounding guitars, hard to compare with LPs. They have some advantages like lower weight and better upper fret acces. They have different acoustic tone, more mid-heavy, their neck pickup is very different sounding too cause of the shorter distance to bridge. very often they have different attack and resonance too.
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
As an SG was my first REAL guitar I would encourage you to play one for a WHILE at least. There are some advantages to the SG. They are most appreciated after becoming used to them.
 

Trans-Am

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
4,686
:spabout:spabout:spabout...At the end of the day you will need one of each to cover your lust and GAS!!:peace2

Les Paul...SG...ES-335... /...Strat...Tele.....and so on and so on......:peace2


Get ready for a hay day ride now!!:3zone:3zone
 

kevs

Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2019
Messages
35
Thanks Prog/ Render.
Well I have the SG now standard, looks, feels sounds great. Good to know the SG has sounds that LP does not. Happy with it... just wondering. I'm leaning actually to just going SG and not getting the LP, as that would save me space and $...though I like/ respect LP, but I like the lighter weight, and look of SG.. who knows what will happen, but had to ask this if it does.

BTW, as for LP... opinon on the Special limited ediltion P-90? about 1k kor $1100. Not anything to look at, not super ugly, but not gorgeous like the a new SG starndard. This LP Sounds great at guitar center... I find with LPs Gibson really makes you spend $ for a pretty one.. otherwise sound good but are a bit homely and heavy looking guitars.

Someone also mentioned idea of buying a used Studio from 90's from $700 to $900; Still wad of cash, and very hard to get jive with used.. really have to look hard..
 

Trans-Am

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
4,686
Thanks Prog/ Render.
Well I have the SG now standard, looks, feels sounds great. Good to know the SG has sounds that LP does not. Happy with it... just wondering. I'm leaning actually to just going SG and not getting the LP, as that would save me space and $...though I like/ respect LP, but I like the lighter weight, and look of SG.. who knows what will happen, but had to ask this if it does.

BTW, as for LP... opinon on the Special limited ediltion P-90? about 1k kor $1100. Not anything to look at, not super ugly, but not gorgeous like the a new SG starndard. This LP Sounds great at guitar center... I find with LPs Gibson really makes you spend $ for a pretty one.. otherwise sound good but are a bit homely and heavy looking guitars.

Someone also mentioned idea of buying a used Studio from 90's from $700 to $900; Still wad of cash, and very hard to get jive with used.. really have to look hard..


Always good to ask around here as well before you decide on getting an SG, besides what the others have mentioned the SG comes in variety of range of models and prices. You ought to get really busy with your Paul first as when the time comes you start lurking for another then you'll know the GAS has attacked and you will be on your own travels looking out for number one. My SG stands and front me when I need to bring another Gibson.
I try to stick to just 2 and my co-players are bringing in 3 -5 for the mix. It's all good fun man!:salude
 

LeonC

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 30, 2002
Messages
799
Been playing for 50 years. I always felt I needed a Les Paul. I've never felt I've needed an SG. I like the way they look. But I don't like the way they hang and I've found them to often be somewhat unstable. Of course your mileage may vary.
 

E.M.

Active member
Joined
Aug 6, 2016
Messages
141
Years ago I was practicing with my band and our drummer brought over a norlin era SG. I played it for a few songs and was hooked. It was not a fancy SG and it had some issues, but as a lifelong Les Paul player, I immediately became hooked. There's just something about an SG that provides an awesome alternative to a Les Paul if you're willing to give it a chance.
 

Guitar Whiskey

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
2,757
SG’s typically have more bite than a LP. Some of them don’t balance well on a strap but many balance great. Need to be choosy when shopping. Some have a flimsy neck which leads to tuning instability but some are rock solid. There are great SG’s out there.
 

Trans-Am

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
4,686
SG's will tend not to balance well on how you sling them on and as well as depending on the hardware installed like the tuners from Grover's to the plastic tulip style Kluson's.:)

My SG had the OEM Tulip style Kluson's and I have no issue with the balance:dude:
 

Guitar Whiskey

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
2,757
SG's will tend not to balance well on how you sling them on and as well as depending on the hardware installed like the tuners from Grover's to the plastic tulip style Kluson's.:)

My SG had the OEM Tulip style Kluson's and I have no issue with the balance:dude:

Agree with what you said; the hardware has an effect, but the density or weight of the major components; i.e. the body wood and neck wood also play a big role determining if there will be neck dive. Some SG's have the neck joint further from the body and therefore the strap button is placed back closer to the headstock. Like I said earlier with all the variable you have to be choosy but there are great ones out there. In my experience Grovers and a stop tail are a good reciepe for neck dive. Tulip style and a vibrola will likely balance nicely.
 

musekatcher

New member
Joined
Apr 15, 2018
Messages
135
SG Special was awesome. I once had this urge with the SG to break into TNT in the middle of Folsom Prison Blues, and it scared me, so I found an LP I like. LP looks the part better for a broader selection of music.
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
One word. Allman Brothers Band.

Another word. Dickey Betts.

As a compliment there is no better.

I really like the way when played side by side with a Les they are just different enough in tone that it is noticeable.

And after a 4 hour set you don't wince when the groupies throw their arms around your neck...
 

Trans-Am

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
4,686
One word. Allman Brothers Band.

Another word. Dickey Betts.

As a compliment there is no better.

I really like the way when played side by side with a Les they are just different enough in tone that it is noticeable.

And after a 4 hour set you don't wince when the groupies throw their arms around your neck...

Very true even when Derek started playing with them as well.:ganz
 

kevs

Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2019
Messages
35
Thanks guys..What is neck dive? I google it and still don't understand. I don't have any issue with the new SG standing or sitting.

Thinking of adding a Bigsby or aftermarket maestro Vibrola... only $140 or $150 plus instalation, not so bad. Really creates a great look.
 

Trans-Am

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
4,686
Neck dive is when you sling on the SG while standing up and the body is obviously heavier than the neck so the neck tends to teeter up like a see-saw or vice versa. Some owners here do experience that depending on the type of wood materials used and or hardware as in the heavier Grover tuners as opposed to the plastic Kluson tulip style.:)
 

johnreardon

Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2006
Messages
544
Neck dive is when you sling on the SG while standing up and the body is obviously heavier than the neck so the neck tends to teeter up like a see-saw or vice versa. Some owners here do experience that depending on the type of wood materials used and or hardware as in the heavier Grover tuners as opposed to the plastic Kluson tulip style.:)

Every SG I have ever played it's gone the other way. The neck drops down not up. I had one with a vibrola on and that made it slightly better, but the neck often dropped down, especially when using synthetic (slidy) straps
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
The two I currently have are not divers, but many I have had in the past did that. The neck wants to head to the floor. On my older ones back in the day it was just something you got used to. A stretch strap (or in my case I used a sheep skin padded strap) gives you enough friction to counter it. You DO kinda get used to it. It's not like it pulls you with it or anything, or even increases your need to grip the neck harder.

35662964713_4a2ada456d_k.jpg

36333817421_880c75eeef_k.jpg
 

jb_abides

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
5,276
Every SG I have ever played it's gone the other way. The neck drops down not up. I had one with a vibrola on and that made it slightly better, but the neck often dropped down, especially when using synthetic (slidy) straps

This! Neck dive. Diver down. :salude

1200px-Van_Halen_-_Diver_Down.svg.png
 

Trans-Am

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
4,686
One of my VH favorite album and still is " Where Have All the Good Times Gone! ".:dude: & Fair Warning " Mean Street ":peace2



<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/64345569@N03/48732564138/in/dateposted/" title="Mean-Street-Push-Spain"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48732564138_207e8d8fc5.jpg" width="300" height="298" alt="Mean-Street-Push-Spain"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Top