• 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!

Vintage Gibson SGs

MikeSlub

Administrator
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
15,167
Got the vintage Gibson SGs out for a photo shoot. From left to right: 1961 LP SG (with Les Paul truss rod cover), 1961 LP SG Special (plain truss rod cover but says "Les Paul" in shipping logs), 1962 SG Custom Alpine White, 1963 SG Special Alpine White, 1964 SG Standard.
IMG_5814 copy.jpeg
 
Last edited:

Vics53

Active member
Joined
Jan 21, 2021
Messages
149
Stunning collection! I love SG's. Bought my first one this past October, a vintage cherry SG Special. Love it!

How long did it take you to collect those 5 beauties?
 

rockabilly69

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
No one favorite, but the P-90 Specials really rock!
Mike, I've owned a few SGs (still own 2), but my hands down favorite is my Historic Special, which is my absolute favorite recording guitar. The clean lead notes that pop off of this guitar are fuller than Fender, but not as fat as my LPs, and they are just what I want to hear....

All the fills both picked and slide in this song are the Special...


I did put on pigtail wraptail on mine as I wanted dead nuts intonation, and a mojoaxe wrap didn't quite get me there. I love the simplicity of these guitars, and although many people say different, it gives up nothing to a LP or SG Junior.

I would love to play either of your vintage ones through any one of your killer amps!

Beautiful photo shoot.
 

Bruce R

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 2, 2007
Messages
1,029
I did put on pigtail wraptail on mine as I wanted dead nuts intonation, and a mojoaxe wrap didn't quite get me there. I love the simplicity of these guitars, and although many people say different, it gives up nothing to a LP or SG Junior.

Very nice track. I can't see the bridge on the SG in the photo but it sounds fantastic. Well done.

I once had a beautiful '63 Special and sure regret selling it. Mick Abrahams' work done on his Special was wonderful. I wondered how the MojoAxe wrap bridge would work on the earlier SG's with the sharp-staggered tailpiece configuration.
 

Vics53

Active member
Joined
Jan 21, 2021
Messages
149
Tasty track and nice, smooth playing! I tip my hat to you.

I'd like to do something with the bridge on mine as well. I mean, the intonation isn't too bad, but if I could get it better I'd like to because that's what I'm used to. Any chance you could take a close up picture of the Pigtail Wraptail bridge?

I'd also like to do something with the neck pickup. Despite different height adjustments to the pickup as well as the pole pieces it's just too dark and boomey for me. Too much low end and it needs a lot more clarity.

But I really like the bridge pickup. It's like a Telecaster on steroids! Along the lines of what you said. It's more than the Tele but not as much as my LP. But it's just right!
 

rockabilly69

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
Tasty track and nice, smooth playing! I tip my hat to you.

I'd like to do something with the bridge on mine as well. I mean, the intonation isn't too bad, but if I could get it better I'd like to because that's what I'm used to. Any chance you could take a close up picture of the Pigtail Wraptail bridge?

I'd also like to do something with the neck pickup. Despite different height adjustments to the pickup as well as the pole pieces it's just too dark and boomey for me. Too much low end and it needs a lot more clarity.

But I really like the bridge pickup. It's like a Telecaster on steroids! Along the lines of what you said. It's more than the Tele but not as much as my LP. But it's just right!
I'm not by my studio right now, but I will take a good picture of the pigtail when I drop by there. It kind of screws up the vintage SG Special look, but I don't care, it's a better guitar with it! Here's a blowup of the picture in the song link (looks crappy here, it looks better in person)...

exHz44t.jpg
 

corpse

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 9, 2007
Messages
4,876
I would love to play either of your vintage ones through any one of your killer amps!

Beautiful photo shoot.
So very "Exile" right there. You need to put out an album.
Period. An EP- a Radio Shack cassette with two songs on it fa chrissake....
 

57gold

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 14, 2005
Messages
692
Great SG collection.

I have only owned 2 over the years. My first Gibson vintage purchase was this one, which my be the coolest version:

swxMLbv.jpg


A 1962 with PAFs. Has Les Paul on truss rod cover:

A8VRlye.jpg


And this 1964, which I still own. Big neck and honking P90s that growl...my Live at Leeds tone:

kNmQWR8.jpg


Gave up searching for a pre 1964 Pelham Blue standard like the one the cool older guy who taught me some songs back in the day and lent it to me when he went to college as he knew that if he had a band there, he would flunk out. A month or two later, that nice guy's much older and scarier brother...the both played college football as linebackers, called and asked for his guitar back...so my friend was generous with his brother's gear! It wasn't green in 1975! Did not realize how rare it was at the time...they were just used guitars back then.
 
Top