Gibson SG Standard

Well, after so many people writed reviews for that guitar, i think everyone knows about the feautures, so that i won't mention them farther again.
Very classical.

I personally love this guitar. I play mostly stuff by Gary Moore or AC/DC, but with the right amp settings on my ENGL screamer and the tone-knop turned down to five it can also do some satisfying Satriani or Petrucci sounds.
Nevertheless it sounds a bit too dark for rythm, prefer soloing on it, good sustain, comfortable neck. After so many people complainded about the pick-ups, i must negotiate that; don't sound microphonic at all, very natural, rich sound.
Think i will give it a 9.

Hmmmm...
The first SG standard i got (musicstore) had several, little mistakes like loosen tone-potis, and the toogle switch didn't work properly.
Sent it back and got an new one, everything was fine, except the setting.
In my opinion Gibson works a little careless refering to that, pick ups and bridge weren't adjusted at all, but if you have some experience with set up your guitars that wont be a problem at all.

I think this guitar will last until the day i die, seems to be very solid, if you don't treat it that bad.
The only thing is the nitro finish, which gets scratched and worn off very easily, but that gives your guitar character.
To those people who complain about that: You don't have a clue at all. Nitro is much more resistable than any other finishes, just more flexible and will never break off.

Never dealed with them

I am playing since 6 years now and i am totally satisfied. I think I've fallen in love with this guitar, i couldn't live a day without it.
If stolen or lost, i would kill myself or get a new one

standard sg features, 2 humbuckers, two tone knobs, two volumes. 22 frets i think.

i play rock, and this guitar sounds great for that. stuff like dire straits will not work well on this guitar, but for punch and power this guitar is great. also nice clean sound to bring out the more "jazzy" side of me. the guitar is very responsive and therefore easy to play. i play it threw a vavstate 100 watt marshall head and pedals such as an ibanez reissue tube screamer, boss blues driver, boss flanger, boss delay.

the guitar isnt noisy.

the sound is full with lots of sustain. lots of bass, nice bell like tone in the middle position, not bright - a good frequency balance. the pic's attack is nicely noticeable. its nicely agressive, the sound jumps out. killer rock sound.

the tradeoffs of having an sg are that it doesnt have a whammy bar, and it doesnt have a middle out of phase position like a strat or an ibanez.

i bought it second hand and th setup is fine. no string buzzing, nice action. theres a rattle in the neck pickup since it is suspended on two screws which dont seem to hold the pickup firmly. the guitar had no flaws, finish looks great, no paint spills or anything else weird. the neck isnt a thin one, but thats how these guitar are.

everything looks solid on this guitar, im allways extra cautios with it coz i saw too many gibsons with broken necks.

i have been playing over twenty years, i play well but im not a pro.

i used to be a strat guy for many years and this was a change for me to get a gibson. the guitar is realy great, but i wouldnt be happy with only a gibson, i also have a strat and an ibanez with a floyd and a godin sdxt. for distortion it kicks the rest out of the window. it is so powerfull that it brings to life alot of equipment i thought sucked, for example a boss ds 1 i have which sounded useless with my other guitars suddenly sounds good. the distortion channel on my amp sounded okay, but the sg makes it really excellent. i knew this guitar wouldnt do everything, but when you plug in it just works with you. i had to take a break from the strat bulls****for a while.

2006, Heritage Cherry, all mahogany. SG Rounded neck profile - nice and beefy. Typical SG specs - you know exactly what you're getting!

I use this through the Normal Channel of a '65 Bassman head (Bright switch ON), into a Marshall JCM900 1960A with stock Celestion G12's. Sometimes a modestly-sized pedalboard in the chain, but usually just guitar->amp->speakers. Very full-sounding, not overly noisy.

Compared to an equivalent Les Paul, the SG has a much smoother attack which sits better with a more responsive amp like the Bassman. Though generally considered to be the inferior instrument, I find the inherent warmth of the SG far more suited to my playing style - skanky/bluesy/indie rock.

Set up with 9s at the factory... I play with 12s in Standard. The bottom E string saddle doesn't have quite enough travel to intonate properly with a .056, so I had to flip it around. The pickups needed a bit of tweaking, but a perfect balance can be achieved if you take the time.

Cosmetics let this instrument down somewhat - I have played and owned Chinese guitars that were better appointed. The finish is perfect, except for a few places where it actually goes OVER the fingerboard binding. A minor detail, but if they can get it right in the third world... The fingerboard binding is unshaped, typical for Gibson, but is somewhat rough between the frets. The nubs that extend up over the fret ends, while being an impressive reminder of the handmade nature of the instrument, actually impede playing on occasion. The nut is made of some kind of seam-y, porous plastic that looks artificially bright next to the vintage cream of the binding - again a minor detail, but when you can expect such appointments on a Chinese guitar it really makes the corporations look a bit lax. Same with the white layers in the 5-ply pickguard - cream would have matched the binding and lent a far more elgant touch.

This guitar withstands live playing very well - my band gigs weekly, and my backup hasn't been out of its case in some 12 months. Some of the pickguard and pickup screws already rusting a bit, but I sweat profusely and don't clean it as often as I probably should. It's all mojo anyway. I did swap out the strap buttons for some Dunlops, the originals were a bit too small to feel secure.

I've been playing 18 years, the only superior instrument I have is a classical guitar handmade to my specification. I've bought and sold many electrics, however I anticiapte keeping the SG longer than any others I've had. I'm considering getting a refret to dispense with the binding nubs - sometimes they really are that annoying. That's about my only qualm; even the much-maligned SG neck heaviness is nice - with a leather strap and locks it sits perfectly; you always know exactly where everything is. Some pointers on the knobs wouldn't go astray either - I use my volume and tone knobs a great deal, and often in the heat of the moment it's hard to preset the other pickup to the right volume before you flick the switch.

Bought this is 2004, cherryburst finish, with stock pickups, made in the US. I think everyone knows the rest of the details. The features are more than enough, considering what this guitar should and shouldn't do.

For rock music this thing is unbeatable. Both stock humbuckers sound great, I don't think its necessary to switch them out. However, to each their own. All three position (B, BN, N) all sound good depending on the style. This is not as "meaty" as the LP, but considering the weight difference I think its a wash. Has good sustain and control. Tone and volume control could be a little more responsive, but that also has to do with the amp your plugged into. Can handle rhythm and solo's with ease. This guitar can sound okay for blues, rockabilly, country etc. But this really shines for rock, classic rock, and can venture into metal if your a good clean player.

Factory out of box was very impressive, no flaws and looked as beautiful as ever.

I try not use this except when gigging, and take extremely good care of all my equipment. So far so good, no issues whatsoever.

Quick recap- Out of box this thing is ready to rock and roll, and I mean that literally. We all know the legends who've used this and the list is endless. Great rock guitar, can be used for other styles if necessary.

Mine is a 2001 made in the U.S of A with the usual number of frets (22) and a solid top and all the usual tone, volume etc controls.
It has the standard Gibson pickups that come on the standard (490R bridge and 498T neck)which sound great. I think it's all mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard. It's in heritage cherry (as it should be)
It came with a tanned brown hard-case and with strap locks.

I play with the usual hard rock set up of gibson + marshall to play ac/dc, gnr, metallica but occassionally softer stuff like floyd and fleetwood mac. When i first got it (about 3 months ago) there was a bit of crackling on one of the tone controls, but it soon went after use. It gives an enormous range of sounds. Sparkling, distortion drenched chords with bridge pick-up and on flat out, or haunting echoes with the tone turned right down on the neck pick-up. whatever you want to play, it's capable. Not much to dislike. Have a les paul studio as well, which has a more meaty sound, gives a much more soulful feel, where-as the sg is full out rock.

I bought it from a student who had been playing pop music on it, so it wasn't too well set-up action-wise, but a quick truss rod adjustment did the trick. Apart from that I also put 010s on it, as it helps to give a bigger sound at the top end. There were a couple of dings on the body, but hey, who cares? It's a rock n roll guitar, it's gonna get knocks! I couldn't live with a brand new, pristine guitar. I wouldn't play it.

I bought this guitar with the intention of keeping it forever, it's the only guitar i've ever really wanted (i had a cheap copy before) and i expect it to last forever. Obviously i wouldn't throw it at the floor and assume it won't break, but i can see a great deal of use out of the old thing yet. Everything seems in working order, and doesn't seem to need replacing. As i have mentioned, strap-locks are a good idea. I recently saw maiden, and the amount of guitars they would break if they didn't have strap-locks is astronomical! I would trust this guitar with my life. It was my second love (girlfriend comes a close first).

never needed

Been playing 4 years, just started regular gigging with a marshall JCM 900, which perfectly complements the SG. I'd defintely replace it if it was stolen with another SG, but maybe pay a bit more to get the supreme, which would offer more of a les paul sound with the maple top.

Everyone knows the features of a Gibson SG Standard! Mine is EBONY and a 2006 model which I bought used from a fellow who didn't play the guitar at all. MINT COND. Excellent set-up now with very low action. The Gibson is QC'd perfect[have to watch this with GIBSON] The SG was all stock when I bought with very low miles. No fret wear and a excellent fret-job, I polished the frets. Adjusted the Truss-Rod, Intonated the guitar, and basically did a complete set-up. Now its PEFECT at 6lbs and its not neck heavy? Good job with this one Gibson

SGs NEVER were quite right to me. And its not the guitar, Its the 490-498 pick-up set. Be it a SG or a Les-Paul, they just do not sound RIGHT. But I learned a VERY GOOD trick to fix this.

Fisrt off you need to eliminate the 490. Its a ALNICO II magnet and it just doesn't agree with the 498 which is a ALNICO V. So I de-solderd the 490 and replaced it with a New BB-PRO. WOW what a difference in Tone. The BB-Pro is without a doubt the best neck pick-up Gibson has produced in years. Even better than the 57s which I keep in my ES-series Gibsons. But the real magic is adding the BVB-Pro alonmg with the 498 whch is also a Alnico V. For all of you who THOUGHT you didn't like the 498? Wait till you hear this set! Great Harmoncs, good Clear, clean Tones, nice and edgy and Raw set of Gibson Pick-ups. GIBSON seriously ought to use this set stock, The 490 just is too muddy and the bridge BB-Pro just is to Brittle with not enough power. This set is the BOMB!

I've owned two SG Standards over the years and regret selling the first one. It was so damn good of a playing guitar. Well when I finally stumbled across the BB-Pro-498 set-up on a Les-Paul Studio I own, I KNEW it was time for another SG Standard. I knew I could finally amke it sound RIGHT. Its a give in that they are GREAT feeling playing guitars. Just never sounded right to me.

Man I just LOVE his SG. It immediatly went to my #1 humbucker Axe!

Its a GIBSON! They will last a lifetime if you atke care of it!

PERFECT, Just give them a call or E-Mal them.

The people whom you read below with their 1 and 2 and 3 ratings? And the ones that tell younto buy a no-name brand? You'll like it better? I doubt any of them REALLY OWN a GIBSON. Because they really are the Top Dog in the USA for Production Line guitar. And NO these are not USA Custom Shop guitars. So there will be QC issues. Don't buy ON-LINE and pick out a WINNER? That simple. Then you won;t be here crying about how Gibson sold you a Lemon. When in REALITY, you were to STUPID to realize you can't buy Fenders and Gibsons sight unseen?

A brief intro to my Gibson SG Standard '96 is that no, I didn't buy it new...I got it off Craigslist for $600 used. So I expected it to be beat up to some extent. Boy was I wrong.

The guy told me he got the SG back in '96, so the guitar is literally 12 years old. A lot of things can happen in 12 years, and this guy (from my point of view) looked as if he would take care of his instrument while also taking it out to gigs.

The SG was in GREAT tune. I wouldn't say it was perfectly in tune, but the action was great, the frets were great, everything was in great playable order. Aside from replacing a tuner head, he hadn't had the guitar set up since he got it 12 years prior. It still kept in shape!

You may already know what features this guitar has in terms of pickups (which I still retain the original 490s). You may already know about the neck profile and everything else. But what you need to know is that the craftsmanship of this guitar is unbelievably insane. This is definitely the player's guitar. It's light, great light/hard sound, and looks amazing.

I retain the original factory pups (although tempted to either go burstbuckers or something else). They sound fantastic...with quite a load when played with moderate distortion. Love the AC/DC sound, but that just might be myself imagining it b/c of the guitar.

The only thing, according to the person that I spoke with, that this guitar needed in its 12 year lifespan was one replaced tuner head and an initial set up. The guitar is PROUDLY crafted in the USofA.

12 years of gigging and other related live playing. What can I say? It has lasted this long, why not longer? USA...keep that in mind.

N/A -> I'm sure they'd be happy to help

Perfect guitar for beginners/intermediates/experts/whatever category you figure yourself in. Very easy to play b/c it's super light with such a great sound. This guitar was made to be taken around place to place. It just looks so freaking sweet. Seriously, just look at some pics of either the ebony or red finishes....modern classic.

Gibson SG Standard 2008
Color: Natural Burst
Great guitar... so far so good.
Maybe the case had bad quality materials...

Sound amazing! I play Les Pauls, strats ant Tele??s and this guitar soun like no other. Excelent for Blues and Rock.
The pickups sound great, but, maybe, with a pair of Seymour Duncan...

The action its just perfect. Confortably, smooth.
Maybe one of the most confortably instrument i ever played.
Excelent finish!

I had a problema. The nut just break in the 3rd string. The nut is the worst I ever see. But its the onl problem. I put a brass nut. Ready... go!

Great Guitar. MUCH BETTER AND MUCH CHEAP THAN A LES PAUL

I purchased my 2007 SG Standard brand new. It came with a neck, body, 2 pick-ups and controls for tone and volume. "Standard" all the way through with no unusual "feautures" I can think of! I rated it a 10 because I am not sure what else anyone could expect when they buy a SG Standard.

Standard Gibson HB pickups ensure no annoying buzz. The sound is all Gibson with plenty of bite where it is needed along with nice mellow tones that are not that much different from a much heavier Les Paul.

Gibson have evidently tighened up on their QC over the past few years as mine is flawless. The neck action is the reason I bought the guitar--it is low and without any buzzing. I only have one small complaint and it is the usual one: the tuning goes out occasionally on the G. No idea why it does this as it seemed to plague all my other Gibsons too. They should dump the green tuners and switch over to a quality product made by Grover for example. I rated the SG 9 in the category for this reason. My strat never goes out of tune and neither does my Grover fitted Martin acoustic (if they are Grovers). The Standard 60's style neck is particularly good for me as I am used to playing a Strat and prefer a slightly wider neck without too much rounding such as you find on a Les Paul Studio for example. The SG is a much more comfortable guitar to play than a Les Paul not only because of its light weight but also due to the shaping that does not cut into your ribs as a LP does. I know the image of a SG is more for the metal fans but for me it makes a lot more sense as my back is susceptible to injury from heavy weights and I like to be different anyway! The difference in tone and sustain compared with a heavier LP may be more myth than reality to the average person with average hearing.

I cannot see any reason why this guitar should not stay the course for decades. It is a pro guitar.

I have owned quite a few Gibsons over the years including an ES335, Barney Kessel, a Les Paul Standard, LP Studio and a 12 String Acoustic. The only one to come to grief was the 12 string which had to be fitted with a tail-piece as it was not taking the strain of the 12 strings too well. I think I am going to enjoy my SG the most of any of them.

I really like my SG. I would buy it again if it got lost or stolen. I paid $1300 for it brand new and consider that price to be excellent compared with the competition (PRS or Fender). It is a very different guitar to my Fender standard American Strat and a perfect compliment when I want the unique Strat "twang" or single coil sound. I also have a Martin Acoustic Electric and a Yamaha Classic electric so with all 4 I have it all covered. I miss the image of a Les Paul a little (used to have a Standard and later a Studio which I did not like due to the overly rounded neck and chintzy appearance with the gold PUs)but am settling in well with the SG--although it does cry out for spandex and big hair sometimes.

Date produced 28 Feb 2004 - USA. Bought second hand. Mahogany body and set mahogany neck. Gibson Kluson tuners. 490R and 498T Humbucker pickups. Heritage cherry finish with nice wood grain. Rosewood fretboard with Gibson trap inlays. Two tone and two volume controls. Stop bar bridge. Three way pickup selector. Scale Length: 24 3/4". Number of Frets: 22.

I had a chance encounter with an SG Standard and knew I had to have one on the basis of the first note I played - this has never happened to me before in over 30 years of using electric guitars. When I got the opportunity to get a second hand model later the sound was as good, so not a one off. Great tone even played clean and really clear chord voicings. I do not know why the SG often seems to be sold and seen as a guitar to be only used with huge levels of distortion, although I agree it can do that very effectively. A really big range of sounds are available from vary near acoustic guitar sound up to the howling doom-ridden power chords - Live at Leeds by the Who showed this tonal range, particularly in that performance of Tommy. Great for sustain and for fat blues sounds. Sounds good whatever amp / pedal it goes through.

Absolutely perfect on action, although having got it second hand I cannot say if this was the factory, shop, or previous player. Playing hammer ons and pull offs is so easy, and the guitar sometimes seems to be playing itself. Really low action helps and there is no problem with buzzing etc anywhere on the neck even with the low action. Quality of finish is high and also long lasting - it has the associated dings and scratches with several years of use but otherwise shows no sign of wear. Well balanced for pickups. No signs of inferior workmanship.

Have had no problems with it and I believe it was much used by the previous owner. Gives the feel of a workhorse with lots of stamina. The set neck could be a problem if dropped and I would recommend fitting some firmer support for the strap buttons - I got a supply of hose washers just the right size which hang on to the pegs like limpets and anchor the strap really firmly - this avoids having to screw in new strap locks. I am sure this SG will last a long time and will not lose much value.

Never used them - never needed to.

When a guitar has such an impact that you need to get one after playing only one note it is difficult to rate it at anything less than 10. I am not a Gibson acolyte - and do not accept the argument that the SG Special is as good a sound as the SG Standard but just a cheaper finish, unless your own ears tell you so - my ears told me otherwise - I tried 3 SG specials and was not impressed - I would rate them well below my Vintage V100 which is less than a third of the price. I suppose I could mark the SG Standard down for looking a bit more like a workhorse than the more ???stylish??? guitars, but then I cannot see much of the guitar when I play it. The SG Standard also has the virtue of a light weight and, even better, makes me sound a better player than any other guitar I have ever owned or played.