'61 Reissue SG

The Scarecrow · Post by **The Scarecrow** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 3:40 pm

Yeah, so I got one one of these on the weekend, after much debate, I caved and got it the day of my current band's first gig. It was a decision I haven't regretted, despite the more than average cost.

Suffice to say, to me, it's the holy messiah of all SG's. Rips Specials and Juniors to ribbons and cuts up the Standards with ease. You can't go wrong with '57 classic 'buckers and a 60's profile neck.

Anyone who loves SG's (like me), should only be playing this guitar if they have the dollars. The Standards are close, but lose out on the sluggish neck and average pickups.

Does anyone else here have much experience with these bad boys?

Post by Bg » Tue Jul 20, 2004 3:41 pm

'57 Classics are sweet

The Scarecrow · Post by **The Scarecrow** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 4:08 pm

bluesgeek wrote:'57 Classics are sweet

Like a sugar plantation =D

I'm just fond of how clean and dirty they are at the same time. Middle postion of my '61 with the amp set to clean is so crystal you'd think it was a Fender Twin - it's a bloomin' JCM900!

But hit that footswitch, crank the power tubes in glowsville and blam, instant smoothness, classic overdriven glory on the neck with no sign of a muddy puddles. Slap the bridge on and the '57's sing without sounding like eardrums are about to burst.

I've tried heaps of other pickups, but I haven't found any apart from these that get the best of clean and dirty.

Post by Bg » Tue Jul 20, 2004 4:56 pm

yep I love mine

and to think I was once desperate for burstbuckers.... they even make my hybrid mosvalve amp sound great

TMG 03 · Post by **TMG 03** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 10:03 pm

bluesgeek wrote:yep I love mine and to think I was once desperate for burstbuckers.... they even make my hybrid mosvalve amp sound great

It was just the tip of that Iceberg really.

B45-12 · Post by **B45-12** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 12:44 am

Probably also considerably better than most of the originals - I got to play a fair number of original 60's SG's back in the 70's and most were not that special soundwise - some were real buggers for tuning as well with a weak neck joint.

Mind you when you got a really good one it could be something else but I only recall 2 out of 18 or so (and one of those was a later SG special). Unfortunately I lost the battle for the other good one to a local pro who had first dibs.

Anyway so long as your are happy with your new baby - that's the ticket!

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 7:48 am

Yes, I found the same right through that period too, mate. Put me right off SGs. Unlike your experience, I never did find/play one which was much chop, though. However, I did find a few LPs which were magic - although waaayy too heavy for me - and I was a bass player then, so heavy had to be heavier than my P basses!

Mind you - I also bought a couple of EB's through that same time - they were beyond awful!!

For those who don't know - the EB was the bass equivalent of the SG - they are universally panned as among the worst basses Gibson produced. All mud and no bite.

Post by Bg » Wed Jul 21, 2004 8:54 am

Didn't Jack Bruce play an EB though? Or did that come later?

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 9:27 am

He did indeed - he also played a Fender VI - 6 string baritone guitar for bass.

However, there is no accounting for taste.... he's a pom after all!

The Scarecrow · Post by **The Scarecrow** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 10:28 am

I'm not much of a bass player, but the bassist in my band had an Epiphone SG bass - pure shitesville. Muddiest, most lacking-in-attack bass I've ever played.

SG's should just stick to being guitars.

Anyone see that vester SG on trade me..... bloody nice.....

porkpie · Post by **porkpie** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 9:27 pm

give us some pix!! i love the humble old SG, i had a lovely cherry red standard untill 2000, i like the bigger neck of the standard (the bigger the better IMO) but i like the look of the early 60s SG better, especially with the vibrola MMMMMM....

TMG 03 · Post by **TMG 03** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 10:51 pm

bluesgeek wrote:'57 Classics are sweet

I have a nice set of SD59's arriving next week

Post by Bg » Wed Jul 21, 2004 11:01 pm

yeah but they won't improve your tone :p

TMG 03 · Post by **TMG 03** » Wed Jul 21, 2004 11:14 pm

What you talking about willis.

Post by Bg » Wed Jul 21, 2004 11:23 pm

:funky: