My first guitar was an SG copy. I got it in 1984. Now a luthier I’ve gone through so many different phases and had so many guitars. It took that long to realize that all my muscle memory was on that first guitar. So I restored it. I fell in love with it all over again. Now it’s almost all I play. Thank you for this amazing video. I think I’ll go play my SG now…
Funny how that muscle memory works. I played cheapo Strats my first year or two; I coveted a Les Paul but couldn't afford one. My first high-quality guitar was an '84 Gibson Explorer that I bought used in '89 or '90 for four hundred dollars. I thought Explorers looked stupid... until I played this one and realized how comfortable it was for me. Sitting or standing. Comfy like a Strat, rocks like a Les Paul - I'll take it! As far as I can recall, that guitar has been involved in every single gig or project I've done over all the years since then. It is not quite "the perfect guitar for me." If I were to design a similar guitar from the ground up, I'd change the pots layout and make the neck notably thicker... but by golly, this beat-up '84 still feels like home to me. That's the guitar that stays right next to my desk and definitely still gets played the most.
Both guitar players for the Alice Cooper Band, Glenn Buxton and Michael Bruce, were SG players. John Cippolina of Quicksilver Messenger Service was also a big SG player. Gray Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd used an SG when he played slide. Robbie Krieger od the Doors also used several SG's in his career.
As an aged (68) guitar student I bought myself a Gibson SG standard 61, translucent teal. a few months ago - I enjoyed 'trying' to play it as I watched this - a great way to 30 minutes this October evening in the UK - thank you.
As a life long SG lover(my first guitar I bought in 1991 and still own my 1991 SG Standard along with a 2011 60s Tribute P90 one), I loved your original video and can't wait to watch the re-done one!
My Canadian guitar teacher tells a story about how, one night after a winter time gig he drove off with his SG still on top of his car. It was snowing significantly as he drove off. He didn’t realize his mistake until the following morning. He drove back to the gig to find his cased SG buried in a snowbank. He brought the guitar home to find that the SG was unfazed by the overnight subzero (Celsius) adventure.
Wow! Reminds me a little of the stories of Mike Bloomfield turning up to jams with his Telecaster in winter, no case; would brush the snow off and just play 😊
I have a ‘73 Standard that I have owned since 1982, bought when I was 17. It was the coolest thing I’d seen to that point and of all my possessions it’s the thing I’d have the hardest time parting with.
I hear you. I don't usually get sentimental about material objects, but my first quality guitar ('84 Gibson Explorer, bought used in '90) is coming into the funeral pyre with me. That thing has been with me through a lot in the last 35+ years, including some dire financial straits, but I still have it and I still play it daily.
Playing a Les Paul is a little like jogging with ankle weights. After playing that literally every other electric guitar seems light. When I bought a Parker Fly my SG actually feels heavy. Isn’t that weird?
Funny enough, the weight is precisely why I can't get comfortable with SG's and PRS's. After so many years of Explorers and LPs hanging around my neck like tabletops, the SGs and PRS guitars feel like little toys 🤣
I just added the new 5 Watt World Barber Plus boost to my rig. Killer pedal. Hoping for more with ypu and Barber. I've sold my 2 SGs 3 years ago to acquire my 1961 Les Paul SG Jr. That's fitting for the 5 Watt World mentality I think. Love what you do man.
When I was 12 or 13, I used to go on Fridays down to the public school drop in, This was where all the kids wend in the late 60s. In the gym there was a band playing and both guitarists had SGs The band was called Renard. Funny that I remember that. There was a characiture of a Fox on the kick drum head.i didn't know what kind of guitars they were but I was in love with them!
For me the SG has always been proof that great guitars don't have to be perfect guitars. Yes, they have their design flaws, but they also have an upside. I love how they play, I love the tone, the look. They are some of the coolest axes ever designed and I like most of their iterations. Great video.
SGs never grabbed me like some other designs, but I fully understand why so many people love them. The only real drawback for me is the weight.... after getting so accustomed to LPs and Explorers, an SG (or PRS) feels like a lightweight kid's toy to me.
Just so we’re clear, I absolutely LOVE these videos! But I find it interesting that a very important detail in the development of the SG was left out… Bringing the neck closer into the body to meet the neck pickup… It was a brilliant move that not only strengthened the neck joint, but also put the neck pickup underneath the “24th fret” harmonic, where it belongs! Not to mention, it reduced neck dive and the guitar balanced better as a result! AND, bringing the nut closer to the body made for less of a stretch for your fretting hand… Funny, how people rarely talk about this… Personally, I loved the change and wish Gibson had never abandoned it! Oh well, whaddya gonna do… 🤷🏼♂️😅
@@DogSlobberGardens-i7f It’s not a problem if the guitar has 21 or 22 frets… I have Super Strats in both configurations that look and (more importantly) sound just great! I think you meant to say on 24 fret Super Strats, correct?
I adore these Mini docs on the classic guitars, especially the Gibson ones, i must have watched the Les Paul and burst Vids about a hundred times. One day i will get a proper SG , they are much cheaper than a les paul too, especially used , i have had copies but as a Player myself, i want that proper seal of approval on the headstock.
My first electric guitar was a 1962 Les Paul SG Standard, Short Maestro, Ebony Block Cherry. I still have it, we have almost the same amount of battle scars, and I love playing it as much today as I did when I first got my hands on it...! ✌😎🤘
@@Fisch269 Nice of you to ask. I bought it from a good friend back in 1989 and have been playing it ever since. My SG can be seen on a few of the videos on The BS Factory channel. It's nothing fancy, but it's there...
I have over a dozen SGs. From Jr to Supreme to Custom Shop. And everything in between. 30 minutes isn't enough time to capture it all, but you hit on all the major points.That was a good video. Fact, it's Gibson's longest running and best selling guitar by the numbers.
I have two SGs . One a Yamaha SG 600 purchased in Japan while living there in high school (Army Brat). At the time was taking lessons from Army band member who was a former Berklee guy. Before getting Yamaha with his help at a Yamaha sponsored store, I would use one of his Les Pauls during lessons. One of which was a 61 LP / SG. We played thru a Mesa Boogie 😃 Earlier this year I got an Epiphone SG 61 from Sweetwater. Was a discount ed scratch unit but neither my or I could locate it. Man have I been pleased with it. The burst buckers really are kicking, and come alive with volume and man, sound fantastic sans pedals
Another great Short History! Some of my favorite players with an SG! I was very much into Black Sabbath and AC/DC when I was “younger”. The SG was certainly front and center.
Absolutely Love this series Keith, you absolutely kill it every episode! The SG is such a great and mostly underrated guitar. I just bought my 2024 Gibson SG Supreme and its so amazing. it feels like I'm playing a jewel. I own 4 SG and they all do something amazingly!
@@darineller6768 Yes, underrated as by definition meaning "Not rated or valued highly enough". Although a lot of greats have played SG's, less of them made it their signature. Because lets be real, when most think of Clapton they think Strat, 335 or LP, Hendrix is Strat, Page is LP or Tele, Harrison def not regarded to be a “sg user”, Dharma has good repertoire with SG but uses Strandberg’s now days. Mick Taylor is known mostly for LP, Santana Is PRS, J. Garcia know for S style guitar, Winter is Firebird, and I can keep going down the list. There's def some amazing artist who’ve signature the SG like Iommi, Young, Townshend, Ham, Zappa, Trucks, ect. From my experience as a LA based musician, former guitar store employee, and SG aficionado doing constant gigs I notice less people tend to gravitate towards the SG. And when I recommend It they always have something bad to say. Truth is the SG is still underrated and probably even more now by today’s kids. It won’t die because it does have a fanbase but its not anywhere near in popularity as a Les Paul or Stratocaster. Hopefully that clarified my opinion of “underrated’
@@darineller6768 Yes, underrated as by definition meaning "Not rated or valued highly enough". Although a lot of greats have played SG, less of them made it their signature. Because lets be real when most think of Clapton they think Strat, 335 or LP, Hendrix is Strat, Page is LP or Tele, Harrison def not regarded to be a “sg user”, Dharma has good repertoire with SG but uses Strandberg’s now days. Mick Taylor is known mostly for LP, Santana Is PRS, J. Garcia know for S style guitar, Winter is Firebird, and I can keep going down the list. There's def some amazing artist who’ve signature the SG like Iommi, Young, Townshend, Ham, Zappa, Trucks, ect. From my experience as a LA based musician, former guitar store employee, and SG aficionado doing constant gigs I notice less people tend to gravitate towards the SG. And when I recommend It they always have something bad to say. Truth is the SG is still underrated and probably even more now by today’s kids. It won’t die because it does have a fanbase but its not anywhere near in popularity as a Les Paul or Stratocaster. Hopefully that clarified my opinion of “underrated’
I have a 1980 SG Firebrand that is an absolute GEM of a guitar. The Firebrand preceded the "The SG" model by a year. It had a mahogany body and neck, ebony fingerboard and a distressed finish with the Gibson logo wood-burned into the headstock! They sometimes suffered from quality issues because they were marketed as a budget-friendly model. However, mine is in amazing condition and plays like a dream!!! I love SGs so much that when I built my first home-built hand-carved guitar, I copied my SG for the body shape. You should also acknowledge Grace Bowers... the 18 year old phenomenon who has an endorsement deal with Gibson and plays SGs almost exclusively!!!
SG‘s are my favourite design. They are great and comfortable to play, and they really can do it all. My main guitar is a Gibson SG Special with P90s and it‘s utterly brilliant.
It was the "Love it to death - Alice Cooper LP 1971 that I had to have one. On the back cover of that LP, Michael Bruce holding his SG Standard with a Bigsby B5 vibrato is what sent me over the edge. After many years and SG's I now own and play a Gibson White SG Standard 61 reissue and a White Gibson SG-Les Paul Custom RI. They are some of the best playing electrics I have ever owned.
Falling back in love with my first proper guitar, my 2013 Cherry SG Standard - and Keith's new updated history affirms that I was right not to sell it. Based on the previous 61 Reissue, it was quite affordable when I got it new in South London for around £900. Now newly intonated to help with the slightly unstable neck and clumsy hands, it plays quite nicely. I think she deserves a fret polish soon, too!
I bought a brand new SG standard in 2015 and absolutely loved it, minus the G force robo tuner maybe. Somewhat recently I sold it to make room in my piggy bank for an already acquired 1952 Martin D-28. One day I'll have another, maybe a lower spec model. For years, I've eye balled the 60s tribute series and I think I'd give the P90 version a whirl. Fairly easily it's been my easiest playing guitar though but for now, I'm actually kinda in love with a Hondo H935, a lawsuit era copy of an ES-335 that's an excellent player too and far more attainable than any Gibson would be. No matter what though, from an early age it was shown to me that as a musician, there is no end to wanting to try everything under the sun and see what ways it impacts you as a player.
My first Gibson was a used mid 70s SG standard in beautiful cherry transparent finish. Tarback filled pickups, ebony board with small pearl block inlays, speed knobs, thistle inlay, and the nasty harmonica bridge. It never seated well in the case, it would sit in there tilted toward the treble side. As usual, the thin mahogany neck suffered a headstock break. Years later i sold it.
Good on you on this SG thing. I am a Fender player of 62+ years. But have always loved the SG's ... Currently own a 1964 custom shop VOS reissue. And that dude be hard to put down, figuratively or in reality. And ... Good on you on that church thing. Jesus saves and he's coming back for his church. Time is running out. And oh yeh ... My SG Standard has zilchola neck dive!!
A Les Paul man my whole life, I only recently, through the death of a friend inherited an SG. Now I have three of them and it's all I play. Amazing guitar I never thought I would be playing these.
What, no love for John Cipollina's ? The prettiest one ever. I'd give any three of my current accumulation to have my 60-something batwing special back.
My first good guitar was my Gibson SG Platinum (SG Special). It was a rare color version (see my profile pic). I modified the stock pickup with a Gibson 57 Classic, used Gibson knobs, tuners, etc. It is the guitar I have owned the longest, as the original owner. It was my first humbucker guitar and has a lot of meaning to me, still. I will probably be buried with it.
I can’t think of any object that epitomizes the aesthetic of the early/mid 60s than the standard red SG Something about how it looks really vibes that transition period from well dressed young lads playing blues music fast to the long hair, big side burns, and loud distortion of the late 60s and early 70s I thought it was kinda ugly when I was a kid, like the Tele, and for both guitars, as I got older I fell in love with how they sound on my favorite recordings and they suddenly look really cool
When I was a kid just getting into guitar, I really wanted an SG. At least a guitar that looked like an SG. Now, over 50 years later, I could probably get one. I've had everything else. Strat, Les Paul, Tele, a Guild Starfire 4 which looks a lot like an eS 335, a double neck, but I still never had an SG. Now I don't really have any use for one. I don't play gigs anymore, just recording. I still might have to get one though, Just to say I had one. I wouldn't want to let my young self down after all. Again.
My favorite feature of the SG are its horns. They have always reminded me of the Devil or steer horns. Both are cool! I have a 60th Anniversary '61 SG Custom. It is one of best-looking guitars in my collection. My only complaint relates to the non-potted pickups. I hate the popping sound they emit every time my pick touches one of the three pickups. It's a big distraction for a sloppy player like myself. That being said, I love my SG!
Owned 5 SG's that all succumbed to thinning of my collection. Only one I would buy back (I'm picky about neck dive). A faded pelham blue special that had already broken at the body neck joint before I bought it. It had been functionally (but not aesthetically) repaired and sang beautifully. It went to a new home when I moved, unfortunately. BTW, did I miss Robby Krieger in the video? I think he was my first exposure to the SG.
Well my EB SG bases or I even call them Les Paul's especially my ones up to 63 that off fretless what's tremeloes brings me to your video... I bought my 69 EB3 in 1977 I was 13 years old still have it...❤❤❤ In my 63 happens to be my favorite❤❤❤
My first guitar was a Yamaha SG….. not my first choice but my brother was selling it. That was 35 years ago….. I think I might just pull it off the wall 😊👍
Terry Kath from the band Chicago bought a new 1968 walnut SG Custom and used it to great effect while on tour with Chicago between 1969 and 1971 that guitar was also used with an Acoustic 150 head and wah pedal for the all mighty 25 or 6 to 4 off the Chicago II album of 1970 and also has been seen in a lot of early photos to use both a late 60’s SG special and mid 60’s standard for the Chicago Transit Authority album of 1969 and early dates
Love the look and the upper access of the SG. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who can't deal with neck dive. I've tried all of the suggested fixes. I'm stuck with admiring them from afar.
@five watt world Hey Keith...thanks for yet another great short history! I was hoping either you or someone reading this could outline Mr Cordys signal path....I'm loving his tone...thanks!!
To me, the biggest difference between the SG and the Les Paul is snarl - I feel like the SG is a little more snarly. Which basically means it's got a different midrange frequencies that are emphasized. I don't own a Gibson SG, but I do own an Epiphone SG. I swapped out the pickups. Even though I'm not a massive fan of the SG, I do play a little differently on one (including the budget Epiphone version). When you give the Epi great pickups, it is... still not as good as the Gibson version, but it's still a fun, cool looking guitar.
Thank you for the video! I'm a bass player owning few guitars like a strat and a casino but I always had a crush on SG. probably gonna get one now... maybe a p90 one.
love my SG faded!! light weight, wonderful neck, plays like butter, sounds like gold, thin nitro finish (love the wear over the years!), what's not to like? throw on a nice thick leather strap and you can jam all night!
The Gibson Second Generation Les Paul is my favorite electric. I have 4 Gibson SGs with P90s and humbuckers. I know Solid Guitar is what it's been told SG stands for. However, Second Generation Les Paul is exactly what the SG was. Cheers. 🍻
@11:20 >. that's the bright cutting meaty edgy tone with slight quack that SG's excel at. Great demo in this section. I'm lucky I have both Humbucker and a vintage '65 SG Special with original P90s.. both fab guitars and neither neck dive despite the reputation. I tried an Epiphone SG - immediate neck diver so try before you buy.
Excellent video!! I have loved the SG since I was ten years old, and I discovered Black Sabbath and AC/DC. They just looked sooo cool with those SGs. Now I have my own standard, and I never put it down hah.
I had an Epiphone 12 string in 75. Then mom gave me a Gibson 330 and a fender pro reverb. Sadly I haveneither now. But I have collected 2 Les Paul’s and a Strat in sea foam green
. *One of my biggest regrets is selling my '63 SG.* *It was the late stages of lockdowns & I had a stack of bills a mile high, so I had to let it go or else destroy my credit and possibly, my business.*
Used to hate SGs and how they "fit" me when standing or sitting. Now, though, I'm eyeing a rather inexpensive Epi at work because it plays just so damn good. Might grab it next payday.
I know Frank Marino may not be a household name but you can't talk about the SG and not mention him. When it comes to the SG, Angus and Frank are the artist that connect most with the gutiar, considering it was their main axe throughtout their careers.
Very good ep on the SG's, I have a picture of Frank Marino's SG with 3 single coils built in, I can send it to you if you like. I have seen his whole SG collection at his home,very cool
