I'm trying to convince Gibson to make me a carved top sg. Will you help me convince them?

pancake81

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Other than a custom build, you could 1 of two things.The first would be the easier of the two.

1) buy an early 2000 SG Supreme and have the input jack moved to the side. It would have the proper 4 knob layout, and the split diamond headstock.



2) Take a later SG Supreme and have a luthier for a 4 knob layout. Although it would never be a traditional layout. But you could have knobs routed and placed where you want them. It would never look like a traditional SG layout. But the side jack is already in place.




Personally, I would go option 1.
 

pancake81

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Because I REALLY want it to be a Gibson

I can understand the name loyalty, especially if you would be getting an SG spec guitar, minus the appointments you want are not offered collectively.

that said, focus on the end game and you might consider a custom guitar. No doubt John would build you a top tier guitar, and it would be everything you want plus some. But it would t say Gibson
 

Dale

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I would love a carved top as well. But, I love a lot of variations of SG.
 

SG standard

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1) buy an early 2000 SG Supreme



2) Take a later SG Supreme [2016]


I can understand the appeal of the non-Gibson guitar - it's got a lovely piece of maple for a top - but to me it suffers from the 'not quite right shape' phenomenon. A guitar that is clearly a copy of another, but is a bit off. For me, the Yamaha Pacifica always looks like that; someone tried to create a Strat but didn't have a reference photo and wasn't quite sure how it should look.

Put that custom guitar next to either Supreme & it would be the Supreme I'd want to take home (obviously, that's a personal opinion, YMMV).

The 2016 Supreme's Diablo carve is really beautifully done, and Gibson worked through many prototypes and designs before selecting that carve - the work paid off. By comparison the carve on the custom made guitar looks blocky and clumsy (I stress, only by comparison, it's not actually bad).

The 2000 Supreme has a regular SG carve (as far as such a thing exists), and that too looks better than the custom job, IMO. I think Gibson got the original SG body carve just right, and that's why the Diablo carve took some effort to improve on the curves already there.
 

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I can understand the appeal of the non-Gibson guitar - it's got a lovely piece of maple for a top - but to me it suffers from the 'not quite right shape' phenomenon. A guitar that is clearly a copy of another, but is a bit off. For me, the Yamaha Pacifica always looks like that; someone tried to create a Strat but didn't have a reference photo and wasn't quite sure how it should look.

Put that custom guitar next to either Supreme & it would be the Supreme I'd want to take home (obviously, that's a personal opinion, YMMV).

The 2016 Supreme's Diablo carve is really beautifully done, and Gibson worked through many prototypes and designs before selecting that carve - the work paid off. By comparison the carve on the custom made guitar looks blocky and clumsy (I stress, only by comparison, it's not actually bad).

The 2000 Supreme has a regular SG carve (as far as such a thing exists), and that too looks better than the custom job, IMO. I think Gibson got the original SG body carve just right, and that's why the Diablo carve took some effort to improve on the curves already there.


So you are agreeing with me that Gibson should make a real version of it with the "Diablo" carve?
 

Biddlin

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So you are agreeing with me that Gibson should make a real version of it with the "Diablo" carve?
They already did. Get a used one and go on with life.
 

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They already did. Get a used one and go on with life.

What are you talking about? Gibson still hasn't made a "Diablo" carved sg with 4 control knobs.

Also I don't understand; why would I get a used one if im trying to convince Gibson to make me a new one?
 

SG standard

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What are you talking about? Gibson still hasn't made a "Diablo" carved sg with 4 control knobs.

Also I don't understand; why would I get a used one if im trying to convince Gibson to make me a new one?

I think people keep saying this because:

1] The Custom Shop made-2-measure isn't a place that creates your 'dream guitar' - unless your dream guitar fits their available options. So, yes, you (probably) could get an SG Special with an ebony board, dot inlays, no binding, split diamond headstock inlay, Inverness green finish, P90s, Bigsby B5 and a batwing... but a Diablo carve SG isn't in their options, regardless of control configuration. Maybe if you were a celebrity guitarist and they'd like to talk signature models, it might be a different story. But a one off? No. That's not what they do.

2] Gibson (USA or Custom Shop) aren't likely to be interested in dealing with the challenges of a modification that they've already chosen not to deal with on multiple occasions; adding four controls to a Diablo carve body. They didn't pick a two control set up to be awkward, let's face it, it's rare on their guitars (but not unknown, e.g. SG Goddess).

Because of this, I think most people reckon you've got about as much chance of convincing Gibson to create a 4-control Diablo SG as you have of convincing the Fender custom shop to do it for you!

TLDR: They're trying to be helpful.
 

Von Trapp

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Still, you take a carved SG, you customize it to your preferences, bang, you have what you want and it's still a Gibson. What's the problem here?
 

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I think people keep saying this because:

1] The Custom Shop made-2-measure isn't a place that creates your 'dream guitar' - unless your dream guitar fits their available options. So, yes, you (probably) could get an SG Special with an ebony board, dot inlays, no binding, split diamond headstock inlay, Inverness green finish, P90s, Bigsby B5 and a batwing... but a Diablo carve SG isn't in their options, regardless of control configuration. Maybe if you were a celebrity guitarist and they'd like to talk signature models, it might be a different story. But a one off? No. That's not what they do.

2] Gibson (USA or Custom Shop) aren't likely to be interested in dealing with the challenges of a modification that they've already chosen not to deal with on multiple occasions; adding four controls to a Diablo carve body. They didn't pick a two control set up to be awkward, let's face it, it's rare on their guitars (but not unknown, e.g. SG Goddess).

Because of this, I think most people reckon you've got about as much chance of convincing Gibson to create a 4-control Diablo SG as you have of convincing the Fender custom shop to do it for you!

TLDR: They're trying to be helpful.


It sounds to me like you agree that having only 2 knobs on the "Diablos" is awkward.

Your not alone. MANY of my guitar pals wanted the "Diablo" sg But they were waiting for a 4 control knob configuration. Like I want.

Now I also saw that you seem to believe that it's unreasonable to ask for a 1 off.

Are you suggesting that maybe I should campaign instead for Gibson to make it a production line product?

I do believe there is enough demand for that.
 

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Still, you take a carved SG, you customize it to your preferences, bang, you have what you want and it's still a Gibson. What's the problem here?

I have a very specific guitar that I want.

I'm seeking a maple top "Diablo" carved sg; with an ebony fret board, 3 way switch, 4 knob configuration, side mounted input jack, block inlays, split diamond head stock inlay, and ofcourse the binding on the neck and head stock.
 

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Maybe you want a photo shop image of what I'm trying to have them build me??
 

SG standard

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I think it might be helpful to dig out an old photo:
SGsup04.jpg


From what I can see in the photos of the hand built SG-esque guitar, it has a body carve much more like a Les Paul, or the Yamaha SG on the right above. The centre of the body is raised, it then curves down, and flattens before the edge of the guitar. It's simple, and classic, and fitting 4 controls onto the carve is easy to do.

By contrast, the Diablo carve Supreme on the left has a raised centre, it curves down quite sharply, then it rises up again to a high point, before curving down into the natural body carve of a regular SG. In comparison, it's a very complex shape which doesn't lend itself to fitting multiple controls: The three follow the channel of the carve. A regular 4-control layout would have the controls pointing out at different angles and look FUGLY to most people. I suspect you'd really need to try something with small controls in-line.

And NO I do not think two controls are more awkward than four controls - far from it! As I've already made clear, the Reverend arrangement of three controls is the best set up I've ever used: Volume, treble, bass. The BASS is the one I use the most - yet it's missing on most other guitars! In truth, I can't fathom why anyone would be so fixated on controls - I work with whatever is there. Four is as awkward as two, but less to deal with! :) But everyone's different...

Yes, I think you'd have more chance getting a Gibson USA Diablo run (mainly because I see zero chance with the Custom Shop). I'll post a Diablo on Instagram and ask when Gibson are going to get around to a new model... who know what the power of social media might hold? (But I'm not holing my breath!)
 

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I think it might be helpful to dig out an old photo:
SGsup04.jpg


From what I can see in the photos of the hand built SG-esque guitar, it has a body carve much more like a Les Paul, or the Yamaha SG on the right above. The centre of the body is raised, it then curves down, and flattens before the edge of the guitar. It's simple, and classic, and fitting 4 controls onto the carve is easy to do.

By contrast, the Diablo carve Supreme on the left has a raised centre, it curves down quite sharply, then it rises up again to a high point, before curving down into the natural body carve of a regular SG. In comparison, it's a very complex shape which doesn't lend itself to fitting multiple controls: The three follow the channel of the carve. A regular 4-control layout would have the controls pointing out at different angles and look FUGLY to most people. I suspect you'd really need to try something with small controls in-line.

And NO I do not think two controls are more awkward than four controls - far from it! As I've already made clear, the Reverend arrangement of three controls is the best set up I've ever used: Volume, treble, bass. The BASS is the one I use the most - yet it's missing on most other guitars! In truth, I can't fathom why anyone would be so fixated on controls - I work with whatever is there. Four is as awkward as two, but less to deal with! :) But everyone's different...

Yes, I think you'd have more chance getting a Gibson USA Diablo run (mainly because I see zero chance with the Custom Shop). I'll post a Diablo on Instagram and ask when Gibson are going to get around to a new model... who know what the power of social media might hold? (But I'm not holing my breath!)


Thank you that's the kind of help in looking for


In terms of control placement; I don't believe it would be too hard for them. If anything they would probably make a little divet like prs does to counter the angle problem.

Also; cant have that improv kill switch without the 4 control layout
 


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