SG players that made you choose the SG

paul-e-mann · Mar 26, 2021

Although I am an Angus fan, I got my first SG cuz I couldnt afford an LP! Some years later when I finally got my LP I found I play my SG more! There's nothing like an SG! :yesway:

Texasgreg · Apr 9, 2021

Newbie here, but old SG fanatic. My first exposure, as a drummer since age 10 (1970), was not via famous performers. I tended to focus on the drum kits used in bands. The Midnight Special and Don Kirchner's Rock Concert were yet to be invented, so I mostly got my views of guitars from album covers and the occasional Rolling Stone magazine.

Nope, it was in 1974 that the guitarist in the first band rock band I was in, Robert Calva, who had a cherry SG with dual humbuckers. Played it through a Peavey Classic with 4 10" speakers. I remember being schooled on two 12's vs. 4 10's regarding speaker inches. I thought it looked and sounded beautiful. It didn't cure my teen fever for Strats, but later in life I did develop a healthy respect for the SG as a great guitar.

What I really remember is how Robert could (and still can) play anything on that SG, and it sounded like the original, whether the original was done with a Strat, Tele, Les Paul, etc. Robert later went on to graduate from and teach at GIT in LA for many years. He also wrote at least one guitar instruction book. He's still playing, afaik.

Robert probably could've rocked like a champ with a Sears guitar. He's that kind of player. Still, his first choice in guitars made a lasting impression on me.

highway jones · Mar 1, 2023

...bought a 2023 61 Std last week. I have been a fan of the usual artist favorites but have some others that fly under the radar as well.....Max Newman (Main Squeeze), Ryan Newell (Sister Hazel), Frank Hannon (Tesla)

DrBGood · Mar 2, 2023

There was that studio musician about an hour away, that had this nice SG for sale for $100. He definitively was my biggest influence.

Knucklehead71 · Mar 2, 2023

Yes, definitely Angus, Pete, and Tony, but for me, these two gentleman were a HUGE reason I got into SGs

Woodroe and Pepper from Corrosion of Conformity

pepper-keenan-and-woody-weatherman-pose-for-a-portrait-in-the-meatpacking-district-on-august.jpg

Of course they both moved on to playing ESP copies of SGs many years ago (not Vipers mind you. ESP made them both actual SG shaped guitars). James Hetfield is to blame for that.

funkysoul1 · Mar 2, 2023

When i was just about to get my self a better guitar than my old and much loved strat and tele partcasters i thought than i do not need another fenderishbstyle style guitar. So as i was looking for an afortable american made instrument that can served me well. So last aprill the best option i had at 1370€ was an SG Special 2019 model. Im happy with her thats all.

Westernrider · Mar 3, 2023

SFrench · Mar 3, 2023

I started in '79 when I was 13. It was the Les Paul that I wanted because of Ace. So, my folks got me a Memphis LP copy.
Of coaurse, I was aware of the SG, Vee, Strat etc. as well. It was the Les Paul that was "it" for me.
I've played several SGs over the years at shops or a friend had one. Never bought one for some reason. They look cool and sounded great.
Plus, Clapton, Townsend, Frank Marino, Tony Iommi, Duane and Angus where guitar heroes to me and they played SGs.

Fast forward to April of last year. I had stopped playing in '17. Not sure why. Well, I started noodling on my LP and felt I needed a fresh inspiration.
I needed a P90 loaded Gibson back in my life. Have owned many Gibson LP Juniors and Specials. Even a stock vintage1957 Junior.

Was searching Juniors and found an SG Junior listed as used at a music shop. I was being drawn to that specific Junior.
Just couldn't stop looking at the photos. One of which was on a scale. It weighs 5.8 Lbs. I've never owned a guitar that light.
I called the shop. They took it in a trade two days prior. I bought it was delivered on Friday, April 15th '22.
Good Friday.

I felt like I had arrived home. It was a strange feeling. That '20 USA Junior is a cannon. Very loud and clear acoustically and goes from sweet to roaring when plugged in. That guitar got me playing every single day again since.
I dug that SG Junior so much that 6 months later I had to have a Standard. So, I got another wonderful SG.
A '21 Standard '61.
I would be happy with only those two SGs for the rest of my life. But saw photos of faded Pelham Blue SG Specials and had to have one too.
I received the Special a little over two weeks ago.
I'm a full on SG man now. :dude:

See my Trio post for a photo. Cheers!

Les’s Nemisis · Mar 4, 2023

Inspiration? Originally Carlos Santana and Dickey Betts.

But these days more the tone of Pete Ham (Badfinger for you newbs) and George Harrison. Turned down a little on volume pots there are some sweet clean sounds.

Gary Gretsch · Mar 5, 2023

Westernrider said:

Oh Wow I forgot about Frank. I wish I could give this 10 likes.

Gibbo SG · Mar 8, 2023

For me, it was Paul Whaley of Blue Cheer, Iommi, Young, Sister Rozetta Tharpe, and oddly enough Les Paul. You have to work a bit harder to coax the ideal tone from a Gibson SG, so it's a guitar that kinda pushes you, makes you a better player. It's really nothing but a biscuit board with a neck pasted on and some strings, and nothing like even a proper Les Paul or L5, certainly. And for us, that's the ideal configuration. Lastly, it is such a futuristic looking guitar that it looks ancient.

ChazMatt1970 · Apr 18, 2023

The rich kid in my elementary school music class in 1979. He had a real SG and I had Japanese Les Paul copies. But as an adult, I’d say Townsend, Glen Buxton, and Greg Sage from the Wipers.

Maguchi · Apr 20, 2023

I chose the SG because one of my buddies in middle school stage band had one and it sounded good and played well. My friend who had one before me didn't really choose the SG. It just happened to be the guitar that his dad found for a price he was willing to pay.

When I first started playing I wasn't really aware of the names of the guitar players and different types of electric guitars. There just seemed to be several different models and different musicians I would see on TV played different types of guitars each time I saw them on TV.

By the time I was fairly knowledgeable about the different models, and brands I had several different ones that I liked, so never could choose one guitar over another. The guitars that I've played for extended periods all have some differences, but they are equally good.

zappafreak · Jun 16, 2023

Frank Zappa and Pete Townshend made me do it.

MR D · Jun 17, 2023

funkysoul1 said:
When i was just about to get my self a better guitar than my old and much loved strat and tele partcasters i thought than i do not need another fenderishbstyle style guitar. So as i was looking for an afortable american made instrument that can served me well. So last aprill the best option i had at 1370€ was an SG Special 2019 model. Im happy with her thats all.

NICE ONE ! SG's as you now know are AWESOME, I've been playin them almost exclusively for Decades...with a set of '57 Classics Pickups (like my 2019 SG Standard Maestro & 2017 SG Standard) those 2 SG 's are as BAD-A$$ as it gets, Clear and HEAVY and they are the 2 best SG's I have ever played/owned. (the only other SG I owned that sounded ALMOST as good was a 1979 SG 'The SG' w/Velvet Brick and Bill Lawrence P-up's, at the time a $500 Guitar)....w/'57s they sound just the way I want them too, oh yeah....... BAD-A$$ !!! I put a OCD & 'SOUL FOOD' in front of the 2017 SG. IF IF IF I DIME the 'OCD' and cut out the fizz w/'SOUL FOOD' OverDrive= HORRENDOUS......the Tube Driver gets a 'SOUL FOOD' too....EVEN MORE HORRENDOUDS.... EQ'd ......w/slight STEREO CHORUS thru a STEREO Marshall SILVER JUBILEE Half Stack.... so clear and it really is Best To stand away from the cabinets....#OLY $#!T !

Memphis Soul · Jun 17, 2023

Although I’m a big Angus Young fan he’s not why I chose an SG. I play blues/blues rock and just wanted something different from all the blues guys playing Strats. Plus I like the sound of P90s so I bought the SG Special and it’s great for the type of music I play. But I do admit I like to hear and see Billy Gibbons play one. His usually has humbuckers though.

realcooldude · Jun 18, 2023

highway jones said:
...bought a 2023 61 Std last week. I have been a fan of the usual artist favorites but have some others that fly under the radar as well.....Max Newman (Main Squeeze), Ryan Newell (Sister Hazel), Frank Hannon (Tesla)

I used to live in Bloomington, Indiana, when the Main Squeeze was based around there and got to see them live a few times. Max is a really good guitar player. When they would jam out he always had great lines and it stood out a lot to me.

There wasn't one specific guitar player that made me pick up an SG. I've always liked ACDC a lot and Black Sabbath to a lesser degree so Angus and Iommi stand out. Robbie Krieger is another that stands out a lot in my mind even though I'm not a huge Doors fan.

When I was still mostly playing bass in high school I went to a friend's house to jam and he let me play his SG. I can't remember if it was a faded or a standard, but I was so impressed with how good it sounded and how lightweight it was. I didn't get my own SG for years later. I spent a lot of time playing super strat type guitars then telecasters and trying to jive with strats (I'm just not a strat guy after repeated attempts).

I bought a 2006 special faded SG years ago and it's been the only guitar I haven't sold or traded off. Last year I bought a Les Paul Tribute thinking I'd "upgrade" to a Les Paul. Turns out it's not really an upgrade at all. The LP is cool in it's own way, but I find it hangs weird on a strap to me and the upper fret access is so awkward. Fast forward a year and figured a real "upgrade" over the special faded SG would be to get an SG standard. I managed to snag a 2017 standard SG and while it feels and sounds great I wouldn't call it a huge improvement, though it does look a lot nicer cosmetically. The 57 Classic pickups are taking some getting used to because I have Wolfetones in my other Gibsons.

jojo68 · Jun 23, 2023

Knucklehead71 said:
Yes, definitely Angus, Pete, and Tony, but for me, these two gentleman were a HUGE reason I got into SGs

Woodroe and Pepper from Corrosion of Conformity

Of course they both moved on to playing ESP copies of SGs many years ago (not Vipers mind you. ESP made them both actual SG shaped guitars). James Hetfield is to blame for that.

I dig these cats myself !

fuzbuzz78 · Jun 25, 2023

Most of my favorite guitar players never used an SG. I just kind of liked the design on its own. It wasn’t until I was in the 8th grade so many years ago that I stumbled upon Fugazi and saw a guitar player I admired using one.

smitty_p · Jun 26, 2023

I've contemplated with how to post in this thread because no one inspired to get an SG. My first SG was a gift from a friend who was getting rid of it because he had no more use of it.

That was back around 1987, give a take a year. I was only just beginning to play guitar and had no knowledge of any popular players who used one. I hadn't made any of those associations back then.

SG players that made you choose the SG

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