Sup guys, thanks for reading. I’ve been looking for an SG or a PRS S2 mira to join my ranks, so i found a guy selling his worn SG special, according to the serial number, is from 1997, so went to check it out today, played good, sounded good, but i found some irregularities i wanted to double check. First thing i saw was that the “made in usa” text was missing, which to my knowledge is odd for this model, specially comparing it to pictures of guitars of the model and year. Second it was the nut which looked off, but that can break and be replaced even tho he said it wasn’t, third, the thuss rod cover didn’t say “SG” like the other ones, and didn’t have any kind of binding, which could happen, lot of people lose and replace it, but it adds to my insecurities about it, and lastly the finish, or more like lack of, since the body felt sandy and without any kind treatment, which might not mean anything but yeah, idk, i live in a place where fakes are not rare at all, so i wanted to know if these points add up or not to an original SG. I know it’s not a huge deal of a guitar but it’s what i can afford. I mainly do metal and alt, and i love Daron Malakian’s work, which he does with an SG standard i already own a Gibson Lp studio and i felt in love with the brand ever since (and yes, i also own 3 ibanez Iceman, idk why i want an SG)
worn / faded wasn't available factory in the 90s. so safe to say its probably been refinished which would also explain the missing "made in usa" stamp. question should then be why was it refinished, maybe to hide a headstock break...since the nut already looks off to u.
Too bad you did not take good pics of it. Hard to help much just by words. Here is a similar one https://reverb.com/item/32763579-gibson-sg-special-1998-ebony
Cant really convert it to us currency, since theres taxes, but its around 35% cheaper than a new sg special
Where do you live? If you can, get the seller to take the back control cover off and give you pics of the electronics. Also, please read me that serial number.
Great, Other members may have other viewpoints on the guitar based on these pictures. Here is the serial on mine. It is a 05, Look how the FONT style in the lettering looks on the one you posted vs. my Made in USA one.
The rear control power on yours looks " different" too. Mine is rounded with no "corners" like the one in your pictures. 5 Screws where yours has 4 Here is a Cherry SG from like 95
Indeed! That might’ve changed throughout the years but it’s still too shady for me. I really want an sg but this one is really losing the resell value.
https://www.guitardaterproject.org/gibson.aspx As Far as I know, Bozeman MT was where acoustics were made, Not SG's
That serial number font looks suspect as well as the spacing. Looks condensed and spacing is uneven and spread out. SG Special Faded were first released 2002. Strange the serial number stamp shows no sign of refinish, yet there is no Made in USA stamp. Control cavity is incorrect shape. 1997 SG Special had the large late 60s style control cavity shape. SG Specials with batwings after 1971 do not have bound necks. The SG Classic is the only exception with bound neck which is a reissue of late 60s SG Special with a few changes including a TOM bridge and modern 1-11/16 nut width.
