How is an SG/G400 for playing JAZZ?

[shamu1]

I posted this thread in the Gibson thread as well, but I do want to get the thoughts of the Epi players too.

I love the looks and feel of an SG/G400, but I have very little interest in playing rock music or heavy metal, and the SG is typically known as a rock guitar. Right now I'm in the market for a Les Paul, but I see an SG or G400 in my future too.


I'm a jazz fan, and I'm learning to play jazz guitar. Do any of you guys play jazz with an SG or a G400? How would you compare it to playing jazz with an archtop or hollow body?

 

[Biddlin]

I play jazz on my SGs and G-400s all the time . Because of their lightweight solid bodies. SG's are great, predictable platforms for recording and performing all modern musical styles . I use my Faded Special for most everything, but find it especially good for Wes Montgomery style and the more bohemian and eclectic Gabor Szabo style jazz . Much faster single note play and better harmonic control than most archtops, much better reach than any including Les Paul. BTW I own 2 LPs, a dot deluxe and a Harmony tenor acoustic archtop for comparison, at the current time .
Biddlin ;>)/

 

[dbb]

I have no problems with Epi's for jazz playing!

 

[Phildog]

I've heard Jazz played on acoustics, Strats, Tele's, Les Pauls, and a host of semi-hollow, and hollow bodies. It wasn't the guitar...it was the players who had Jazz in them. Same for Blues.

 

[shamu1]

I was just thinking how hilarious it would be to see a picture of Wes Montgomery or Joe Pass strumming away on a Zakk Wylde Graveyard Disciple guitar or some Dimebag Darrel Dean axe. Too bad they didn't live long enough for that to happen - I would pay money to have been able to see that.

 

[dbb]

There is a video on youtube of Joe Pass playing a Fender Jaguar.

 

[Buffalo B]

I have come to the notion that guitars are like golf clubs ,its more of the lick than the stick! to me sg's are more whatever that word is ergonomic or something body friendly.LP'S i love em but they just dont work for me.but lets face it''its all good"

 

[dbb]

Do any of you guys play jazz with an SG or a G400? How would you compare it to playing jazz with an archtop or hollow body?

I should have answered this:

The Sg is much closer to the chest than the larger archtops. this does change the way it feels. Also the archtops have shorter sustain and some degree of notes that are more or less resonant than others; the SG has a very even response and longer sustain.

Also I tend to use 11-12's on archtops and 10's on solid bodies so the strings feel different too.

 

[blake]

SGs are pretty good for jazz, but tbh when I usually do play jazz, I play it on my Epi Les paul. It just seems more of a jazz oriented guitar, and has more feel to it for jazz, but I usually play blues so I stick to my sg in most cases.

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

I was just thinking how hilarious it would be to see a picture of Wes Montgomery or Joe Pass strumming away on a Zakk Wylde Graveyard Disciple guitar or some Dimebag Darrel Dean axe. Too bad they didn't live long enough for that to happen - I would pay money to have been able to see that.

You made me laugh with this response, Shamu

 

[dbb]

SGs are pretty good for jazz, but tbh when I usually do play jazz, I play it on my Epi Les paul. It just seems more of a jazz oriented guitar, and has more feel to it for jazz, but I usually play blues so I stick to my sg in most cases.

Although we think of the Les Paul as one of the quintessential rock guitars, they were designed to be a solid body jazz guitar.

 

[remulak]

I just bought a '92 Epi SG on a whim, and when rolled down it has the best clean tone I've ever heard from a humbucker. Plus, like a good jazz guitar and UNLIKE an lp, it plays very nicely sitting down.

 

[Steve K]

I just bought a '92 Epi SG on a whim, and when rolled down it has the best clean tone I've ever heard from a humbucker. Plus, like a good jazz guitar and UNLIKE an lp, it plays very nicely sitting down.

Didn't know they were making the G-400 in 92.

 

[nbeersiii]

Although we think of the Les Paul as one of the quintessential rock guitars, they were designed to be a solid body jazz guitar.

And the SG was the redesgin of the LP so i would say yes the SG should be just fine for jazz.

 

[dbb]

We often joke about the Les Paul being the SG prototype...but they are part of a similar family of guitars that were first designed to work for jazz players along with other playing styles.

 

[Biddlin]

I believe the '92s still had the dot neck, like this '89, correct?

I think these were made at Samick's factory in Korea, until '96, when the Holly inlaid headstock and trapezoidal inlays returned.
Biddlin ;>)/

 

[dbb]

I believe the '92s still had the dot neck, like this '89, correct?
... made at Samick's factory in Korea.

Then it's pretty well made. Samick rocks.

 

[Tony M]

Although we think of the Les Paul as one of the quintessential rock guitars, they were designed to be a solid body jazz guitar.

So, all the way back in 1952 the Gibson design team was
missing their mark by 127 miles. Jazz guitar my foot.........

 

[dbb]

So, all the way back in 1952 the Gibson design team was
missing their mark by 127 miles. Jazz guitar my foot.........

Well what market were they aiming at in 1952, with a thing that looks like a solid scaled down ES175?

I'm not being argumentative, other than R and B, blues, pop and country/western what was there in 52? It's before rock really took off.

I guess Les Paul and Mary Ford were a pop act, maybe that was the market.

And very few jazz players ever used them, that's for sure.

 

[Biddlin]

In 1972, the pawn shops in LA were filthy with early LPs that previous owners had modified, in some way, to accommodate intonation and action. I bought one with a trapeze tailpiece and floating compensated bridge, for $100 and put a badass on it. The guy I sold it to a year later, put a Bigsby on, after he painted it chartreuse . I believe it might have started life as a '54 Gold Top. I never imagined that would become "historic collectible." any more than our microbus and transistor radio . Wrong on all counts !
Biddlin ;>)/