It’s got a tailpiece now

[Pierce Murphy]

I bought this brand new 2014 SGM from a shop here in Colorado for the used price cus they changed out the robot tuners the second it came through the door, apparently. Since then I added the pickguard, changed the knobs, switch tip, put nickel pickup covers over the ‘61 zebra guys that were already in there cus they kinda rule but were a little brittle, and finally added a trapeze tailpiece with towner downtension bar mostly for grounding purposes but also slight sustain improvement.

There were a few inspirations behind that: 1) I’ve got a custom gauge of Thomastik Infeld flats on there and they’re not made for solid body guitars, so you’re chopping off the silks at the headstock. 2) I play effect-free pretty often and wanted more body resonance in the sound. The custom gauge starts with a .50 low e, so I get the wood moving pretty nicely.

All of this was with the intention of making my SG sound and feel (on the fretboard at least) like a jazz guitar. And I’m pretty happy to report that the guy hangs nicely with 335s and Eastmans and stuff like that. And I wanted to post this because I had so many questions about the things I ended up doing to my beloved SG that I couldn’t find succinctly on the internet (particularly customizing the pickup, custom gauge, and tailpiece addition). So now any other weirdo who wants to turn an SG into something that will slay at the jazz jam will have someone in their corner.

Hot or not?

 

[Torren61]

Can you make the picture where I don't have to click on it to see it? Like this?

 

[Biddlin]

I bought this brand new 2014 SGM from a shop here in Colorado for the used price cus they changed out the robot tuners the second it came through the door, apparently. Since then I added the pickguard, changed the knobs, switch tip, put nickel pickup covers over the ‘61 zebra guys that were already in there cus they kinda rule but were a little brittle, and finally added a trapeze tailpiece with towner downtension bar mostly for grounding purposes but also slight sustain improvement.

There were a few inspirations behind that: 1) I’ve got a custom gauge of Thomastik Infeld flats on there and they’re not made for solid body guitars, so you’re chopping off the silks at the headstock. 2) I play effect-free pretty often and wanted more body resonance in the sound. The custom gauge starts with a .50 low e, so I get the wood moving pretty nicely.

All of this was with the intention of making my SG sound and feel (on the fretboard at least) like a jazz guitar. And I’m pretty happy to report that the guy hangs nicely with 335s and Eastmans and stuff like that. And I wanted to post this because I had so many questions about the things I ended up doing to my beloved SG that I couldn’t find succinctly on the internet (particularly customizing the pickup, custom gauge, and tailpiece addition). So now any other weirdo who wants to turn an SG into something that will slay at the jazz jam will have someone in their corner.

Hot or not?

an you make the picture where I don't have to click on it to see it?

I guess it's ok for one who doesn't grasp the mechanics of a TOM and stopbar. Looks stupid to me.

 

[Decadent Dan]

https://www.gibson.com/Gear/Knobs/PRMK

 

[Pierce Murphy]

I guess it's ok for one who doesn't grasp the mechanics of a TOM and stopbar. Looks stupid to me.

Cool, thanks for your incredibly nuanced critique of my hard work, Mr. Sunshine.

 

[MR D]

I bought this brand new 2014 SGM from a shop here in Colorado for the used price cus they changed out the robot tuners the second it came through the door, apparently. Since then I added the pickguard, changed the knobs, switch tip, put nickel pickup covers over the ‘61 zebra guys that were already in there cus they kinda rule but were a little brittle, and finally added a trapeze tailpiece with towner downtension bar mostly for grounding purposes but also slight sustain improvement.

There were a few inspirations behind that: 1) I’ve got a custom gauge of Thomastik Infeld flats on there and they’re not made for solid body guitars, so you’re chopping off the silks at the headstock. 2) I play effect-free pretty often and wanted more body resonance in the sound. The custom gauge starts with a .50 low e, so I get the wood moving pretty nicely.

All of this was with the intention of making my SG sound and feel (on the fretboard at least) like a jazz guitar. And I’m pretty happy to report that the guy hangs nicely with 335s and Eastmans and stuff like that. And I wanted to post this because I had so many questions about the things I ended up doing to my beloved SG that I couldn’t find succinctly on the internet (particularly customizing the pickup, custom gauge, and tailpiece addition). So now any other weirdo who wants to turn an SG into something that will slay at the jazz jam will have someone in their corner.

Hot or not?

NICE ONE, definitely different and definitely BAD-A$$..... CONGRATS ! Dont recall seeing an 'SG' M before...its a USA Line GIBSON, yes? The '61's I've come to really appreciate after not liking them at 1st. Did putting Pick-Up covers on accomplish anything ? (I'm thinkin not much but it looks better ?)

I always did seeing a GIBSON that is just a slight bit different from the models issued around the same time frame. That Trapzez tail-piece, WOWO ! IDK if I've ever seen one like that...as it seems quite a bit shorter than the others I have seen...is it a STOCK Trapeze ?

N E WAY, CONGRATS AGAIN, I kno you will have a great time playin the shiest out of it !

 

[Biddlin]

Cool, thanks for your incredibly nuanced critique of my hard work

That was hard work? How tough is it to take off the stop bar and slap that Towner thing on and then screw on the stubby trapeze?

 

[cerebral gasket]

SGM = SGJ with MIN ETUNE

 

[Decadent Dan]

Odd specs on the neck profile. First they call it a 50’s Slim Profile then give measurements for a Rounded and call it a 50’s Rounded.

 

[Pierce Murphy]

NICE ONE, definitely different and definitely BAD-A$$..... CONGRATS ! Dont recall seeing an 'SG' M before...its a USA Line GIBSON, yes? The '61's I've come to really appreciate after not liking them at 1st. Did putting Pick-Up covers on accomplish anything ? (I'm thinkin not much but it looks better ?)

I always did seeing a GIBSON that is just a slight bit different from the models issued around the same time frame. That Trapzez tail-piece, WOWO ! IDK if I've ever seen one like that...as it seems quite a bit shorter than the others I have seen...is it a STOCK Trapeze ?

N E WAY, CONGRATS AGAIN, I kno you will have a great time playin the shiest out of it !

Cheers, thanks, man! She’s something special now, for sure. The pickup covers took away a touch of the bite that the 61s have naturally. Everything done here was to mellow the tone out through as many material and physical means as possible. So nickel pickup covers (nickel strings warm too, right), nickel wrapped flat wounds, string tension from top to bottom. It’s a weapon.

And yeah, that trapeze is a super short one! I got the idea from Dunable guitars and some local dudes that play archtops.. I just love the extra liveliness you get out of the sympathetic vibrations in the longer string length and the extra vibrations in the wood since that whole extra 30% of the body is now under tension. It’s surprisingly strong, actually. Just feels alive like a cello or upright or something.

Thanks again, man!

 

[Pierce Murphy]

That was hard work? How tough is it to take off the stop bar and slap that Towner thing on and then screw on the stubby trapeze?

Lots of research went into every decision. Custom Austrian stings that mine their steel from a quarry outside the US (Austria, I believe) meaning it’s actually different from the steel in every other brand based here. Nickel everything for its mellow sonic properties. String tension across the entirety of the body to get all that extra mahogany moving and influencing the pickups (yuck, so stupid looking though). I wanted a very specific sound out of this guitar, one that SGs are not at all associated with. And I’m happy to report to whoever else might be interested that I pulled off a jazz guitar sound with an SG. Tone knob all the way up, just richer and more resonant. If you’re not into that, whatever. But like, be a homie maybe? Maybe?

 

[An Abiding Dude]

I bought this brand new 2014 SGM from a shop here in Colorado for the used price cus they changed out the robot tuners the second it came through the door, apparently. Since then I added the pickguard, changed the knobs, switch tip, put nickel pickup covers over the ‘61 zebra guys that were already in there cus they kinda rule but were a little brittle, and finally added a trapeze tailpiece with towner downtension bar mostly for grounding purposes but also slight sustain improvement.

There were a few inspirations behind that: 1) I’ve got a custom gauge of Thomastik Infeld flats on there and they’re not made for solid body guitars, so you’re chopping off the silks at the headstock. 2) I play effect-free pretty often and wanted more body resonance in the sound. The custom gauge starts with a .50 low e, so I get the wood moving pretty nicely.

All of this was with the intention of making my SG sound and feel (on the fretboard at least) like a jazz guitar. And I’m pretty happy to report that the guy hangs nicely with 335s and Eastmans and stuff like that. And I wanted to post this because I had so many questions about the things I ended up doing to my beloved SG that I couldn’t find succinctly on the internet (particularly customizing the pickup, custom gauge, and tailpiece addition). So now any other weirdo who wants to turn an SG into something that will slay at the jazz jam will have someone in their corner.

Hot or not?

Definitely a unique take on an SG bridge. If it turns it into a jazz machine, I say more power to you. Have you thought about going all black and buying black volume/tone knobs? Or do you like the gold? What kind of Supro is that? My main amp is a Supro Royal Reverb. It's a great tube amp, switchable between 35w and 60w. Fantastic pedal platform as well.

 

[donepearce]

+/- 15 seconds neck angle tolerance? Is this some kind of joke? That would make every bridge height consistent within .002". Half an inch is more like the reality.

 

[Biddlin]

I pulled off a jazz guitar sound with an SG.

Oh, wow! No one has eve done that on a stock SG, except for hundreds of players.

 

[Decadent Dan]

+/- 15 seconds neck angle tolerance? Is this some kind of joke? That would make every bridge height consistent within .002". Half an inch is more like the reality.

They picked a number between .001 and .005

 

[MR D]

SGM = SGJ with MIN ETUNE

TNX for that CB, I'd never heard of one......M for Min-E-Tune ! GIBSON lost me for a few years there when they did that whole Robo-tune thing, just stayed away & paid no attention. I did end up w/G-Farce SG, BUT just to beat the crap out of.

 

[cerebral gasket]

No need for Robo-Tune when you have one of these…

 

[donepearce]

No need for Robo-Tune when you have one of these…

I'd like to watch you pop the D back in tune mid-song with that.

 

[cerebral gasket]

I'd like to watch you pop the D back in tune mid-song with that.

With properly cut nut slots, there is no reason for the D to go out of tune mid-song.

 

[donepearce]

With properly cut nut slots, there is no reason for the D to go out of tune mid-song.

It's also pointless tuning to the accuracy those things offer. As you hit a string it plays sharp, then as the vibration diminishes and the average tension drops, it goes flat. Somewhere in the middle of that lot is what you may, or may not, consider to be "in tune". An ordinary needle tuner is way more than good enough for that.