gball
Well-Known Member
Hello to all, first post. This looks like a great forum - I just picked up my first ever SG and came by to learn more about other players and maybe pick up some Mod tips along the way.
A little background: I'm 48 and started playing guitar when I was 11, so that's 37 years now. Over the years I've been primarily a Les Paul player, owning perhaps a dozen different Pauls over that time but somehow never an SG. At other times I have used Stratocasters almost exclusively and most recently I have been playing primarily PRS guitars.
However, for approximately the last 6-7 months I had been GASsing for an SG. Full disclosure - I originally planned to purchase an SG Standard around November of last year but during the search I discovered the PRS Mira and fell in love. With enough budgeted for only 1 $1300 guitar, I had to make a decision and went with the Mira but I still wanted an SG, so a couple of weeks ago I made a trade - my last remaining Strat for a new SGJ.
The SGJ was obviously a major downmarket move from the Standard I had expected to get, and the first new Gibson I have owned in about a decade so I didn't know what to expect. I have to tell you I have been pleasantly surprised by the guitar almost to the point of being shocked at how good a $500 Gibson can be. It plays fantastic, has utterly perfect fretwork, feels wonderful and sounds exactly as an SG should. The icing on the cake is that it also looks much better than I had expected. I am very pleased with this acquisition.
So, the big questions that I will be looking for answer to here regards potential mods. I wasn't sure at first whether the guitar would be worth modding, but happily I can say for sure that it is a great platform for upgrades and I will likely be looking for pickup upgrades, possibly all of the electronics as well.
Gary
A little background: I'm 48 and started playing guitar when I was 11, so that's 37 years now. Over the years I've been primarily a Les Paul player, owning perhaps a dozen different Pauls over that time but somehow never an SG. At other times I have used Stratocasters almost exclusively and most recently I have been playing primarily PRS guitars.
However, for approximately the last 6-7 months I had been GASsing for an SG. Full disclosure - I originally planned to purchase an SG Standard around November of last year but during the search I discovered the PRS Mira and fell in love. With enough budgeted for only 1 $1300 guitar, I had to make a decision and went with the Mira but I still wanted an SG, so a couple of weeks ago I made a trade - my last remaining Strat for a new SGJ.
The SGJ was obviously a major downmarket move from the Standard I had expected to get, and the first new Gibson I have owned in about a decade so I didn't know what to expect. I have to tell you I have been pleasantly surprised by the guitar almost to the point of being shocked at how good a $500 Gibson can be. It plays fantastic, has utterly perfect fretwork, feels wonderful and sounds exactly as an SG should. The icing on the cake is that it also looks much better than I had expected. I am very pleased with this acquisition.
So, the big questions that I will be looking for answer to here regards potential mods. I wasn't sure at first whether the guitar would be worth modding, but happily I can say for sure that it is a great platform for upgrades and I will likely be looking for pickup upgrades, possibly all of the electronics as well.
Gary
