New Member introducing myself

[Bassman_75]

Hello everyone hope you all are well on this 4th of July holiday and playing your SG, Les Paul or whatever your weapon of choice is for the enjoyment of yourself and others. Just wanted to say hello and look forward to getting to know you all. I am from Mesquite Texas and have lived here since 2011. I don't play in any bands more for my own enjoyment and have been playing steadily since I was prob 16 or 17. I also play bass, and a little keyboard. I started as many i'm sure do buying guitars from pawn shops and learning on really horrible instruments, but over the years learned how to work on them to get them back into playable condition. After learning basic setup and repairs I ventured into building or rather assembling parts casters and a small Champ 5F1 clone amp and then building Gibsons from husks. I was bitten by the Gibson Bug after a deal on a 95 Les Paul Studio acquisition discovering the amazing sounds these instruments can create. I have since then assembled a Tribute Les Paul and most recently my SG Special here.. I have played SGs numerous times throughout the years mostly Epiphone or copy brands and even recently had a 99 Gibson SG Standard unfortunately decided to return it due to a mix up by GC. Have always loved the look and sound but never could get a feel for them until I assembled the Special. Maybe its the stripped back feel and simplicity I like as with my Les Paul Tribute but I just dig the basic formula no bells or whistles except whatever I choose to add. Anyhow glad to be here hope to hear from any and all of you fellow music lovers and for anyone in the Dallas or Mesquite area, looking to find some people to jam or just hang out let me hear from you.

 

[Col Mustard]

Welcome to ETSG! You'll find numerous kindred spirits here
as some of us here play bass and/or other instruments too.

I like the looks of your SG special. Plain and deadly. So you got a bare
body and built the instrument from that? You'll have to make a list
for us of all the parts you selected.

The first time I saw a modern SG special with those cool block inlays was in 2012 when
Gibson first introduced their "70s Tribute" SG. I wanted it instantly but held off,
trying to resist the G.A.S. It didn't work. But I watched and waited and ended
up getting one in 2013 when they marked the model down in price. Mine has
mini hum buckers and I like it a lot.

I made the pick guard and the switch indicator out of a piece of ebony headstock veneer
that StewMac sells.

The mini hum buckers give this instrument a fine unique tone all its own.
It doesn't sound like any other guitar I've ever played, which is one of the reasons I like
it so well. I've left this one almost completely stock, but replaced a few peripheral items like
the knobs, TRC, the above plastic parts and the tuners. The stock tuners on this model
were made by Tone Pros, and they were excellent, but I saw StewMac mark those down
to such a low close out price that I had to get a set of black ones for this guitar, and for
my other SG special.

Let's see some more pictures of your SG, and we've got an "other guitars" department
here where you can show off your other creations.

 

[lawrev]

Welcome to the board! Great looking SG!

 

[Bassman_75]

Welcome to ETSG! You'll find numerous kindred spirits here
as some of us here play bass and/or other instruments too.

I like the looks of your SG special. Plain and deadly. So you got a bare
body and built the instrument from that? You'll have to make a list
for us of all the parts you selected.

The first time I saw a modern SG special with those cool block inlays was in 2012 when
Gibson first introduced their "70s Tribute" SG. I wanted it instantly but held off,
trying to resist the G.A.S. It didn't work. But I watched and waited and ended
up getting one in 2013 when they marked the model down in price. Mine has
mini hum buckers and I like it a lot.
View attachment 32042
I made the pick guard and the switch indicator out of a piece of ebony headstock veneer
that StewMac sells.
View attachment 32043
The mini hum buckers give this instrument a fine unique tone all its own.
It doesn't sound like any other guitar I've ever played, which is one of the reasons I like
it so well. I've left this one almost completely stock, but replaced a few peripheral items like
the knobs, TRC, the above plastic parts and the tuners. The stock tuners on this model
were made by Tone Pros, and they were excellent, but I saw StewMac mark those down
to such a low close out price that I had to get a set of black ones for this guitar, and for
my other SG special.

Let's see some more pictures of your SG, and we've got an "other guitars" department
here where you can show off your other creations.

Welcome to the board! Great looking SG!

Thanks, great looking ax you got there yourself. Will post more pics soon. As for parts I used Grover Deluxe vintage tuners from Ebay, the pickups Gibson 490R and 498T are from a 2016 50s Tribute Les Paul that I replaced the PCB board and installed 50s style wiring harness with pio caps and a set of Seymour Duncan Seth Lovers. I found a deal on a PCB for an SG on Ebay that would work with the quick connect pups and the body, as with the other 2018 Tribute Les Paul came from Stratosphere. Loaded a set of SD 59s in that one and it is one of my favorite LPs next to the 2013 Signature T I scored. My goal has always been to try and make a great looking and sounding instrument with as inexpensive parts without sacrificing the quality. Yea I know that can be counterproductive and some say why not just buy a new Gibson and have it already there? I find I enjoy the instruments I have personally had a part in customizing the assembly or choosing what goes in it over factory stock. Always enjoyed working with my hands. I also build and customize PCs so its just my thing I guess. Each instrument is made to fit my personal taste and sound.

 

[pancake81]

Welcome, and beautiful guitar you have there.

We have a great community here so just settle in and ask lots of questions.

 

[arcticsg]

Welcome aboard! And Happy Independence Day to you also!

Nice little build you have there, good job!

 

[Col Mustard]

Hard to beat the 490R and 498T set... those have been Gibson's stock p'ups
in Les Paul Standards and SG Standards for a good long time. They are like,
the standard.

Lots of pickup preferences on this forum even so.
And lots of great p'ups to choose from, but I maintain that the set
you chose is still hard to beat. (not impossible of course, but hard).

 

[Dale]

Welcome...