NGD - Blackie 61 RI

[likea45]

A friend bought this guy originally and just never bonded with it.
I can't understand why because it plays awesome. Pups are a little brittle sounding for my taste and will be swapped. But for $500 I can't complain!

PICS!!!

 

[chilipeppermaniac]

Heck Yeah, 45

 

[Didds]

Beautiful!

 

[Logan]

'61 Reissues are great

And talk about a killer deal

 

[syscokid]

Pups are a little brittle sounding for my taste

Nice SG and nice deal! Congrats... .

Can you explain further on the brittleness?
What pups are in there?

 

[Col Mustard]

yeah that's a beauty. Seems like a great deal on one of Gibson's best.
That guitar just oozes menace and mojo.

But I don't get why anyone would think '57s are brittle sounding.
I've heard them described as muddy by some players, and didn't understand that either. I don't think they're either one. Mine are clear and musical in all the frequencies, bell-like is how I would describe the tones in short. And they play well with f/x, in my style anyway.

Seems like an EQ thing, easily brought under control.
Maybe some new strings, one gauge heavier...

Anyway, I'm sure you'll bring this guitar around to where you want it.
Congratulations and thanks for posting those great photos. They remind me of why I love the SG, and make me want to go upstairs and play mine. *grins

 

[Delboy]

Great deal, if they're the original pups they should sound awesome, was it a bad amp you tried it on?

 

[58pit]

YUMMY BRO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SG_Island]

Great score. But 57's are awesome pups, man!

 

[DrBGood]

People often get mixed ideas from where the annoying sound they hear comes from.
I don't have a Marshall, because I don't want all my guitars to sound the same.



OK shoot me now ...


But in reality, the pups, any pups can be made to sound good if not great. As the Colonel said, by playing with your knobs on the guitar AND amp, you can dial about any toner you'd want.

 

[Gahr]

That's a steal. Congrats on a great guitar.

 

[syscokid]

But I don't get why anyone would think '57s are brittle sounding.

I'm waiting to read a response from the OP about type of pups and the brittleness stuff. So do you know for sure that likea45's SG has the 57s?

 

[likea45]

I removed the backplate first to inspect the wiring and low and behold neither pup was grounded to the pots. Both solder joints had broken off. Moreover the neck pup was barely attached to tab and came off completely at the slightest touch.

7 minutes later after redoing the joints I played it again and it was a totally different guitar. This particular 61 has a 57 classic in the neck and a 498T in the bridge. An odd combo but exactly how it came from Gibson.

 

[bwotw]

Gorgeous guitar and a killer deal, congrats!

Any mods or refinish ideas for this one?

 

[likea45]

Gorgeous guitar and a killer deal, congrats!

Any mods or refinish ideas for this one?

Oddly not at present. I was considering a black out on it with black open coils but now that the stock pups are sounding good I'm planning to leave it...for now lol.

 

[jojo68]

Nice one !

 

[Gibbo SG]

I got to post my 71-Reishoo. Looks almost as good as this.

 

[+Mastodon Fan+]

Damn I wish I could find deals like this... One lucky man, she's a beauty.

 

[pancake81]

Can you post some photos of that 71 re-issue?

 

[Col Mustard]

Seems like a '71 re-issue would look like this:

or maybe like this

Or maybe this... Gibson should re-issue these for sure.


But congratulations 45, on finding the problem with the pickups. I've had this experience too, where I find an interesting guitar at a very attractive price, and buy it, and then examine it to figure out why the guy sold it.

Often it's not difficult to find and fix whatever was bugging the previous owner IMHO. Put that right, get the instrument set up properly and it gets a whole new life.

Much better than mouldering away in the case under someone's bed, unplayed.