Other guitars that feel like an SG?

[Juan Tumani]

Might seem like a bit of an odd question but bear with me :) I've borrowed a few guitars recently to try some other stuff out, but nothing feels as good on a strap to me. Strats and teles in particular feel so weird, they're way too horizontal and the nut/lower frets feel like they're miles away. I did a gig with my strat last night and was wishing I brought the SG the whole time haha, my left hand was noticeably more fatigued and cramped up a few times. With my SG, it sort of sits on my hip with the neck angled up and everything is right where I want it. I think it's the combination of a smaller body with the strap button on the back of the heel that lets it rotate and hold the neck upwards.

I'd quite like a P90 guitar and whilst the obvious choice is an SG Special, I kind of want a bit of variety and something less pointy looking than the SG. Maybe a doublecut special, do they feel similar? Do the ones with a strap button in the horn rather than the heel hang a similar way? Anything else to look at? I know the only way to know is try one out but it'd help to narrow my choices before getting to a shop.

I was a Les Paul player for many years but in hard times had to sell my LP Custom. Afterwards I bought a 61 RI SG and that became like an extension of my left arm. Later I tried to like Les Pauls again but they felt so unnatural in comparison to the SG.

I tried a Double Cut LP Special and didn't bond with it either.

A little less than a year ago I found the answer for me personally. Les Paul Custom Lite. Les Paul shape, SG thickness. Swapping between it and the SG is natural.

 

[N_I_B]

I had an LTD Eclipse with the thinner body for a little while which I guess is similar to the Custom Lite. Loved the feel and sound of it but it ended up being more neck heavy than my SG on a strap. Maybe the 22 fret ones are a bit more balanced, the neck seemed really long on the 24 fret!

 

[Bonzo21]

Deleted comment, recommended something you already tried...

 

[Col Mustard]

I'm very comfortable switching from an SG to my
Epiphone ES-339 P-90 pro.

This is a design that Gibson makes as well, it's a
Gibson design. I got my P-90s wired with one in reverse
so that the whole guitar is a big humbucker.

Middle position gives no hum. And I like middle position on
all my guitars anyway.

This is the smallest of the ES series guitars.
it's about the size of a Lester. Mine weighs 8lb (3.6 Kilos)
I like this guitar a lot.

 

[TDA1966]

December 1993 Guild S100. Similar feel yet more bulky. Very slinky action. This is the third one made of the 90's reissues and was displayed in NAMM 1994. Of the same initial batch that several went to Kim Thayil of Soundgarden. He played this one but had already chosen at least two others in Natural so passed on it. The see through Greens are the hardest to find.

I also had a red one from 1999. It had a different bridge by that point and a squared fingerboard end. I bought this directly from a Fender executive as they owned Guild at the Time. It was completely unused and was a beast. I used to have many connections in the instrument manufacturing industry.

 

[MR D]

That LEAD was part of the original Guess Who version of "AMERICAN WOMAN" wasn't it ??? Holy ****, I got it ! Took a minute............ but I never forget the greats !

 

[MR D]

December 1993 Guild S100. Similar feel yet more bulky. Very slinky action. This is the third one made of the 90's reissues and was displayed in NAMM 1994. Of the same initial batch that several went to Kim Thayil of Soundgarden. He played this one but had already chosen at least two others in Natural so passed on it. The see through Greens are the hardest to find.

I also had a red one from 1999. It had a different bridge by that point and a squared fingerboard end. I bought this directly from a Fender executive as they owned Guild at the Time. It was completely unused and was a beast. I used to have many connections in the instrument manufacturing industry.

WOW, BAD-A$$'S one and all ! N-I-C-E ! Glad you mention Mr Thayill as he is a MONSTER !......I've never played one of those Guilds, 'to do' list now !

 

[Gary Gretsch]

WOW, BAD-A$$'S one and all ! N-I-C-E ! Glad you mention Mr Thayill as he is a MONSTER !......I've never played one of those Guilds, 'to do' list now !

What does the little extra switch do? Nice looking guitars.

 

[TDA1966]

WOW, BAD-A$$'S one and all ! N-I-C-E ! Glad you mention Mr Thayill as he is a MONSTER !......I've never played one of those Guilds, 'to do' list now !

Thank you! Yes definitely try one if you can.

What does the little extra switch do? Nice looking guitars.

Thanks! It is a phase switch.

 

[papagayo]

The Ibanez Artist give me a feeling close to the SG, and this is a nice double cut guitar.

 

[Gary Gretsch]

Thank you! Yes definitely try one if you can.

Thanks! It is a phase switch.

I also see they stopped making that guitar. Too bad it looks quite nice.

 

[fullmoon 1971]

If you can find one then these feel like my SG's

Gibson Spirit (in either 1 or 2 pickup configuration)

 

[Bbr6704]

Just got a MIJ Sestbury Deluxe last week, and it feels like some SG may : it has a slim neck, not so far from a slim tapper (I prefer 50's rounded, but the Westbury neck feels and play great), is heavier (4.2kgs, to compare to 3kgs Sgs, it's heavier, but well balanced), and to me it's a good mix of SGs and LPs pros.

Here what it looks like :

A Westbury Deluxe , DiMarzios - and the mystery of that little toggle switch (*updated with pics) - Guitar Discussions on theFretBoard

After (stupidly) selling my old Westbury Deluxe a couple of years ago - I found another one locally. It looks identical to my original one:

www.thefretboard.co.uk

 

[Kohoutec]

I don't know where you're based, but in the UK we have a builder called Gordon Smith. They do a 'GS' model either single or double cut. I had a double cut which gave off a kinda SG vibe. They also do a 'GSG' which is very similar to an SG although the neck joins the body at a different fret I think. They used to be made in Manchester, and used ones often come up quite cheap.
They're now made in Northampton by Auden guitars, so can be bought new, but as they're a small shop not cheap (but for what you get not unreasonable). I have one of the newer ones now as my #1 and it's the best guitar I've ever owned.
Here's my older GS2, which I really should've kept



And here's my #1 (not remotely SG I know)

 

[Decadent Dan]

Squier Series 24 S-73 | Reverb

Reverb is a marketplace bringing together a wide-spanning community to buy, sell, and discuss all things music gear.

reverb.com

 

[Gary Gretsch]

S73 | Squier Wiki

Squier Wiki

www.squierwiki.com

It has some nice specs. Also discontinued 2004.

 

[S.Ustain]

Crestwood and Wilshire's

Yes, these. Specials and Juniors are thick bodied and do not feel like SGs at all. The SG build -- a neck stuck onto a body like a paddle, and a notably thin and contoured body, is pretty unique with a balance (sometimes, imbalance) all its own. Single and double-cut Juniors and Specials are not like this. The Epis, on the other hand, do have both the paddle build and the thin, lightweight body.

 

[Decadent Dan]

Fender Mustang 90, 24” scale feels more like a Gibson.

 

[darren]

I came here to say Epi Wilshire with that supercool batwing headstock but I see I'm like the 3rd person to say Wilshire, Crestwood, Coronet and the thread is a year old.

But as long as I'm here.

The 6 on a side tuners feel like a Strat and perfectly straight string over nut and slanted headstock make tuning stability awesome. Combine that with the ultra light weight and it's one of my mmost played guitars.
Strap button on horn feels better to me that an SG on back too.

Jimi Hendrix played one (for a bit), you should too!