I bought a SG from a local guitar store in 2002, it plays and sounds fine, my question is that when you look at the guitar from the edge the neck is not in line with the body, it is tilting at a downward angle, the bridge pickup is way up from the cavity with the strings at a severe angle in relation to the pickup, is this normal, it looks like the neck may have not been set right at the factory, or possibly a fake, this cost me $800 back then, any thoughts would be helpful
SG neck problem ?
- Thread starter willmay45
- Start date
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dbb
Well-Known Member
There were various issues about SG neck set angles; search this forum please. You most likely have a real Gibson with one of the more sharply angled neck sets.
If I recall though the angle got rather high at times, with a more acute angle required at the bridge/tailpiece end which affects the string clearance at the bridge itself.
As long as you can set the playing action to work, get the pickup height optimized, and the guitar is stable in tuning with no other issues, it should be no problem.
Did you just notice this after all those years?
If I recall though the angle got rather high at times, with a more acute angle required at the bridge/tailpiece end which affects the string clearance at the bridge itself.
As long as you can set the playing action to work, get the pickup height optimized, and the guitar is stable in tuning with no other issues, it should be no problem.
Did you just notice this after all those years?
I noticed it quite some time ago but it really has not been an issue playing or sound wise, i just thought i would ask if this is common for gibson, thank you for the feedback although I would like to know why gibson would allow this, i think that if the bridge, instead of being dialed way up on the screw post was in direct contact with the body the guitar would have better sustain and more punch, just a thought, thank you
Kevy Nova
Well-Known Member
[quote author=willmay45 link=topic=20487.msg247194#msg247194 date=1268413585]
when you look at the guitar from the edge the neck is not in line with the body, it is tilting at a downward angle, the bridge pickup is way up from the cavity with the strings at a severe angle in relation to the pickup
[/quote]
Sounds like a normal Gibson SG to me. If you are used to playing Fenders, or other guitars that have the neck in line with the body, I can see where you'd be concerned but all Gibsons are how you described yours. The bridge PUP is always way higher than the neck PUP and at an angle to the strings.
[quote author=willmay45 link=topic=20487.msg247200#msg247200 date=1268417522]
i think that if the bridge, instead of being dialed way up on the screw post was in direct contact with the body the guitar would have better sustain and more punch, just a thought, thank you
[/quote]
You are correct but again, that's just the way they make 'em. I've never seen a Gibson where the bridge was all the way down to the body, it just wouldn't work. Many players do screw the tailpiece all the way down to get better tone/sustain. If you do that, you have to put the strings through in the reverse direction and wrap them over the tailpiece in order to sit on the bridge properly.
when you look at the guitar from the edge the neck is not in line with the body, it is tilting at a downward angle, the bridge pickup is way up from the cavity with the strings at a severe angle in relation to the pickup
[/quote]
Sounds like a normal Gibson SG to me. If you are used to playing Fenders, or other guitars that have the neck in line with the body, I can see where you'd be concerned but all Gibsons are how you described yours. The bridge PUP is always way higher than the neck PUP and at an angle to the strings.
[quote author=willmay45 link=topic=20487.msg247200#msg247200 date=1268417522]
i think that if the bridge, instead of being dialed way up on the screw post was in direct contact with the body the guitar would have better sustain and more punch, just a thought, thank you
[/quote]
You are correct but again, that's just the way they make 'em. I've never seen a Gibson where the bridge was all the way down to the body, it just wouldn't work. Many players do screw the tailpiece all the way down to get better tone/sustain. If you do that, you have to put the strings through in the reverse direction and wrap them over the tailpiece in order to sit on the bridge properly.
TNT
Active Member
My '03 61RI was like that and it played fine. Haven't checked but the '00 is probably the same way. The only place I've ever seen a guitar for sale where they have a pic showing neck twist is on eBay so I don't think that it's that important unless it's shown in conjunction with some other problem.
You could try humidifying it and see if that helps. If it really bothers you you could send the guitar off to have it Plek'ed. Pics would be good.
You could try humidifying it and see if that helps. If it really bothers you you could send the guitar off to have it Plek'ed. Pics would be good.
dbb
Well-Known Member
[quote author=Kevy Nova link=topic=20487.msg247223#msg247223 date=1268454346]
Sounds like a normal Gibson SG to me. If you are used to playing Fenders, or other guitars that have the neck in line with the body, I can see where you'd be concerned but all Gibsons are how you described yours. ... Many players do screw the tailpiece all the way down to get better tone/sustain. If you do that, you have to put the strings through in the reverse direction and wrap them over the tailpiece in order to sit on the bridge properly.
[/quote]
Thanks for pointing that out - it's not enough just to lower the tailpiece, you need to do the wrap-around thing or the strings will hit the edge of the bridge. Also the angle may bend the bridge posts without the wrap-around.
Sounds like a normal Gibson SG to me. If you are used to playing Fenders, or other guitars that have the neck in line with the body, I can see where you'd be concerned but all Gibsons are how you described yours. ... Many players do screw the tailpiece all the way down to get better tone/sustain. If you do that, you have to put the strings through in the reverse direction and wrap them over the tailpiece in order to sit on the bridge properly.
[/quote]
Thanks for pointing that out - it's not enough just to lower the tailpiece, you need to do the wrap-around thing or the strings will hit the edge of the bridge. Also the angle may bend the bridge posts without the wrap-around.
IommiSG
Member
Hi, the fact that the guitar sounds and plays fine tells me that you're good to go. If you had a truss-rod adjustment issue, you'd have too much/not enough relief, and a problem with fretting out, etc.
However, one thing you mention is a very common SG issue, and that's the angle at which the strings break across the bridge pickup. The strings cross the pickup much closer to it's front edge than the rear? I'm assuming you have a Standard or Special with a full batwing pickguard?
If so, easy fix. Pull the pickguard, and place a shim under the rear of the pickup to adjust the angle to duplicate the angle of the strings, rather than being parallel to the body. You'll have to fiddle a bit with the thickness of your shim to get the angle just right at your desired pickup height; the goal is for both of the coils of the pickup to be equal distance to the strings.
I've cut up a paint paddle, making narrow pieces a couple inches or so in length, stacking pieces until I have the right thickness for the correct angle at the pickup height I want. A little Elmers between each piece of paddle will hold them together just fine, and a dab of Elmers under the shim will hold it in place when you reinstall the guard. Just remember the shim needs to be narrow enough to only be pushing up on the back edge of the pickup.
Gibson addresses this issue on the half-guard SG's with an angled pickup ring.
Of course, if it sounds fine to you as is, no need to mess w/it. Some of us hear a difference with this adjustment, some don't.
Hope this helps.
However, one thing you mention is a very common SG issue, and that's the angle at which the strings break across the bridge pickup. The strings cross the pickup much closer to it's front edge than the rear? I'm assuming you have a Standard or Special with a full batwing pickguard?
If so, easy fix. Pull the pickguard, and place a shim under the rear of the pickup to adjust the angle to duplicate the angle of the strings, rather than being parallel to the body. You'll have to fiddle a bit with the thickness of your shim to get the angle just right at your desired pickup height; the goal is for both of the coils of the pickup to be equal distance to the strings.
I've cut up a paint paddle, making narrow pieces a couple inches or so in length, stacking pieces until I have the right thickness for the correct angle at the pickup height I want. A little Elmers between each piece of paddle will hold them together just fine, and a dab of Elmers under the shim will hold it in place when you reinstall the guard. Just remember the shim needs to be narrow enough to only be pushing up on the back edge of the pickup.
Gibson addresses this issue on the half-guard SG's with an angled pickup ring.
Of course, if it sounds fine to you as is, no need to mess w/it. Some of us hear a difference with this adjustment, some don't.
Hope this helps.
