Hi all, There is an SGJ up for grabs near me. I couldn’t easily find a thread with reviews or opinions about the sgj, so I am asking your thoughts. If you have one how do you like it and How does it compare with other entry level models like the faded?
Welcome to ETSG I don't own an SGJ... but I do own an SG faded special. I'll say this: These are the workingman's Gibsons. They have all the rawk and Kerang of any of Gibsons's more expensive models, but without the bling. For many of us, this is a Gawd-send. (myself included). This model gives the hard working and underpaid guitarist the ability to play an excellent Gibson, and get the awesome tone of Gibson's hum bucking pickups, but without paying more money than you can repay from your income from gigs. So if you are a guy who wants a fine guitar with excellent tone, but you don't care about expensive deep gloss finish, or inlays, or binding... then the SGJ is for you. If you feel that Gibson guitars MUST feature all the most expensive decorations, like binding with nibs, or fancy inlays, or very shiny gloss nitro cellulose finish, then you will be disappointed with the SGJ. You won't listen to the awesome tone, you will only whine about the lack of bling. Me, I feel that there is a place in the world for both. If someone has the money, then Gibsons highest grade guitars are available, with all the best of wood, and wiring, and finish, and quality control... and all that had better be right. But Gibson's entry level models have always served the working guitarist well. In the dicey lighting of dodgy venues, the audience will never even see, much less care about any expensive decorations on a player's guitar. They will likely only hear the beat. They will see the performers, but most will not know the difference between a guitar and a bass. If your music is good, the less expensive SGJ guitar will not hurt you any. If your music is not good, the Les Paul guitar that you spent $6000 to buy will not help you at all. There it is.
I have had mine since 2013, it is a great riffing guitar and yes I do use all 24 frets. The maple neck is rock solid. I have used it live on stage and in studio settings. I like the covered 490 pickups a lot. I find it brighter than my specials, tonewise.
That red SGJ looks really sweet. I had a white one 2013 wasn’t a nice looking as that. Played great though. Fat 50’s style neck. Maple I believe. Really solid guitar (no pun) with a great feel and tone. I swapped the plastic covered 490s for aged nickel Burstbuckers. If you’re looking for a low cost USA Gibson the SGJ is the ticket. Get one and you won’t regret it.
I was very happy with my 2013. I eventually sold it because I have another SG which I like better. It was made as well as any Gibson I've owned. Be aware that there were a lot of these sold on clear out. I bought mine for $499 CDN brand new. Some people are now asking the same price as a special. It is just as good a guitar as most specials I've played but I believe it is a bit of a rip off for people to charge the same price as a more expensive guitar. The pickups were changed in 2014. 2013s had 490 R/T pickups. 2014 had '61 Zebra pickups.
Thanks for all of those replies, that helps a lot. The finish doesn't matter to me, I use all of my guitars for local playing and kicking around so everything has to be able to take a few dings. Biden thanks for the advice about pricing. the ask for the one I have my eye on is $500. I was thinking that $400 seemed about right to me. all I could get is a "no."
I didn't give any pricing advice but $400-425 seems the right ballpark. I just checked locally and the bottom asking price I see is $450 for a 2013 in Berkeley.
Since they don’t make the SGJ anymore you’re looking at used and the market dictates the price. A good Gibson will fetch good money even if it’s the entry model that was closed out 2 years ago! I’ve seen SGJ models for $500-600 in mint used condition and to me that’s a fair price. A new equivalent model would be the SG Specials with the rounded maple neck and full pick guard. New is $1000 or so, I’ve seen used for $700-850.
I really dig that SGJ in red a few posts up. The newer models have the full guard and they just don’t look as impressive as that model with out the pick guard.
@everdying , cool SG, nice ! It' s an SG Faded with black plastics : tuners, nut, HB covers, 24 frets and no pickguard. Don' t worry it' s a Gibson SG http://www.everythingsg.com/threads/my-opinion-on-the-2014-gibson-sgj.25746/
I have a bit of a love / hate relationship with my SGJ... It's a great player, has a nice rounded maple neck. If you ever want to upgrade the pickups, that's going to be a pain in the arse as they used a different connector for the PCB than other Gibsons. And the pups on mine sound muffled in comparison the the SG3 (they have the same 490 pickups in both models, only no black covers for the SG3). With the current SG Tribute going for around $833 new at Thomann, you might want to take a look at those as well ? https://www.thomannmusic.com/gibson_sg_tribute_vcs.htm
