I just bought a used SG advertised as a "Special Faded." From the serial number, I was able to determine it is from 2006. The neck has the "trapezpoid" inlays, not dots. There are no emblems or other markings on the headstock other than "Gibson," The pickups are uncovered 490R/490T. The black pickguard is the large "batwing" style. From my research, I have not seen any "specials" with the trapezoid inlays, but the "standards" have icons and other stuff on the headstock. Am wondering what I bought. I tried to post a picture but it said it was too large. Thanks!
I’m guessing you bought a Faded. Just, perhaps at the time they might have been called studio faded, or some other variation of that. It’s purely a conjecture based on what I saw with the LP models. The 2016 Les Paul Studio Faded had trapezoid inlays. In 2017, the word studio was dropped, the trapezoid inlays were replaced by dot inlay, and that was the 2017 LP Faded, which was more in line with the 2016-on SG faded, now SG Tribute. Hopefully someone who remembers the 2006 lineup can chime in. With that said, one of the best playing SGs I ever played was a 2017 SG faded.
As I gaze into my crystal ball, I have no effin idea because I can't see a pic. Maybe someone put stickers over the dots?
SG Special Faded with trapezoid stickers covering the dots. Maybe remove the stickers and add chrome covers to the pups.
Very interesting. Now that you guys have mentioned "stickers" I ran my finger over the trapezoids and you can definitely feel an edge, as opposed to an inlay which would be smooth. So I guess the mystery is solved. Thanks guys.
Hey !! i don't think the SG Fadeds or Specials have any headstock branding other than the Logo .. At least my 2017 does not .. I have both the SG Standard and the SG Faded T. they are a great team !! Love the Faded , but is not my Standard 61
From 1961-2012, SG Specials did not have any headstock markings other than the headstock logo. 2014 - crown inlay as silkscreen waterslide decal 2015 - Les Paul 100 script 2016 - headstock logo only 2017 - crown inlay as silkscreen waterslide decal 2018 - crown inlay as silkscreen waterslide decal 2019: Small Guard - headstock logo only Batwing - renamed to SG Tribute, crown inlay as silkscreen waterslide decal Some time in the late 2000's or 2010's the SG Special Faded was renamed to SG Faded. Of the four original SG models (Junior, Special, Standard, Custom), the SG Special had the most changes with features over the years. Maybe that's why they named it as such, like a restaurant menu where the lunch or dinner specials change frequently.
HEy ! great info I have a 2017 SG Faded T , serial brings Nashville 2017 . But I only have the silkscreen logo, no crown. Were there 2017's with the crown silkscreen logo? Thanks :)
SG Faded = SG Special Faded Both are SG Specials with Humbuckers, Batwing, Faded Finish. 2016-18 SG Faded had headstock logo only.
SG Specials have had P-90's, Mini Humbuckers and Humbuckers over the years. In the 1960's, the necks were bound with dots. 1970's were unbound with small blocks. 1980's were unbound with dots. Now we have variants with bound, unbound, dots, small blocks. My favorite version of the SG Special is the SG Classic (1999-2012). 2004 and 2006
Welcome to ETSG! We'll want to see some clear photos of course. Size them about [email protected] and they'll be able to be uploaded here. Glad someone figured out about the stickers. SG Classics rock... P-90s in an SG are hard to beat. I'm a fan of SG faded specials. Good choice! Peel those stickers off, and clean the fretboard of any gunk and glue. The SG faded special doesn't need them. Dot inlays are utilitarian, in keeping with the faded's style. It's the workingman's SG, with all the rawk and kerang, but none of the bling. Those models have their own following on this forum including me. Get those strings off there, clean it thoroughly, get it set up proplerly and checked over, and rock that sucker.
You didn’t happen to buy the guitar from Guitar Center, did you? https://www.everythingsg.com/threads/help-me-identify.37531/#post-548158
This SG Faded is waxed with wax for vintage furniture, the bridge is a Gibson ABR-1 brass saddles with Faber studs.
This reminds me when I was looking at a guitar and just to get a sense had someone at Guitar Center appraise a few of my guitars to see what would the damage be. I know GC only pays off 65% of what they expect to sell the guitar for, but I just wanted to get a sense. One of the guitars in question was a 2017 Les Paul Studio T. Anyways, the guy looks up for used LP Studios on the GC website and gives me this ridiculous low price. I ask to look at it and lo and behold it was a 2017 Les Paul Faded T. One year or so later I find a different used Les Paul Faded, I think it was a 2016 Studio faded that studio written on the truss rod cover, listed as a Studio, but this one was even worse, because it was priced as an actual used Studio. These models were changing every year, so I don't blame so much GC's employees as much as the people trying to beat the system and take advantage of the crazy yearly model changes.
