Gibson and Epiphone SG Electric Guitar
Buyer’s Guide

How to Choose the SG That’s Right for You

Gibson SG Standard

• Gibson SG Signature Models
  
  • Jimmy Page Double-Neck SG
    
  • Angus Young Signature SG
    
• Epiphone SG Electric Guitars
  
  • SG Special
    
  • G-310
    
  • G-400
    
• Price Ranges
  

Introduction

Know this guitar by its many good works: “Crossroads,” “Dark Star,” “Soul Sacrifice,” “Iron Man,” Live at Leeds, and School of Rock are just a few of the productions that have featured this iconic electric guitar. The Gibson SG has been, and remains, the guitar of choice for many hardworking hard rockers. From the Fillmore to the local club, from Woodstock to the garage down the street, the SG has been a sturdy, workhorse electric guitar for musicians who want a dependable axe that delivers. The SG is truly a solid guitar.

Gibson Custom Shop SG Special VOS

This SG Buyer’s Guide will give you the information you need to make the best choice by covering these topics:

• Find out why SG guitars are so popular and who plays them.
  
• Learn the family histories of the major models so you can tell a Custom from a Standard.
  
• Become familiar with the features that go into an SG, so you can decide which guitar has the features you want.
  

Why the SG is popular

The SG combines two highly sought-after features: the sound of humbuckers and the easy upper fret access of a double-cutaway. Because it does not have a carved maple top like the Les Paul, The SG is lighter, which is a godsend for guitar slingers who play four sets a night.

Famous SG players

Among the legendary rock guitarists who have used an SG are: Angus Young, Tony Iommi, Pete Townshend, Dave Grohl, and Jeff Tweedy.

Basic SG Description

Although there are many variations and exceptions, here is a list of typical SG features:

Gibson SG Standard

You may already be aware of some exceptions: an SG bass and the one-pickup SG Junior, to name a couple. But for our purposes, we’ll build on the basic SG to see how features and appointments have been added.

SG features

Where and how the SG is made, the materials used, and the decorative and functional features are all used to tell one SG from another.

Here is a list of features and choices for most SG guitars.

1. Body
   
   1. Mahogany
      
   2. Maple (on select models)
      
2. Finish color – Choices vary according to model. Includes:
   
   1. Heritage cherry
      
   2. Ebony
      
   3. Natural Burst
      
   4. Wine Red
      
3. Neck - usually mahogany
   
   • Profile – choose shape of neck:
     
     1. Rounded ’60s neck
        
     2. 1960 Slim-taper
        
     3. Classic ’61 SG neck
        
4. Fingerboard (also called fretboard)
   
   • Rosewood or ebony
     
   • Inlays
     
     1. Dot
        
     2. Trapezoid
        
     3. Block
        
5. 2 pickups (usually humbucker)
   
   • Modern Gibson pickups:
     
     • 490R, 490T, 496R, 498T 500T
       
   • P-90 (single coil)
     
   • Historic humbuckers:
     
     1. BurstBucker Type 1, 2, 3
        
     2. BurstBucker Pro
        
     3. ’57 Classic
        
     4. ’57 Classic Plus
        
     5. ’57 Classic Plus Gold
        
6. Binding (if there is binding). Colors and number of plies varies by model.
   
   • Body
     
   • Neck
     
   • Headstock
     
7. Hardware
   
   • Plating finish choices:
     
     1. Nickel
        
     2. Chrome
        
     3. Gold
        
   • Bridge/Tailpiece
     
     1. Wraparound (one piece bridge/tailpiece)
        
     2. Tune-o-matic /Stopbar
        
     3. Maestro
        
     4. Lyre Vibrola
        
   • Knobs
     
     1. Top Hat
        
     2. Speed
        
   • Tuners
     
     1. Chrome
        
     2. Grover
        
     3. Chrome Grover kidney
        
     4. Black chrome Grover kidney
        
     5. Green key
        
     6. Nickel green
        
     7. Vintage-style tulip
        
     8. Locking metal button Grover
        
     9. Auto-Trim
        

SG Family Tree

Because the SG is descended from the Les Paul, the initial selection mirrored the Les Paul model lineup: the SG Standard, the SG Custom, and the SG Special.

Gibson SG Family Timeline

The SG evolved from the Les Paul. Here’s how it happened:

Here is a breakdown of each Les Paul’s transition to SG.

Current SG Models

Gibson USA

As the name indicates, Gibson USA SGs are manufactured in the United States. Today, the four foundation models are the Special, Standard, Supreme, and Select.

Gibson SG Special

Gibson SG Standard

Gibson SG Supreme

Gibson SG Select

Gibson SG ’61 Reissue

Gibson SG-3

Gibson SG GT

Gibson SG Menace

Gibson SG Goddess

Gibson Custom Shop

Gibson was the first major guitar manufacturer to establish a custom shop outside of its regular production line. The guitars produced by the Custom Shop are the result of even more hands-on craftsmanship. And for materials, the Gibson Custom Shop is even more selective—“hyper selective”—in choosing only the highest-quality mahogany.

Gibson Custom Shop SG Standard Historic Reissue

Gibson Custom Shop SG Stopbar

Gibson Custom Shop VOS Reissues

To satisfy the exacting demands of collectors and other SG enthusiasts, the Gibson Custom Shop debuted its VOS reissues in 2005. Vintage Original Spec instruments receive a special nitrocellulose finish treatment yielding the patina of a gently aged vintage guitar. Careful handcrafting enhances comfort and playability. Each VOS model has a solid mahogany back; historically accurate long-neck tenon for strength and sustain; period-correct neck profile, and hardware (such as green tuning keys).

SG Special VOS

SG Standard Reissue VOS

SG Custom VOS

Signature models

Usually a guitar created with the input or specifications of a famous artist is called a “signature” model. The Gibson Custom Shop has produced a number of signature SGs built to the exacting personal preferences of famous guitarists, the most recent being the Jimmy Page EDS 1275 Double-Neck SG.

Other recent signature SGs include the Angus Young Signature SG.

Jimmy Page EDS 1275 Double-Neck SG

Angus Young Signature SG

Epiphone SGs

Just about every Gibson SG model has a “cousin” that bears the Epiphone name on the headstock. Epiphone got its name from its founder Epaminodas Stathopoulo, known as “Epi”. In the 1930s Epiphone was a competitor to Gibson, with the two companies going head-to-head in designing archtop guitars and developing pickups. In 1957, Gibson acquired Epiphone. In addition to high-quality standup basses, famous guitars from the Epiphone line include the Casino used by The Beatles. Les Paul’s early efforts at making a solidbody electric guitar incorporated Epiphone guitars.

Differences between Gibson and Epiphone SGs:

1. Country of origin – Gibsons made in USA, Epiphones made outside U.S.
   
2. Finish – Gibson uses thin nitrocellulose lacquer – ultrathin, ultralight (process takes weeks). Allows wood to breathe, over time gets thinner. The best finish for tone.
   
3. Epiphones have polyurethane finish, which is more practical, takes a couple of days to apply, is not as labor intensive, and is a more durable finish.
   
4. Materials – Gibson uses higher-quality materials such as mahogany from South America. Epiphone uses less expensive materials or combinations such as alder and mahogany for bodies.
   
5. Tonality - Epiphone SGs have darker tone with more mids and bass while Gibson SGs have lighter overall tone.
   

Epiphone SG-Special

Epiphone G-310 SG

Epiphone G-400 SG

• Double cutaway solid mahogany body
  
• Set mahogany neck
  
• Slim-taper neck profile
  
• Dual alnico magnet humbuckers
  
• 2 volume and 2 tone controls
  
• Rosewood fretboard with pearloid
  trapezoid inlays
  

Epiphone G-400 SG

Price ranges

Given what we now know about the various SG families and features, we can break them down in the several rough price categories, working our way up from basic, introductory guitars to more fully featured instruments.

Examples:

• Inexpensive – Epiphone SG Junior or Epiphone SG Special
  
• Mid-Priced – can range from Gibson Faded SG Special to Gibson SG Standard
  
• High End – Gibson SG Supreme or SG Select
  
• Collectible – Gibson Custom Shop and Custom Shop VOS models, e.g., SG Custom VOS, SG Standard VOS