Gibson SG Reissue 4-String Bass
June 3, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
Have you got your heart set on a small, slim, lightweight bass guitar that is versatile for all kinds of music, but particularly shines when used for classic rock? If you love listening to the bass lines in those flowery old songs from the sixties or the thumping beats of the seventies, then you’ll be interested in the Gibson SG Reissue 4-String Bass.
Gibson has been making electric guitars and basses for a long time. In the 1959, they released a solid body bass with a classic cut rounded body. This bass guitar, called the EB-O, with it’s cherry finish, short scale, slim neck, and humbucker pickup at the neck, was a favorite with the early rockers of the sixties. David Knights, bassist for the band, Procul Harem (Remember “Whiter Shade of Pale”? Mmmmm - that brings back memories!) played the Gibson EB-O. This bass guitar peaked in popularity in 1969. It had a higher priced cousin called the EB-3.
The good news is, you don’t have to hunt the vintage guitar purveyors or the pages of eBay to find one of these classic vintage babies. That is because Gibson has reissued this model. In fact, they are quick to point out that it is the fastest bass guitar they make. The new version has a few updated features, such as an additional mini-humbucker pickup at the bridge. It’s got a little higher price, too, since the original ran about $350 back in 1970. (Those were the days, huh?)
The SG Reissue has a mahogany body and neck, creating a warmer, rounder sound. The scale is short, 30.5 inches, with 20 frets. It has a slim neck, which is only 1 5/8 inches wide at the nut. The small size makes it easy to move fast, and smaller hands would certainly appreciate this. The neck pickup is a vintage-style (of course!) TB Plus Bass Humbucker. At the bridge it has another pickup, a bass mini-humbucker.
The SG Reissue retails for $1879. It’s a favorite choice of anyone wanting a light-weight rock bass with a great sound and short scale. If you play classic rock from the sixties and seventies, the SG Reissue will not let you down. Try it with flat wound strings for a good, thick sound. Another neat thing about playing a SG Reissue at your gigs is that it’s not what everyone else is playing. It’s available in either a sharp-looking heritage cherry red sunburst wood grain finish, classic white or ebony. The hardware is a crisp chrome color, and the controls are vintage looking top-hat shaped.
One of the few negative comments that has been made about this Gibson bass guitar is that it only has one tone control knob. Some bassists report that the tone knob doesn’t seem to do much, especially at loud volumes. It does have separate controls for the two pickups, so you can adjust them separately for just the sound you want. The neck pickup is good for thick, fat sounds, and the mini pickup at the bridge can be adjusted to bring out the higher, crisper tones.
Another consideration is that if you get it in the colors, the lacquer paint is thick and can be an issue in how fast you can travel that fretboard. Also, make sure you’ve got an amp that works well with this bass, as the quality of your amplifier will make a big difference in the sound of the bass.
Here are the specs on this fine bass guitar.
- Mahogany solid guitar (SG) rounded body 4-string bass guitar
- Slim mahogany neck, 1 5/8 inches wide at the Corian nut
- Short, 30.5 inch scale length
- 20 frets with dot inlays
- Three-way adjustable bridge
- Chrome plated hardware
- Shamrock tuners
- Black top hat knobs with silver inserts
- TB Plus Bass Humbucker pickup at the neck
- Bass mini-humbucker at the bridge
- Separate volume controls for each pickup, for a total of two volume controls
- One tone control knob
- .045/.105 gauge round strings
- Black hardshell case with charcoal gray plush lining and silver “Gibson USA ” logo
- Available in Heritage Cherry or ebony.
For more information about the original EB-O and it’s higher class sister, the EB-3, check out this page at gibsonbass.com. To see some really nice pictures of classic Gibson bass guitars from the past, check out this page from rocknrollvintage.com.
Gibson Explorer Electric Guitar
June 3, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
Rock fans are all familiar with the futuristic shape of the Gibson Explorer electric guitar. Would you believe this radical, angular shape debuted in 1958? Back then, though, it was called the Futura. The company tabled it’s production the next year because sales were poor. It took almost a couple of decades, before guitarists were ready to love this small, easy to maneuver axe.
If you happen to get your hands on one of those originals from 1958, you’d better hang onto it because they are valuable collector’s items. There were less than 100 of them made. In 1976, the company reissued the design under the name Explorer, this time with two pickups instead of one. The new Gibson Explorer soon found wide spread acceptance and accolades from the rockers of that era.
Obviously, those old Explorers from the ’70s are now in demand by collectors of vintage guitars, just like the old Futuras. If you want one, expect to pay about as much for one in good condition as you would for a brand new Gibson electric, or around $1200 to $1500.
The original Explorer is no longer manufactured by the Gibson Company, but can be found if you shop with the vintage guitar sellers. Gibson does produce a couple of modern guitars that are inspired in design by the legendary Explorer. One is the Gibson Explorer Pro, and the other is called the Gibson X-plorer.
I’m coming up with conflicting information as I review the Gibson Explorer - some writers act as though the guitar is still available, but according to Gibson website, the currently available Explorers go by the name of Explorer Pro and X-plorer. So as I share opinions, I’m not sure whether they are talking about one of the new models or the old originals when they call the guitar simply an Explorer.
Got you confused now? I think some of the confusion is due to the fact that Gibson treats guitars as works of art, so they make a lot of limited editions.
One thing that seems to be true about this guitar, no matter which model you’re talking about, is that it is really suitable for loud, screaming rock music. The fretboard is really fast, making licks happen like you want them. Like all professional quality Gibson instruments, it’s pretty pricey, but there really is a lot of truth in the old adage that you get what you pay for. The Explorer is flawlessly crafted. The sound is rich and full.
There seem to be some qualms (beefs) some people have about this guitar. They’re minor disadvantages, but worth mentioning. For one thing, the guitar has a really large, bulky case. Also it’s heavy, at least heavier than a lot of Gibson’s other rock electric guitars.
I think those remarks are about the ‘76 model vintage Explorers.
Here are specs and some info about the Explorer, as reported on a popular discount music site, which purports to have new ones for sale. (Are these Pro’s? Are they imitations? Anyway. . .)
The two ceramic magnet humbucker pickups on the Gibson Explorer have the power to make your music scream and snarl. The shape of the guitar is well balanced. Some guitarists find it sits easily on their laps and others can’t play it without a strap - it depends on the shape of the guitar player, I guess. The action is fast and the guitar holds it’s tuning for days in spite of vigorous play. It does not have a locking trem, according to one critic, and is thought to be hard to shred on because of its size.
Of course, probably everybody’s favorite factor about the Gibson Explorer electric guitar is that it is simply a fabulous looking instrument as well as being loud and well constructed. It is pretty much limited to rock, though, as far as its versatility is concerned. Various makes and models come in a variety of colors and finishes. Some even have a mirror pick-guard. You’re sure to get complements if you play one of these in your gigs.
Specs:
- Mahogany body
- Neck joint location - 19
- Rosewood fingerboard
- Pearloid Dot inlays
- 24-3/4 inch scale
- 2 inch nut width
- Gold-plated hardware
- Stopbar tailpiece
- Tune-o-matic bridge
- Black speed knobs
- Mini Grover tuners
- 496R ceramic magnet humbucker pickup at the neck
- 500T ceramic magnet humbucker pickup at the bridge
- Two volume controls, one tone control, and a three way switch
A few comments from the Gibson website: The Gibson Explorer Pro is lighter and smaller than the Explorer. The nut width is 1.695 inches.
Any scientific eggheads out there reading this? You want to be sure to look at this page. It describes some physics experiments done with the 1976 Gibson Explorer. At this web page, you can read some historical information about the ‘76 Explorer, including all the original specs.
Gibson Les Paul Menace
June 3, 2007 by Jo Minor · 1 Comment
Gibson says of it’s Les Paul Menace electric guitar that it is “not for the faint of heart.” The flat black finish is indeed mean and menacing in appearance. And in sound? Again, it’s not for the faint of heart. The Menace is a without a doubt a guitar designed for playing heavy metal music.
So who exactly is or was Les Paul, and why does Gibson put his name on so many of their electric guitars?
Lester Polfus (alias Les Paul) was born in 1915, and is now 92 years old. Les Paul is one of the most important pioneers in the development of the modern electric guitar. He is a jazz guitarist and a guitar designer who built his first electric guitar in the 1940’s. He was not happy with the design of the guitars that were available in the 1930’s. The guitar he created in 1952 ultimately evolved into all the Gibson Les Paul guitar models we see today, including the Menace.
There are some details that set the LP’s apart from other guitars. One is a carved maple top that has an arched, curved appearance. They have a three way toggle switch. But the most important innovation Les Paul came up with was the solid wood body. Earlier designs were hollow, with two problems. They had a lot of feedback and they didn’t have much sustain. Both of these problems were fixed by using a solid piece of wood for the body of the guitar.
The Les Paul Custom debuted in 1954 and was made only of mahogany. Several changes took place over the next decade, until the Les Paul SG, or solid guitar, was issued in 1961, with its angular curved horns. More variations were released throughout the years to come.
Some people say that the Les Paul Menace is just a Gibson Les Paul Custom electric guitar with the pickup covers removed and a few cosmetic changes. It’s also been compared to the Gibson Les Paul Studio electric guitar, although sometimes the comparison is negative.
Advantages: The Gibson Les Paul Menace is playable and good looking. The price is good, too, since you can get one at discount for less than $1000. The list price is $1168. The neck action is reported to be good. It’s lighter in weight than some of the other Les Pauls, which some players might think of as more of a disadvantage than an advantage. It has good sustain and the smoky coil pickups really rip.
Many reviewers compare it to a Les Paul Custom at a fraction of the price.
No doubt about it, the Menace is definitely suited for heavy metal. If you want the value of a Gibson electric guitar, this is definitely one of the best prices you’re going to find. In fact, if you’re looking for your first good rock guitar, the Gibson Les Paul Menace is probably one of the best values you’re going to get.
Disadvantages: A few people say that the Menace is not made with the same attention to detail that the other Gibsons are made with. The frets are reported to be sharp and squarish, giving it a different feel in the beginning, but you can get used to it. You might need to get the action adjusted since it’s high when you first bring the guitar home.
Some buyers don’t think it’s all that good looking, and that a glossy finish would be better, and that the neck does not have enough coats of finish to cover the wood grain totally. Some people like the tatoo logo and fist designs (the fist is used as a gold tone inlay at the fifth fret), but others find them a bit corny.
One user suggests trading out the pickups for DiMarzio Super Distortions if you get too much gain from your preamp, making the sound fuzzy.
Specs
- Maple top, Mahogany back
- Mahogany neck in a 1960 slim taper profile
- Neck joint location - 16th fret
- Ebony fingerboard
- 24.75 inch scale length
- 22 frets
- brass fist inlays
- 1.695 inches wide at the nut
- Black chrome hardware
- Stop Bar tailpiece
- Tune-o-matic bridge
- Black Speed knobs
- Black Grover tuners
- 490R Smoky Coil brass stud humbucker pickup at the neck
- 498T Smoky Coil bras stud humbucker pickup at the bridge
- Two volume controls
- Two tone controls
- Three way switch
- Brite wire strings in .010 to .046
- comes in a gig bag with silver Gibson USA Logo (unless your supplier throws in a hardshell case
- The tapered neck is 0.818 inches thick at the 1st fret and 0.963 inches thick at the 12th
- Neck width is 2.260 inches at the 12th fret.
Read all about Les Paul guitars at Wikipedia.
Gibson Les Paul BFG Electric Guitar
June 3, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
Are you interested in a Gibson Les Paul with a bit of an attitude? The BFG is just such a guitar. It has the Gibson quality (and price), along with the basic shape of a Les Paul, but that’s where the similarity ends. The Gibson Les Paul BFG sports an unsanded maple top, pared down and rough hewn details, and even comes in a shop worn case. It has a humbucker at the bridge and a P-90 single coil pickup at the neck, for a unique combination of musical potential. The list price of the amazing Gibson Les Paul BFG electric guitar is $1399.00.
Gibson Guitars have been around a long time. Orville Gibson started the company in his workshop in Kalamazoo, MI, in 1894. By the 1920’s, Orville was gone, but the company continued to make mandolins and other instruments and to grow in reputation. The company was famous for innovations that made instruments easier to play and better in sound. By 1937, they offered an electric guitar. The hollow bodied ES150, as it was called, is still considered to be a fine jazz guitar.
Popular music was changed forever when a member of Benny Goodman’s swing band plugged in the ES150 and began to play jazz leads on it. The guitarist’s name was Charlie Christian. Since then, the electric guitar has been used for a lot more than just rhythm and chords.
Les Paul joined the design team at Gibson in the early ’50s. His name has since become legendary, as are the guitars that bear his endorsement. Les had approached Gibson earlier in the mid ’40s with his ideas for a solid body electric guitar, but he was ahead of his time. It wasn’t long, however, before Gibson was glad to produce his designs.
Les Paul guitars have a good-looking rounded single cutaway body. They are made of mahogany with a maple top, and have a maple neck. These woods are chosen for their tonal qualities. Gibson makes a variety of LP models with varying features. These guitars are loved by many professional musicians in rock and other styles of music. The Gibson Les Paul BFG is just another in a long line of fine sounding Les Paul guitars. It differs, though, in it’s rough hewn appearance and raw appeal.
Advantages: The unfinished, rough cut appearance of the Gibson Les Paul BFG means that you don’t have to worry about scratching something up. You won’t have to worry about shining off fingerprints from this baby. The 1950s style neck is designed for comfort and speed. The overall guitar is well balanced and comfortable to play. It is not as heavy as other Gibson Les Pauls.
The combination of a single coil pickup and a humbucking pickup give you all sorts of options not found on other Les Pauls. For instance, the P-90 gives you lots of twang for playing country, and also sweetens up your rhythm playing. The Zebra BurstBucker 3, on the other hand, gives you that edge for blues and rock. The kill switch is another feature that guitarists can have a lot of fun with creating unique sounds.
Disadvantages: The Gibson Les Paul BFG is one of those unusual guitars you will either love or hate. If you’re into gleaming classic beauty, it might look a little raw for your tastes. Also, like other Gibson guitars, it has a bit of a hefty price tag, although there are a lot of Les Pauls that retail for more.
Specs:
- Unsanded carved maple top
- Mahogany back
- 1950s style rounded mahogany neck
- Distressed Grover tuners
- Rosewood fingerboard
- 24.75 inch scale
- 22 frets
- Neck joined at the 16th fret
- 1.695 inches wide at the nut
- White dot inlays on the side of the neck - none on the fingerboard
- Color choices include transparent cherry with gun metal hardware, transparent black or gold with distressed black chrome hardware
- Distressed stopbar tailpiece
- Tune-o-matic bridge
- 2 wooden volume control knobs
- 1 wooden master tone control knob
- P-90 single coil neck pickup
- Zebra BurstBucker 3 humbucking pickup at the bridge
- Toggle kill switch
- 3-way mini-toggle switch
- No washers or caps on switches
- Transparent windows on the back revealing the wiring
- Brite Wire strings in .010 to .046
- Comes with a shopworn Les Paul case
Here’s a well written review of the Gibson Les Paul BFG from the folks at Musicians’ Friend.
At the Gibson website, you can watch video clips of the Les Paul BFG being played by Cheetah Chrome or by Duane Denison. Cheetah does a little teaching in his clip.
Here’s a brief history of the Gibson Guitar Company.
Gibson Faded Flying V
June 3, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
The first Gibson Flying V electric guitar came out in 1958, when the future was still, well, in the future. It was not as well received as they had hoped, so they tabled it until 1967, when the world was finally ready for it. The rockers of the late sixties and seventies were ready for the radical shape and biting sounds. The Faded Flying V is a distressed reissue that has all the charm of a real vintage Gibson. With a retail price tag of $1058.00, it’s one of the less expensive of the Gibson electrics.
The original Gibson Flying V that came out in 1958 differed from the current model in that it was made from a lightweight African wood called korina. The Faded is made of mahogany, so it weighs a little bit more than its original prototype, but the body is so much thinner and smaller than other guitars that it is still light and easy on the shoulders.
When Gibson reissued the Flying V in 1967, it took only a little while before rockers were using it. One of the artists that adopted the Flying V among his arsenal of guitars was the late great Jimi Hendrix. Since some of the greatest guitarists of the time were using the Gibson Flying V, it was a sure thing that it was a design that would live on.
As rock music became harder and more widely accepted, extreme shaped rock guitars became the norm. The Gibson Faded Flying V has that unusual look, but is much more restrained and conventional than the “boutique” guitars produced by Dean and other guitar companies. This makes it a nice choice for a moderate rocker. (Is there such an animal?)
Advantages: The Gibson Faded Flying V gives you the progressive look and fat Gibson tone without the fat Gibson price of the standard Flying V. The worn look lends authority to your image, as though you were the one to wear it out. The natural finish is actually better for the tone than a thick coat of high gloss polyurethane. Playing it standing up, or performing, are both easy because of its light weight and maneuverability. It is balanced well and does not feel the least bit top heavy when engaged in a long gig.
Gibson’s Faded Flying V electric guitar has a simple design that is well crafted, though it is a factory made guitar. The neck is slick, the fingerboard is smooth, the action is fast, and the pickups are hot. What more could you want?
Disadvantages: If you want to play sitting down, the Flying V shape is going to challenge your creativity as far as finding a comfortable position. That seems to be the first negative thing anyone says about the V. And just about the only negative thing, really. It comes with a gigbag instead of a hardshell case, and it can be pretty hard to find a hardshell case to fit a V shaped electric guitar.
The Flying V is a great guitar for playing rock and metal, but it is not really designed for other sounds, such as jazz or light pop. For this reason, you might not choose it for your only axe. Of course, who wants to be limited to just one guitar, anyway?
I might mention that some people think the Gibson green key tuners are cheap looking, but they do a good job of keeping the guitar in tune. Also, the faded finish will get more faded with wear - but that seems to be the idea. Some guitar traders have found V shaped guitars to be hard to sell, but this one is probably a keeper, anyway. All in all, it’s a good sounding, vintage looking axe for the serious rock musician.
Specs:
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Mahogany V-shaped body
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Mahogany neck
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Neck joined at the 17th fret
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Rosewood fingerboard
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24.75 inch scale
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22 frets
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1.695 inches wide at the nut
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Dot inlays
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Chrome plated hardware
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Stopbar tailpiece
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Tune-o-matic bridge
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Black top hat control knobs with silver inserts
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Two volume controls
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One tone control
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Three way switch
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Green Key tuners
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496R Ceramic Magnet humbucker pickup at the neck
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500T Ceramic Magnet humbucker pickup at the bridge
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Available in left-handed model
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Brite Wire strings in .010-.046
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Comes with a black padded gigbag with white “Gibson USA” Logo
Here’s a website called “Flying Vintage” that’s devoted to collecting guitars. Scroll down for a link to pictures of Jimi Hendrix’s original Flying V. Did you know he played left handed?
Want to see pics of the largest playable Flying V guitar in the world?
Gibson occasionally donates guitars to charity. Here is a story about the Jimi Hendrix hand painted Flying V being auctioned off to help abused children in the Philippines. There’s a nice pic of the guitar, too.
Gibson SG Supreme Electric Guitar with ‘57 Humbuckers
June 3, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
The Gibson SG Supreme Electric Guitar with 1957 Humbucker pickups is a modern classic. It has all the charm of the vintage Gibsons from the 1950’s, and sports a gorgeous gloss finish in Emerald burst, Midnight burst (a rich dark blue), Fireburst (sometimes called “Lavaburst” - graduated colors from red and orange to yellow), and transparent black. All of the beautiful finishes highlight the woodgrain beneath, making these guitars some of the most attractive you can buy.
The SG Supreme is not inexpensive, retailing for just over $3000. It’s suited to clean and distorted playing, but isn’t really designed for metal.
The Gibson SG guitars began when they designed the Les Paul with cutaway horns and a thinner body. Although the guitars were well received by the public, Mr. Paul himself was not so fond of the changes and had his name removed from the product. Gibson came up with the name SG to indicate that they are “solid guitars.” The changes were made because sales were slipping - why else? The Les Paul guitars had the classic 50’s style body with a single cutaway, while the new SG style guitars had a sculpted look with two pointed horns at the double cutaway.
Many of the greatest rock guitarists, such as Pete Townshend of the Who and Eric Clapton have picked the Gibson SG Supreme as their electric guitar of choice.
Advantages: This is a really beautiful guitar. The finish is real lacquer instead of polyurethane. This yields a slightly less than perfect finish, but a guitar that sounds better than one finished with poly. It’s well balanced and not too heavy. It has a thicker sound than the other SG’s, but not so thick as the Les Paul guitars, if you are trying to pick from several Gibson electric guitars.
The ‘57 humbucker pickups provide the sound that has characterized a whole generation of rock ‘n’ roll music. These classic heavyweight pickups perform in an amazing way because they are composed of Alnico II magnets, nickel-plated poles pieces and slugs, vintage enamel-covered wire, maple spacers, and two-conductor braided wiring. This makes for incredible sound- whether you’re going for clean tones, sustain, or crunch.
This is a classic all the way, with a slim tapered maple neck that dates back to 1959. The shape of the neck gives the guitar a fast feel. The maple top on mahogany body in one reason for the rich resonance and good sustain. The tone is one of the best. The maple-mahogany structure is why this is so, because the maple reflects sound instead of absorbing it.
Disadvantages: Obviously, the price is going to keep some people from playing a Gibson SG Supreme electric guitar with ‘57 Humbuckers. Some critics say that it’s not any better sounding than a SG Classic which costs over $1000 less.
The nitro lacquer finish can scratch, but a luthier can take care of any cosmetic imperfections for you. One reason the SG Supreme looks so sharp is that it doesn’t have a pick guard. This could be seen as a disadvantage by some guitarists.
For best results, this guitar needs to run through a tube amp and not a solid state amp. The solid state amp will cause it to lose much of its great tone. And occasionally a guitarist will find the SG Supreme not right for them at all and consider it a waste of money. Some have found it not balanced well, with two much weight in the headstock. This is more of an issue if you like to play sitting down, or if you don’t want to have to support the neck in between songs during your gigs.
Specs:
- Body top made of AA grade flame maple
- back of mahogany
- mahogany neck
- slim tapered neck in the style of the 1960’s
- Neck joined at the 22nd fret
- Cutaway horns make accessing the higher frets easy
- Split diamond inlays
- Single-ply head binding
- Ebony fingerboard
- 24 frets
- Scale length of 24.75 inches
- 1.695 inches wide at the nut
- Singleply head and fingerboard binding
- Gold plated hardware on Emeraldburst and Fireburst
- Chrome hardware on Transparent black and Midnightburst
- Stopbar tailpiece
- Tune-o-matic bridge
- Black Top Hat control knobs with inserts
- Grover kidney tuners
- Two volume controls, two tone controls, and a three way switch
- Two classic ‘57 humbucker pickups
- Brite Wire strings, .010 to .046
- Comes with a black reptile case with dark gray plush lining
Here’s a well-written article called “Horny Devils” which tells all about the history and develpment of the Gibson SG electric guitars. And if you’re a Pete Townshend fan, here’s a little info on the Pete Townshend Signature SG from Gibson guitars.
Gibson Melody Maker Electric Guitar
June 3, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
In the late 1950’s, Gibson produced a small, student sized - and budget priced - electric guitar they called the Melody Maker. At a lower price and lighter weight, it soon became popular with guitarists everywhere of all ages and music styles. This guitar has been reissued, and looks just like the vintage models. It’s capable of cranking out today’s hit sounds as well as those classic rock ‘n’ roll numbers.
The Gibson Melody Maker electric guitar is available with one or two single coil pickups, and retails for $529-$639. That almost sounds cheap for a Gibson, doesn’t it. The guitar is faithful to the original design, right down to the period-correct pickguard and vintage style wrap around tail piece.
Advantages: The first advantage to the Gibson Melody Maker electric guitar is the reasonable price. If you always wanted to own a genuine Gibson, the Melody Maker is your chance. The smaller size makes it easy to play, but it is still substantial feeling. Many players really like the playability of this guitar. It’s said to really sing and put out some unbelievable tones. Of course, you need to try it before you buy it, since guitarists are pretty unique, and a lot of people who’ve tried out the Melody Maker think it’s not so great.
But in all fairness, there are more buyers who like this guitar than who don’t. It can scream. It has good bass punch. It stays in tune and might not need much set up adjustment, as many players liked the feel right out of the box. It has a lot of versatility, too, because you can play just about any sort of music on it. In fact, single coil pickups are popular for country pickers who like a lot of twang.
Disadvantages: One complaint that is often heard with this guitar is that you need strap locks because the angle of the top strap bolt is such that it tends to let go, especially if you like to play with the guitar slung pretty low. Also, the toggle switch is positioned such that you might hit it while strumming.
If you like the classic Gibson Humbucker pickups, you won’t get them with the Melody Maker, so that’s something to keep in mind. The finish on this guitar is nothing special. After all, it is styled as a reissue of a 1959 guitar, so it’s supposed to look sort of outdated and worn. (The sunburst comes in a satin finish instead of a gloss finish.) Of course, the “patina of age” is part of the fun for a lot of us, but if you want gloss and beauty in your Gibson, you are probably going to have to move up the product ladder to a more expensive guitar.
As for quality, it has been suggested that the reissued Gibson Melody Maker guitars are nowhere near as well made as the Melody Maker guitars Gibson made back in the late fifty’s and early sixties. If you played one of the originals years ago, the reissue might disappoint you.
Several reviewers have indicated that Gibson really shouldn’t put their name on a guitar like the Melody Maker, because it really doesn’t have the quality of sound or workmanship you expect when you see the Gibson name on an electric guitar. It is true that it seems like you can “afford” a guitar from the best companies. Maybe they have to sell low end instruments in order to make money. Everyone wants the prestigious logo, but not everyone has the money to save up and get a high dollar axe. It makes you think a little less of the Guitar manufacturer in the long run if they put their name on a lower quality instrument.
A couple of players report that the neck does not extend far enough below the high E string for you to keep your finger on the fretboard. The string can even get caught on the pickup.
Specs:
- Mahogany body
- Rounded single cutaway body
- Rounded mahogany neck
- Neck joined at the 16th fret
- Rosewood fingerboard
- 24.75 inch scale
- 22 frets
- 1.695 inches wide at the nut
- Dot inlays
- Chrome plated hardware
- Wraparound tailpiece
- Black top hat control knobs
- Vintage white button tuners
- One or two single coil pickups
- one volume control and one tone control
- Brite Wire strings, .010-.046
- Available in Worn White, Ebony, and Vintage Sunburst satin finish
If you happen to be interested in vintage Gibson electric guitars, including the Melody Maker, check out this web page. It has some beautiful color photos of vintage Gibsons.
Go to the Gibson website, and you can click on a little video to see and hear the Melody Maker in action. It sounds pretty good!
Gibson SG Standard Electric Guitar
June 3, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
The Gibson SG Standard is one good-looking, nice quality electric guitar. It retails for $1879 to $2199, so it is something of a major investment. Like most Gibson electric guitars, it features humbucker pickups instead of single coil pickups. Humbuckers give you a warmer sound with less feedback than the single coil pickups do. It has a rosewood fretboard that is silky smooth and plays easily.
If you’ve read much about Gibson guitars, you know all about the history - how Les Paul, a popular jazz guitarist, designed the first good selling solid body electric guitars in the fifties. In 1961, when sales on the LP (Les Paul signature) guitars started to slip, and especially since the Fender Strat was beginning to be a solid competitor, Gibson had to do something new. Their response was to take the rounded, single cutaway body of the Les Paul guitars and carve a couple of horns into it. Another modification Gibson made to the LP was to move the neck joint up three frets. The company called it the “new Les Paul.”
The earliest of these horned guitars were produced with Les Paul’s name on them, because the factory had a bunch of the plastic Les Paul nameplates laying around and didn’t want them to go to waste. Les Paul himself, though, didn’t like the new style guitar very much and wanted his name and endorsement taken off. The company decided on the name SG to designate these distinctive looking instruments. SG stands for solid guitar. Of course, SG’s are not the only solid body guitars Gibson makes, but that’s the reasoning behind the name SG, anyway.
Gibson has made a variety of SG guitars since. Styles have varied a bit down through the years, with certain style details coming and going and then returning. The current Gibson SG Standard and other SG’s are mostly in the styling of the 1967 to 1969 period. These guitars have a large pickguard that wraps around the pickups.
Advantages: Like most guitars, the Gibson SG Standard electric guitar has its devoted fans as well as its critics. For most people, this guitar is a winner, if they can afford to have one. One of the top features noted is that it has a really fast neck. It is lightweight but still solid and well-crafted. And you just can’t top the looks of this baby. It is versatile, handling rhythm or lead playing equally well. It screams and shreds like crazy.
The Gibson SG Standard consistently gets good scores for comfort since it is so lightweight. It is very thin, as well. It has lots of crunch to its tone and sounds good clean or distorted. Some players insist that among guitars in this price range, the SG Standard blows all the others away.
Guitar players are all individuals, face it. Among those who play Gibsons, there are those that prefer the Les Paul (LP) varieties, and then there are those who prefer the SG guitars. The ones who prefer the SG’s cite the fact that the sound is less thick or dense than the LP’s. This particular model, the SG Standard is reported by some to have the fastest neck in the world. The stock pickups are good ones and don’t have to be replaced unless you just want to.
Disadvantages: Do you know these things are made with green plastic tuners? The tuners are often cited as a drawback feature of the Gibson SG Standard. The volume knobs have been found to be a bit inaccurate, as well. The price is a drawback for some, too.
Specs:
- Mahogany body and neck
- Rounded neck
- Neck joined at the 19th fret
- Crest inly on the head
- Rosewood fingerboard
- 24.75 inch scale
- 22 frets
- 1.695 inches wide at the nut
- Trapezoid shaped inlays on the fingerboard
- Single-ply fingerboard binding
- Chrome plated hardware
- Stopbar tailpiece
- Tune-o-matic bridge
- Black top hat knobs with silver inserts
- Green key tuners
- 490R Alnico Magnet Humbucker pickup at the neck
- 498T Alnico Magnet Humbucker pickup at the bridge
- Two volume controls
- Two tone controls
- Three way switch
- Brite Wire Strings, .010-.046
- Black reptile hardshell case with dark gray plush lining and silver logo
- Also available in a left handed version
If you’d like more information about the evolution of the Gibson SG Standard, here’s an article from Vintage Guitar dot com. This might be of particular interest to those of you who are into collecting the classic guitars of the past.
Want to see some photos of a 1961 Gibson SG Standard painted in a psychedelic design? These pics are pretty interesting. This page has a link to more photos. I must point out, though, that the headline on the page calls the axe a Les Paul and it is not a Les Paul. It is from the era that may have had the LP nameplate, however.
Gibson Les Paul Classic Electric Guitar
June 3, 2007 by Jo Minor · 1 Comment
Gibson Les Paul electric guitars have become something of a legend, and the Classic embodies all the characteristics that make these high-quality axes famous. The Gibson Les Paul Classic is available in several styles, including the LP Classic antique and the LP Classic Custom. The LP Classic electric guitar retails for $2598 to $3018. It is advertised as the hottest, fastest, most gorgeous LP you can play. It’s a screaming fast machine for the rock guitarist.
Les Paul is a jazz guitarist who began designing and building solid body electric guitars in the 1940’s because he was not satisfied with the electric guitars of the thirties. His first guitar was made of a length of fence post - a common piece of a four-by-four. His purpose in experimenting with solid wood body guitar design was to cut down on feedback from the amplified sound resonating in a hollow body, and to improve the sustain of the string tone by keeping it from getting lost inside the acoustic body. For looks, Paul added a Epiphone jazz guitar body to the four-by-four and called the creation “the Log.”
Leo Fender was also experimenting with solid body electric guitars, so the two brands, Fender and Gibson (who signed a contract with Les Paul), began their competition to create the most popular electric guitars and to corner the market. The two brands do differ in some basic ways. One is that Gibson LP’s and others tend to have humbucker pickups, while Fenders lean toward single coil pickups. The two produce different sounds, so every guitarist has his or her favorite that fits the style they play.
Advantages: Cosmetically, this guitar is a gem, and what’s more, you get to pick from seven different colors and/or finishes. Yes, you read that right. This guitar comes in seven different colors. And they are all really attractive. The nickel hardware complements all the various gleaming wood tones, but the ebony model is dressed up with flashing gold hardware and pick guard. There are even a couple of metallic finishes - Bullion Gold and Copper.
You can also check out the added options available with the version called the Gibson Les Paul Classic Antique. This guitar is equipped with the well known and powerful ‘57 PAF humbucker pickups, and has all those cool vintage touches that make it look like a guitar from yesteryear. But for a really gorgeous axe, the Classic Custom is a beauty. It’s finished in gleaming antique ebony with shining gold trim. It too has the ‘57 classic humbuckers that are so well-loved.
The LP Classic is recommended for virtually any style of music, being very versatile. The small neck is fast and easy to get around on. Plus, it’s great for smaller hands. Reported to have better tone than the other LP’s.
Disadvantages: Well, for one thing, the price is going to push many wanabe Gibson owners out of the market! (Most owners do say it’s worth it if you can scrape up the cash, though.) Like other Les Paul models, the guitar is heavy, and can wear you out during a long gig. If you sit down with it, you might find it unbalanced. You’ll just have to try it to see how you feel about it.
Also, the set up, as it comes from the factory, might have some buzz and have to be adjusted. Another complaint sometimes heard is that the finish on the neck is not that smooth. This quibble about finish happens occasionally with Gibsons because they use lacquer instead of polyurethane because the sound is better with a lacquered finish.
Specs:
- Carved maple top body
- Mahogany body back
- Single-ply top binding
- Mahogany neck
- 1960 style slim tapered neck
- Neck joined at the 16th fret
- Rosewood fingerboard
- 24.75 inch scale
- 22 frets
- 1.695 inches wide at the nut
- Neck width 2.062 inches at the twelfth fret
- Yellow pearloid trapezoid inlays
- Single-ply fingerboard binding
- Nickel plated hardware on all colors but Ebony, which has gold
- Stopbar tailpiece
- Tune-o-matic bridge
- Amber top hat knobs
- Green key tuners
- 496R Ceramic Magnet Humbucker pickup at the neck
- 500T Ceramic Magnet Humbucker pickup at the bridge
- Two volume controls
- Two tone controls
- a three way switch
- Brite Wire strings, .010 to .046
- Black reptile pattern hardshell case with white plush lining
- Silver Gibson USA Logo on the case
Here’s a list of well known musicians who play Les Paul and other varieties of Gibson guitars. Musician’s Friend includes 172 user reviews, if you want to do a really thorough search of people’s opinions about the Gibson Les Paul Classic electric guitar.
Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s Neck Electric Guitar
June 3, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
The Gibson Les Paul Standard is advertised as the “industry standard.” A beautifully crafted guitar, it is available in a wide array of gleaming lacquer finishes. It is also available with either a fat, round 50’s neck or a slender, fast 60’s neck, which is the model shown here.
The Gibson Les Paul Standard was the name of the first of the Les Paul electric guitars produced by Gibson. In 1952, jazz guitarist Les Paul designed and endorsed a solid body electric guitar with a rounded body and a single cutaway for accessing the higher frets. The top of the guitar was gold tone, and the back of the body was mahogany. It was known as the Gold Top Standard, and remained in production a few years, until a sunburst maple top replaced the gold.
The Standard was reintroduced in 1976 after being replaced by other models in the 60’s. The neck design in the 50’s was wider and rounder, but in the 60’s, the wider neck was replaced by a slimmer, flatter one. The Gibson Les Paul Standard guitars available now have your choice of neck style. The 60’s neck is probably the choice of most rockers who wish to move fast on the fretboard and travel up and down the neck like lightening.
The current model available is faithful to the specs of the original, right down to the design of the pickups. You can even get it in gold!
Advantages: The Gibson Les Paul Standard has been called the best crunch guitar anywhere, with no parallels, and has good sustain, too. It’s very suitable for any 60’s or 70’s style rock. The 60’s neck is slim and fast which helps you play your best. You won’t find a better looking guitar anywhere. The detailing and handmade craftsmanship are extraordinary, and the AA figured maple top with transparent finish is just beautiful in all colors. The solid ebony version gleams, and costs a few hundred dollars less.
The color selection is gorgeous. With the exception of the Ebony and the Gold Top, the flame maple wood grain shines through the translucent lacquer. Transparent colors include Heritage Cherry Sunburst - a red rimmed guitar in sunset colors. (That’s Heritage Cherry shown in the picture above.) Light Burst is like Cherry only less intense. Desert burst is a natural brown sunburst design. Latte Cream is a creamy colored burst design darker around the edge. Iced Tea is a golden brown burst design, and so is Honey Burst. Solid, non sunburst style, colors include Amber (almost orange-gold), Root Beer (rich brown), Cayenne (deep red), Wine Red (an even deeper red), and Gecko (yellow-green).
The hardshell case it comes in is very nice. The guitar fits snugly into it so that it won’t get banged up during traveling and gigging. The company support and warranty are very good. And about the price - remember, most people keep their LP Standard for many years.
Disadvantages: Les Paul style guitars are known for being heavy, and the Standard with 60’s neck is no exception. Some people feel that Gibson guitars are simply overpriced. They do carry high prices, which may or may not be warranted. The heel joint is located in such a position that it can be hard for some players to access the highest frets. The Gibson Les Paul Standard with 60’s neck is very versatile, but might not be the best choice for playing jazz, according to some.
Here’s a different sort of disadvantage that has been mentioned. You have to play right or the crisp clear humbucker pickups will pick up your mistakes. They are extremely sensitive. Of course, this means you know when you mess up, and can practice better than if the sound was so muddy you didn’t notice the flubs.
Specs:
- Mahogany body, rounded with a single cutaway
- Carved AA maple top
- Single-ply top binding
- Mahogany neck
- Neck joined at the 16th fret
- 60’s slim taper neck profile
- Rosewood fingerboard
- 22 frets
- 24.75 inch scale
- 1.695 inches wide at the nut
- Pearloid trapezoid inlays
- Single-ply fingerboard binding
- Nickel plated hardware
- Stopbar tailpiece
- Tune-o-matic bridge
- Gold top hat control knobs
- Green key tuners
- Two BurstBucker Pro pickups with Alnico V Magnets
- Pro I at the neck and Pro II at the bridge
- Two volume controls
- Two tone controls
- Three way toggle switch
- Brite wire strings in .010 to .046
- Available in a left handed model
- Black reptile pattern hardshell case with dark gray plush interior
- Silver “Gibson USA” logo on the case
Click here to see some beautiful photos of vintage Les Paul Standard guitars and other vintage Gibsons.
Musician’s Friend runs some excellent articles about various instruments. Here’s what they have to say about the Gibson Les Paul Standard electric guitar.
