Gibson Faded SG Special Electric Guitar

June 3, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment 

The popularity of vintage and vintage looking guitars has produced a plethora of reissues and copies of older guitars. The Gibson Faded SG Special dual pickup electric guitar is one such product. (The “Special” line of Gibson electric guitars are actually just a less expensive version of the higher priced “Standard” SG line.) The Faded guitar is available in worn brown or worn cherry finishes. It is also made in a worn white three pickup model, for a really classic rock look.

The SG guitars from Gibson are the double cutaway guitars with “horns” that were added to the Les Paul line back in 1961. The style was not particularly favored by Mr. Paul himself, but the public liked it, and it has grown in popularity down through the years just like the Les Paul models, which have a rounded, single cutaway body. Another difference in the LP’s and the SG’s (by the way, SG stands for “solid guitar”) is that the LP’s tend to be heavier in weight.

The rational behind the changes in design was to make the upper frets easier to access and to cut production costs. The result is a really neat looking carved guitar that could be considered a work of art.

The Gibson Faded SG Special is just another fine guitar in a long line. The three pickup model retails for $1149. The two pickup model has a list price of $1058. There are other SG Specials, which have always been known to combine looks, easy playability, and good value. The mahogany neck and body and alnico 490 pickups are common details on the Gibson SG Specials.

Advantages: The Gibson Faded SG Special electric guitar is available in a three pickup model, which is unusual for SG guitars. The worn finish means that dents and nicks you acquire in everyday playing and gigs will not look so bad. If you want an authentic vintage look, this guitar won’t disappoint you.

Like most Gibsons, the neck is long, smooth and easy to move around on and the action is really fast. The sound is great and it is versatile enough to be used for rock, hard rock, metal, reggae, ska, and rhythm playing. For reggae and ska, you need to switch to treble and turn up the tone. This gives the guitar a good twang. Makes a good crunch distorted sound, too.

If you happen to be a lefty, you will be glad to know you can get this guitar in a left handed model. The lighter weight makes it easier to play for a long gig. The Alnico magnet pickups are good for rich tone. They are uncovered pickups, which are sometimes called open coil pickups. Open coil pickups growl more than covered ones. (That’s an advantage, isn’t it? Don’t we all like growling guitars?)

Disadvantages: Some people are bothered by the fact that the pickups sound the same. Some have found that the factory settings require adjustments. It’s been suggested that it doesn’t stay in tune as well as some other guitars. The lighter weight means it doesn’t have the power of a Les Paul. The fact that it comes with a gig bag instead of a hardshell case is a big disappointment and drawback for a lot of people.

Gibson SG’s tend to have a heavy neck that drops down when you don’t support it with your hand. This can make a long night of playing a drag until you get used to it. Another complaint that has been made against this guitar is that it has a fair amount of fret buzz, even when the action is set high. It’s been said that the sustain is not too good when it’s played clean, and it is possibly a little flimsier made than some of the other Gibson SG’s.

Specs

  • Mahogany body
  • Rounded mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fingerboard
  • 24.75 inch scale length
  • 1 11/16 inch width at the nut
  • Pearloid dot inlays
  • Chrome plated finish
  • Stopbar tail piece
  • Tune-o-matic bridge
  • Black knobs with silver inserts
  • Green key tuners
  • 490R Alnico magnet humbucker
  • 490T Alnico magnet humbucker
  • Two volume controls
  • Two tone controls
  • Three way switch
  • Two pickup version available in a left-handed model
  • The 3 pickup white guitar has a six position rotary selector for choosing pickups
  • 3 pickup version also has black numbered knobs and vintage tulip tuners
  • neck and middle pickups are 490R Alnico magnet humbuckers
  • Bridge pickup is a 490T Alnico magnet humbucker
  • Brite wires strings in .010 to .046
  • Comes in a black padded gig bag with white “Gibson USA” Logo

For more information, you can read this article about the Faded SG. And here’s a nice article from epinions that gives you more information about the Gibson Faded SG Special electric guitar.

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Gibson Les Paul Studio Electric Guitar

June 3, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment 

The Gibson Les Paul Studio electric guitar is a nice instrument available in eight different color combinations. It retails for $1908 to $2018. It has the same basic history as the other Les Paul guitars. Jazz guitarist Les Paul designed a solid body electric guitar in the forty’s, which began to be produced by the Gibson company. The Les Paul, or LP, design included a rounded, single cutaway, solid mahogany body, and humbucking pickups. The various editions of Gibson LP guitars generally share these characteristics, although the higher priced ones tend to have maple topped bodies.

The first Gibson Les Paul Studio guitar was produced in 1983. At the time, it was a simplified model of the other LP’s, which tended to have fancy details on the top and bindings, which bumped the cost up. The Studio had all the quality and sound without the frills, and is still elegant and beautiful in its simplicity. The theory behind the name choice is that a studio musician wants all the details that will affect the sound and playability of the guitar, but they don’t need all the glitz because they are not on a stage. It seems to have a little slimmer body than the other Pauls.

If you’re interested in environmental issues, you’ll be interested to know that a few years ago, Gibson made a Les Paul Studio guitar in what is known as “Smart Wood.” This is a type of rainforest eco-friendly wood known as Muiracatiara, or more simply, Muir. They used it for the top, but kept mahogany for the back.

The Les Paul Studio comes in a Plus version, too, as well as a Swamp Ash variety. It retails for $1698. This wood, swamp ash, was chosen, like the Muir mentioned above, because it is environmentally friendly. It’s used for both the top and the body. The color of swamp ash is a silky looking silvery yellow-gray with beautiful wood grain. If you favor a back-to-nature look, you’re sure to love it. It lacks the small pick guard found on the basic LP Studio.

A really sweet model is the Gibson LP Studio Plus electric guitar with Zebra pickups. It’s transparent amber in color - almost looks like gleaming gold. It’s list price is $2118. The Zebra pickups are Alnico magnet humbucking pickups without covers. Naked, as it were. Makes it more growly.

Epiphone also makes a guitar they call a Les Paul Studio, but it retails for about a fourth of the price of the one made by Gibson.

Advantages: It’s a Les Paul. That says a lot. It’s a Gibson, so it has most of the things going for it that a Gibson has. It’s a little lighter than than the other Gibsons. Lots of owners love it. Good sound, lots of power, and plenty of sustain are some of the complements this guitar receives.

Disadvantages: The LP Studio is reported to be heavy and to make a muffled, muddy tone, especially when using the neck pickup. Flaws in the finish are a possibility, which is not unusual with Gibson guitars. Several reviewers say that you’re better off getting the Epiphone version, or else saving up a little more money and moving up the ladder to a better LP, such as the Standard. Also, it is suggested that you might need to change the tuners as it was found not to hold the tuning very well. My suggestion? Try playing it before you buy. It seems like Gibson occasionally puts out a lemon, so shop carefully.

4) Specs:

  • Carved maple top
  • Mahogany body back
  • Mahogany 1959 style Les Paul rounded neck
  • Neck joined at the 16th fret
  • Rosewood or ebony fretboard, depending on the color scheme
  • 24.75 inch scale length
  • 22 frets
  • 1 11//16 inches wide at the nut
  • Pearloid trapezoid inlays
  • Chrome or gold plated hardware, depending on color scheme
  • Stopbar tailpiece
  • Tune-o-matic bridge
  • Black speed numbered knobs
  • 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 Wires strings in .010 to .048
  • Some colors are available in a left handed model
  • Black reptile pattern hardshell case with dark gray plush lining and Silver GibsonUSA logo

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