Gibson Faded SG Special Electric Guitar  

This guitar comes with all the standard features that would be expected from this price range. I guess it could have PAFs or something, but for this price, the features are as much as can be expected.

I couldn't be happier with the quality. Everything has held up well, and I probably could get by without tuning it for a couple weeks at a time. I'm a perfectionist, though, and it still lasts me 5-7 days between tunes. Very nice look and feel.

Absolutely perfect value. The differences between this guitar and the Gibson SG standard are the finish options, the trapezoid/dot inlays, and one pickup (the standard has the 498T, whereas the faded has the 490T...same exact neck pickup). The BIG difference is the price (approximately 500 dollars?) One could just put a couple hundred into the Faded and make it arguably better than its more expensive counterpart. That's my plan at least. Great value for a Gibson, US-made axe.

I absolutely love this purchase. I had tried out a Jackson Warrior with EMGs, and I still just love the raw sound of passive pickups, especially through a rock classic such as this. This is the only guitar I'd suggest for someone looking at under a grand. Good luck!

I give this a 5. It is not junk, but it falls far short of being the SG I remember Gibson building. The 50s neck is OK on some actual 50s guitars from Gibson, but the modern profile is a tad fat for my tastes. Features: Again the 50s neck. ?!?! It is an avearage 2 pick up guitar. Nothing fancy. 2 vol 2 tone controls and the 3 way switch.Since I can't get a cursor into the other fields I will jus use this one. Quality is mediocre. If their precious Plek machine is not used the frets are not that well done. Either that or the Plek is not working right. I looked at a black faded in this price range, then borrowed on from a friend and tried to sell it for him. I wound up buying an Epiphone Elite made in Japan 1961 SG reissue that aside from the electronics hit the nail on the head. OK it is not a lacquer finish, but the quality of the Japanese Epi left this one in the dust. These just don't play that well, nor is the perfect fit and finish there. Value? I give it a 4. Sorry. Gibson wants to charge a minimum of $2500 for anything that plays really well. This is one of thos items that was meant to sell to people who think Gibson only makes the best. Sadly this is no longer the case. Gibson is falling back on their name. Anymore I buy Epiphone Elite stuff used, and put up with the dents and dings.  Gibson can still make a great guitar. This is just not it. They need to go back to their pre 1970s products and see what worked, then their 70s, 80s, and finally get into the 21st century and make even their cheap guitars as well as they did my 1967 Melodymaker which I put a humbucker in it played so well. I think they would make a lot more money as well as friends and loyal customers doing this. I am still and always will be a Gibsonite.

I suppose considering what Gibson charges for their guitar that play great the value is OK, but if you can live without the Gibson name you can do better. I won't say it is junk, or a rip off. It is a solid built guitar, but it lacks that great fit and finish that is on my student 1967 Melodymaker, or old 50s Les Paul Junior. I can get the action lower on both of those without string buzz. The fit and finish are so so. It is just lacking in every department, except maybe tone, but if you cannot play it without excess difficulty then the tone really does not matter. I know people like both neck profiles, so offer them. My 56 LP Jr has a way nicer neck than this thing.

This guitar is a straight up rock n' roll machine! The fretboard is extremely smooth, great action right out of the box, and a monsterous tone with great sustain. I would recommend it to any serious player out there.

This is the entry level guitar for those looking for the Gibson sound and feel (aside from the very limited melody makers) and it delivers that in spades.

I went to the store looking looking for a humbucking guitar to complement my Telecaster, and tried out just about everthing they had in the $300-$900 range. After testing guitars like a PRS SE Custom 24, a couple of Jacksons, and a plethora of Epiphone guitars, the SG felt immediately better in my hands. The neck is chunkier than the Jacksons were, but not awkwardly large and it fits my hands perfectly. I am 6'1 with average sized hands for my height, but my girlfriend (who tries to learn to play) says the neck feels too fat to her so you should really try one out before purchase if you're a girl or have small hands. The finish on the neck is silky smooth, and the frets are just the right size for easy play. The action is not super low, but I don't feel like that detracts from it's playability one bit. It's simply an easy guitar to play.

As I'm sure you know by now, the bridge pickup is not the same as an SG standard. But make no mistake, this is a top quality pickup. It's the same as a 489T but with alnico 2 magnets instead of alnico 5, which gives it a lower output. Some people expecting a firebreathing SG sound may be a little bit dissappointed, but it's just fine with me. The output of these pickups are actually right in line with the Burstbucker 1/2 combo you find in Gibson custom shop reiusse 58-59-60 guitars, and they are the same quality as the 498T in the SG Standard or the Gibson Custom guitars. If you really want that perfect SG sound, it's not hard to find a 498T pickup for under 100 bucks, and you're still getting that SG sound at a bargain basement price. Tested immediately next to other guitars in the price range, it simply blew everything away IMO except maybe the 50th Anniversary Epi LP 1960 reissue that has BB 1 & 2s (which sounded fantastic). I did try out a Jackson with EMGs that probably sounded better for metal, but if that's your primary musical style, I don't know why you'd even be looking at this guitar. The quality of those guitars (all of them, not just the Epi or Jackson) was not even comparable though, this was just a better guitar all the way around.

I hate when people call this guitar "basic", there's really not much more you could ask of a guitar except maybe coil splitting, but that's just splitting hairs. It does everything you expect from a Gibson without all the window dressing. I'm sure there's a dud or two in the batch, but mine is built flawlessly so I wouldn't trust people saying they're all inferior quality. And it I don't have any trouble keeping this guitar in tune, and don't know what's going on with the people who say there's is. Maybe it's operator error.

the only reason i gave it an 8 for features is becasue theres nothing extra on this puppy. its bare bones. which i dig. i ordered it used but it was immaculate. i feel like clapton behind this double horned devil. the finish was shinier than i thought. which is fine. perfect frets strait necki, amazing action. i play some slide and theres no buzz like some guitfiddles.  its a Gibson theres not much more you can say. itsw made in the u s of a which is standard for gibson. i was slingin a squier classic vibe 50s tele and this was like a thousand steps up from it. nothing against  ssquier or fender but its simply a work of art. i feel like gibson is kind of like stratovarious in the guitar world. once you have one youll wasnt to keep it around for life. i dig it and couldnt ask for more.