Gibson SG Standard with Coil-Splitting Electric Guitar (Used)
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- Product #583403
A new classic for rocking the 21st century.
The Gibson SG Standard electric guitar has a slim, lightweight mahogany body with the unmistakable twin cutaways, pointed horns, and beveled edges; the fastest neck in the business;and a pair of Gibson's screamin' BurstBucker pickups with coil-splitting for single-coil tones. This beauty also features trapezoid inlays along its elegantly bound 22-fret rosewood fingerboard while a fine mother-of-pearl Gibson logo and holly inlay decorate the guitar's headstock.
Solid Mahogany Body
Probably the most central of all Gibson SG features is its solid mahogany body. The mahogany goes through the same rigorous selection process as all of Gibson's woods, and is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson's team of skilled wood experts before it enters the factories. Inside the Gibson factories, humidity is maintained at 45 percent, and the temperature at 70 degrees. This ensures all woods are dried to a level of equilibrium, where the moisture content does not change during the manufacturing process. This guarantees tight-fitting joints and no expansion, and controls the shrinkage and warping of the woods, in addition to reducing the weight. It also improves the woods' machinability and finishing properties. Consistent moisture content means that the Gibson SG will respond evenly to temperature and humidity changes long after it leaves the factory.
Set-Neck Construction
Like all classic Gibson guitars, the necks on SGs are distinguished by one of the more traditional features that have always set them apart — a glued neck joint. Gluing the neck to the body of the guitar ensures a "wood-to-wood" contact, no air space in the neck cavity, and maximum contact between the neck and body, allowing the neck and body to function as a single unit. The result? Better tone, better sustain, and no loose or misaligned necks. The '61 thin flat "speed neck" profile gives you effortless playing speed and comfort.
BurstBucker Pickups
The BurstBuckerline of pickups represents Gibson's drive to recapture the magic of the original "Patent Applied For" humbuckers. First introduced in the early 1990s, the Gibson BurstBucker — Types 1, 2, and 3 — successfully captured the subtle variations of true, classic humbucker tone with historically "unmatched" bobbin windings and Alnico II magnets. They produce an airy, full tone, and when overdriven they achieve a magical distortion with the slightly enhanced highs that made the originals famous. This SG model is loaded with a BurstBuckerType 1 pickup, which features a lower output, and is excellent for the neck position, and a BurstBuckerType 3 pickup that is overwound and hot, and is typically ideal for the bridge position. None of the BurstBuckers are wax potted, and all feature vintage braided two-conductor wiring. Push/pull tone pots activate pickup coil-splitting making this one of the most sonically versatile Gibson SG guitars ever!
Tune-O-Matic Bridge
The Tune-O-Matic bridge was the brainchild of acclaimed Gibson president Ted McCarty in 1954. At the time, it was a true revelation in intonation, and set a standard for simplicity and functionality that has never been bettered. This pioneering piece of hardware provides a firm seating for the strings, allowing the player to adjust and fine-tune the intonation and string height in a matter of minutes. It also yields a great union between the strings and body, which results in excellent tone and sustain. It is combined with a separate "stopbar" tailpiece, essentially a modified version of the earlier wraparound bridge. To this day, the Tune-O-Matic remains the industry standard. It is the epitome of form and function in electric guitar bridge design, and is one of the most revered and copied pieces of guitar hardware ever developed.
Instantly recognizable. The backbone of rock and roll. Gibson's best-selling SG Standard shatters all perceptions of what an electric guitar can — and should — be. Various SG models have been played on-stage by the likes of Pete Townshend, Angus Young, Tony Iommi, Robby Krieger, Chris Robinson, Alex Lifeson, Derek Trucks, Elliot Easton, Jim James, Jeff Tweedy, Moby, Keith Urban, Nick Jonas, Rocco DeLuca. The list is unbelievable. When will you add your name to the list?
Check the drop-down menu to the right to select colors and/or other options.
Features
Body
- Body style: SG
- Body species: Mahogany
- Scale length: 24-3/4"
- Finish: Full gloss classic white lacquer
Neck
- Neck Joint: Set
- Species: Mahogany
- Profile: Thin, flat '61 SG "Speed Neck"
- Nut: Corian
- Nut width: Standard Gibson 1.695" ± .050"
- Silkscreen: Gibson logo
- Truss rod: Gibson adjustable truss rod
- Truss rod cover: Bell-shaped cover, stamped "SG"
Fingerboard
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Fretwire: Nickel and silver alloy
- Fingerboard radius: 12"
- Inlays: Trapezoid
- Number of frets: 22
Hardware
- Plating finish: Chrome
- Tailpiece: Gibson stopbar
- Bridge: Gibson Tune-o-matic
- Tuners: Keystone
Electronics
- Neck pickup: Burstbucker 1
- Bridge pickup: Burstbucker 3
- Controls: Volume, volume, tone, tone with push/pull coil-splitting, and 3-way toggle
- Control knobs: black top hats with silver inserts
- Control pocket cover: black molded
Case
- Type: Gibson Hardshell
- Case exterior: black
- Silkscreen: Gibson USA logo
Order a guitar that has made Rock'n'Roll history!
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Review Snapshot®
by PowerReviews(based on 20 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Fun to play (6)
- Good feel (6)
- Good pick up (5)
- Good tone (5)
- Solid electronics (4)
Cons
Best Uses
- Jamming (4)
- Practicing (4)
- Recording (4)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Experienced (5)
Most Liked Positive Review
Killer SG after it's set right
Guitar felt stiff right out of the box. Factory set up was not very good unless you like your strings real high. Plan on doing some adjustments if you try to go with 10'...Read complete review
Guitar felt stiff right out of the box. Factory set up was not very good unless you like your strings real high. Plan on doing some adjustments if you try to go with 10's. I since have set it to Gibson specs with Ernie Ball 9's. It plays nice now and stays in tune much better. 60's neck is very comfortable and can be played for hours on end. Love the Burstbucker 3 for ripping out classic rock leads.(Allman Bros,Zeppelin) The Burstbucker 1 works well also in the neck. Very good combination I would have to say. Coil splitting is there if needed. The binding looked good and the fret ends were smooth also. Overall, it needed a little work when it arrived, but in the end this guitar turned out to be a great addition.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
High quality, dissapointing tone
I had high hopes of getting both single coil and humbucking tones from this guitar. The burstbuster pickups sound almost exactly like my other Gibson SG Standard , just fine. However, when coil splitting...Read complete review
I had high hopes of getting both single coil and humbucking tones from this guitar. The burstbuster pickups sound almost exactly like my other Gibson SG Standard , just fine. However, when coil splitting is enabled, the tone hardly changed but the volume dropped way off. For a guitar that is supposed to have a variety of tones, I was quite disappointed. I've heard coil tapping Schecter guitars that have a great range of tonality. This guitar just didn't do it for me. I thank Musician's Friend for making the return/refund painless.
Reviews
Reviewed by 20 customers
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Pros
- Beautiful Looks
- Fun To Play
- Good Feel
- Great Weight
- Price For What You Get
Cons
- Poor Setup From Factory
- Setup
Best Uses
- Jamming
- Learning
- Practicing
- Recording
Comments about Gibson SG Standard with Coil-Splitting Electric Guitar:
I have been play for about a year now, Fender American Standard, and wanted to try something with humbuckers... SG was the great starting point. The guitar feels great. Very happy to have purchased this SG. Main problem and its a biggie is that the set up upon delivery was awful. Had to take it to a local shop to be professional set up. Costed $$$ for the set up (one hundred fifty). It Looks and Sounds Great, would buy again.
Pros
- Fun To Play
- Good Feel
- Good Pick Up
- Good Tone
- Solid Electronics
Cons
Best Uses
- Jamming
- Practicing
- Recording
Comments about Gibson SG Standard with Coil-Splitting Electric Guitar:
I had been reading a lot of reviews that complained about the action being too high and I played one at a guitar center and indeed the action was way too high. However, when mine arrived it was absolutely perfect. It's exactly what I wanted. I got the white one. I personally really like the coil-splitting option. The BurstBucker pickups sound so huge and clear. I play through my Orange Rockerverb 100 and Closed back 2x12 and it sounds great. When switching to the single coils the volume does drop but that is expected, you are now using only one pickup. A lot of people aren't blown away by this feature but switching to the single coils calls for a different playing style. So if you play around with what sounds good from the single coil (I.e. which pedal settings, amp channel, etc.) you will find uses for switching back and forth. Now if you really aren't happy with the single coil option you just don't have to use it. When in Humbucking mode this guitar screams so at least you have an option of single coils for the future. I was really on the fence about buying this guitar but I am very happy I did.
Pros
- Fun To Play
- Good Feel
- Good Pick Up
- Good Tone
- Solid Electronics
Cons
- Action too high
Best Uses
- Jamming
- Practicing
- Recording
- Rock Concerts
Comments about Gibson SG Standard with Coil-Splitting Electric Guitar:
Guitar felt stiff right out of the box. Factory set up was not very good unless you like your strings real high. Plan on doing some adjustments if you try to go with 10's. I since have set it to Gibson specs with Ernie Ball 9's. It plays nice now and stays in tune much better. 60's neck is very comfortable and can be played for hours on end. Love the Burstbucker 3 for ripping out classic rock leads.(Allman Bros,Zeppelin) The Burstbucker 1 works well also in the neck. Very good combination I would have to say. Coil splitting is there if needed. The binding looked good and the fret ends were smooth also. Overall, it needed a little work when it arrived, but in the end this guitar turned out to be a great addition.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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(0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
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Pros
- Beautiful finish
- Fun To Play
- Good Feel
- Good Pick Up
- Good Tone
Cons
- Some Set-up Required
Best Uses
- Jamming
- Practicing
- Recording
Comments about Gibson SG Standard with Coil-Splitting Electric Guitar:
Looks:
Flawless. The "Classic White" looks beautifully and perfectly aged. I was somewhat worried it be Really Bright White, but it's not at all. The chrome hardware and mother-of pearl inlays make it a total class-act. As others have noted, the neck binding looks pre-aged- and I love it. I love everything about the look of this guitar- it's simply beautiful. It really feels like I am handling a perfectly cared-for antique instrument.
Feel:
The neck is smooth and fast. The guitar is light and well balanced. The fretboard is rosewood, but feels really solid like ebony. The selector switch and all four knobs are solid and feel like quality components. Chord-changes are quick and confident. This is the easiest guitar to play that I have ever picked up (beating out some really nice LPs, Flying Vs and Tele's I've had the pleasure of picking up over the years.)
Set-up:
When I unpacked the guitar the intonation was dead-on, but there was fret buzz on the second and third frets- and the neck needed some relief- as it was dead-straight. I loosened the truss-rod less than a 1/4 turn which did the trick, but then I had to re-set the intonation, which- given the 'tune-o-matic' bridge, was shockingly simple! After about 45-minutes it's screaming.
Sound:
Sustaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaain.
Very Pete Townsend. Solid rock n' roll.
Random Details:
- The set-neck is flawless and looks for all the world like a straight-through.
- The tuning pegs are sensitive as heck and took a little getting used to.
- I've played Ernie Ball strings forever, but I must say I really like the Gibson strings that came on this beauty and ordered a few sets of their 'vintage re-issue' strings for when these go out.
Wrap-up:
I've been playing a LOT more since this beauty arrived. 'Nuff said.
Pros
- Fun To Play
- Good Feel
- Good Pick Up
- Good Tone
- Solid Electronics
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Gibson SG Standard with Coil-Splitting Electric Guitar:
I was wary of buying a guitar without trying it first, but was told that if I didn't like it, I could return no questions asked. When it arrived three days later it was love at first sight. It has fantastic tone and a good feel. I've had it for two weeks now and it is nicer than I imagined.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Was this review helpful? Yes / No
- You may also flag this review
Pros
- Fun To Play
- Good Feel
- Good Pick Up
- Good Tone
- Solid Electronics
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Gibson SG Standard with Coil-Splitting Electric Guitar:
Really nice instrument. I wasn't sure if I would like the the slim-taper neck, since I have an LP Studio with the 50's, but this neck is really nice. I also play Fenders, Strat and Tele's, yet getting used to this neck was a breeze. The Burstbuckers sound great in both HB and coil split modes. I have the white, wanted the red (not available with this neck and split coils) but the white is actually a bit vintage looking...very nice! Craftsmenship is exactly what you would expect from a MIA guitar - absolutely perfect. I would like to say more, but I have to go play my SG!
Comments about Gibson SG Standard with Coil-Splitting Electric Guitar:
Ok so this is my first Gibson and I chose a SG instead of the LP just for the cost savings but my god this thing is beautiful and plays like a dream . Not only that It is extremely versitile! love it
Comments about Gibson SG Standard with Coil-Splitting Electric Guitar:
Normally I try to buy from my three favorite local shops, but none of them had this SG. My experience with the purchase was 100% and Most Excellent. Musicians Friend did a wonderful job at getting a beautiful quality SG in my greedy little hands! Feels Good to Win!
The most eye opening feature are of course the coil splitting pickups with the push pull knobs. This is why I wanted to try this guitar..that and its an SG! The coil splitting is fantastic and gives a new and wonderful charecter to the sg as well as extended tonal variations. I purchased the Silverburst model and must say all of the bells and wistles are impressive. Always been a fan of the stopbar tail piece..makes those adjustments and string changes sooo much easier. If you have not yet had an sg then buy a right angled instument cord...if you've had an sg then you know what I mean!
Gibson did not dissappoint me with the quality of this sg...weight...balance...craftmenship...beautiful paint...when you hold this SG in you hands ...you know what quality feels like!! Plug in to an amp..and get ready to be amazed at the clarity and power. My silverburst was totally flawless...and believe me I looked it over real good. The company setting (while nice) just didnt get it...and after a couple hours of tweaking..this machine screams, wails, weeps and bleeds to perfection in my humble opinion.
I was lucky enough to get an additional discount that Musicians Friend honored....but dont tell them...I would have gone the full advertised price!
Comments about Gibson SG Standard with Coil-Splitting Electric Guitar:
I love this guitar - it doesn't get relagated to a case in the corner like some other guitars I have (which I'll now probably be selling).....this is a joy to play, gives me the range of tonal possibilities that is fun to experiment with - it's lightweight, rih and full in sound, well made and is detined to become a real classic and collectable guitar.
If I had ny suggestions for Gibson, I wish it was availabe in a wider range of finishes. This is such a great guitar, that to limit to justthe Artic White and Silver Burst finishes seems a real shame. A classic Cherry Red, Ebony, or even a Natural Brown finish would be nice. A lot of folks buy a guitar with the appearacne a primary determining factor - I could live with the white considering the features this guitar has, but would've jumped at a classic cherry red too.
I recently acquired this guitar in the Artic White finish. I also got a Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro + at the same time. I thought my 'go to' guitar would end up being the Les Paul....but, this SG is quickly becoming my favorite. I love the weight and feel of this guitar. Older SG's tended to be a little neck heavy with the neck being out of balance relative to the body. This guitar has the balance the older SG's seemed to lack. I also love the combination of pickups on this. The two Burstbucker styles used here really compliment each other and provide a sound that is only found on an SG.....this thing can growl. The coil tapping adds a brightness that is somewaht similar to a set of P90's - not a Fender single coil sound. All switches and knobs are easily accessible. The tuners are excellent - the guitar stays in tune (which you'd expect anyway). I really am enjoying this guitar. It feels 'natural' to me.....like I've had it for years and it's an old and familar friend. I can get clean and clear sustainable trebles; I can get as muddy and grungy as you'd like with sharp edged midtones....and a pounding, thundering low end. I;m very please with the sound - split coil and full Burstbuckers......this has the potential to be a true classic guitar.
The guitar is well made. I have the Artic White finish and with the black pickgard and Ebony necl, the color contrast makes for a really cool, retro look. The white has an almost yellowish tint to it whihc will probably darken more over time. The new guitar came with a strong polishing compund odor - it takes a few days in the open air to dispel. The binding on the neck also has a little bit of an odd tint to it ....almost a slight salmon color which may be due to the polishing compound. The neck to body joint is very good and solid - no wiggle or distortion from aggressive playing which older SG's tended to experience. The pickups are fantastic - the combination of the Burstbucker 1 and 3 pickups creates a unique sound that isn't featuredon other Gibson guitars (to my knowledge).....it's a big, full sound that lets this guitar throw down some thunder.....and I love it. The setup as delivered is a little high - but with the stock strings, it seems appropriate. I'll probably put on a lighter gauge set (.010's) and lower the action a little, but for now, it's all good - just a little tweaking. I would'v given this a solid 10 except for the dd tint on the binding - pictures dont show this and I don' kow if this is typical or unusal....but, it makes this look a little bit more 'vintage'.
I got this during a special promotion through MF abd have to say it's probably one to the top 5 deals I've ever gotten on any guitar....and the best I've gotten on a new guitar from a dealer. Even if you were to pay the full price for this with no discount, it's priced similar to a traditional SG Standard - and this gives the coil splitting capability at essentially no extra cost - Unless you really want the sound of the 490/498 combo featured on the traditional SG Standard, this is a no-brainer - myself, I think the 490/498 sound is classic, but also pretty common, so the Burstbucker 1 & 3 combo was a real plus.
Comments about Gibson SG Standard with Coil-Splitting Electric Guitar:
Can't put it down! Currently this is my go to guitar and wont ever get rid of it...a light and speedy tonal beast!!
Absolutley love this Guitar! It has alot of tonal variation with the Split coil pickups, but don't expect it to sound like a Fender...as the two are apples and oranges, more P90 ish tone...definetly more bite than the humbuckers. People have said there isnt much of a difference when its in sigle coil mode, but all I can say mine definitley does, but you have to have it louder to notice it more.
The Finish is beautiful on these, craftsmanship is A+, binding is great, fretwork awesome, nut is perfectly cut and set. My only gripe was the setup was pretty bad, has to tweak the truss rod , lower the bridge and set the intonation quite a bit. Once I got through this, it is now perfect and sounds like a beast, intonation is now dead on and stays in tune perfectly.
I love SG's ...they're such a good deal in comparison to Les Pauls...dont get me wrong I love LP's and have 2 of them and get that they're more expensive to make. But for well south of $1,500, you're getting quite an amazing guitar with a ton of features and killer tone.
