61 out of 61 people found this review helpful.
Gibson Faded SG Special: My new studio buddy
Date of Review: Sep 7, 2005
The Bottom Line: The bottom line broke a string.
Note: This review was recently moved to this catagory under advisement of the catagory lead. It was originially posted under "Gibson SG Special". The guitar being reviewed is not a Gibson SG Special nor a Gibson Faded SG but rather a Gibson Faded SG Special. I hope this doesn't confuse anyone.
I have been reading reviews of this guitar for a while and decided to finally go for it and get my own. Gibson makes several SG series guitars ranging from $650 all the way up to over $5,000 but one thing they all have in common is that unmistakable SG look. Playability ranges also from "playable" to "almost plays itself". The SG Special also has variants which appear to be all lumped together here at Epinions into one single category so if this review is out of place, please leave a comment and I will attempt to have a category added by one of our revered category leads.
The guitar I bought is a Gibson Faded SG Special Worn Cherry which has the same features as all SG Specials except the finish of the guitar is worn cherry to make the guitar look like a vintage 1961 SG Special. The fret board is also made strictly of Rosewood which can vary on the standard SG Specials between rosewood and ebony on platinum. The hardware, number of frets and everything else is exactly the same on all new SG Specials. There are just these few minor differences between the models in the series.
My SG
My guitar has a beautiful Mahogany body finished in a worn cherry finish for a vintage SG look. The guitar is available in worn brown finish also but I preferred the cherry. The guitar plays a little stiff but I am used to playing a Fender Stratocaster which is probably the most playable guitar on the planet (in my opinion). Although I find it is a little harder to play than my Strat, the sound quality more than makes up for it. I have adopted the SG as my new studio buddy. It has replaced my Strat as my lead guitar for most of my projects.
I also notice it is much lighter than most electric guitars I have played in the past and I can stand with it much longer and with less shoulder strain than with my Fender. Therefore it has also replaced my Fender for most songs when I play live as well. I still prefer the Fender sound for certain songs but when it comes to a good old rock and roll sound or when I want that "hot" clean electric sound, I really like what the SG gives me.
Features
Pickups
The Faded SG Special uses 490R and 490T Alnico Magnetic Humbucking pickups which deliver a sound equivalent to "active" pickups without the use of batteries. These pickups are hot without using any extra electricity to make them so. The 490's have tonal characteristics similar to the ' 57 Classic but give a slight boost to the upper mids giving it a more contemporary humbucker sound.
Neck and Fret board
The neck is rounded and made of 100% mahogany. The truss rod is accessed at the top of the neck under a plate on the head stock. In order to access the truss rod, you must remove the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th strings so you can remove the plastic plate covering. The neck is finished in the same worn cherry finish as the body.
The fret board is made of 100% rosewood with position dots inlayed at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 19th and 21st fret positions with a total of 22 frets. It also has small inlayed dots on the side of the fret board marking the same positions.
Hardware
All hardware is finished in chrome with a polished high sheen. The guitar has a Gibson "Tune-O-Matic" bridge with a Stopbar tailpiece. The tuners are Gibson Deluxe Green Keys and the volume/tone knobs are black with silver inserts. The headstock is made of the same mahogany as the rest of the wood but with a layer of Ebony on the face and sports a gold Gibson logo. The output or "plug" is located on the front just below the volume/tone controls as with all SG guitars.
It also has a three way switch located just above the volume/tone controls. You can switch from top pickup to bottom pickup or a combination of the two if put in the center position.
My Experience
I am pleased with my SG. I have recorded in my own studio with absolutely wonderful results. The sound quality is truly "special". With this guitar I can achieve sounds that I could not with my Fender, it is like the difference in playing someone else's music and writing your own. When I record leads with my Fender Strat, I find myself saying, "Man that sounds a lot like…" but with the SG I can't find a similarity in my sound to other people. It's like it lets me be myself with my music instead of trying to "sound like" someone or something.
The clarity is great and with the 490 pickups it is very crisp and powerful. I have used it once in a live gig and it was so much easier to stand with the SG for long periods than it was with the Fender. I am not sure of the actual weight of either guitar but the SG "feels" at least 10 lbs. lighter. You can look at the two side by side and see that there is less wood used with the SG.
The only thing I have close to a complaint is that the SG feels stiffer than what I am used to but I will get used to it eventually. It's like the strings are harder to bend or maybe just a half millimeter higher from the frets. I have adjusted the action as low as I can get it without getting a string buzz but it still feels stiff. I have been playing Fender Strats for years and I have to say the Strats are extremely easy to play when it comes to fast leads and quick changes. The SG is not 'hard' to play but is it a little harder than what I am used to. Given a little time I will get used to the difference so I don't really feel that this is a complaint.
Conclusion
The SG Special is a great guitar with professional sound quality at a reasonable price. If you are an intermediate to advanced guitar player looking for a quality instrument to last a life time, this is a good choice. I wouldn't recommend it for beginners as much since it does take a little hand strength to play and some beginners can get frustrated with guitars that take a little effort to play and may become discouraged and give up. With practice and time this guitar will eventually be my main instrument in and out of the studio, at least until I find something better.
I am happy with my SG and recommend for studio especially. I have laid some really good tracks with it and look forward to many more.
Thanks for reading,
Gr8ful :-)
