Price watch (90)

Swee Lee is listing this for $1,099...

Same seller. When the VM Baritone debuted around 2021, it was listed for USD600 +/- but along the way, this one somehow gained cult status & listed for about USD1K (SGD1,341) in the after aftermarket. I don't recall seeing this black version being brought into the stores here but still, paying that much for a Squier?

Price is too good to be true but understandably so as it suffered a broken headstock along the way. If you trust the standard of this repair, by all means, go ahead.

On a personal note, I prefer broken headstocks to be repaired with splines (above) as an approach to strengthening the broken areas. This is a more assured way but not the compulsory standard to observe, it depends on the type of breakage. Stay away from broken headstock instruments if you can.

Pic: sguitarworks

LP - SG

Good day, folks. Hope the Monday started well for all of us. Just leaving some things here when it comes to the LP - SG dimensions. As you can see above, the SG is actually longer than the LP. Many of us wouldn't have noticed this until they are placed side by side like this.

Do take note of these measurements as well; the SG body width (longer than the LP) & the bridge distance to the body edge (more than the LP). Why are these important? If you buy a bag that fits the LP, it does not automatically fit an SG. Same goes for hard cases. Also, if you wish to mod the bridge to let say a Bigsby type, that distance to the edge might make / break your plans. Before we go, the LP you see above weighs 3.9kg, while the SG is 2.9kg. So if you had been playing an LP all along & wish for something less spine-taxing, a switchover is a valid move.

Disclaimer

The SG featured above is the SG Special T (2017) which features 24 frets. Does this make the neck longer than the SG Standard featuring only 22 frets? 

Answer: No. The 23rd & 24th frets are actually occupying the empty space as indicated above.

Pic: Gibson USA

SG Tuesday

 

Started playing early, in fact, before breakfast. These two are my most enjoyable SGs, always bring out my best. 

SG Muse. The Epiphone SG Muse is simply magical, no mods here less the locking tuners. I even like the default pickups, a mix of vintage & contemporary tones especially for solos. I also love the coil split options here, awesome for crunchy tones. Also, this SG has the input jack located at the side so it prevents me from grabbing the plug instead of the control knob during frantic moments.

SG Special (2015). Despite being dreadful in terms of commemorative features compounded by the defunct robot tuners, this is the Gibson neck profile I wish was in all my Gibsons; wider & D-curved. That slight flatness does wonders for speed playing, that's what I noticed. I got this for 1/2 price, I'd acquire another if there's any more going round in the after market. 

Standard melody

Gibsunday it is. Early start to the morning, doom laden, of course. It seems that I incline towards playing doom metal when dealing with SGs, not that it's an exclusive association but it  kinda happened. 

Just for the fun of it, I played these two, it's like dealing with two ends of the SG spectrum; the most basic version (Melody Maker) vs the industry standard (Standard).  It's not about pitting one against the other but hearing what each has to offer in terms of ideation. The Standard is the heavier between the two & naturally has more low end. The pickups there are Gibson 61 humbuckers which manifest a good midrange response but not overpowering. The Melody Maker, on the other hand, has a maple body & by the sheer size of it, we would have thought that it's lightweight but it's not too far off the Standard. Simple reason - maple contributes to the weight. On that note, the MM has an airy tone to it so the lone bridge pickup there isn't too bright sounding but clarity is assured. 

My preference? Both serve different needs. For prolonged play & distortion menace, the MM is much easier in the hands. For smooth legato passages, the Standard's neck humbucker is hard to beat. That's the Sunday morning in a nut shell. 

G bag

Do I need another Gibson bag? No, I don't. 

Doing my bit to help out a fellow cancer patient. I thought I had it bad but his chemo turned his fingers & feet black. This is another timely reminder for me to be grateful for everything, even in the face of adversity. Folks, unlike Gibson hard cases, the bag is generic & it fits both LPs & SGs. According to the manufacturer's website, this is the Premium soft case. Let's see if it will do its job down the road.

Selling: Epiphone hard case (SOLD)

Holiday eve listing. Have an Epiphone hard case to let go since it ended its duty today.

Condition: 8/10. Fits Explorer I think you can see my Explorer outline there. 😅 Due to my medical condition, I can only deal at Bt Batok mrt station; thanks for understanding.

• Selling: Epiphone hard case (8/10 condition)
• Fits: Explorer type shape
• Deal at Bukit Batok MRT station
• No reservations / trades
• Query / confirmation: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• Price: $70

EDIT: Folks, this case fits the Explorer shape the best, please note. Price revised.

'61 SG

Epiphone has released this SG called the '61 Les Paul SG Standard. The LP name is there because back then, the SG took over the monicker after the LP was discontinued.

And there's a white version as well. Is it a worthy '61 reincarnation? Not quite but they did include Gibson humbuckers, CTS pots, Mallory caps & a gorgeous hard case. Also, the neck is a one piece unit, not that it's 'better' but it's something not done elsewhere.

OK... we don't have an Epiphone dealer here. Hmph.

Epiphone 2020 (3): A-MUSE-ing

Continuing with Epiphone's impressive 2020 showcase - the Muse LP. It's a modern, chambered body affair but with thoughtful appointments. I like the inclusion of the belly cut & this green finish here - I've never seen one coming from Gibson/Epiphone - is downright attractive. 

The SG version is also available. This finish is equally enticing but that green is calling me...

Standard Tribute

FYI, there are no more Gibson SG Special/ Faded this 2019. These are all phased out & the only other offering below the Standard is the Standard Tribute model. It's a smart move by Gibson to curb distractions & maintain a 22-fret feature for the SG. It's purported to be the more affordable take on the Standard less the finish (satin body & neck) & pickups (490). Listing for a dollar shy of $1.5k, it's a reasonable asking price. In the mean time, it's out of stock at Swee Lee- might be more popular than we think it is.

Gibson 2019- moving on

Some official Gibson announcements this Summer & the world awaits the 2019 lineup revelation with reasonable anxiety after seeing what the brand name went through recently. I'm not a keen Gibson fan but I respect formidable craftsmanship & Gibson is one of the forerunners in this aspect, no contest. The brand name chief made himself heard recently by saying the 2019 selections would shed foul features in favour of sensible appointments. I'm not highlighting the entire range but the significant few that illustrate repentance more than anything else.

The LP Standard HP seen here for instance, ditched the rubbish robot tuners for a more functional set of locking Grover units instead. The model also includes an internal 5-way DIP switch for more sonic options- thumbs up!. Potential deal breaker- richlite fretboard.

Happy to know that the LP Studio-Tribute model is retained & continues to offer no-frills features. The satin finish is here to stay & fretboard markers are simple dots this time. 

'New' for 2019 is the SG Standard Tribute. It's as no-frills as the LP Tribute but I'd say it's a re-named SG faded more than anything else. 

Last but not least in this entry, I'm super stoked to see this Firebird Tribute. I was in the market for an entry-level Firebird which Gibson offers in the mean time (Firebird Studio) but without a reverse headstock. Also, I'm not into that raised through body section which is eliminated here in the 2019 version (it was never a feature for the Studio version anyway) & the inclusion of the mini humbuckers is ace; it retains the authentic vibe. 

Dark & light

Gibson has just released a limited edition 7-string SG in black...

... & white. I'm interested because they feature a pair of Seymour Duncan pickups by default. The only disagreeable thing here is its limited run of 300 worldwide. Darn.

Gibson: Melody Maker SG

I think many of you won't bother with such instruments; bearing a formidable name in guitar making yet manifesting features which are more novelty than serious investment. This guitar was discontinued at least 3 years ago. Back then, it wasn't featured on the walls of the stores. I was aware of its existence through the manufacturer's website, I nearly bought one online (save for the fact that the store doesn't accept credit card charges). There are some Japanese online stores still offering it today but it somehow surfaced at Swee Lee. Since it's on a clearance price tag- why not.

Gibson SG lefty

One of the contents in the 2 boxes you see previously- a lefty Gibson SG, not mine. By the time you read this, it would already be in the hands of its rightful owner, brother Zahid. I believe he received a good one, meaning- this guitar = flawless, action was fantastic out of the box & the neck was ramrod straight (remember, straight doesn't equal good). My job was to do a secondary inspection, no further tweaking needed. 

Goth pack

Epiphone has a Goth SG as part of their starter packs (the manufacturer calls it 'performance pack'), it features a kill-switch. Wonder if this kill-switch thing is fashionable now...

Gibson: SG Standard (2)

These are the default pickups in my Gibson SG Standard- the 490R & 496T. As you can see, they had been removed from the instrument. Gibson fans might like them for their rounded, creamy tones (especially the neck pickup) but they are not my kind of pickups.

Once again, the Gibson pots & PCB. If your Gibson is a post-2010 model & isn't one to recreate a vintage original specification, it will be fitted with one of this. It makes perfect manufacturing sense in the production line when things would get a little speedier with a ready PCB inserted into the guitar body & final non-solder pickup wires attachment, but if you choose to mod your electronics selectively, you have to forgo the entire assembly. Bummer.

Gibson: SG Standard (mine...)

Occasionally, I will acquire something not really to my preference but a worthy inclusion in my tone arsenal. The 'Gibson' brand name is an indisputable icon when it comes to tone & that's not just for show. The instrument presents itself to be of certain indigenous character, well-vouched by people in this industry. So I thought, since the SG Standard is given a cosmetic make-over come 2013, I'd spend some good money (since there are no more Ibanez/ ESP distractions in the mean time) to own one pre-2013 model & this cherry-finished version was it.

That said, I am not obliged to embrace & forgive the manufacturer's instrument-making philosophy; I still deem the SG a forgiven reject (that neck dive, let's not get into that) but it's something I can live with.This isn't my first SG, mind you.

Beautiful devils

These are beautiful SG models- Diablo Premium Plus. They are new, they are not available here yet but it's my kind of SG: 2 knobs/ 24 frets. Would be checking them out, of course.

Gibson: Diablo SG

OK, so the SG got a Floyd Rose in it this year as well, this one's called the Diablo. Note the lesser number of knobs in there (2 more frets here in case you missed them...) but what I like is the body's curved top unlike the flat traditional model- lovely.

Morte guitars

As featured in NAMM 2011, Gibson recently released the Gothic Morte models. These include the SG you see above...

... & a Les Paul Studio. It's a typical Gibson these two but the fretboards are not rosewood; it's an African timbre called Obeche. Also, the pickups in there are active GEM models.

Need proof? Here's the battery compartment at the rear.

SG 50th

Gibson is releasing the 50th Anniversary SG soon & it's only available in everybody's favourite finish: Black, limited to a few units of course. Anything special with this one? Nothing much less the additional 2 frets there. I sincerely hope the 24 frets will become a standard production feature in time to come.