Gibson SG Special 400 Opinions?

Freddy-Bl00D

So i've got my USA strat and now my head is racing around stuck on gibsons.
I have the opprortunity to get a 1985 Gibson SG Special 400 in a fair condition.. I wanted to get myself one of those new HH Blacktop Strats with the Floyd rose and also a Les Paul/SG copy if I couldn't afford the real deal somewhere in the future... But now this has popped up. It has a Kahler Flyer bridge which could possibly meet my needs in the locking bidge area, and it's an SG which is a score, Its just the pups that are a dissapointment because its HSS but I believe with the right pick ups I could get the tones i'm after..

So give me your opinions and convince me to either buy or not to buy this guitar..

BODY
Species: Mahogany

NECK
Species: Mahogany
Nut Width: Standard Gibson: 1.695" +/- .050"
Truss Rod: Gibson Adjustable Truss Rod
Truss Rod Cover: Bell-shaped cover

FINGERBOARD
Species: Ebony
Inlays: Dot
Number of Frets: 22
Scale Length: 24 - 3/4"

HARDWARE
Plating Finish: Black
Bridge/Tailpiece: Kahler Flyer
Tuners: Grover

ELECTRONICS
Neck Pickup: Single coil
Middle Pickup: Single coil
Bridge Pickup: Dirty Fingers
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone, three mini on/off switches, push/pull volume knob for coil tap

FINISHES
Ebony
Ferrari Red
Pewter

vic

Freddy-Bl00D wrote: So i've got my USA strat and now my head is racing around stuck on gibsons.
I have the opprortunity to get a 1985 Gibson SG Special 400 in a fair condition.. I wanted to get myself one of those new HH Blacktop Strats with the Floyd rose and also a Les Paul/SG copy if I couldn't afford the real deal somewhere in the future... But now this has popped up. It has a Kahler Flyer bridge which could possibly meet my needs in the locking bidge area, and it's an SG which is a score, Its just the pups that are a dissapointment because its HSS but I believe with the right pick ups I could get the tones i'm after..

So give me your opinions and convince me to either buy or not to buy this guitar..

BODY
Species: Mahogany

NECK
Species: Mahogany
Nut Width: Standard Gibson: 1.695" +/- .050"
Truss Rod: Gibson Adjustable Truss Rod
Truss Rod Cover: Bell-shaped cover

FINGERBOARD
Species: Ebony
Inlays: Dot
Number of Frets: 22
Scale Length: 24 - 3/4"

HARDWARE
Plating Finish: Black
Bridge/Tailpiece: Kahler Flyer
Tuners: Grover

ELECTRONICS
Neck Pickup: Single coil
Middle Pickup: Single coil
Bridge Pickup: Dirty Fingers
Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone, three mini on/off switches, push/pull volume knob for coil tap

FINISHES
Ebony
Ferrari Red
Pewter

How much does he want for the Gibson ? Surely that's a very important consideration.

Freddy-Bl00D

It'll be around 10K in the long run i think... It's 7k now but it has wiring issues and i'll probably rewire it with new pups if the stock ones arent up to it...

vic

Freddy-Bl00D wrote: It'll be around 10K in the long run i think... It's 7k now but it has wiring issues and i'll probably rewire it with new pups if the stock ones arent up to it...

No, rather get an SG special for that price. I see them going for around R8000 on Gumtree. In fact there's one in Stellenbosch for sale right now.

http://capetown-westerncape.gumtree.co.za/c-Stuff-for-Sale-musical-instruments-GIBSON-SG-guitar-W0QQAdIdZ309030159

http://capetown-westerncape.gumtree.co.za/c-Stuff-for-Sale-musical-instruments-gibson-SG-W0QQAdIdZ309272325 (same guitar I think)

http://northerncape.gumtree.co.za/c-Stuff-for-Sale-musical-instruments-Electric-Guitar-GIBSON-USA-SG-Guitar-W0QQAdIdZ307308255

chris77

+ vic. I don't like the way it looks. (Shallow, I know) And not just the colour. An SG with single coils and a bucker?? I honestly never knew they made those.... Naah, I'd pass.
Like vic said, there's better ways to scratch your itch.

Kalcium

Guitartone.co.za has a gibson SG standard for R12750 and a '61 reissue SG for R15000...R12750 isn't that much more than 10k and you'll be getting the real deal...alternatively if a Gibson SG standard is that price I'd imagine a MIJ Tokai SG would be 10k and below and would be every bit as good as the gibson IMO

Norman86

Kalcium wrote: Guitartone.co.za has a gibson SG standard for R12750 and a '61 reissue SG for R15000...R12750 isn't that much more than 10k and you'll be getting the real deal...alternatively if a Gibson SG standard is that price I'd imagine a MIJ Tokai SG would be 10k and below and would be every bit as good as the gibson IMO

The guitar in question IS a gibson??
So how would he be getting the real deal by buying another gibson??
Unless you mean an SG with dual buckers??

MikeM

Norman86 wrote:Unless you mean an SG with dual buckers??

An guitar that has the shape of an SG but regular strat style single coils and a locking trem is NOT an SG in my books ?

Norman86

MikeM wrote:
Norman86 wrote:Unless you mean an SG with dual buckers??
An guitar that has the shape of an SG but regular strat style single coils and a locking trem is NOT an SG in my books ?

I would agree! Im quite partial to the look! but not the weight!
im just curious as maybe Kalcium didnt see the original guitar IS a gibson sg?!

vic

MikeM wrote:
Norman86 wrote:Unless you mean an SG with dual buckers??
An guitar that has the shape of an SG but regular strat style single coils and a locking trem is NOT an SG in my books ?

+1

Freddy, if you want a Gibson SG, go for the traditional "Special" or "Standard" SG guitar...humbuckers,etc.

In this case older ('85 model) is definately NOT better.

singemonkey

Guitars like this are how Norlins got a bad reputation - poor design choices. If it's the classic you're after, give it a miss. Take Vic's advice and get the SG special, or get a Tokai SG88 '61 SG clone (http://www1.odn.ne.jp/tokaigakki/products/vintage/sg88.html). Both should cost around what you're planning to pay before mods.

There are plenty of great SGs from that era, but that one ain't one of them.

Kalcium

MikeM wrote:
Norman86 wrote:Unless you mean an SG with dual buckers??
An guitar that has the shape of an SG but regular strat style single coils and a locking trem is NOT an SG in my books ?

?

I have a '72 SG and it is NOT HSS...Think Angus played an '80s SG (Singe?) but it was dual humbucker for sure...
But yeah look at that tokai ? that is sexy! ?