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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
    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.
      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...
        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
          + 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.
            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
              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??
                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 ?
                  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?!
                    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.
                      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.
                        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! ?
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