Recently, I started looking at an alternative for my old strat which I don't seem to enjoy playing all that much these days. I've come prefer the ergonomics on my Les Paul (something I never thought I'd say), particularly for my picking hand. The Gibson style bridge just feel more comfortable.
I'm happy w/ Les Pauls but I thought it'd be nice to add something to my collection which would combine a bit of both the strat and the LP's strengths. Meaning a set neck, a tune-o-matic bridge and that big sound coupled w/ better access to higher frets and a smoother body shape. So the most obvious option is an SG. Admittedly, I'm a fairly "classic" guy.
As far as I can remember I've had a strange relation w/ SG's. I love some things about them but some other things just put me off. One very basic thing was that, I never saw one the worked for me on an aesthetic level, one that caught my eye and made me go "wow". The classic red is fine, but nothing to write home about I felt - and a bit too common, maybe. I don't know. All black doesn't work either, much to my surprise. I've seen a few natural. Not bad, but again, not necessarily anything that would turn my head.
So two days ago I was in bed trying to catch some sleep and I started thinking about my favorite color scheme for guitars - black and ivory, just like my LP. I'd never seen a SG like that, but I figured it should be pretty simple to buy a black one and just replace the plastic parts. I woke up the next day and started looking for pics on the internet and found this one:
Replace the knobs w/ my favorite amber top hat ones, and that's relatively close to the guitar I'm thinking of.
So that's an idea I'm toying w/ as my birthday is getting closer. Buying a little Epiphone G400 Pro and modify it.
The one thing that potentially wouldn't work w/ that is that the pickguard and the plastic piece between the neck and the pick up on the G400 are two individual pieces, unlike the one above w/ the smaller pick ups. Anyone, so far, I couldn't find a pick guard similar to the one above, w/ that extra part.
It's easy to find replacement for the pickguard, but not so much for the part between the neck and pick up. Off to Google "little plastic part between neck pick up SG"... :P Worst case, I could keep that part as is and replace the rest. No biggie.
Anyway, that's one option.
I've also checked the "faded" series. That's a twist on the traditional cherry and natural finishes that I could dig. And even if I dig the classic look, I may actually prefer the Grover tuners on the faded to the Wilkinson tulips on the regular G400.
Unfortunately, there seems to be lots of changes from one year of production to another and I'm not sure the currently available ones are the best yet. They seem to have lost the binding on the neck on the cherry one - which I loved. The color itself is now much closer to natural than cherry. At that rate, I might as well pick up the natural one.
All in all, I'm really considering this would be like a secondary guitar, next to my LP. Otherwise, I might have waited a bit and grabbed the Gibson SGJ for $600, which look awesome - the white one looks terrific - but that's not the kind of money I want to or can spend on a second guitar. When I put the money on a Gibson, hopefully, it'll be a genuine Les Paul.
I know I seem to put the focus on looks - but it'd be hard to discuss playability, that's something you see when you actually play the guitar. My Epiphone LP was actually the first Les Paul I felt comfortable playing - moreso than any Gibson I've played. As for sound, well. not only is it a matter of taste but there are so many variables - plus, you can switch those pick-ups anyway...
Anyway, I guess I ain't got any particular question, though any feedback from SG owners or even SG haters is welcome. If anyone has a name for that little plastic part, feel free to let me know. :P