The thin body is a thing that I keep in mind and which could potentially work against it, at least initially. In fact, that was another thing rolling in the back of my head while I couldn't sleep - if only they made thicker SGs... 
 
That's the next step - trying a couple of them and see how they feel. Who knows? I have this little LP Junior which is pretty thin and I still dig it. 

If your wife plays at all, she'll love the SG.  It's a huge favorite of female players and I've got two friends with wives that own SG's (one doesn't play at all and it bugs him when we start talking in a language he doesn't understand - lol).

Funny you mention that because I just sent my wife a link to a little SG Bass minutes ago! She wants to play bass - she isn't really into learning guitar.

 
She dropped by Guitar Center on her way back 2 days ago and came this close to grabbing a short scale Mustang, but her mind wasn't 100% made up.
 
I'll be playing it too, and personally, I'd also like to consider those Ibanez that a few folks around here suggest. In terms of playability, as I mentioned earlier, my favorite bass ever was a Gibson SG so that would have been my potential first choice - but sonically, back then at least, I wasn't totally convinced by that single neck pick up. I'd probably hear it differently these days, but still, I'm not sure it'd be as versatile as I'd want it to be. Because I am thinking in terms of recording.

I've owned the bass you are showing and it was great to play. The Epiphone pickup is built just like the vintage Gibson EBO pickup. The one drawback is that they are very dark sounding. Great for covering Bob Marley tunes but lacking bite.
 
I have been wanting an SG since I was a kid and have never found the perfect one. Most of my searching has been for a cherry 63 model, but I have started to look at new production as a more practical option. When I was last in the music store they had an incredible Epi SG on display and I encourage you to check it out before you buy. It's part of a korina series that Epi did. Same finish as a korina flying V and light as a butterfly. Nice meaty neck that doesn't feel like a noodle when playing it. The one I looked at had gold hardware and white plastic.
 
As with most Epi products, I find the electronics could be improved but are very usable out of the box. Happy hunting.

Why do I think that "dark sounding" won't be a drawback for Rain or his wife?

Thanks for the input, John.
 
For a long time I've stuck w/ strat, for a couple of reasons, one of them being that I couldn't find a Les Paul that felt right. Even when I started showing interest for the model again, every single one I tried including the expensive ones were not it. The Epiphone LP I tried because a sales guy at Sam Ash insisted, I was there to buy yet another strat. I was sold on the spot.
 
But I've also had bad experiences w/ Epiphones - one Flying V a dozen of years ago in particular -  I couldn't believe it made it out of the factory.
 
Anyway, I always give them a fair try. W/ the SG, I have all the more reasons because it's totally different. As for the rest, well, I can always upgrade it. 
 
Craig - LOL. More seriously, they make one w/ another pick up closer to the bridge. But it isn't a short scale, unfortunately.

Here you  may find out, although being there is different.
 
Get a Nighthawk, well, I don't think Epiphone makes one as of yet. ?? Don't know, did not see it.

http://forum.gibson.com/

http://www.sweetwater.com...php?s=gibson+nighthawk
 
Maybe a used one perhaps.
 
Epiphone Genesis Reissue
http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/81917-epiphone-genesis-reissue-review-demo/
 
??
 
Maybe just joking also.
 
 
 

Rain
Craig - LOL. More seriously, they make one w/ another pick up closer to the bridge. But it isn't a short scale, unfortunately.

It's interesting, because Epiphone calls the current model an "EB-3", which technically was the name of the Gibson short scale version. The long scale version was called an "EB-3L". Getting the naming wrong is a really dumb thing to do for a number of reasons. 
 
And I could be wrong, but my foggy memory seems to remember that Epi made both EB-3 and EB-3L models a few years back.

spacealf
Here you  may find out, although being there is different.
 
Get a Nighthawk, well, I don't think Epiphone makes one as of yet. ?? Don't know, did not see it.

http://forum.gibson.com/

http://www.sweetwater.com...php?s=gibson+nighthawk
 
Maybe a used one perhaps.
 
Epiphone Genesis Reissue
http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/81917-epiphone-genesis-reissue-review-demo/
 
??
 
Maybe just joking also.
 
 
 

I've seen both the Genesis and the Nighthawk by Epiphone.
 
To be honest, I've always been more inclined to buy 20 of the same model than one of each. It's pretty wild and daring for me to even think about trying something other than a Les Paul, but I'm just too curious to try an SG. 
 
But maybe someday I'll be brave enough to take it one step further and try other models like the Nighthawk. I also thought of a Flying V - as impractical as they can be.
 
In such a case, it's very likely that I'll try to find one that's black and ivory. I really have a fascination for duplicates and series.
 
 
Drew - thank for the info! I'll look that up. Who knows - maybe I'll stumble upon a deal on a second hand short scale/non-L EB-3