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Fender Toronado or Faded SG?


lank81

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So, I've been thinking about getting a Faded SG or something similar. That being said, the Fender Toronado was Fender's stab at the shorter 24.75" scale / humbucker combo. I could get this in a trade with upgraded pups / electronics but how does it compare to the SG? Is the SG the better option or is the Toronado just as good?

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I generally like Fenders a lot more and funky, offbeat Fenders that aren't in vogue lately have a place in my heart so of course I'll say Toronado. Everyone has an SG so go a different route. Of course, this also means that a lot of people will show up and vote for the SG so if you're looking for group concensus, I'm sure that will win, I'll save you the wait.

 

The scale length would give them a similar feel, in terms of string tension, but they're two completely different guitars. New tone is just a pup swap away if you need to alter the sound a bit.

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Ive never been pleased w/ the faded SGs when I pick them up. A Mexican toronado feels like a higher quality instrument, plays really well. I had one for a short time, got it for cheap, didn't like the color, flipped it for profit.

I was not a fan of the stock humbuckers, but I don't know if I can apply that opinion to the newer models or the usa made ones.

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Different feel, different vibe. All Mahogany vs. alder body, maple neck. Though, I saw one review say it was a mahogany body. Either way, different. Depends on what you are looking for. I would go for the SG. I like faded guitars though.

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Heh, I was expecting to be going against the grain by saying Toronado, but yeah, that would be my pick. No SG for me please. Neck dive son, not the case with the fender. Also, I would think, depending on the wood, that the Fender might sound a little fuller/thicker as the body is considerably larger. :idk:

 

They also made several versions of the Toronado. Some were alsder and I do believe there were mahogany ones too.

 

Is it like this:

 

fender_toronado_deluxe_sh.jpg

 

or this?

 

Fender+Toronado+GT+HH.jpg

 

or perhaps this? (I think these were mahogany)

 

6490d7d3c80c5257f7b1627e967b36c2.jpg

 

(sorry for wonky image sizing... not sorry for any gas induced)

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Oh, and just for {censored}s, I thought I'd post a pic of an older (not mine) Fernandes Vertigo, as these are like the best two offset deigns there are. You can't really like one and not the other, I wouldn't believe you anyway.

 

 

Uh, I can. The Toranado looks kind of cool, but the Vertigo is aptly named- I'd need dramamine if I saw a band playing one of those. That thing makes the SX Gumbycaster look elegant.

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I've had a bunch of SGs and loved them all, I'm just a gear whore DEluxe and can't hold on to anything for more than a minute. That said, I look for SGs on CL and ebay all the time hoping for another food deal. Not a fan of offsets much even though I should be the poster boy for Fender.

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Based on my limited experience, I'd guess the production quality on the SG will be higher. Every guitar is different, but isolated cases aside, I'd bank on USA Gibson over most MIM/MIK Fender. Also, I like the finish and fatter neck.

 

All that said, I prefer the design of the Toronado. Modular parts, tough construction, no neck dive and no fragile headstock. If there was, say, a Highway One Toronado, I'd definitely go that way. As it stands, I'd have to play them.

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I'm a big SG fan and I actually like the faded finish. Now having said that I'm still gonna say go with the Fender for the different, funky vibe. You can ALWAYS find an SG later.

 

 

i was really excited about the faded finish, it looked really good.

but the lack of grain filled on the neck gets me every time, it makes me expect splinters.

not to mention everyone i see (always at a GC) seems to have poor action and pokey fret ends..

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In the end I'll be trading my Casino for something. It's a great guitar but the full hollowbody is a little too much for feedback and the stock pups, ah, not a huge fan. I'm looking for either a nice Semi-Hollow or a Solid with Humbuckers. I kinda chose the SG just based on perceived quality. The ones I've played were pretty good although I feel the MIM Fender Deluxe Reissues generally have more tonal range. So I think in the end it'd be more like Toronado, MIM Tele Deluxe RI, or Semi-Hollow of some sort. I just dig the funky fenders. Either way, it'll be hard to trade away the Casino because it is a beautiful guitar.

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i was really excited about the faded finish, it looked really good.

but the lack of grain filled on the neck gets me every time, it makes me expect splinters.

not to mention everyone i see (always at a GC) seems to have poor action and pokey fret ends..

 

 

I've only played a couple, one SG one Explorer and those were both fine, (actually the Explorer was quite a bit better than just fine, but I digress) but it's hardly a representative sample I realize. I just tend to strongly prefer a non-glossy neck. And of course the two I played were actually set-up as opposed to the "toys for the monkey-cage" handling that most GC instruments get.

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I don't believe that you really feel that way.




{censored} yeah dude, JUMP ON THAT SHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEIT!!!!!! Is it orange? What color if not? Phat Cats are great.

 

 

Black with Tort Pickguard. More subtle and sexy than in your face orange. although I do dig the orange.

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i was really excited about the faded finish, it looked really good.

but the lack of grain filled on the neck gets me every time, it makes me expect splinters.

not to mention everyone i see (always at a GC) seems to have poor action and pokey fret ends..

 

These last issues can very likely be solved w/ proper setup & humidification. I love my SG Faded, the thin nitro finish totally beats the polyurethane that covers most of the foreign-made Fenders. I just can't get used to the thick poly finish on the neck & body of my Baja Telecaster.

 

To the OP: Go with the Gibson. The SG is one of the four fundamental types of solidbody electric guitar; if you don't like it, then you can at least rule out future SG purchases. Just my 2 cents.

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