Members gdsmithtx Posted July 18, 2014 Members Share Posted July 18, 2014 Fell off the GAS wagon. Link - Epi "1966" G-400 Pro SG in TV Silver, closeout @ $220 while supplies last. In for the SG; amazing deal for $240 w/tax. For a bit more distinctive(/vintage?) look beyond the basic black-on-silver, I'm going with a pickguard replacement to something like black pearl, silver pearl, black paisley, red (or brown) tortoise, etc. (Opinions?) Rosewood with the trapezoid fret markers helps. I may swap the tuners out for a more vintage looking set. And a Tusq nut swap, because 90% of tuning issues in inexpensive guitars are improved with a good replacement nut that doesn't require constant lubrication. Epi says that the pickups are the relatively new Alnico Classic Pro set that they've been including in their ES 339 Pro (as hopefully distinct from the older muddy, sloppy, aggressively bland Epi Alnico Classic set that came in my Dot Deluxe) for a couple of years. I've played a few of those 339s, and the pickups are much better than any other Epiphone I've ever played. It's almost like they might just stay in the guitar, despite my longstanding trend of always upgrading pickups. The 339 / SG's 4-knob, 2-switch electronics allow independent coil switching and adjustment, making "split" single coil tones available on the neck and bridge pickups independently and in any single coil/humbucker/tone/volume combination. I have this same setup on another guitar (Ibanez SZ520 with Dimarzio Bluesbucker(n) and Air Zone(b) pickups) and it is extremely versatile. Especially so when using the neck in humbucker mode and the bridge split to single coil: you have a nice warm neck tone, a sweet, clear bridge tone for excellent rhythm, and an almost acoustic middle position with the volume backed off. Then, with a push of a knob (switching the bridge to humbucking mode) you get a fat, powerful lead tone from the bridge. You can do a similar trick with the neck to add a clear, Tele flavored tone on top of the mix. This SG should be even more adaptable than my SZ520, because it has independent vol/tone controls per pickup, whereas the pickups in my "HB switching" Ibanez share one set of vol/tone controls. On the other hand, if the stock pickups don't work out, I'm probably going to swap them out with the beautiful Seth Lovers I have in my Dot, and then sell the Dot. [edit] Or crap, I might decide to go dual humbucker-sized P90s, like Rose Black Velvets or Tonerider Rebel 90s. Maybe Phat Cats with a magnet swap. ______ Spoke with GC and the deal (along with the Brendan Small Explorer is for new but discontinued-from-stock guitars, so it's until the stock runs out. Still good at 10:30pm on Friday 7-17. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members batbear Posted July 18, 2014 Members Share Posted July 18, 2014 Nice looking guitar, and 130$ off what it was is pretty good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gdsmithtx Posted July 18, 2014 Author Members Share Posted July 18, 2014 Thanks! I'm in serious anticipation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sammyreynolds01 Posted July 18, 2014 Members Share Posted July 18, 2014 On my epi, I don't like the neck pickup at all. Too much bass but the bridge sounds killer. The locktone tailpiece comes in handy for string changes. You don't have to worry about it falling off. When I got the guitar, I heard the usual pinging coming from the nut. I just put some big bends nut sauce on it and I haven't had tuning issues since. That reminds me, I need to buy some more nut sauce . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members steve_man Posted July 18, 2014 Members Share Posted July 18, 2014 looks sweet! Hope the neck is more stable than my G400 was. You could bend notes like a whammy bar with that neck. Loved the guitar except for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members brandass Posted July 18, 2014 Members Share Posted July 18, 2014 Nice one! Looking forward to your NGD, hopefully a HNGD at that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted July 18, 2014 Members Share Posted July 18, 2014 Congratulations. Happy (Pending) New Guitar Day. I've always liked SG's ever since I played one that belonged to a guy who lived in the same dorm in college. I wouldn't mind owning one someday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Buttcrust Posted July 18, 2014 Members Share Posted July 18, 2014 Looks good, good price...do I need another SG ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members knotty Posted July 18, 2014 Members Share Posted July 18, 2014 Hngd (pending)Is the hardware gold or is it a trick of the light? I ask because the frets have a bronze hue as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Malcolm Ramone Posted July 19, 2014 Members Share Posted July 19, 2014 Dammit man! The LAST thing I need is another guitar, let alone another SG!!! I have the walnut version of the 66. It's great, but coil taps would be sweet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wankdeplank Posted July 19, 2014 Members Share Posted July 19, 2014 That looks like a whole lotta guitar for two bills. Wish I could get along with SGs but they have such a unique feel IMO. All my heros from the dark ages played SGs it seems, many with an added bigsby. Let us know how you like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gdsmithtx Posted July 19, 2014 Author Members Share Posted July 19, 2014 Hngd (pending) Is the hardware gold or is it a trick of the light? I ask because the frets have a bronze hue as well. No, it's all silver. I've got a soft spot for gold hardware, though; that would look nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Malcolm Ramone Posted July 19, 2014 Members Share Posted July 19, 2014 And, facebook is showing me a TV silver Epi Wilshire ad now, even cheaper!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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