Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Does anyone here own one of these guitars? What about a reissue from the Gibson Custom Shop of the '60s SG Special? I'm not interested in buying either, but I was wondering what your opinions are on them. For those of you who don't know what a SG Classic is, I can best describe it as basically a reissue of the SG Special that Pete Townshend used from '68-'73. The only difference is it does not have the wraparound bridge, and the original ones from the 60's did.

It's funny, for years MF had an SG with 2 P90s in it for aroung 700 bucks. Now that they call it the Pete Townshend model, it's double. Just like the Billy Joe Jr they sell for twice the price of a regular Jr. Really ridiculous, as you can always replace pickups and pickguards to match the "Artist" models much cheaper than buying it.

Aside from that, they sound great, play great, and look great!

My friend's dad has a Townshend SG, great playing guitar. He uses it for slide solos in a classic rock trio. The P-90s really scream!

The differences are the tail and the pickguard - the Townshend SG has a half, the Classic has a larger late-'60s style.

Looked them up on MF. As I see it, there's the Classic:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=517127

with big PG, and regular bridge/tail, and the Custom Shop Reissue:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=517995

which is pretty much a Townshend without the name.

I have a Townshend SG. The p-90's rock on that thing. Lots of fun to plug into my '59 Bassman. The action is killer, but intonation can be a little sketchy because of the wraparound tailpiece.

I'm holding on to a '68 SG my friend is wanting to sell.
All of my life I've hated the look of SG's

BUT, this guitar is the most fantastic guitar! Neck is to die for, ballsy sound (never been a Humbucker fan either...til now)

Stays in tune and perfectly intonated. Plenty of mojo.

Hate the looks of it though.

shamustwin wrote:....Hate the looks of it though.

The only way to look good playing one of those is in a school boy outfit with shorts and a tie.....Come on Jerry, try it...you'll like it.....

I've always played the sg juniors and I've had a few of them. (the junior is like the special but with one pickup)
For such a simple guitar they can do quite a lot of different sounds depending on your use of the tone and volume controls.
They usually have a big fat neck. The wraparound tailpiece does impart a slightly better tone, at the expence of fine tuning of your intonation.
The P-90s sound magical but are not for use with really high gain as they will hum their own tune....
If you don't need the neck pickup, just get a junior as the lack of pickup routing also improves the tone as well. They are also a bit stronger too! (perhaps thats why pete prefered the weaker special)
If you want the neck pickup sound the special is just the thing.
emac.

Thanks for the responses, everyone! I'm going to the Baton Rouge Guitar Center tomorrow, and I'll be having the chance to try out some Gretsches and Gibsons. I'm sure they'll be a lot different in the neck and sounds of my Fenders and Ric 12.

I'm definitely going to try out the SG Classic or Custom Shop SG Special RI, if I see one! Not buying, though, going save that money for a Ric!

Cheaper gibsons are often rough around the edges. Watch for fret ends that could take your finger off!
To be honest, save for the Rickenbacker, they usually better quality. (unless you really have to hear that P-90 roar!)
emac.

weemac wrote:Cheaper gibsons are often rough around the edges. Watch for fret ends that could take your finger off!
To be honest, save for the Rickenbacker, they usually better quality. (unless you really have to hear that P-90 roar!)
emac.

Often, but it's possible to find real diamonds. the Rule with Gibsons is to play many before choosing one. I can't find a flaw in my faded SG, I love it to death and back again.

You COULD save for a Rick... if you want a Rick... but nothing sounds like an SG with P-90's!!!!

weemac wrote:To be honest, save for the Rickenbacker, they usually better quality. (unless you really have to hear that P-90 roar!)
emac.

As I said, I'm not buying anything. I'm saving for the Ric. I was just curious about this guitar, and I thought asking fellow forumites would be the way to go.

johneek wrote: The only way to look good playing one of those is in a school boy outfit with shorts and a tie.....Come on Jerry, try it...you'll like it.....

Didn't you tour the UK dressed like that, John?

Hi, I have a new SG Classic in Cherry with P90's. (I had a 68 SG standard back in the day). It seems like the new body is a little slimmer and lighter? The neck is a little wider and thinner if you know what I mean. I tried grovers to complete the 60's thing but it became neck heavy and out of balance. The SG kicks major A. It sounds incredible through my AC15CC1 and it stays in tune better than my old spaghetti neck 68. It's really fun!

weemac wrote:Cheaper gibsons are often rough around the edges. Watch for fret ends that could take your finger off!

Actually, the SG Classic, while not quite as polished as the Standard and up, has a bound fingerboard, including the little nibs over the fret ends. The current SG Special (incl. a Faded model) has a plain fingerboard, but those come with regular humbuckers now.