ColdEye
TDPRI Member
whats the consensus on these? Been out of playing guitar for a while and I want to get one. Deciding between this and a Baja tele.
Gibson 2017 SG faded
- Thread starter ColdEye
- Start date
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Knowcaster
Tele-Holic
I was looking for an SG recently and tried a couple of Faded ones at a local music store. The 2017s have a different finish, I believe, than the earlier years. It seems to be a bit glossier, not so matte, but still with no grain filling. I thought they played and sounded great. In fact, of all of the SGs in the shop, a 2017 Faded was the most resonant and best playing one, even over the more expensive models. I was hesitating, as I didn't really like the uncovered pickups (they sound fine, but with the SG rear pickup sticking up so far I was afraid the windings could be damaged). In the meantime, I came across a used 2016 SG Standard in mint condition for about the same price as a new Faded, so I jumped on it. One thing to note is that at least in recent years, the Faded models have the 490 pickups in both positions, while the Standards have the much hotter 498 pickup in the bridge position.
Dismalhead
Doctor of Teleocity
I don't know if you could find two guitars that are more fundamentally different than an SG and a Baja. I started out as an SG fiend. Had three at one time. Still have the first I ever got, it's an '83 SG Special.
The SG is built for shredding. Thin, fast neck. Lightweight; some have neck dive depending on the body/neck wood weights. Stock humbuckers are gonna be great rock and roll pickups, same as you'd get in a Les Paul Studio - but I never thought they sounded very good clean. Every SG I've owned was somewhat thin and jangly when you played it clean. If you don't like it you can always swap the stock ones out though. If you want to stomp around and rock like Angus Young, you can't beat an SG. If you're not a rocker though, it's probably not for you.
The Specials, SGJ, and Faded series are just as well made as the Standards. They just don't have the fancy binding, inlays, fancy finishes, and pickup covers.
The SG is built for shredding. Thin, fast neck. Lightweight; some have neck dive depending on the body/neck wood weights. Stock humbuckers are gonna be great rock and roll pickups, same as you'd get in a Les Paul Studio - but I never thought they sounded very good clean. Every SG I've owned was somewhat thin and jangly when you played it clean. If you don't like it you can always swap the stock ones out though. If you want to stomp around and rock like Angus Young, you can't beat an SG. If you're not a rocker though, it's probably not for you.
The Specials, SGJ, and Faded series are just as well made as the Standards. They just don't have the fancy binding, inlays, fancy finishes, and pickup covers.
I gigged an SG and a Tele or an SG and a Strat for three years (and I'll soon be doing it again). I like SG's a lot.
SG's sound beautiful clean. They have very warm humbuckers that clean up as well as any humbuckers and the body of an SG is as comfortable as the body of a Strat. Both have the human curve and the human contour. I've never understood the "SG's are only for rocking" attitude. I can play a Steely Dan cd and noodle clean with an SG as easy as I could with my jazz guitar or one of my Les Pauls. If you want to play rock and roll an SG will sound fantastic and any good humbucker guitar should.
The 480/490 pickups have always been great Gibson pickups. The Burstbuckers are calmer like a PAF and when you take that sound and push the gain on an amp the harmonics in the gain are terrific. You can't loose on the Gibson pickups. I have a Standard, a Faded, a 70's Tribute and a Jr (all SG's).....I also have an Epi "Emily the Strange" model.
The Faded is a fantastic Gibson workhorse. I think my Faded was $719 on the wall at GC and they had a holiday 15% coupon sale and I ended up at $611. I added chrome pickup covers because I like chrome.....means nothing; just my style. If you can get in on a deal like that you can't loose. That's a great deal. I think GC or MF have something going now.
(image removed)
This is my second Faded.....I bought one in 2006 and I sold it later when I bought my Standard which was dumb. The case is a $49 MF house brand SG case. They work well. The new Faded model get plek'd. The neck and frets are really nice. This one has more of a 50's neck. My left hand cramps on a really thin neck. This neck is a nice handful. It's a very nice USA made humbucker guitar.
Go for it. Play it clean with both pickups before you crank the gain; they sound beautiful.
SG's sound beautiful clean. They have very warm humbuckers that clean up as well as any humbuckers and the body of an SG is as comfortable as the body of a Strat. Both have the human curve and the human contour. I've never understood the "SG's are only for rocking" attitude. I can play a Steely Dan cd and noodle clean with an SG as easy as I could with my jazz guitar or one of my Les Pauls. If you want to play rock and roll an SG will sound fantastic and any good humbucker guitar should.
The 480/490 pickups have always been great Gibson pickups. The Burstbuckers are calmer like a PAF and when you take that sound and push the gain on an amp the harmonics in the gain are terrific. You can't loose on the Gibson pickups. I have a Standard, a Faded, a 70's Tribute and a Jr (all SG's).....I also have an Epi "Emily the Strange" model.
The Faded is a fantastic Gibson workhorse. I think my Faded was $719 on the wall at GC and they had a holiday 15% coupon sale and I ended up at $611. I added chrome pickup covers because I like chrome.....means nothing; just my style. If you can get in on a deal like that you can't loose. That's a great deal. I think GC or MF have something going now.
(image removed)
This is my second Faded.....I bought one in 2006 and I sold it later when I bought my Standard which was dumb. The case is a $49 MF house brand SG case. They work well. The new Faded model get plek'd. The neck and frets are really nice. This one has more of a 50's neck. My left hand cramps on a really thin neck. This neck is a nice handful. It's a very nice USA made humbucker guitar.
Go for it. Play it clean with both pickups before you crank the gain; they sound beautiful.
backporchmusic
Poster Extraordinaire
I have a 2016 SG faded that I got in a trade, and it's fantastic, as the 2016 SG Standard P90 that I picked up new.
I am one who wishes the finish were thicker, if only to tame some trebly overtones when strumming that don't really come through the amp. I feel as if some of the vibration is simply escaping into the air, instead of remaining in the wood as resonance.
Weird, I know. But still the SG faded is a great player. I did take a knife blade edge and 'round' the edge of the neck manually, because I didn't like the 90 degree edge it had, since it lacked binding and that's how Gibson leaves them. Easy to do, and I am pleased with the results.
I used the half moon cutout of a blade like this. Very easy.
image removed
I am one who wishes the finish were thicker, if only to tame some trebly overtones when strumming that don't really come through the amp. I feel as if some of the vibration is simply escaping into the air, instead of remaining in the wood as resonance.
Weird, I know. But still the SG faded is a great player. I did take a knife blade edge and 'round' the edge of the neck manually, because I didn't like the 90 degree edge it had, since it lacked binding and that's how Gibson leaves them. Easy to do, and I am pleased with the results.
I used the half moon cutout of a blade like this. Very easy.
image removed
TimothyC
Tele-Afflicted
I think they're great. I like the smoother finish of the 2017 vs earlier years, but they're all great. I'm still hunting for an early year faded with the ebony fretboard and half Moon inlays.
ADP_82
TDPRI Member
Bought this one in 2016 new, added thw chrome covers and reflector knobs.
Fret board was a bit rough on arrival so had a pro set up and he dressed the board so it was as smooth as glass. I was initially disapointed but after the luthier work it was and still is mint and rarely loses tuning. which was a issue out the box. I bought online as the price was great but had to get it finished so buy in person of you can and try several.
Fret board was a bit rough on arrival so had a pro set up and he dressed the board so it was as smooth as glass. I was initially disapointed but after the luthier work it was and still is mint and rarely loses tuning. which was a issue out the box. I bought online as the price was great but had to get it finished so buy in person of you can and try several.
jman72
Friend of Leo's
I have a 2002 SG Faded that I bought 3 years ago and it has been my main player (80%) paired with my Am. Std. Tele (20%) in weekly gigs and practice sessions ever since. I was a Strat guy for 30 years before getting my SG, and it is BY FAR the most versatile guitar I own (in my opinion- I'm sure others would have a different one). I think it sounds great clean, but really growls with those humbuckers. In general, when I'm gigging and switching between lots of different tones (from clean and sparkley to overdriven mahem), the SG does it all very well. I do believe the older Fadeds are better quality, but that is also my opinion. Overall, though, I absolutely love my SG.
backporchmusic
Poster Extraordinaire
Anyone who has added chrome covers to their 490s on their SG--and noticeable change in tone? How would you describe it?
I find the open coil 490s to be a bit too agrressive but my expectations are off, since I compare all SGs to my 69 Standard with pafs that I had for many years.
I find the open coil 490s to be a bit too agrressive but my expectations are off, since I compare all SGs to my 69 Standard with pafs that I had for many years.
ADP_82
TDPRI Member
I didnt notice any change
Syrinx
Tele-Holic
If you want to see mine- look at the worn brown model on the AMS website-I got the one in the picture! It is a great guitar. The pickups are really nice-I can get any sound I need clean or dirty. Quality control is as good as my high end gibsons. Overall, I can easily say there is nothing about this guitar I would wish to be different.
No changes. No microphonics. Mine are not soldered on. The Gibson covers fit so tight that I don't think I could remove them.
backporchmusic
Poster Extraordinaire
Chrome plated or nickel? Did you wax pot them?
Chrome. No wax potting. They fit so tightly that it's a little intimidating (I don't ever want to screw something up). I did the same thing with a Les Paul 60's Classic and a 50's Tribute and my older 2006 Faded. I don't care for naked pickups on good guitars (that's just taste.....means nothing). I've never had trouble with covers.
backporchmusic
Poster Extraordinaire
Nice. I think I'll try it!
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