LP vs SG

MichaelMcKevin · August 2007

Wondering what people will say about this. I'm considering either one somewhere down the road. The SG would favor me in terms of weight cuz i have shoulder problems. What would I be missing with the SG?

exhausted · August 2007

not really missing anything with the SG. it's just a different tone. brighter, maybe a bit grittier than an LP.

better fret access with the SG. certainly lighter.

play em both. play a few. one after the other. the contrast really comes out with you put them back to back.

Beav · August 2007

I hear a lot of people bitch about the Paul's weight. With your shoulder problem, I'd go for the SG. I've got a Gibson SG, Epi Les Paul and Fender Strat. The SG is my #1 (and the lightest).

lucylespian · August 2007

Current production LP's are now all chambered, and they are not heavier than anything else.
SG's have better upper fret access it's true, but TBH, unless you need 24 frets, it's not a drama. It took me a while to get the hang, but I bend on the 22nd fret now.
SG's are great guitars for sure, but there is something about a Les Paul that is just a cut above. An SG does does not match an LP for tone and sustain, chords are fatter.
But, it's about you, and pick the one you like.
Disraeli Gears was recorded on an SG, Hendrix used one, countless awesome rock songs have been done on them.
If I could only pick one, it would be an LP for sure, preferably a Historic. The current ones are using South Amercian mahogany and the tone is as close to the 1959 burst tone as has ever been attained.

ianvomsaal · August 2007

It's already been said -- the Les Paul's tone is better than the SG's.
Tone-wise I like the Les Paul better (no comparison between the tone).

Honestly, I use to hate SG's until I received a 1971 SG-1 as payment for some session work I did.
That SG is the lightest guitar I've owned, and the neck is absolutely my favorite (best neck I've ever played).
It's also the loudest electric guitar (unplugged) I've ever owned, and has great sustain (pickup isn't my favorite).

Thussssssss . . . the tone isn't anywhere near any of my Les Paul's (I've never played an SG with comparable tone).
I've played quite a few other SG's looking for one that compares to a Les Paul, but I don't it exists (not enough wood).
Also, I've never found an SG that plays like mine (I haven't found an SG made within the last 25 years that plays like
mine). I actually love the neck so much that I'm gonna eventually get it's measurements reproduced for other guitars
like my Les Pauls and such.

If I could get an f-holed Les Paul with that neck shape, feel, and access I'd be in heaven.
Cheers . . .

- Ian C.T. vom Saal

lucylespian · August 2007

ianvomsaal wrote:

It's already been said -- the Les Paul's tone is better than the SG's.
Tone-wise I like the Les Paul better (no comparison between the tone).

Honestly, I use to hate SG's until I received a 1971 SG-1 as payment for some session work I did.
That SG is the lightest guitar I've owned, and the neck is absolutely my favorite (best neck I've ever played).
It's also the loudest electric guitar (unplugged) I've ever owned, and has great sustain (pickup isn't my favorite).

Thussssssss . . . the tone isn't anywhere near any of my Les Paul's (I've never played an SG with comparable tone).
I've played quite a few other SG's looking for one that compares to a Les Paul, but I don't it exists (not enough wood).
Also, I've never found an SG that plays like mine (I haven't found an SG made within the last 25 years that plays like
mine). I actually love the neck so much that I'm gonna eventually get it's measurements reproduced for other guitars
like my Les Pauls and such.

If I could get an f-holed Les Paul with that neck shape, feel, and access I'd be in heaven.
Cheers . . .

- Ian C.T. vom Saal

There is one out there, it is called a Johhny A sig, and it's a very sexy beast.

keeponrockin · August 2007

Have you looked at other brands as well?

The Michael Kelly Patriot is looking more attractive to me, after a p/u swap.

Anon · August 2007

I've got an SG and i love it. It's definitely been one of the most versatile and comfy guitars i have ever played. So much fun to play and they are not back breakers like a Les Paul. Playing my SG, to me at least, kinda feels like you're playing an acoustic with amazing fret access. It just resonates but the sustain dies off earlier than a LP. A Les paul totally has more sustain, and there is no doubt the tone is to die for. You will get a better tone with an LP.

I still don't think SG's get enough credit for being versatile. A good SG, say like a historic LP/SG or an original, with low to medium output paf's, can be used for everything. Seriously.

Because you said you already have shoulder problems you need to try a LP out and see how it feels. Not much good to you if it's gonna be troubling you. Seriously, you should play both and decide what you like better.

gimmesometruth27 · August 2007

i have 3 les pauls and the weight has never really been an issue for me. once i got my LP custom it was a little heavier than my 2 standards but it was not bad. yes it took a few days to get used to it and i had some soreness at my left shoulder ac joint (only because i have a prior ac separation from high school football) but i got used to it. now i can't even tell i have one strapped to me.
my sg is light as a feather and i love the tone, but i would buy 5 les pauls before i bought another sg. its just my opinion. i like the feel of having a big les paul hanging on my shoulder. i suggest you play alot of both and go with what you think is right. if you get a LP and weight is a concern, try using a wider strap so the weight is spread out over a larger surface area of the shoulder. save the narrow thin straps for light guitars like strats and sgs.

ianvomsaal · August 2007

lucylespian wrote:

There is one out there, it is called a Johhny A sig, and it's a very sexy beast.

I've played a few Johnny A's (they're nice playing guitars), but seriously I've never found a neck that feels like my '71.
I don't know what it is, but it's something special (I've even played other '71 SG-1's, but even they don't feel the same).
However, I know a tech that films you playing from the side to see how you play, what your hand does, ect, and then
he shapes your neck accordingly. I've already had him do this to two of my necks (fits like a glove when he's done).
I think if anyone can do what I want to have done he can.

- Ian

lucylespian · August 2007

I swear to God I dunno why I waste my fucking breath somtimes, but the new LP's are all fucking chambered and are not heavy !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anon · August 2007

lucylespian wrote:

I swear to God I dunno why I waste my fucking breath somtimes, but the new LP's are all fucking chambered and are not heavy !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Having a bad day are we?

and before anyone asks, the chambers are strategically drilled so as not to cut down on the sustain and resonance of the guitar...

I still like the feel of my SG better, but i am hearing ya lucylespian

Pacomc79 · August 2007

ianvomsaal wrote:

It's already been said -- the Les Paul's tone is better than the SG's.
Tone-wise I like the Les Paul better (no comparison between the tone).

Honestly, I use to hate SG's until I received a 1971 SG-1 as payment for some session work I did.
That SG is the lightest guitar I've owned, and the neck is absolutely my favorite (best neck I've ever played).
It's also the loudest electric guitar (unplugged) I've ever owned, and has great sustain (pickup isn't my favorite).

Thussssssss . . . the tone isn't anywhere near any of my Les Paul's (I've never played an SG with comparable tone).
I've played quite a few other SG's looking for one that compares to a Les Paul, but I don't it exists (not enough wood).
Also, I've never found an SG that plays like mine (I haven't found an SG made within the last 25 years that plays like
mine). I actually love the neck so much that I'm gonna eventually get it's measurements reproduced for other guitars
like my Les Pauls and such.

If I could get an f-holed Les Paul with that neck shape, feel, and access I'd be in heaven.
Cheers . . .

- Ian C.T. vom Saal

Have you had a chance to wank on the new ES-339 yet??

Dear Gibson Custom Shop.... please build one of these with an ebony board with ES 330 small block style inlay, and Grover Tuners, Then make the neck pickup a humbucker sized P90 with a hot 57 Classic in the bridge... Thanks... Your Friend, Paul.

lucylespian · August 2007

Pj_Gurl wrote:

Having a bad day are we?

and before anyone asks, the chambers are strategically drilled so as not to cut down on the sustain and resonance of the guitar...

I still like the feel of my SG better, but i am hearing ya lucylespian

Nah, you are thinking of the weight relief holes. They have gone way further than that. The new Lp's have a huge chamber, which actually improves resonance and sustain, making them very light.

I'm definitely not knocking SG's, just emphasising that weight is not really an issue with LP's at present.

Here's a link wiht some pics. I believe teh second pic shows accurately the current chambering of LP's.

http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123911&highlight=chamber

who's_pearljam? · August 2007

I like both! I have a '68 SG that I bought new, and that guitar rocks. There IS a bit of a different vibe between the Paul and the SG.
My SG has a bit more ragged rock and roll sound to it. A light guitar like that and the Mahogany makes it resonate more.

I think a sound chamber in a Les Paul will give it a little more zing and resonance. There's no way it will sustain the same, but the difference would hardly be noticeable. Each guitar is different, and sustain has to do with stability and mass in the wood, but just as much with the set up and how well the guitar is put together. Loose parts and improper set up have just as much to do with sustain as the wood itself.

Resonance is more what I look for than sustain. Resonance comes more from wood type and the overall construction. It's like the "bounce" and vibration that the strings cause in the guitar. An SG is loud when unplugged because it's light, and acts like a speaker because of the vibration, and thusly tends to sound brighter when you crank that amp up.

Mahogany is more a darker sounding wood in a heavy guitar like a Paul, because of the mass so the maple on the Les Paul top brightens the sound a bit, too. And adds that weight, too.

That being said, my favorite Gibson is my ES-335, so what the heck do I know!

I shaved the neck a bit on my 335 and it's a LOT like the SG now, too. SG's DO have great necks

And I actually play my Strat more than anything these days so I should just step out! I'm no help here!

Anon · August 2007

lucylespian wrote:

Nah, you are thinking of the weight relief holes. They have gone way further than that. The new Lp's have a huge chamber, which actually improves resonance and sustain, making them very light.

I'm definitely not knocking SG's, just emphasising that weight is not really an issue with LP's at present.

Here's a link wiht some pics. I believe teh second pic shows accurately the current chambering of LP's.

http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123911&highlight=chamber

Very cool. Thanks for that!

dunkman · August 2007

the title of this thread broke my Acronym Excessiveness In Operator's Utilisation... A.E.I.O.U. for short.

exhausted · August 2007

the concept of weight relieved or practically hollow les pauls seems so counterinuitive. but interesting.

Drew263 · August 2007

lucylespian wrote:

I swear to God I dunno why I waste my fucking breath somtimes, but the new LP's are all fucking chambered and are not heavy !!!!!!!!!!!!!

yeah...i was about to post this, but hey LP = heavy no matter right? :eek:

althought my '06 isn't chambered and it's still not that heavy.

lucylespian · August 2007

Drew263 wrote:

yeah...i was about to post this, but hey LP = heavy no matter right? :eek:

althought my '06 isn't chambered and it's still not that heavy.

yours, like my 2003 standard , will be weight relieved, which is about 6-8 inch holes drilled through the body.

there is an official blurb from gibson about how they stffed around with weight relief hole placement, and came up with teh presents chamber.
Purists hate it, but there is no denying these guitars are lighter and sound great. It is a compromise against declining stocks of quality timber frrom sustainable sources.

Jam10 · August 2007

I have a LP and I love it. I had the same dilema....LP or SG so I tried them both and I loved the LP. Even though it's heavier, it's worth it. It sounds and plays amazing. I found the neck on the SG to be a little too long for my liking but I loved the way it sounded overall. If I could have both, I would, but like I said I love my LP and i'm glad I got it!

LP vs SG

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