SG Special, Pelham Blue

[ch willie]

Coming my way this coming week. I've wanted an SG for a long time but balked on the Standards since I already have a Les Paul and Ibanez Artist with humbuckers.

Because all my guitar dreams were about Les Pauls in the 70s, I didn't care for SGs until I saw that Jimmy McCullough played one on Wings Over America--still my favorite live album. Around 2000, I saw a guy with a small portable amp and an SG busking, playing jazz. His tone was warm and full. Who would have thought the SG could sound as wonderful as Wes Montgomery's L5? I also owned a righty Epiphone SG around that time. The controls under my arm bugged me too much, but that was an excellent guitar.

I've been obsessed with SGs for a long time and decided it was time to get one. Crazy thing to do when I'm battling severe arthritis, but guitar love doesn't always have to be rational. Needed some inspiration.

[OldStrummer]

guitar love doesn't always have to be rational. Needed some inspiration.

Very nice, @ch willie. I know finding lefty guitars can be a challenge. Congratulations on scratching that itch!

I had a thing for SGs a few years ago. Funny thing: I placed a (what I thought was) low bid on one on eBay, I think. Believing that I'd be outbid, I found a similar one on Reverb, so I bought it. Then I won the auction! So now I have two identical (except for the color) 2013 Gibson SG Future Tributes. And after playing with them for a while, found them uncomfortable, so they've been in their cases now for years.

But your comment on guitar love is right on the mark! Just this morning, I ordered a replacement headstock label for my 52 year-old Framus 12-string. I have better guitars, and an older guitar, and rarely take it out of its case these days. But it was my first brand-new guitar and I've decided to refurbish it this year. The headstock label came off years ago, and I found I could buy a replacement direct from Framus. The label itself wasn't too expensive (about $14, converted from Euros), but the shipping came out to over $60! I hesitated, but only for a moment...

[Cogs]

Beautiful SG!

[ch willie]

Thanks, Cogs. That particular blue just speaks to me.

That Framus is the bomb. Glad you got a decal for it. A little detail like that is part of charm of a guitar. I have spent a significant bit of time looking at the decals and inlays on the headstocks of my guitar clan. I was just chatting with my dearest friend about how when we were young, we were too broke to get decent guitars. He has some excellent guitars, including two CS 335s with sounds to die for. I was playing my Explorer today and loving it..while staring at my beautiful Les Paul. Like a kid, my sense of wonder was intense. I own a decent house and truck, but the guitars are my pride.

[Offshore Angler]

A Special in Pelham Blue will be stunning!

[ch willie]

A Special in Pelham Blue will be stunning!

Thanks! It’ll be here tomorrow. Tomorrow at work, I’ll be counting the minutes the work day’s done.

[Offshore Angler]

P90's or mini's?

[ch willie]

P90s

[Offshore Angler]

P90s

Perfect. What a nice axe you're gonna have!

[ch willie]

Perfect. What a nice axe you're gonna have!

Thanks! I’m excited as though it were my first guitar. In a way, it completes my collection.

[ch willie]

Imagine my disappointment when, upon pulling this beautiful guitar out of its case, I discovered that the neck on it is really wide and thin when I'm used to a narrow D. Slim taper? I used to love those, but arthritis makes the D feel better to me now.

And yet, I decided to give it a chance. i rubbed a bit of Flexiseq onto my hands and finger joints, did some hand and finger stretches, and started toying around with it.

Thank goodness I gave it a fair chance. After a good hour of playing, I'm just fine with the taper and width. It's actually good because of the way I've had to adapt my playing, relying more on my fingers and less on picks. Gripping a pick is a bitch. I'm using thumb picks but prefer my bare thumb.

It sounds wonderful, just what you'd expect from P90s on an SG. Takes dirt well, sounds great clean, sustain, all the things you'd want. It can get snarly or stay mellow. Just what I was hoping it would be.

It's stunning, the Pelham Blue--I just need a 1960 Cadillac in Pelham Blue to cart us around.

One concern I had was neck dive, but I needn't have worried. It's perfectly balanced, and it's a light guitar.

I a/b'd it with my Les Paul Trad, and as you would imagine, they're different animals, and that's a great thing. I have a feeling that even after the honeymoon period, I'll be playing this a lot. Keeper.

It's more blue to me than these photos show.

[phantomman]

As alluring as a HS prom queen's thighs but not nearly as risky......

I rate it "G". For gorgeous!

[ch willie]

As alluring as a HS prom queen's thighs but not nearly as risky......

I rate it "G". For gorgeous!

Ha ha. Thank you.

[Offshore Angler]

What a looker!

[ch willie]

Thanks. I’m loving it. Went home for lunch and played it, then back to work.

[phantomman]

Play it like you stole it!

[ch willie]

I'm amazed at how light it is and how versatile it is. I'm glad the weekend is coming up so that I'll have some time to really run it though it's paces. I'm going to crank up the Deluxe and hear how it sounds when I push the amp.

[BobbyMac]

That's a great looking guitar! If I ever buy an SG, it would have to be a Special! Congrats!

[ch willie]

That's a great looking guitar! If I ever buy an SG, it would have to be a Special! Congrats!

Thanks. I like the looks of most SG models, but I really love the Specials.

[blackonblack]

Where did you find this?

[ch willie]

Where did you find this?

I got it on Reverb for a great price. A re-box with a couple of minor minor issues in the finish. Not b-stock and certainly nothing you notice unless you’re giving it a lower G-I.

[Tele-Bob]

Love the color.

There's nothing like the thick, woolly sound of a thin mahogany body. Love the sound of an SG!

[ch willie]

It’s a wonderful sound. I’ve yet to crank the Deluxe up to natural break up levels. Poor neighbors might get a short concert tonight.

[S. Cane]

Wonderful SG, Willie. Seeing it and being currently in a Doors tribute band make me miss my own SG, which I sold years ago. Mine was a 61RI but there’s something special about Gibson Specials and JRs that some players like Keef Richers enjoy and praise, so do I. If I ever buy a Gibson again it’ll be one of those.

P90s are very cool. Some guys get killer tones out of them.

Check this out:

[Hectoplet]

This SG is a good number, I like the Vintage Cherry:

[ch willie]

Beautiful.

This SG is a good number, I like the Vintage Cherry: