Just picked up this model in ebony. My god does it kick ass. Best guitar I’ve ever owned. The p90s sound amazing. Everything about the guitar is beautiful and amazing. It screams. It punches. It rules. Love it.
P90's are. DEFINiTELY single coil pickups..they use one, large bobbin wound with a single coil..they use two bar magnets unlike a PAF which uses just one..p90's are "beefy" and powerful but they are true single coils..thanks for the demo..it tipped me into buying buying one of these form Moores this past weekend.. thanks!
I can't stand PAF style humbuckers so I put a low-output humbucker-sized p90 set in my SG Standard with Maestro and they just fit that guitar perfectly.
I just bought a Gibson SG Special like in this video but in black. I bought it from Sweetwater. Its a great guitar. The lack of an ABR bridge takes some getting used too - but that is mostly psychological/visual - I gigged with the guitar last week and never even thought about it. Also the wrap around bridge really does help with tuning stability - this guitar stays in tune as well as my Fenders and USA Schecters (Unheard of for a Gibson!) All that aside the guitar takes some getting used to but it absolutely performs and is addictive! I recorded with it with my band today and its obvious what a nice sound and punch the P-90s provide, I highly recommend this guitar but give it a couple of weeks to become familiar with it and to fall in love...its not an immediate crush...but a relationship you will cherish!
...one thing I'll add to my review is that the placement of the strap buttons does make the guitar hard to play standing up, the neck dives but worse the neck tilts forward. There are some solutions to this but still for $1500+ you would think Gibson would make it playable while standing up. All they need to do is put the strap button on the top horn. Playing this guitar at gigs was "ok" but when I went back to my Fenders and USA Schecters it was really dramatic how much better those two guitars were playing while standing. I have no idea how Pete Townshend and Angus did it!
I went for the ebony. The red has the benefit that will show up less hazing/surface scratches over time from rubbing against shirt buttons etc. The black looks particularly cool though with these pickups having black covers. The white binding then matches the tuners so gives a unique look. Then take the red one in the Standard or one of the other models 🙂
Hands down the best guitar I’ve played in a LONG time. Especially USA line. (Usually vintage/custom shops are the best) but this thing out of the box plays killer. Compared to the old SG classic, the playability on this thing is miles better and the versatility is insane. You get shit tons of fender tones but also don’t lose out on the Gibson tonalities. I was playing stuff from eagles to sabbath on it and it handled everything perfectly. Just need the right amp and pedals and you can do anything.
afaik the special doesn't come in pelham blue, isn't that like a special color version that doesn't have P90s? I wanted that color, but I wanted one that came setup already with the P90s so ended up with cherry red (which I really don't like )
@@Terminxman The pelham blue was a standard color on SG specials until 2022 I think and then they discontinued it. I was fortunate to grab one just before they were gone. I think they still pop up often used if you’re interested in finding one in that color.
Just wanted to let Smelly know that I bought an SG Junior on the strength of the video he made on it for MG. I'm a very happy camper indeed. UPDATE: Easily my favorite guitar to play in my collection, which is already 15+ "fiddles" deep! :)
John awesome review, you 100% helped me to decide to purchase this SG, Thank you very much for sharing, You are a great musician, very talented thank you....I live in the States in Massachusetts and I purchase a lot of guitars, Amps, Pedals, Strings, etc etc.. If you have a website showing your merchandise with prices I would be interested in doing business with you if your prices are better and your shipping is free?
Pete Townshend got the most out of these, Young Man Blues is a clear demonstration of the variety of tones to be tortuously extracted from these guitars. Great demo bud
Randy Rhoads and Tony Iommi used them too , Randy in his early Career and Iommi at the start of Sabbath before he switched to the one with Humbuckers , you can see Tony playing a P90 SG Special from the live 1970 Sabbath gig in Paris.
great demo! thank you, Sir. Love the SG with P-90s, it is very unique, quite raw but lovely sounds specially for heavy R & B/power pop psychedelic (Pete Townshend, Graham Coxon, Robbie Krieger)
I’d love if Gibson made it in white as well. I’d buy one in a heartbeat. I know they make a custom shop light aged model of it, but I can’t afford that.
I never understand why Gibson doesn't keep a P90 SG with wraparound tail piece every year. They're very special with that tailpiece. I have a 2012 standard with P90's but i havr the tune o matic. The 2012 special also had a tune o matic. My Epiphone '61 reissue is exactly like this Gibson and it is a much better guitar tonally. The issue with that Epi is that the bridge actually tilted and the intonation became a night mare. I had the Epiphone three months and then i knew that electric guitar was life so i invested the money into my SG standard. It made very impressed with wraparound tail pieces. The Epiphone is now going to be set up for slide as it is the ideal slide guitar. I can't wait to buy this Gibson in the future. In 2012, the only wraparoune tailpiece SG with P90's was a $4K Gibson VOS model. Oh yea i really love P90's if you can't tell. With the volume rolled down the neck gets that bluesy Strat sound. It is a Fender single coil on 11. So much better than a Fender pickup. It has that perfect vowel sound when cranked. The bridge pickup does the Tele tones too when theres a wraparound bridge. A lot of kerang
You don’t. But the compensated tailpiece can get you real close. You can always buy an aftermarket adjustable wrap around tailpiece if you need it perfectly intonated.
This one was straight out of the box. Gibson is pretty consistent in getting the P-90 heights around 2.5mm. If we do any P-90 adjustments before videos, it's generally lowering the neck pickup a tad to balance the volumes.
Gibson Custom Shop Late '60s SG Special ala Pete Townshend, that's currently my dream guitar. I've got one ordered through a store with the Gibson Made to Measure programme. Its about an 18 month wait! It better be good! The bridge P90 on the Custom shop guitars aren't as close to the bridge as the Gibson USA specials. I must admit I do prefer the look of the larger mid to late '60s Batwing pickguards on SGs. I gives the guitar a more 'balanced' look stylistically, well that's my opinion!
Nice ! I always liked these but could never afford one. Did find a sweet version of this in a Jay Turser JT55 PTR about 15 years ago. Set neck, cherry, ST/TOM, $249 new. I STILL love it, slightly wobbly body shape and all. man, Guitar Player did a review of one in black about two months after i got mine and while it didn't get a Pick Award (no surprise ;), they dug it. I've looked on line and haven't seen anything. Ha, another look, GC Louisville, KY has one, the same price i paid for mine, $249. Its like new. Someone's gonna get a good deal. I don't think HB offers one...hmmm....
These are great guitars if the neck is attached well. Sort of a combination of Gibson and Fender all in one guitar. Are the pickups wired out of phase? No.
They are fat single coils. And it's not all about that bridge position. Neck is beautiful for blues and jazz and also clean. My dream SG is two p90's with the Maestro Vibrato. Wish Epiphone would make that!
Look what i found...“Epiphone will always be Gibson’s older brother, and its history is perhaps the most interesting of any guitar brand”: Celebrating 150 years of Epiphone
Don’t be fooled like I was. $1600 is asking wayy too much for that awful bridge and the vintage tuners suck. Pickups are not dynamic and sound hairy all the time. The Gibson Iommi SG (sold for an ungodly price) surpasses this in every conceivable way.
Just picked up this model in ebony. My god does it kick ass. Best guitar I’ve ever owned. The p90s sound amazing. Everything about the guitar is beautiful and amazing. It screams. It punches. It rules. Love it.
Everyone i've ever seen play a P90 on the bridge instantly cracks a smile. It's amazing!
It's true
I did that the first time I played a gold top. I really don't love the 50s neck but it sounded so good
P90's are. DEFINiTELY single coil pickups..they use one, large bobbin wound with a single coil..they use two bar magnets unlike a PAF which uses just one..p90's are "beefy" and powerful but they are true single coils..thanks for the demo..it tipped me into buying buying one of these form Moores this past weekend.. thanks!
I can't stand PAF style humbuckers so I put a low-output humbucker-sized p90 set in my SG Standard with Maestro and they just fit that guitar perfectly.
Just picked this baby up. My first Gibson! Far from a regret!!!
I just bought a Gibson SG Special like in this video but in black. I bought it from Sweetwater. Its a great guitar. The lack of an ABR bridge takes some getting used too - but that is mostly psychological/visual - I gigged with the guitar last week and never even thought about it. Also the wrap around bridge really does help with tuning stability - this guitar stays in tune as well as my Fenders and USA Schecters (Unheard of for a Gibson!) All that aside the guitar takes some getting used to but it absolutely performs and is addictive! I recorded with it with my band today and its obvious what a nice sound and punch the P-90s provide, I highly recommend this guitar but give it a couple of weeks to become familiar with it and to fall in love...its not an immediate crush...but a relationship you will cherish!
...one thing I'll add to my review is that the placement of the strap buttons does make the guitar hard to play standing up, the neck dives but worse the neck tilts forward. There are some solutions to this but still for $1500+ you would think Gibson would make it playable while standing up. All they need to do is put the strap button on the top horn. Playing this guitar at gigs was "ok" but when I went back to my Fenders and USA Schecters it was really dramatic how much better those two guitars were playing while standing. I have no idea how Pete Townshend and Angus did it!
For some reason SG’s tend to stay in tune a lot better than other Gibsons. At least the ones I’ve had.
Did you try a suede strap on there?@@pdbordelon
What was the price ?
I went for the ebony. The red has the benefit that will show up less hazing/surface scratches over time from rubbing against shirt buttons etc. The black looks particularly cool though with these pickups having black covers. The white binding then matches the tuners so gives a unique look. Then take the red one in the Standard or one of the other models 🙂
I just bought Black SG special with P 90’s…amazing tones💪
Hands down the best guitar I’ve played in a LONG time. Especially USA line. (Usually vintage/custom shops are the best) but this thing out of the box plays killer. Compared to the old SG classic, the playability on this thing is miles better and the versatility is insane. You get shit tons of fender tones but also don’t lose out on the Gibson tonalities. I was playing stuff from eagles to sabbath on it and it handled everything perfectly. Just need the right amp and pedals and you can do anything.
I have the SG junior. And, I agree with you on everything. They have the fullest mid range with p90s . I want to get this one too 😭
I just picked up one of these SG specials in pelham blue and feature it on my channel. Absolutely adore this guitar. Sounds stellar!
Just picked up mine in ebony. God damn what a great guitar. It’s EXACTLY what I want… dream come true. What a great guitar.
afaik the special doesn't come in pelham blue, isn't that like a special color version that doesn't have P90s? I wanted that color, but I wanted one that came setup already with the P90s so ended up with cherry red (which I really don't like )
@@Terminxman The pelham blue was a standard color on SG specials until 2022 I think and then they discontinued it. I was fortunate to grab one just before they were gone. I think they still pop up often used if you’re interested in finding one in that color.
Bought my son a 2013 prototype model 1950,s mint P90,s and. 24 frets it sounds and plays awesome.
Just ordered one of these beauties from you guys. Arriving tomorrow! Definitely looking forward to its arrival. Thank you.
Give us a feedback :)
Just wanted to let Smelly know that I bought an SG Junior on the strength of the video he made on it for MG. I'm a very happy camper indeed.
UPDATE: Easily my favorite guitar to play in my collection, which is already 15+ "fiddles" deep! :)
Great! Glad we could help. The SG junior is another great model. (I like jrs better than specials, personally.)
Bring it in so I can play it!! So glad you're happy, SG Jr is my dream guitar. Someday.
John awesome review, you 100% helped me to decide to purchase this SG, Thank you very much for sharing, You are a great musician, very talented thank you....I live in the States in Massachusetts and I purchase a lot of guitars, Amps, Pedals, Strings, etc etc.. If you have a website showing your merchandise with prices I would be interested in doing business with you if your prices are better and your shipping is free?
the most versatile and beatiful electric guitar ever
Pete Townshend got the most out of these, Young Man Blues is a clear demonstration of the variety of tones to be tortuously extracted from these guitars. Great demo bud
Randy Rhoads and Tony Iommi used them too , Randy in his early Career and Iommi at the start of Sabbath before he switched to the one with Humbuckers , you can see Tony playing a P90 SG Special from the live 1970 Sabbath gig in Paris.
I love my SG Special!!!
great demo! thank you, Sir. Love the SG with P-90s, it is very unique, quite raw but lovely sounds specially for heavy R & B/power pop psychedelic (Pete Townshend, Graham Coxon, Robbie Krieger)
Heres a fact i bet few of you know ! Randy Rhoads used to play an SG Special with Quiet Riot in the 70s he had a Black one with P90s
P90s are definitely my fav pu.s. They have a ‘bite’ to them
Rare beast. I have a 61 in the closet. Learned on that guitar.
I have the black varient and the P90's are great.
Just bought one of these and am waiting for it to be delivered! Are the pickups the same dimensions as older Gibson p90s or no?
Why is the tailpiece so far forward?
I’d love if Gibson made it in white as well. I’d buy one in a heartbeat. I know they make a custom shop light aged model of it, but I can’t afford that.
I never understand why Gibson doesn't keep a P90 SG with wraparound tail piece every year. They're very special with that tailpiece. I have a 2012 standard with P90's but i havr the tune o matic. The 2012 special also had a tune o matic. My Epiphone '61 reissue is exactly like this Gibson and it is a much better guitar tonally. The issue with that Epi is that the bridge actually tilted and the intonation became a night mare. I had the Epiphone three months and then i knew that electric guitar was life so i invested the money into my SG standard. It made very impressed with wraparound tail pieces. The Epiphone is now going to be set up for slide as it is the ideal slide guitar. I can't wait to buy this Gibson in the future. In 2012, the only wraparoune tailpiece SG with P90's was a $4K Gibson VOS model. Oh yea i really love P90's if you can't tell. With the volume rolled down the neck gets that bluesy Strat sound. It is a Fender single coil on 11. So much better than a Fender pickup. It has that perfect vowel sound when cranked. The bridge pickup does the Tele tones too when theres a wraparound bridge. A lot of kerang
How do you intonate with a fixed wrap around bridge like that?
You don’t. But the compensated tailpiece can get you real close. You can always buy an aftermarket adjustable wrap around tailpiece if you need it perfectly intonated.
You learn to live with the imperfections. Let the instrument play you
Are you able to share what pickup heights you're using here if possible?
This one was straight out of the box. Gibson is pretty consistent in getting the P-90 heights around 2.5mm. If we do any P-90 adjustments before videos, it's generally lowering the neck pickup a tad to balance the volumes.
What amps are most suitble for SG specials?
Is your dres SG a Special with a Vibrola? Kind what Robby Krieger played on in the Doors?
Gibson Custom Shop Late '60s SG Special ala Pete Townshend, that's currently my dream guitar. I've got one ordered through a store with the Gibson Made to Measure programme. Its about an 18 month wait! It better be good! The bridge P90 on the Custom shop guitars aren't as close to the bridge as the Gibson USA specials. I must admit I do prefer the look of the larger mid to late '60s Batwing pickguards on SGs. I gives the guitar a more 'balanced' look stylistically, well that's my opinion!
Good guitars just wish they would make some round necks instead of all slim taper.
Agreed. If they made a Junior/ Special with a 50s neck I’d buy it in a heartbeat
@@davidmcb94 I think the Tony Iommi is a 64 round neck. But you would pay for a signature model, and I dont find some features appealing.
Nice ! I always liked these but could never afford one.
Did find a sweet version of this in a Jay Turser JT55 PTR about 15 years ago.
Set neck, cherry, ST/TOM, $249 new. I STILL love it, slightly wobbly body shape and all.
man, Guitar Player did a review of one in black about two months after i got mine and while it didn't get a Pick Award (no surprise ;), they dug it.
I've looked on line and haven't seen anything.
Ha, another look, GC Louisville, KY has one, the same price i paid for mine, $249.
Its like new. Someone's gonna get a good deal.
I don't think HB offers one...hmmm....
These are great guitars if the neck is attached well. Sort of a combination of Gibson and Fender all in one guitar. Are the pickups wired out of phase? No.
Is this a 2021 or 2022 model? Asking for a friend. :)
A 2021. I don't think we've seen any "actual" 2022 models yet.
@@MooreMusicGuitars Thank you for the quick reply! And may you keep on rocking, dear sir! Cheers from Oklahoma.
This is a late 2021 model, it was initially available in Pelham Blue and Sparkling Burgundy and just recently transitioned to cherry and ebony.
They are fat single coils. And it's not all about that bridge position. Neck is beautiful for blues and jazz and also clean. My dream SG is two p90's with the Maestro Vibrato. Wish Epiphone would make that!
Now i need a Mesa Boogie Fillmore..
Look what i found...“Epiphone will always be Gibson’s older brother, and its history is perhaps the most interesting of any guitar brand”: Celebrating 150 years of Epiphone
Best hammer 🔨 n the tool box
Red SG's (or any other SG) are IT!
Leeds!
Nice video, are the P90s Alnico 5 pickups?
Yes, they are Alnico 5s.
@@MooreMusicGuitars Thank you!
Say it, Smelly. Les Paul!
Great demo....that Special needs a Batwing pickguard.....then it would be perfect
no way man, the is the best looking pickguard, and you get more wood.
They used to make an SG Classic that had the batwing pickguard with two P90’s
It's a Fillmore 50. It's a Fillmore 50? It's a Fillmore 50.
Dirt on the bottom, grit on the top...that's a P90
Don’t be fooled like I was. $1600 is asking wayy too much for that awful bridge and the vintage tuners suck. Pickups are not dynamic and sound hairy all the time. The Gibson Iommi SG (sold for an ungodly price) surpasses this in every conceivable way.
Shut up and take my money!!!
Na ill stay with my 2021 epiphone limited run Epiphone modern figured Sg
Tony Iommi invented Heavy Metal on an SG Special. P90's and all.