Gibson SG vs. Les Paul

OK, so can someone fill me in on the differences between the SG and Les Paul? I know, every model is different so you can`t really compare...but I`m speaking in general. Same wood, same fretboard, often times same pickups. I know the LP is alot heavier, the SG is thinner, lighter (which I like) but I heard there were problems with the SG`s neck joint??? Made it fly out of tune pretty easily or something like that? Have these issues been resolved in newer models? I also heard the LP`s got a "thicker" sound while the SG has a "dirtier" sound? Any truth to that?

I`ve never heard of any problems with the SG`s neck joint. They`re not made of the same wood. Most SG`s are made from a solid mahogany body, while most LPs are made from a solid mahogany back with a carved maple top.
As for the tone, Les Pauls will generally sound fatter and have better sustain. Go to a guitar shop, plug them in and hear for yourself.

I had heard something about the SG`s necks being easier to break than a les paul? I have a les paul and yeah the one thing thats bad about it is it weighs so much!! The SG is very nice to play, similar sound to a les paul, but not as chunky i find

The biggest problem I`ve seen with SG`s and SG type guitars is that the neck wants to fall to the ground. The neck is heavier than the body so the headstock has a tendency to go towards the graound if you don`t hold the neck when you are playing.

A few of the differences are:
- Les Pauls are often mahogony with a maple top, while SG`s are generally all mahogony. - Les Pauls are balanced differently. They are body heavy, while SG`s are neck heavy. As a result, you need to always keep your hand under the neck of an SG, or it will slide the strap over your shoulder until the neck hits the floor - The neck joint on an SG was always a problem in the 60`s and 70`s I am not sure if it still is. The problem was that it was a weak point that sometimes broke. Tuning is not an issue unless the neck joint is already loose. - Les Pauls sustain better due to the increased weight and the hard maple top. - SG`s are more comfortable due to the lower weight, slimmer body, and tapered body edges. - SG`s provide better access to the upper frets due to the double cutaway design. - Some Les Pauls models have bound bodies (Standard and Custom for example). SG bodies are always unbound. This is just cosmetic. - If you are going to swing the guitar by the neck and slam it onto the ground ala Pete Townshend, use an SG - Les Pauls are much harder to break, and the vibrations that travel back up the neck to your hands will hurt.

The ESP Viper has the neck-heavy thing eliminated by making the guitar slightly non-symetrical. The strap button is actually up on the point, not down on the neck. It was the main thing i disliked about my epiphone G-400. The vipers play nice too.

Now there`s a thought. Same basic sound quality in an ESP Viper as the Gibson SG? I`ve heard some talk about a difference between the Gibson and Epiphone versions, though not sure how true that is, either.

version, was very weak due to the relative thinness of the body and the placement of the neck pickup cavity. This made the neck tenon very short and frankly insufficient.
One of my former co-workers was playing his SG on stage one night and the neck just came off. The audience thought it was a great gimmick.
I`ve had a few SG bodies with completely separated necks.

Les Pauls with broken headstocks. If you`re going to plan that type of activity into your show, use a Fender design. They are *much* harder to actually break.

sparkle. They are lighter and I would suggest getting a locking strap so you won`t have to worry about it falling toward the ground on the neck side. I`ve got an older Custom and a new SG, and both are fine guitars right out of the box. The stock pickups are more than adequate. Just plug `em in.

replacing headstocks, you`ll see an SG or two in there. Part of the reason is that if a Les Paul falls, the body tends to hit the ground first...and SG does the opposite. Firebirds have the same tendency.

Yeah. The other guitarist in my band uses an ESP viper. I`ve noticed that it doesn`t have that problem.

I have a gibson sg special 2001 model i believe and I don`t have the heavy headstock problem. Maybe they have fixed it on the newer ones, but i can let go of the neck and it stays put. Maybe my strap material has something to do with it. It did have crappy stock tuners that didn`t want to stay in tune very well, so i got a set of grover keystones and they are perfect. Also, heavier strings will keep it in tune better. I`ve heard that gibson recommends .010 gauge stings on sg`s. With that said, i`d still like a les paul.

American Fender and an SG. If you can`t keep both, I don`t think I`d do it. The Fender is on the whole, a better instrument. Sturdier, easier to play, more versatile. It won`t ever sound quite like the SG does, though. I liked that sound, so I got an SG, too. There are also things the Fender does that a Gibson won`t. If you dump the Fender, you`ll probably miss it. I got the SG instead of an LP for a couple of reasons. Esthetically, I thought the body shape was cooler. It`s lighter. The SG has a slightly more harsh quality to its sound, I think. Given that I grew up listening to punk until my taste was warped and my ears were damaged, this was in its favor when I decided to blow some cash.

I have owned or still own the following Gibsons; 1954 Les Paul Custom 1959 Les Paul Junior 1960 Les Paul Special 1961 Les Paul Custom (SG body style) 1961 Les Paul TV model (SG body style) 1964 SG Special 1965 SG TV model (2) 1998 Les Paul Special double cut away reissues one cherry finish and one TV yellow finish
I have sold three... the 1954 Les Paul Custom and 1961 Les Paul Custom...and the 1959 Les Paul Junior. I only regret selling the Junior. Myself I prefer P 90 pickups...more bite better tone...I think. None of my SG have neck problems! I prefer a double cutaway to the single cutaway Les Paul style...much easier access to upper register, and a whole less weight. These thing you must judge for yourself. But all in all I think Gibson makes fine guitars. Although I recommend detouring from any made from 1971 to 1985 as mostly these were the worst examples Gibson ever made. As to neck weaknesses. It is true I have seen a number of SG`s with cracked headstocks repaired and neck joints reset or glued. But most of these guitars showed many other signs of owner abuse. e.g. multiple bruises and dings upon the neck, headstock and body. And unfortunately more than a few had seen a trip to the garage to meet Mr. Router to crudely carve out room for an off brand humbucker to replace the superb P 90. How many got dropped to the garage floor while they were being butchered...who knows? The 1954 Les Paul Custom I had, had a professional neck reset before I bought it. Why? I didn`t know! But bottom line is...these are fine musical instruments. All are not meant to be abused and butchered. Good hard shell case, love and care and these guitars will last a lifetime. A footnote though, in my own personal opinion... I think Les Pauls are way over priced. Except for the double cutaway versions. They seem more reasonably priced like SG`s. George Gruhn, (Nashville`s Guitar Guru extrodinaire) says that many a player and collector still over look the value (affordable) of the simplistic but fine quality of the vintage Les Paul Juniors and Specials in the shadow of the extremely high priced (re-mortgage your house) vintage Les Paul Standards.