Epiphone SG's

[youami123]

Hey guys, love the forum. I could read about this stuff all day. Just wondering if anyone has experience with Epi SG's and would like to offer their opinion about their quality/sound. Did Epiphone Japan make SG's in 1990? All I can find is info about Orville then Epiphone cutting over in 1998. Looking at an SG with serial number starting with 90XXXX - assuming its Fujigen without a letter but honestly I have no idea. Your wisdom is much appreciated.

[ingve]

I've had three Epiphone Japan Sg's over the past five years. I'm down to only one, I was forced to sell off two of them due to financial problems.

They have all been amazingly good guitars. The only thing that didn't impress me were the pickups. They were very vintage styled and had low output, and to me, an SG needs something with some beef to compensate for the thinner and lighter body. Aside from that, no problems.

The one remaining SG that I have must come from 1988 (serial number starts with 808, and I bought it long before 1998), it's a black SG Standard. Medium chunky neck. One of the others that I had (which was older) had a very fat neck. I also had a '97 SG in white, but it had a much thinner neck.

[youami123]

Hi thanks for talking up the goodness of Epi SG's. Did you swap the pickups out? What would you recommend - maybe the pickups from an SG standard or another brand like Seymour Duncan?
I have a Epi MIJ Les Paul Special and an Elite 335 Dot and they are both fantastic guitars.

[ingve]

I had good results using Seymour Duncan pickups in SG, I like a JB in the bridge and a '59 in the neck position. I've also used a pair of Gibson Super Ceramics in the one remaining SG that I still have, they turn the guitar into a total beast!

But, having said that, everyone has their own preference for pickups. I like to have a bit of power, and I find vintage PAF style pickups don't really cut it for me in SGs. Love them in Les Pauls, mind you, but in SGs (or even Flying Vs) I really prefer to have more juice.

[Dalester]

I have a MIJ epi SG, 61 RI,
limited edition from the LQ "Lacquer series"

really rare from what i can tell..

its an outstanding example of an SG.

awesome antique looking white finish.
long neck tennon, nitro lacquer, nice nice rosewood fingerboard,
what more could someone ask for in an SG..
light and SUPER resonant.

I'm considering selling it if anyone is looking for one..
here is a link to my posting re: the sale/trade
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1921

[spider]

I've got a 2000 61' RI and I love it. I swaped out the pups for a Duncan JB (Bridge) and a Jazz (Neck) and it rocks! Great guitar with a great feel.

[flangerdeluxe]

I've had three Epiphone Japan Sg's over the past five years. I'm down to only one, I was forced to sell off two of them due to financial problems.

They have all been amazingly good guitars. The only thing that didn't impress me were the pickups. They were very vintage styled and had low output, and to me, an SG needs something with some beef to compensate for the thinner and lighter body. Aside from that, no problems.

The one remaining SG that I have must come from 1988 (serial number starts with 808, and I bought it long before 1998), it's a black SG Standard. Medium chunky neck. One of the others that I had (which was older) had a very fat neck. I also had a '97 SG in white, but it had a much thinner neck.

O.K. Something doesn't make sense? If you had 3 in the last 5 years, Then how can the last one you had been bought long before 1998?

[ingve]

Not too hard to understand I would have thought. The one that I had prior to 1998 is the only one I still have. It's not the last one that I bought, it's the first one that I bought. In the past five years I have bought several others that I have since sold. OK?

[flangerdeluxe]

I understood that Epiphone Japan took over Orville production in 98' and that serials with an 8 started in 98' for Epiphone? http://www.japanguitars.co.uk/Page%201%20history.html

[ingve]

To quote from Wikipedia:
In the early 1970s, Epiphone began to manufacture instruments in Japan. From the 1980s, Epiphones were manufactured mainly in Korea but also in Japan by contractors licensed by Gibson. The brand was primarily used to issue less expensive versions of classic Gibson models, in a manner similar to that of the Squier brand by Fender.

As I said, the serial number on that particular guitar starts with an "8". Somehow I'm pretty confident that in period from the early 70's up to 1998, Japanese made Epiphones may well have had several serial number sequences beginning with the number "8", wouldn't you say?

[flangerdeluxe]

I'm well aware of the history of Japanese Epiphones. I've owned many over the past 40 years from the 60's 70's 80's up to the present. The ones from the 60's were american though. The only Japanese LP's and SG's from the 80's I've seen were Orville. Post some pics, Is yours Terada or Fujigen made? 6 digit serial