SG Junior Vintage vs Modern

Mudz73 · September 2023

Hi, I've always had a love of the SG Jr & i own a 2019 model. I've never seen a real vintage one in person & always wondered if there's a lot of difference in feel such as body thickness? I know the neck's are thicker on the vintage ones. I'm guessing owners of vintage Jr's will say there's no comparison compared to a modern one which is understanable but do the modern ones actually come close in any way at all or is the old wood & p90 just a different beast? Thanks.

Creed_Clicks · September 2023

I have never played a vintage one, but would imagine the thicker neck would provide more stability? Or am I wrong? Quite fancy the idea of an SG Junior someday! But headstock breakage puts me off!

guitars4you · September 2023

Yes and no - Gibson changed a few details regarding the neck during the 60's - By the mid later 60's the nut width was reduced from what is effectively 1 11/16" to 1 5/8" - Around the same time it became a touch deeper almost verging on a D or U profile - Hence a touch of a Tele feel about it

Original models from the early 60's were more of a wide/slim C profile - not skinny - Play a few and you'll find a similar theme regarding the size/shape/feel - But they are not all 100% the same - Hand shaped back then so natural marginal variations

I've seen far more old 60's models without headstock breaks than with them - But yes they can break if you are not careful

Not an issue to change, but the original bridge is compensated for a wound 3rd - Mots players today will use a plain 3rd/G - As such to get better intonation/tuning then change the wrap over bridge - Quite a few offer a direct replacement that looks pure vintage etc, but now with a compensated plain 3rd - ie Faber - But keep the original in case you ever wish to re-sale it - Instant change over so no issues about originality etc

Compared to many other guitars from the 60's, SG Juniors are far more within touch for many of us, regarding the purchase price

ICBM · September 2023

All the old ones I’ve played have felt really odd, because the neck is thicker than the body - almost like you’re holding the guitar backwards. The very ‘forward’ neck position and the huge expanse of body behind the bridge don’t help either.

I don’t get the appeal, to be honest - I would keep your modern one, personally…

elstoof · September 2023

Creed_Clicks said:

I have never played a vintage one, but would imagine the thicker neck would provide more stability? Or am I wrong? Quite fancy the idea of an SG Junior someday! But headstock breakage puts me off!

Arguable as much of a concern is the truss rod anchor breaking out the back of the heel join with the 60s ones

PAL · September 2023

I did have an early Gibson SG Les Paul Junior and as mentioned it had a chunky neck as a guitar it was fine
but I eventually sold it . I did buy one of the original 2019 series Gibson SG junior guitars out of curiosity and I was
impressed it just seemed more balanced the neck and frets seemed right more importantly it played in tune.
I did sell the guitar and stuck with one of the original series Les Paul juniors and it's a great guitar.
I would stick with what you have. Hope this helps.

Creed_Clicks · September 2023

elstoof said:

Creed_Clicks said:

I have never played a vintage one, but would imagine the thicker neck would provide more stability? Or am I wrong? Quite fancy the idea of an SG Junior someday! But headstock breakage puts me off!

Arguable as much of a concern is the truss rod anchor breaking out the back of the heel join with the 60s ones

Ah ok I get you. Visually they look "something not quite right" about the overall shape, as in very light but possibly uncomfortable, whereas the LP junior kind of looks more "ah yeah, that looks ok".

PAL · September 2023

Creed_Clicks said:

elstoof said:

Creed_Clicks said:

I have never played a vintage one, but would imagine the thicker neck would provide more stability? Or am I wrong? Quite fancy the idea of an SG Junior someday! But headstock breakage puts me off!

Arguable as much of a concern is the truss rod anchor breaking out the back of the heel join with the 60s ones

Ah ok I get you. Visually they look "something not quite right" about the overall shape, as in very light but possibly uncomfortable, whereas the LP junior kind of looks more "ah yeah, that looks ok".

I think they look a bit different because the scratch plate is a slightly different shape but as you know that is
easy to sort out.

ScreamingDave · September 2023

The main difference I find between my ‘65 SG Junior and the 2006 one I had is that it’s much lighter: weighs practically nothing in comparison. I don’t find neck dive an issue, and although there might be a difference in. Body thickness and neck profile it didn’t jump out at me.

Bennyboy-UK · September 2023

Hey, one thing I would like to know is if the headstock on the new ones is bigger than on the vintage models, I had a lend of an old 64 Jr way back when and it struck me as the most neat and tidy little Gibson headstock. The reissues always look to me as if Gibson has made them too big - standard LP sized?

Am I right guys?

Funkfingers · September 2023

guitars4you said:

By the mid later 60s, the nut width was reduced from what is effectively 1 11/16" to 1 5/8" - Around the same time it became a touch deeper almost verging on a D or U profile

This more or less describes my 1965 mk3 Melody Maker.

I replaced the stock "lightning bolt" wrapover bridge/tailpiece with a Mojoaxe equivalent, intonated for a plain G. In the interests of tuning stability, the short Vibrola stays in a drawer.

Mudz73 · September 2023

I thought about getting a short vibrola for my 2019 SG Jr but everybody said don't do it!

Funkfingers · September 2023

They were right. The Vibrola detracts far more than it adds.

Generally speaking, I am not a fan of the SG. The one exception to this sweeping generalisation is the Junior, mainly because of Mike Oldfield's use of one during the Seventies. Something about the wrapover bridge, a sweet P90 and the right type of overdrive.

richardhomer · September 2023

A friend used to own a ‘61 Les Paul/SG Junior. It was one of the best sounding guitars I’ve played. I remember it being very neck-heavy - tough it was very light.

Danielsguitars · September 2023

I've just refinished a 65 SG Junior in black because it had such a bad headstock repair I had no option, it was also down to costs for the customer.

My observations are the body is bloody thin, it weighs nothing and the neck is fairly skinny, the truss rod access is such a bad design with skinny necks no wonder they snap.

I certainly wouldn't buy a vintage one unless you could guarantee it was 100% correct, I only found this hideous repair when I removed the old and very bad finish after being asked to make it look better.

Mudz73 · September 2023

Thanks for all the replies & and info

bbill335 · September 2023

short vibrolas are good, don't know what everybody's issues are. the one on my firebird works just fine.

Faye · September 2023

I had a 1964 SG Jr. Reasonably full neck shape, but the whole guitar weighed next to nothing. It sounded awesome. Sold it because the back of the neck needed refinishing, and I didn't want to mess with a guitar in original condition.

PAL · September 2023

Bennyboy-UK said:

Hey, one thing I would like to know is if the headstock on the new ones is bigger than on the vintage models, I had a lend of an old 64 Jr way back when and it struck me as the most neat and tidy little Gibson headstock. The reissues always look to me as if Gibson has made them too big - standard LP sized?

Am I right guys?

If you check out early sixties SG headstocks the varied in shape and size.

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

SG Junior Vintage vs Modern

Comments