Gibson Faded SG Special Guitar Review

The Gibson SG brand has long been known for superior style and performance in the hard rock and metal genres. Legends like Angus Young and Tony Iommi have carved out legendary reputations with them and made the SG a must have for any serious musicians in similar genres. Today, Gibson offers several different versions of the SG in order to corner the market. One of the more affordable versions is the Gibson Faded SG Special. Let's take a closer look at it to see if it measures up with its long and storied reputation.

Features: The body of the Faded SG Special is made of mahogany, like most Gibsons in its class. This make allows for the deep, rich tones musicians have come to expect from the SG label. There are two finishes available with the Faded SG Special, including Worn Brown and Worn Cherry. Both have a very natural look in that they literally are faded, and the wood grains are visible through the light finish. They make for a worn, vintage look. The neck of the Faded SG is set into the body, and is made of mahogany wood as well. It has a rosewood fretboard with twenty two regular sized frets and pearloid dot inlays as position markers. The hardware on the Faded SG is all top quality. This includes the wide tuning heads and Tune-O-Matic bridge. Additionally, all of it is chrome, adding to the classic look of the guitar. Electronically, the Faded SG has two Alnico humbucking pickups, with two volume and one tone control knobs, and a three way selector switch.

Playability: The SG is known among Gibson musicians as being one of the brands' most user friendly instruments. The body is thinner and lighter than most other Gibsons, allowing for comfortable playing for extended periods of time. Also, the sharp cutaways both on top and bottom combined with the shallow set neck combine for excellent high fret access. And, as is true with just about every Gibson, the Tune-O-Matic bridge means that the owner can easily adjust string action to find the perfect height.

Sound: The Gibson Faded SG Special, although typified as a hard rock instrument, is pretty versatile. The pickups can at times be a little weak, but with the right amplifier and pedals it will cover anything from screaming distortion to rich clean tones with ease. There are few genres an experienced player can't match with the Faded SG Special.

Overall: This guitar, though on the lower end of Gibson's price range, delivers some very high quality looks, sound, and playability. For the serious musician looking to delve into a wide array of genres, the Faded SG Special will definitely satisfy. You can find this guitar in music stores for about $900.