Questions on new Epiphone SG's

[Tiga]

I guess around a year ago I bought my daughter a Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster, and honestly, I think it's a great guitar. Now that she's had it a while she admits it's a bit akward to play and stated she regrets not going with her second choice of guitar, an SG. She is on the small side and thinks the smaller body and shorter scale length will fit her better.

Has anyone tried any of the newer Epi SG's lately and what was your opinion / experience? I see they have a new headstock design which I like. Thanks all!

[Partscaster]

I have one of the 3/4 scale SX strats. I encourage you to also consider such, should she like the strat tremolo vs no tremolo.
I kept the electronics and swapped in SD SSL-1 set, and it is a great guitar player with great tone. Has 24" scale.

I have a 1/2 scale too, 23" scale, its good, but for travel/backpack, or small youngster. IMO.
I think I have D-Allen Voodoo 69 pickups in it. Its funny to put such quality pups into a midget guitar. But why not if they're just hanging around in a drawer?

[honyock]

If you like the SG, another option is Harley Benton. They also now have US based sales via Reverb. Saves the risk of shipping from Germany if you get a dud.

Harley Benton DC-LTD Gotoh Daphne Blue https://reverb.com/item/63111081-harley ... t=63111081






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[glasshand]

She is on the small side and thinks the smaller body and shorter scale length will fit her better.

Whatever guitar one feels better about playing is "better", of course, but I would strongly recommend that she spend some extended tryout time with an SG first. The difference between 25.5 and 24.75 is really more about feel than about size per se. The SG is also more likely to have neck dive.

[Flatline]

I have an epi SG that I bought new in 2013. It is one of my go to players. SG is probably my favorite style of guitar. Light and comfortable to play sitting. A wide leather backed strap will take care of neck dive while standing. Mine has a pretty fat neck compared to my strats and teles. More of a D shape than a C shape. I really like it but smaller hands may not. I do think the Epi Muse series SGs are supposed to have a thinner neck.

You might also look into a squier paranormal series cyclone. 24.75in scale and a smaller C shape fender neck. Maybe better for smaller hands.

If possible get to a store where she can tryout several guitars for the feel.

[glasshand]

Oh, or she might want to try a Jaguar - 24" scale on those.

[idiotsdelight]

That 24.75 scale on a SG is gonna feel longer than that J Mascis Jazzmaster. Has she had her hands on a SG?

[Tiga]

Thanks for the comments - we're hoping to get out to some shops this week and let her get some hands on some SG's. We have a Jaguar in the house but she doesn't like that either. I think she's just drawn to the SG shape. Hey whatever works right?

[Mr. Leyvatone]

+1 for recommending a Strat or Tele, particularly if it’s smaller than full sized. And I suggest a hardtail or blocked trem if going with a Strat; tuning stability is vital for early-stage players.

Sorry! I know it’s not an answer to your question about the SG, but in my experience nothing fits ergonomically better than a Strat.

[tobijohn]

FWIW, I've got one of the recent "Inspired by Gibson" SGs and it has a thinner 60s style neck profile. Build quality is very good, pickups are the Alnico Classic Pros and fine as is the hardware and tuners.

[andrewsrea]

I guess around a year ago I bought my daughter a Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster, and honestly, I think it's a great guitar. Now that she's had it a while she admits it's a bit akward to play and stated she regrets not going with her second choice of guitar, an SG. She is on the small side and thinks the smaller body and shorter scale length will fit her better.

Has anyone tried any of the newer Epi SG's lately and what was your opinion / experience? I see they have a new headstock design which I like. Thanks all!

I'd recommend a Fender Jaguar for someone who is not adult-sized. Like others have mentioned, I feel like I am reaching for the cowboy chords on an SG, because how far up the neck is attached to the body.

[tobijohn]

I'd recommend a Fender Jaguar for someone who is not adult-sized. Like others have mentioned, I feel like I am reaching for the cowboy chords on an SG, because how far up the neck is attached to the body.

You're right about the neck, it does feel lke a long reach on an SG. Unfortunately, she apparently doesn't like the offset body style though. The only big name other than Fender that seems to offer a shorter scale guitar is Rickenbacker (325 series - 20.75") but I'm sure the OP wasn't budgeting for that even if his daughter likes that body style (plenty of counterfeits on Ali Express though).

Monoprice had an interesting Gold Top LP with minis (Indio Mini 66) but it's out of stock there and at the other big online sites.

The most important thing is that she ends up with something she really wants and that keeps her engaged even if a different model might be easier to play...

[Tiga]

If you like the SG, another option is Harley Benton. They also now have US based sales via Reverb. Saves the risk of shipping from Germany if you get a dud.

Harley Benton DC-LTD Gotoh Daphne Blue https://reverb.com/item/63111081-harley ... t=63111081






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The HB looks amazing. I also noticed how the body curve sits higher up (more toward the neck than a standard SG). Wondering if it will make reaching the the neck less of a stretch.

[tobijohn]

The HB looks amazing. I also noticed how the body curve sits higher up (more toward the neck than a standard SG). Wondering if it will make reaching the the neck less of a stretch.

Here's the HB (it's a Jr but the neck and body are the same) next to the Epi SG. You might also want to run the double cutaway Jr/Special body style by your daughter as the neck might be more managable for her (tell her that the guy in Green Day plays one ). The profile feels 60s-ish to me on both the SG and DC Jr but they also have a DC version with a 50s style neck (there's also a single cutaway version). Regardless, the build quality and sound on these recent Indonesian HBs is shockingly good, never mind how inexpensive they are ($125- $175):

FWIW and IMHO, the build quality on these HBs is close to the Epi that costs about three times as much (before shipping costs).

[honyock]

If you like the SG, another option is Harley Benton. They also now have US based sales via Reverb. Saves the risk of shipping from Germany if you get a dud.

Harley Benton DC-LTD Gotoh Daphne Blue https://reverb.com/item/63111081-harley ... t=63111081






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The HB looks amazing. I also noticed how the body curve sits higher up (more toward the neck than a standard SG). Wondering if it will make reaching the the neck less of a stretch.

I've got the Jr version, which has the same body shape. I do not know if it feels much different honestly. I am not sure if the neck profile is the same on all HB SG style, but mine is a bit more 50s style than 60s.

However, I believe on a SG the reason the neck feels so out there is because the strap is at the base of the neck and the body is already meeting the neck much lower and so the strap pulls it over towards the fretting hand and makes the neck feel longer.

One other option would be the PRS looking guitars (25" scale). They give you the best of both worlds in a way. The horn gets the body pushed over towards your picking hand so it feels a bit shorter. Also the neck profile is a bit more modern feeling.

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[idiotsdelight]

That DC Jr would be right up her alley, ergonomically. Mine feels tiny. Dont know about neck depth.

My Epi SG Jr feels long too. It's just where SG place their neck/body connection.

[tobijohn]

That DC Jr would be right up her alley, ergonomically. Mine feels tiny. Dont know about neck depth.

And they've got one in a blue she might like if a 50s profile works for her:

https://reverb.com/item/63111059-harley ... enton-blue