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MGR/Derek Mok « Gibson Pete Townshend Signature SG »
Published on 10/25/04 at 15:00I used this guitar to test a Pod 2.0 at Manny's Music on Sunset Blvd., in Los Angeles. It was selling for around $1100.
t sounds smooth and plays well. I love P-90 pickups -- they make for a responsive, versatile guitar that can do raging rock meltdowns as well as experimental chimes and clean melodic rhythm.
I was curious about how the Townshend SG compares to other SGs I'd played. The verdict: It *is* a good guitar; the question is whether it's worth its price tag. Because what you get here is basically a '60s SG Special with P-90 soapbar pickups, with its price jacked up because of the Townshend nametag. My main guitar is an SG Classic (1999), which has nearly the same specs -- dual P-90s, cherry finish. And my SG Classic looks better, plays better, and sounds better than this Townshend SG, while costing $100 less. In fact, the Townshend SG has one horrible trait, which is its lack of a tune-o-matic bridge. This means you cannot adjust individual string height; you can only raise and lower the entire stopbar tailpiece. Yes, I realize this is probably what Townshend had, but it makes for less value for money.
Good, with a smooth fingerboard, though I dislike new production guitars that artificially try to emulate an aged look, especially since this sends the price soaring.
Don't get me wrong -- if you buy this guitar, you *will* get a fine-playing and good-sounding instrument. The question is whether you can get just that without paying a hefty price for the Townshend association. I personally don't think it's worth it, especially given the issue with the missing tune-o-matic bridge. If you go for the "Limited Edition" Townshend SG, you'll be paying even more -- over three grand, last I checked, for a signed certificate and a flight case. Collectors may want the glamour and the authenticity; players are better off looking for the now-discontinued SG Classic; you'll get more bang for your buck from a player's perspective.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
t sounds smooth and plays well. I love P-90 pickups -- they make for a responsive, versatile guitar that can do raging rock meltdowns as well as experimental chimes and clean melodic rhythm.
I was curious about how the Townshend SG compares to other SGs I'd played. The verdict: It *is* a good guitar; the question is whether it's worth its price tag. Because what you get here is basically a '60s SG Special with P-90 soapbar pickups, with its price jacked up because of the Townshend nametag. My main guitar is an SG Classic (1999), which has nearly the same specs -- dual P-90s, cherry finish. And my SG Classic looks better, plays better, and sounds better than this Townshend SG, while costing $100 less. In fact, the Townshend SG has one horrible trait, which is its lack of a tune-o-matic bridge. This means you cannot adjust individual string height; you can only raise and lower the entire stopbar tailpiece. Yes, I realize this is probably what Townshend had, but it makes for less value for money.
Good, with a smooth fingerboard, though I dislike new production guitars that artificially try to emulate an aged look, especially since this sends the price soaring.
Don't get me wrong -- if you buy this guitar, you *will* get a fine-playing and good-sounding instrument. The question is whether you can get just that without paying a hefty price for the Townshend association. I personally don't think it's worth it, especially given the issue with the missing tune-o-matic bridge. If you go for the "Limited Edition" Townshend SG, you'll be paying even more -- over three grand, last I checked, for a signed certificate and a flight case. Collectors may want the glamour and the authenticity; players are better off looking for the now-discontinued SG Classic; you'll get more bang for your buck from a player's perspective.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com