[funkytoe]

Just taking a look at the Gibson website and I see some changes to the SG Bass.

The "Standard" SG bass is now only available in Heritage Cherry Red (no longer available in Ebony). More importantly, the model now has trapezoid inlays on the fretboard (as opposed to dots) and the Gibson logo and crown now appear on the headstock in inlaid abalone (former SG reissue was silkscreened Gibson logo only [no crown] in gold). Finally, it appears that the fretboard is now Rosewood. I believe the fretboard on my SG reissue is Ebony.

The "Faded" SG remains available in Heritage Cherry or Ebony -- still has the dots on the fretboard and still has the silkscreened Gibson logo in gold (no crown). But, this too is only offered with the Rosewood board.

So, my question is, why the changes? Is Gibson purposely changing the model every few years for collector purposes? Did they need to make more signficant changes between the "Standard" and the "Faded" SG's to justify the higher M.S.R.P. for the "Standard"? And what about the change to rosewood? Was ebony becoming too expensive?

As noted above, I have an Ebony (gloss) SG Reissue with what I believe to be an ebony fretboard with dots. Wonder just how many of these were made before the current production changes took effect. I'm kind of upset that, as my Ebony Standard SG ages, it will look just like the "Faded" series currently offered for $1000 less M.S.R.P.

By the way, anyone still on the fence about buying one of these should DO IT!.. I have owned more than 50 basses in my 30+ years of playing, including the current high end production basses (Sadowsky, Lakland, Tobias, Warwick and Spector). The SG sounds every bit as good as any of them and is the easiest to play of the whole lot. I just can't say enough good things about this little wonder. I love it. Just wish I knew what Gibson was thinking in this regard.

Also, if anyone has the production numbers for the original run of these SG Reissues (prior to the changes noted above), I would love to have that. Jules? Anyone?

[Dave W]

So, my question is, why the changes? Is Gibson purposely changing the model every few years for collector purposes?

Gibson has been making small changes to models every so often for a century, long before anyone ever thought of guitars as collectibles. What they've done here is just to add a few more deluxe features.

AFAIK the SG Reissue always has had a rosewood board. Ebony has always been a little more expensive but the cost difference wouldn't be significant on an over-$1000 instrument. The faded version has only been offered in rosewood.

Judging from what I've seen, cherry far outsold ebony. Low sales is probably the reason it was dropped. But don't waste your time looking for production numbers, Gibson hasn't released those figures for years.

I'm kind of upset that, as my Ebony Standard SG ages, it will look just like the "Faded" series currently offered for $1000 less M.S.R.P.

The standard finish (in any color) will never look like the faded finish. The standard Gibson finish is a process that includes sanding sealer, pore filler, dye, multiple color and clear coats of lacquer followed by multi-step finish sanding and polishing. The faded finish is a couple of quick sprayed on coats with no pore filler. I don't think you need to worry about any confusion 50 years from now.

[funkytoe]

Thanks for the re-assurance about how she'll look 50 years from now. I just love this one and guarantee that, if I am still around in 50 years, she will be too!