ShortScale.org

just thought id share my latest purchase, its a 1980 gibson SG R1, apparently there were only 200 made.

These things had the same setup as the rd artist etc.. with the active electronics so the body is a little thicker than standard sg's so it has a bit of weight.

It has had all the electrics changed and a middle pickup added so now has a dual sound in the bridge,a GOTO in the middle? maybe an early gotoh? and a i think a dirty fingers in the neck position.Each pickup has its own volume and theres a master tone and the first 3 way operates the neck and middle and the second operates the bridge pickup.
The mini switch splits the neck pickup.

it plays great and sounds really good, has alot of tones.

ive done some research but there isnt alot of info out there, im guessing cause there wasent that many made.
anYwhoo some pics......

Thats weird, but pretty cool. Haha the overkill on the electronics is like something I'd do to a guitar.

LOVE OVERCOMPLICATED SGS

Reminds me of my SGuar

yeh, i had to figure out how it was wired but i really like the set up. the middle pickup doesnt sound as good as the other 2.

I probly wont use it as much anyway

Move the DiMarzio to the neck and disconnect middle pickup/extra switches.

Or disconnect neck pickup and replace with smoke bomb, extra switch is trigger.

I love SGs. How does it play? I must admit I have a bit of a hatred going on for the harmonica style bridge.

I think you have a very beautiful sg, looks as if you could really rock out on that for hours. I'd have a hard time putting that down, beautiful guitar.

That's got a cool, somehow stripped down to basics yet very complicated look to it; and I like it!

Not much of an SG fan, but that is nice! Do you mind if I ask how much it set you back?

it plays great, it hasnt got a huge neck its probly the most comfy neck ive played in a while.

hehe heyeh im not a fan of the harmonica bridge either, it looks a little to big, i may change it out later on if i can get a standard one to fit easily should just be able to change posts etc..., but atm ill probly leave it.

the middle pickup has a really low output compared to the other 2, i might even change it for something else ,but the other 2 sound great.

im still deciding if i should get some chrome covers for them? or if i should just leave them.

if i dont i will definelty get a new pickup to replace the middle one. although it does get in the way when i play it i keep hitting the pickup

I got it for $700AUD and i had to drive a couple of hours but it was worth it.
the only thing i noticed is that the guitar is very sticky, like i can scratch off laquer with my pick, especially the back of the neck on the higher part and the cutaways, im guessing the laquer is going crappy?

That definitely has 80s written all over it. I love it!

yeh i know, im pretty stoked, i was just on the lookout for a guitar with 2 humbuckers and i was going to buy something else then this popped up.


these were the first sg artist's apparently.

im definelty changing the middle pickup but im not sure what to, any suggestions?

i problably wont play much with just the middle pickup but i will mix it with the neck, ill also have to lower it a fair ammount otherwise ill hit it with the pick all the time. so im guessing i need something with a decent output so when its lowered its still loud enough.

I don't think you can replace the harmonica bridge without some major work. they are mounted straight, where a TOM is at an angle.


yeah I think it would look good with pickup covers of some sort. and maybe some black screws on the pickup rings?

yeh ur right the bridge is straight, meh ill just leave it.

ill definelty be looking into some chrome covers and i reckon your right on the black screws, the chrome ones really stand out.

maybe a duncan 59 in the middle? im guessing id want neck pickups to put in the middle? as theyd have a higher output, maybe the got thing thats in there is a bridge pickup, its wierd though it also has screw poles on both sides like a dirty fingers

That , my friend , is frickin cool .