Conference napalm::guitar

    Thought a gold top was a bottle of milk!
    

    Does Yamaha still make the SG line?  I haven't seen a new one for
    years.  They were not cheap when they were new.
    
    Until Guitar Player opened its fat mouth about them being underpriced,
    US prices on SG2000s were usually under $500.  The lower end models (I
    recall at least an SG1000 and an SG200) ran from $200-400.  I bet the
    prices have gone up at least $100 or more since the article came out.
    
    							Brian
    

    Tony, was this a new SG2000 or an old one?  They had been out of
    production since '85, but I read recently (in the British "Guitar"
    magazine) that they were being re-issued.
    
    Anyway, my advice is to proceed cautiously.  The SG2000's I've tried
    have been great at first glance, yielding a bright, crystal clear tone
    and very crisp definition.  But after spending some time with them
    I find they seem to lack something.  Side by side with a Les Paul, the
    tone seems somewhat thin.  This could be due to the electronics; note
    Santana used to upgrade to custom wound pickups when he played these
    guitars.  But I suspect it's actually the brass sustain block under the
    bridge.  This was touted as a great feature of these instruments, supposedly
    improving sustain, but I find it makes for a more metallic tone.  You can
    definitely hear more "wood" in a Les Paul.  Note too that Yamaha
    upgraded this line in the early 80's with the SG3000, which did NOT
    have the sustain block but instead went back to having the bridge anchored
    in the wood like a normal Gibson.
    
    Bottom line, it's probably a matter of taste.  For whatever reason, the
    SG2000's I've tried don't seem to cut through as well in a live band situation,
    but are outstanding as recording instruments.  Your mileage may vary. 
    I suggest seeing if you can get to try it in a full band mix before
    you buy.
    
    /rick

    Hi
    
    I've had both an SG200 and now an SG2100S (more or less the SG2000 with
    different pickups). (I also have a USA Strat).
    
    The SG200 was a good budget guitar, very powerful and pretty well
    built, but a budget guitar.   About 6 years ago I went out to buy a Les
    Paul and tried a range of them over a long period in the shop thru a
    similar amp to mine (Fender).  I eventually decided on a rather nice LP
    Standard which felt and sounded superb.
    
    Then the guy in the shop did said "Have you ever tried one of these"
    and produced a new SG2100.  He said I'd be impressed...I was
    apprehensive having used the SG200.
    
    I gave the guitar a try - WOW - sorry to say on sustain it blew the LP
    away, same on power!  I tried it again and again swapping my favoured
    LP and the Yammy, then I discovered the Yam had Coil Taps too and
    therefore had another whole range of sounds.  I came away with the
    SG2100S and have not regretted it.
    
    I still use it as my primary guitar for gigging, the long sustain and
    power suite the music I'm playing, also the tap's are useful especially
    for 'straight' acoustic sounding bits.
    
    I agree the sound is a bit toppyer on the bridge P/U but is as creamy
    as you want on the neck P/U.
    
    So - there you have it, I'd still like an LP in fact I was hunting for
    one recently till Digital welched on my bonus payment, but I wouldn't
    part with the Yam.
    
    I've had no problems whatsoever, neck is fine, action is low and the
    whole guitar's as good as new - and I gig approx. twice a week.
    
    
    SG2100 vs LP
    
    The disadvantages - Street Cred
                        The weight (it's very heavy - but I can take it!)
    			Sound? - although this is subjective! (I don't
    			think it's inferior)
    
    The advantages    - Probably cheaper than an LP (but you won't see many 
                        2nd hand in the UK)
                      - Coil tap flexibility
                      - Pretty unusual to see gigged these days     
    
    
    The SG1000 and 2000 has now been re-released in the UK, the SG2000 is
    �999.00 list (pretty pricy), the SG1000 �799.00 approx.  I'm not sure on 
    the differences between them.  Second hand you'll be luck to find one
    in the UK, but you might get lucky!
    
    Good luck and happy choosing
    
    Dusty Miller
    Leatherhead
    UK
    them

    My impression from years past was that the SG1000 was similar to a Les
    Paul Standard and the SG2000 was similar to a Custom.
    
    gh

    the SG2000 has been re-issued and can be bought for 1 thousand
    pounds(or there abouts)and the sg1000 can be picked up for about
    750.I've heard rave reviews about the Yammy sg's but haven't played one
    mysefl.The guy who reviewed them in a magazine I read said something
    about the first classic guitar that came from Yamaha but since I'm not
    really up on early yamaha's I wouldn't know!
       I know if I had the cash I would go for a second hand Les Paul.
    
    
    							ian
    

    >>I know if I had the cash I would go for a second hand Les Paul.
    
    amen......

    They changed the terms of the program?  AFTER THE FACT??????????
    I work with sales all over US Area.  I have heard some say that
    the next call will be to their <text deleted to protect the innocent>
    
    This is the sort of thing where I distance myself in a big way.
    Matter of fact, now that I think of it, I can't remember who 
    said that...

    Re: .8
    
    I agree completely.
    
    I think.  8^)

    re: .8
    
    Hey Rick, what the heck are you talkin about?

    I think he was referring to the fact that some UK sales folks (like me)
    had the goalposts moved for our bonus payment - some 3 months after the
    close of books (and big spending by some people).
    
    This prevented me buying an LP (to bring it back to the original
    point), which I would still like, but not in place of my Yammy!
    
    
    Dusty (SG2100 & Strat Playing) Miller
    England

    
    
    I used to have an SG1000. HOW MUCH!!!!!!!!!
    I'd have kept it if I'd realised it would appreciate.
    I bought it because I had a Gibson RD Standard, And wanted
    something lighter and more versatile, and the Yam seemed to 
    do everything that Strats and Gibbies could.
    WRONG!
    I spent most of the time tying to get a "good" Strat sound.
    so much so that I eventually traded it for a CBS strat in Wine Red.
    and later upgraded to my current Strat de-luxe plus.
    
    I have a friend with an original SG2000 in the same Tobacco sunburst as
    mine.
    The SG2000 had a brass insert up the neck to increase "sustain"
    The SG1000 was Gimicky but not Quality.
    It had 2 Humbuckers,same controls as Les Paul,but the tone controls
    were pop up switches that put that pick-up in single coil config
    supposedly to give a Fender type sound. It actually gave you a crappy
    twangy sound that didn't have any character at all.
    When connected as a humbucker they had more"bite" than a Gibson
    but rather in the way that cheap Strat copies seem more "lively"
    than the original.I also used to have another Yam many years ago,
    I can't remember what it was called, it was very much a cheap Les Paul
    copy,but it was a lovely colour, known as "Blond"
    As you  may gather,I'm not impressed with Yamaha's attempts to make 
    "Real" electric guitars, I've got a Yam FG200 acoustic that sounds
    wonderful, but even with lite gauge acoustic strings the top has
    warped "outwards" so bad that I've had to plane down the bridge wood
    and make a special low bridge to keep the action down below pure
    slide use! 
    In conclusion My perception of Yamaha guits is that they're like
    cheap perfumes- an interesting first impression that encourages
    purchase,but the novelty wears off.
    
    Matt.           
    As you may gather I wasnt overimpressed by