Metalcore Bands and Gibson SG guitars

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PaulKarate

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I've noticed that over the past few years a lot of metalcore/emo/hardcore bands seem to have more and more guys playing Gibson SG guitars. What I was wondering is this.

Is there something about that guitar in particular (pickups/construction) that works well with the tones this style of music requires?

or

Is it just that a few bands that got major attention had those and now all the bands are just trying to copy it?

I'm really just wondering if it really is the guitar and the sound or more of a trend type thing.
 
PaulKarate said:
I'm really just wondering if it really is the guitar and the sound or more of a trend type thing.
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Smart money's on the latter. ;)
 
I still see alot of PRS's floating around that genre too, and Ibanez of course....

(and BC Rich and Schecter for the dramatic...) :D

I think most guitars with a humbucker can do metal (with varying degrees of tone of course) depending on your amp/pedal setup. I'd say it's a little tone and a lot of fad/coincidence.

Todd
 
It's because the SG looks cool AND sounds great It's retro and modern and just plain rocks.
 
Just about every metal or wannabe metal head around here plays an ibanez. I don't really have an opnion on them, just noticed that...lol.
 
they have dual humbuckers and are the coolest looking guitar of all time.if you have one can i borrow it for a little while?
 
not that i play in a metalcore band ..but ANY excuse to post a pic of my guitar .....

:)
 

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I think a lot of the sg appeal is it's weight. I've never been a serious touring musician, but if I am ever lucky enough to land a gig like that, there's no doubt I'd play an sg everynight. They're about half the weight of a les paul, and although they sound a little "thinner" they still have great tone.

Even at pratice two or three days a week my les paul starts to feel like a boat anchor. Don't get me wrong, I love les pauls. But, I think a sg would be much friendly on the back for the touring musician.

My biggest gripe about the sg is that it's so damn neck heavy. The balance of the guitar is just all out of whack. I liked sgs enough to drop a couple bucks into a mid 70's model, so I really can't bitch about them....... But in "Wil's perfect world" an sg would be more balanced.
 
Nice, jamal. Very nice. I don't blame you for showing it off. :D
 
Jamal and JazzMasterWil hit it. They are light. I've never liked the body shape...just my taste but, I've got a 12 yr old student that just goes on and on about how he hopes his parents will get him one. He's an AC/DC fan...kinda retro by his standard but anyways, awhile back while at the GC, I picked one up and found the appeal. It's a nice playing guitar and very light by comparison. The light strings are not something I would keep but, it's a nicely balanced (IMO...I like that the weight isn't in the bottom like my LP's) and nice sounding guitar.

I've got it on my list of must haves.
 
The SG is a cool looking guitar. I have personally never really liked them because of their unbalanced feel, and I can't stand neck heavy guitars.
I would say that the young bands playing them today are just trying to look cool. There is nothing significant about an SG that suits it to playing metal. Any decent guitar with a bridge humbucker will work fine. Don't worry though, because eventually they will switch to Ibanez for the endorsement deal...... :rolleyes:
 
Say Jamal, what's the neck profile on that? Is it the thicker 59, or the slimmer 60? I just looked on MF.com, they say it's 59 thick, but Gibson.com says its 60's slim taper...

Just wondering.

Thanks for your input
 
amra said:
Just about every metal or wannabe metal head around here plays an ibanez. I don't really have an opnion on them, just noticed that...lol.
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I noticed that a lot too.....
I love metal but I never really did care for Ibanez. I play Les Pauls and Caparisons. :cool:
 
It's the look mainly, and the humbucker in the bridge. They also tend to have the guitar way up high, I suppose in protest of the 90s low-slung guitars ala Blink 182 and Green Day.
 
I'm in a metal band of sorts (three piece). Our guitar player has had an SG for years (1972ish), he recently bought a newer 1973 reissue built in '94ish. The Explorer is waaay hotter. I really don't know much about guitars, but the SG seems to feed back way more than the newer explorer. The SG does have a nice tone though, but the explorer is more "crunchy".

Just thought I would share.
 
I think a good number of those guys play ESPs as well. I always liked the look of Jacksons, myself, but the ESPs are cool too (especially the blue Eclipse my friend and I found used one time that had a Floyd and EMGs).
 
IronFlippy said:
They also tend to have the guitar way up high, I suppose in protest of the 90s low-slung guitars ala Blink 182 and Green Day.
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YES! I noticed that as well. Any one have opinions as to why they play them so high?

I believe it's a combo of a few things.

1. Image, image, image!
2. A lot of the new metalcore bands have a lot of note patterns they play up high on the neck and it is a lot easier to play accurately when your guitar is up high. Most of the 90's "New metal" stuff was simple to play having the guitar very low.
3. Because of the stage show. These Metalcore bands swing their guitars around a lot almost like swords, lol! It looks really cool watching these bands play a live show.
 
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