That 70s SG That's Gone Under the Radar | 1979 Gibson SG EXCLUSIVE | Review + Demo

[@Trog]

The SG Exclusive doesn't get talked about much, but was one of the only limited edition SGs in the 70s. Many of its features may seem commonplace now - but it was quite the spectacle at the time! 🔴Reverb: reverb.com/item/34301889?_aid=growsumo&gs_partner=Trogly 💰New to Reverb? Get $10 on Me ➡️ reverb.grsm.io/earn10 ❓Private Help Sessions: troglysguitarshow.com/help-appraisals/ 🎸New Guitar Day Program: troglysguitarshow.com/ngd/ 👕 Merch: teespring.com/basic-logo-4245?pid=211

[@tristianseguin3930]

Have you ever seen the sg menace?

[@StudioBeast7575]

If you roll the volume back to 7-8 on the guitar it won't be so fizzy sounding when doing distortion with those hot pickups. Thanks for the demo it was very informative.

[@julexmagalona9272]

very nice guitar..and very nice price..expinsive..hahaha

[@philbarrows424]

The Trogly's Guitar Show is the tab knob allow you to blend the tap, or is it an all or none thing? Love the show!👍🏻❤️🎸

[@savage3960]

Sweet sounding SG I love the looks of it also.

[@fscolorado5051]

did anyone else notice the E and B are are swapped at the tuning machines? noticable when he mentions the brass nut 6:32

[@PapaWheelie1]

Haha good catch

[@zephyr5802]

Woah I never noticed that! Looks like he swapped them back the right way in the actual play test...

[@iplaylax22]

Could that be accidental? How would you not notice you did something like that? Is there any plausible reason why you would do that? How bizarre

[@Iam_Dunn]

Some cheap-ass bastard busted the B string and swapped it instead of buying a new set .... (Been der, Dunn dat...) ....LOL... Good eye!

[@alabamahebrew]

Lol good eye!! Then when he is showing it in the case after he has cleaned it and taken it apart and put it back together, he fixed that issue lol. After watching Austin's video from a few weeks ago about he he films each episode now we know when he is showing us that shot where the strings are put right, was after he had done everything he was going to do to the guitar.

[@kynoceph]

This is interesting and fun. I'd rather see you do something like this on a regular basis instead of unboxing yet another Les Paul.

[@WillowChord]

i feel the same way. I'd really enjoy the channel more if we got some more variety. Les Pauls are nice, but I'd love to hear more about brands that aren't Gibson, Epiphone, or the occasional Fender

[@leetebb5057]

Found one of these at a local shop in Saskatchewan and after watching you video immediately went back and bought it

[@ferox965]

The 70s SGs are so awesome. Played a 3 pickup Walnut SG custom that was just gorgeous.

[@carternevill]

Those are the exact specs of Angus Young's sg!

[@ferox965]

@@carternevill It was at a high end shop not far from me...they wanted 2500 for it. Had to be happy with just jamming it out haha. Went back the next week and it was gone.

[@jubei7259]

I've got a '92 Standard & a 61R. The '61R's a decent guitar (not overly keen on the maestro tremelo tbh) but the '92 is just awesome. Not my prettiest guitar but it plays & sounds amazing.

[@DesertScorpionKSA]

My guess is the TAP pot is in parallel with one of the pickup coils. As the resistance goes towards zero it shunts the current away from one coil. At zero it would be just like a coil split.

[@shanedixon4839]

And dual gang. One gang for each pickup.

[@nigellacey559]

I love it when you review these old gibson guitars. It's what youre best at.

[@Austin-fd4ep]

I really like that inclusion of the neck measurement/rounding tool. When you talk about baseball bat and thin necks I try to imagine it but can’t. I know it’s not perfect but it’s a pretty awesome representation.

[@edwinstovall3334]

Ohh, Austin, you got me with this one! I didn't know about this SG, but I DID have a GK-55 back in the day! My father found it for me at IRC Music in Indianapolis, IN while we lived there in the early 80s. He helped me get it by buying it and letting me pay him back. That guitar was my workhorse for years afterwards and was probably my most gigged guitar. I especially appreciated the coil split roll-off knob, as I would use it when my band played Prince songs. Remember that he used that single coil equipped Hohner MadCat at the time. I remember one sad detail about that knob - okay, two. First is the unhappy fact that using that knob introduced a world of interference into the signal; Gibson didn't connect the pickups in any hum-cancelling way for the split sound. Major bummer! The other thing was that I used that knob the wrong way and allowed dust and dirt to get in and make the pot scratchy-sounding when turned. I would have fixed it, but the guitar was stolen from me before I put the fix in! I could cry! Instead of doing that, though, I'll thank you for this video. I had previously thought my old GK was the only guitar with that wiring configuration. If I recall correctly, it was fitted with speed knobs labelled with numbers only; no "volume" or "tone" (or "tap") markings. The SG Exclusive is the only guitar I know of with the "TAP" marking. I miss MY GK!😟

[@edwinstovall3334]

I should have mentioned that I was no fan of my GK's TP-6 Fine Tune tailpiece. I was sure that it was the reason my GK didn't sustain like a Les Paul. If I still had it, though, I would have realized how wrong I was. It was the FRETWORK that was really lacking. I would have convinced myself of that by doing a fret job on it and observing the results. I say that after doing a fret job on my Hamer Sunburst Archtop (which is very Les Paul like) and others. Even Fender style guitars benefit from a decent fret job with a significant increase in sustain. With that and a good cleaning of that scratchy-sounding pot, I would have had a real winner instead of just sad and wistful memories!

[@lueymeteora1410]

0:50 Get this one, Trogley - it's sick!

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

The look is great with the contrast of the cream plastic and the black.

[@Scott__C]

Don't know if they started it, but Peavey T-60 guitars had tone knobs that you turned to 7 and it was a hum bucker and then between 7 and 10 was a single coil. One for each pickup. Cool feature.

[@paulj0557tonehead]

I had a T-30 in 1983 I paid $200 for. Insane for country picking...great studio staple guitar. Another studio staple is a 1976 FET Transistor AMPEG G-110 tremolo reverb combo amp. Get one! Anything you plug into it sounds great- electric, acoustic guitars Vox/Farfisa organs, Wurlitzer electric piano.

[@markjamesmeli2520]

What a beauty. Certainly this guitar was made, coming out of the factory 40+ years ago, to be reviewed by you. Thank you.

[@johnm3946]

That guitar, those pickups, tap knob concept. The perfect storm.

[@Rachels123]

Handsome guitar. Looks like a guitar in a tux.

[@jsphillip60]

Like my tuxedo cat!

[@Area-nc7gs]

I bought a 1991 Gibson SG Special Ebony brand new 30yrs ago and I still have. I'm so glad I never sold it. The tones I get from it are like no other that I've played.

[@sefton1972]

That is a lovely SG. I love double cream pickups with cream plastics. Always a cool 70’s vibe.

[@monstrok]

The blacklight glow on this vintage instrument is spectacular! I wired my first Les Paul with the same variable coil grounding (not really a coil tap/split) wiring and it really opened up the tonal possibilities. I didn't know that Gibson offered this as a feature on any of their instruments. Nice sleuthing! When this guitar is restored to original wiring, it will sound amazing.

[@garrettodonnell4177]

Even with the dodgy wiring, that's a GORGEOUS array of sounds. Thanks for sharing this.

[@sams.4388]

One of my ffavorite SGs. I love the overall aesthetic of this SG.

[@Greg-vd5om]

Trogly's in the HOUSE!!!

[@shaunw9270]

Aw, the harmonica bridge . That really was a great bridge that helped nail the intonation on my old Marauder. Better still, they are comfy ! 👍

[@mauricelabbe518]

I just bought one a few months ago I never knew they existed and were so rare. I also have a '69 Les Paul Custom and they both sound good. but different from each other. I'm glad I bought it.

[@jamesshaw476]

Trogly always reviews the best Gibsons. Truly a Master at Gibsons

[@alwaysopen7970]

There are other better guitars. Get an Anderson or Parker Fly. Sadowsky basses are cool. Get a Byrdland. I have never liked neck diving SGs but did a recording session with a 68 that did good. They go 50% on his reverb site. Has Trogly ever gigged out using any guitars to get a true feel for them and putting a dent in one? You can't give a real review unless playing one loud on a stage.

[@jamesshaw476]

@@alwaysopen7970 I see your point. I play my SG thru a Marshall DSL 40C, for a combo, can push some air with the 1X12. I always play standing up, so the strap takes care of the neck dive. I will admit my PRS Custom 24 is way more of a balanced guitar. I'm looking for my next Guitar a nice Les Paul. I started to follow Trogily because of his knowledge of Gibsons and the unique LP models he finds

[@rarekid740]

@@alwaysopen7970 the point of this channel isn't to review the "best" guitars anyway lol, regardless what can be considered the best is a highly subjective thing anyway. Trogly goes in depth on the history of rare guitars like no one else, I almost consider this more of an antiques channel, the man knows his Gibsons

[@ErickC]

@@alwaysopen7970 : While that's a nice dress-up of the old "No True Scotsman" fallacy... it's still a fallacy, nonetheless.

[@johnliggitt3002]

I have one that is totally original. May of 79. The purpose of the tap knob is to have the widest range of tone. Mine works correctly so I can “ blend “ the tones from the single to double coil 1/2n1/2 or increments either way depending on knob position. Maybe that’s where your phantom wire could come in to play JL

[@jeremiahMc11]

I like the quick history recap section- you should do more of that!

[@falsegawd9050]

Just found out my "1971 sg standard" is actually a 1979 sg exclusive, that someone customized a bit. My spin a split works fine though lol

[@erickleefeld4883]

A master volume, two tone knobs, plus an extra control for humbucker/single-coil modes? Sounds very friendly to anyone who grew up playing a Strat!

[@motonegearchannel1510]

The TAP knob seems super cool.

[@tmitz73]

I usually don't dig many 70's Gibsons, but that's a pretty cool Guitar!! Playing is gettin a lot better Homie!!

[@fredvahldiek738]

I had one of these in the early '80s. The "TAP" is actually a coil pot. It faded one of the coils in and out. One of the stacked pots/pickup. I tried to like the guitar, being a big Iommi fan, but never got the tone I wanted. Sold it to a friend about a year later for the same price I paid for it.

[@captmark09]

This is Gibson's Version of the Peavey T-60 circuit. The Peavey is much smoother in operation but the Gibson does work. The hotter output of the Dirty Fingers probably contributed to the different blending...

[@metalmig]

finally some norlin era Gibson guitar ! .feels kind of nostalgic

[@billycjustice]

I was thinking the same thing as you said it. “Tap” is the perfect name for that knob and it’s feature.

[@Wargasm644]

I have Gibson USA made TP6 tailpieces on all my Gibson’s. I’ve even modified my metric ESP guitar and outfitted it with a USA TP6. I don’t know why all Gibson’s don’t have them. They hold tune fantastic and string change is a breeze. And the fine tuning makes your chords chime pretty close to perfect. Funny, I initially put them on because most of my guitars have Floyd Rose systems. So I got used to doing any tuning at the tail. Then when I’d jump on one of my hardtail guitars, I’d reach down to tune and there wasn’t anything there but a bar. So I decided to try the TP6. Now all of my hardtails have them. Not only are they awesome for tuning, but the look badass too. And the don’t create such a hard break angle to the bridge. So it’s almost like top wrapping. Gibson has had some really good innovations. But they typically get stifled by the beard strokers. The Diamond posi-lock strap buttons were cool and functional too. And whatever happened to the Schaller “crank” tuners? All cool stuff. I understand people wanting “reissue” spec stuff. But I wish they would’ve kept some of these innovations available for other model lines. What about the “snap-in” pickguard they made a few years back? Why wouldn’t everyone want a pickguard that is removable and doesn’t require drilling holes in your 3000$ guitar?! I don’t get it.

[@redmuun519]

I really enjoy the color scheme of this guitar. Might replicate one at some point with a regular black SG

[@joermnyc]

I’d check to see if a ground wire came off the “tap” pot on the bridge side... it seems all it does is roll off a coil to ground, but if the ground wire isn’t actually touching something then it does nothing, or cuts out that coil completely.

[@ShakinFit]

04:16 Not CCR but CRR Country Rock Regular ;)

[@gitarzzan1]

Peavey T60 also had similar setup on tone knobs. 0-5 humbucker, 5-10 single coil

[@LousReview]

NIce, the one D'Addario on the A string!

[@mikeydep89]

i had a 72 sg special, that had a gibson tailpiece like the bigsby..it also had no cover over the knob area, those pups that had black covers, maybe said gibson on them? and had a LP style pickguard...dot inlays...great guitar....years after a trade i saw it again...some nitwit decided to to home do block inlays on in and put humbuckers in..and painted it black....such a sad tale....one of those one's i shoulda kept

[@guitarandgames1386]

I don't even like Gibson (more of a metal music and Ibanez guy). But damn I love this show just because of the history trogly shows

[@samsonkirkpatrick6996]

Wow that's one of the coolest SG's I've ever seen

[@277southtombob]

I think the harmonica bridge was the best on Gibson ever used. I know a lot of people don’t like the look but they work great and I’ve never saw a collapsed one either. I think PRS is using a set resistor tap on some models which isn’t a bad method to get in between full split and humbucker.

[@Iam_Dunn]

Found some useful info with some clear pictures of the wiring. Off the top of my head, I think the “Tap” knob works as a dual volume for the north coils. So, not actually taking out windings, but lowering output, thus the reduction in impedance. Anyhoo... here’s a link ... www.everythingsg.com/threads/1979-sg-exclusive-wiring-with-coil-tap.34282/

[@jace2u556]

I have one of these in a silver burst finish. I believe it to be the original color as it has a Gibson Custom Shop stamp on the back of the headstock. I've seen a few Les Pauls that were silver burst but only this SG. I don't play it much but it's cool to know I might have something very rare. Thanks for the info.

[@alanploeger15]

Love the sg, natural relic!

[@lichkrieg4898]

That stacked pot is most likely stacked volumes that run parallel each one being one of the coils. Or one is a dummy while the other controls one coil off each simultaneously. Either way you should be able to do this fairly easily on any pickups that support coil splitting

[@drloqutis2492]

i like that tap option on a hot pickup

[@thegee-tahguy4877]

My 77 Ibanez Artist 2618 came with a gold Schaller harmonica bridge.

[@larryh.3173]

HA!!! I actually owned one of these Exclusives, in just about the same shape, too. (Wondering, I checked my records for the serial number, just in case... nope.) It was a really great guitar (a wonderful singing sustain and the Tap was a neat feature, too) that I somehow just didn't end up playing as much as it deserved. I ended up evenly trading it several years later for a new, original, phenolic-topped USA Reverend Rocco-which I then proceeded to play tons, so... it was a worthwhile trade in the end, I'd say. (Which one will get played more, right?) Still, though, there are times that I wonder about my ol' Exclusive. Ah, well... Thanks for the great research you presented here. Kinda wish I still had mine, but, hey... we can't own ALL the great guitars out there now, can we? :-)

[@tabithastew9850]

i have an epiphone sg 400 and i love it. a 07 model. plays and sounds great. thank you reverb ! lol she was a little beat up. obviously played. thats ok though, i cleaned her up and i love it.

[@johnhenfrey5936]

Nice start to the week, thanks for the review Austin.

[@marcuswilson3485]

I’ve a 2003 Standard with a bigsby and I love the look of this guitar as well. It’s a no frills looking thing. I bet it sounds gorgeous though.

[@stevenpape2021]

I rewired a Strat HSS to being master volume, master tone and coil-split through the bottom tone in about '82. It is a well known invisible upgrade.

[@leesbassment6393]

If I'm not mistaken, Peavey was the first to do that spin-a-split thing, starting in '78. The T-60 guitars and T-40 basses used that, incorporated into the tone control for each pickup. I'm sure Peavey did it then. I'm not sure they were first.

[@stevew1886]

The "Tap" knob is simply a volume control for one of the coils in the humbucker.

[@the_nondrive_side]

It's a dual sweep pot. Is there a center detent? There will be a code saying what sweep to expect like A and B there is C which is the dual centers. So that's gonna be a sweep for each with opposite lugs for the hot 1-3 and 2 out

[@bluekoi455]

Cool green screen edit at 17:20 with the guitar floating behind the playing

[@zman19797]

6:23 that string setup.

[@HenkeEdge]

Yeah, strange. But looks OK again around 6:27

[@chrisnchristinamcdaniel2877]

Good playing on that one Trogly!

[@strat0871]

Love 70's SG's with small block inlays.

[@gabenzb]

The brass nut is a nice touch

[@CathodeULT]

I was born in 79. If that was left handed I'd buy it like yesterday!!

[@stratman9449]

just came across this episode in the search for a Gibson SG with cream plastic...bingo...i wondered if to exchange my black pu frames with cream ones....pokerchip already done....and i put gold speed knobs on...looking good so far.....cream and gold goes well with antique cherry....plus a "slash" zebra bridge seymour duncan 2.0.....or am i going toooo far there....??

[@InstructorGomez]

I'm obsessed over that knob

[@massimobargagna5641]

This SG has alot of goodies on it sweet guitar ! used to have a SGC from early 80's got stolen

[@brycejohannesson]

So cool. Please try to find an all maple Raw Power SG! Would love to see a video on it

[@howardskinner4916]

Wow, a stacked volume pot for half the coils! That's a great idea. Time to warm up the soldering iron....

[@JamesFordTV]

Thanks for the content. I stop by every day.

[@BelmoresMusic]

For your next video it would be cool if you did a review of a 1996 squire strat 50th anniversary

[@InstructorGomez]

What a gorgeous guitar

[@OniDasAlagoas]

Hi, Trogly. Great video as always. I was wondering, have you ever talked about those SG Specials from the early 00's? They seem worth talking about.

[@travelunderground574]

My dad has this guitar and also a 60s les Paul junior and many more collections fenders too

[@paulj0557tonehead]

This model says "Player's guitar" all over it! BADASS!

[@leesagomez6615]

My Satin Black Les Paul.has creme COLOR P 90's.....and pick guard...looks similar to black one on video

[@alabamahebrew]

I got to thinking as Austin said that there was not really like collectible stuff in the early 70's, something to that effect anyway. I started to wonder why that was, why were musicians not in that "mode" but then it dawned on me, by 1972 the solid body electric guitar was only about 20 years old. Usually things don't start getting collectible or odd models sought out until after the first generation of those who bought the original products begin producing a second generation. How many times have we heard or even said, "I want one like my dad had"? That's why stuff starts getting desired after that first generation produces a second generation, we hear the old stories of, "Yeah when I was about 14 they came out with the solid body guitar, a few years later they introduced those fancy humbucker pickups you kids seem to like so much.". So by about 1975 the second generation was now wanting some of these things and the used market probably skyrocketed which showed makers like Gibson that they could cash in big time now, and they did lol. Imagine being Angus Young in 1971 when AC/DC first formed and the poor little guy couldn't handle a big heavy Les Paul and the Strat was just to much of a whimpy guitar to handle what he planned on releasing onto the world. He only had a couple of options to choose from in the SG world. Today though, well shoot you got everything under the sun lol. I bought a 1987 SG Special from Austin a couple of years ago and I do not like the SG models, I have had a few but nahhh just not my thing, I prefer the Les Paul. But this darn 87 won me over!! I love playing it and now find myself reaching for that one first. The other day I was trying to decide which guitar I wanted to play and not trying to sound like I'm bragging, cause I am not! But I have a nice sized guitar collection of various styles and various configurations to choose from. I ended up grabbing that 87 SG lol. I have a brand new Les Paul and a brand new Explorer, nope, gimme the 87! Funny how we guitarists are like that huh?

[@phillipholt6005]

This is the first I've heard of the pickups. I have to sell myself on the fact that I don't need a SG. Of course I tryed that on the last 3 guitars.

[@ADaviDTR]

Took a long while to get this one reviewed - this one was mentioned way back when you did the GK55!

[@alabamahebrew]

Yeah, he said that! Lol, he said it's been about 9 months since he was supposed to do this review.

[@scotthutchens1556]

The tones are great on this guitar but for me the cream clashes way too much with the black, (however, I don’t favor black SG’s) the knobs are what goes on a Goldtop or cherry sunburst Les Paul. I also think the Dirty Fingers in the neck could be too hot and muddy for that position but the coil tap helps that. I still have a gold tailpiece like that one. Never bonded with it though.

[@MysteryZenSide2]

everything looks stellar about this fine instrument-; although the Direct / line -in / interface/ demo amp sounded like a Solid State- ..correct me if I am wrong- ...May we hear a Tube amplifier demo with this 1979 Gibson Exclusive SG guitar ? That's where the guitar will REALLY shine.

[@Trog]

solid state has never been used on the show for my guitar reviews

[@travelunderground574]

Super hot pickups for sure

[@nataroonytrontime3976]

I hope this isn't an insult but your videos realy do make me want to sleep. It's a good thing i promise!

[@Mark_Ocain]

Someone needs to do a Frank Zappa SG reissue I reckon - the one Dweizel's using at the monent

[@216trixie]

"That 70's SG" I see what you did there.

[@nicktpg9100]

3:44 Robert Baker!

[@OtaconNachos]

Cool guitar, please do more 70's Gibson stuff!

[@nicholasmanupella3475]

Beautiful guitar

[@ManOrWomanIDK]

Went to CME and played a 70s sg. Cant remember if it was 71 74 76 or 78 haha but the frets were really weird and flat

[@daniels5930]

I'm new to channel and loving seeing all these guitars. I'm actually looking into picking up a SG. US

[@setheinsteiner2980]

I was actually actually looking at reverb and saw this guitar was just put up. I was like:Troglys uploaded a video!

[@tommyroseguitar4557]

Don’t be be too embarrassed, Trogly.....your soldering is still way better than mine, lol. That’s why I take my stuff to someone else, plus they just love doing that kind of tinkering.

[@spunnek75]

I think this is the model that I bought new for my grandson’s 19th birthday. At Manny’s in 1980 or 81 .

[@raserx63]

spunnek75 You have a 59 year old grandson? That would likely put you north of 100 years old.

[@clarkbabin9799]

Looked at the listing and of course it is sold. But theres another listed as very good condition. Personally it didn't look a lot better. They're asking $ 2795.00 and looks like there's a gig bag. I'm not really familiar with the coil splitting but do remember back when a few guitars had the tap knob. Was also curious if you ever reviewed a Paul?

[@InstructorGomez]

That's fucking amazing. A coil split SG

[@stevegardiner8473]

Is the neck set further into the body (more towards the bridge end) than on modern SG's? There's a gap between neck pickup and neck on modern SG's, there's no gap on this guitar.

[@richsolis6538]

Best title EVER!

[@visje1996]

It has no cover plate in between the neck and neck pickup, is that normal on 70's sg's?

[@kynoceph]

Yes. The neck size and overall construction were very different from the 60s SGs, and many 70s models dispensed with the neck plate in favor of the batwing pickguard, or a Les Paul-like triangle pickguard.

[@visje1996]

@@kynoceph thanks dude, learned something new today!

[@danielv2880]

You should cover more Epiphone juniors