
14 Aug 1993 Gibson SG “Korina”, Limited Edition (#47 of 500)
As you can see, I am not a vintage obsessed guy. False, I am.
HOWEVER 😀 I do in general like old guitars, not just old but aging, so not necessarily vintage.
Just as a well-read classic book has tatty pages, old guitars have the appeal of something I call “played”.
Well, supposedly they have been played. Although that’s not always the case (some have been stored under a bed) I make sure – when looking at older guitars – that they’re battered, dirty, or possibly cracked somewhere.
All this means that they’ve been loved a bit, desired and used. I like this because it is a sort of additional guarantee that the guitar sounds good – or sounded good – and felt good to someone. Therefore, me likes!
That’s the case with this 1993 Korina, almost 20 years old, so relatively recent SG.
The irony is, back in 1993 – when I still sucked nuts at guitar playing – I bought one just like this. I can’t remember what number it was out of 500, but I had one.
The color and “pancake” fashion (it’s made of different layers of wood) had caught my attention, even back then when I knew nothing, or very little, about guitars.
These were made from Korina – a supposedly protected African wood. Here’s Gibson’s own claim:
“This guitar follows in the tradition of the 50′s era Gibson Explorer and flying V guitars with its beautiful Korina wood body and neck. This African hardwood is renowned for its resonant acoustical properties that impart this SG with amazing sustain and great string definition. It’s very well balanced and light, weighing in at 6.6 lbs”.
Unfortunately I sold it almost immediately after purchasing it……..
The memory of that guitar has haunted me for years, especially since I’ve started to know and understand more about guitars. I’d always thought that that SG had sounded well.
So, when I eventually saw another one on eGay, I went for it.
This one arrived in the condition you see here, except that the neck was bent like an arch because the guy who had it before me used piano strings instead of guitar strings (just kidding, but he’d used huge strings!).
I had to set it up myself and now it’s virtually perfect, with super low action, no buzz and good resonance and tone.
The only thing that still bothers me is the wiring. I think these are wired (i.e. the internal circuitry and the way the pickups and switch selector and connected) following the modern method.
Instead, I prefer the ’50s style of wiring which basically lets you clean up the guitar as you roll the volume down, however the guitar still remains bright in tone, not muddy at all. So possibly I’ll have to modify the circuitry, Will update you here, watch this space.
Oh, and By The Way, when I found out that Angus has one (with which he’d used to record the album “BallBreaker” – this picture is in fact a BallBreaker studio Angus guitar rig image, i.e. he is one of the 500 owners of these), that helped me pull the trigger!
Body details
Adaptation By Robert Taylor
Note of the author for the more ‘particular’ reader: these articles on SoloDallas’ gear are not intended to be egotistical, neither am I intending to show off. They are for passion, documentation/information and sharing pleasure with those who have a similar interest. Thanks for your trust and understanding, SD
bluesguitardude
Posted at 23:26h, 30 Augustfil!!! congrats on your page!!!!! i greatly admira your works here, simply SPLENDID!!!!! i have a question, is there a place where i can get the 50’s style wiring diagram? I have a ’09 gibson sg special, which i constantly abuse. Since im an amateur at working with guitars, the farthest i’ve gone with my baby is replacing the stock pups with some “57 classics. NOT ENOUGH!!!!! im kinda obsessed with achieving that vintage tone for my guitar, and any help would be HUGELY appreciated. greetings from puerto rico!!!
SoloDallas
Posted at 02:53h, 31 AugustHola Puerto Rico!!!!
Here it is to you (link to schematics). It’s easy:
http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88796
Tyler
Posted at 17:26h, 14 AugustFil, I’ve been struggling trying to keep my sg standard in tune. The stock kluson tuners feel very loose and cheap and make it hard to get to the right pitch. I want to change the tuners out and get maybe grovers, is their any other tuners that you would recommend? I also want to have the nut looked at and see if it needs any work.
SoloDallas
Posted at 17:33h, 14 AugustTyler,
before you do anything to the guitar in terms of changes – and they are welcome – try nut sauce (eGay) first. It’s a “sauce” you put lightly in the tiny holes of the nut. Often – always – those are choking the string which will always “jump” back and forth going out of tune. After this, every time you tune your strings, BEND THE HECK OUT OF THEM and retune. One at a time (E, B, G, … ). Tune it, then SUPER-MEGA-BEND. Let it go out of tune, then retune. Repeat. Try this fist. If NOTHING works, I really suggest replica Klusons at RSguitarworks.com GREAT stuff. 🙂
Tyler
Posted at 17:44h, 14 AugustThanks man, I think I’ve heard about nut sauce before, (once I got over the name lol), I’ll give it a try. I also think I might throw on tonepros bridge and stopbar to increase sustain.
SoloDallas
Posted at 18:20h, 14 AugustTonepros are my “go to” parts. I always can’t get enough. You keep the original parts in storage and add the tonepros. There are other brands who do good stuff – some say even better – but you can’t go wrong with tonepros.
Kris
Posted at 16:30h, 14 AugustReally cool guitar I must say 🙂 How about playing Hell aint a bad place to be with it?
SoloDallas
Posted at 16:31h, 14 AugustWhy not? 😉
Kris
Posted at 16:34h, 14 AugustDeal then 😀 😀 😀
iBrows
Posted at 16:20h, 14 AugustWonderful reading as always, Fil. Keep it up 😉
I have to ask you this:
What is your favourite colour for an SG? I mean you have SGs in almost every colour spectrum: Deep wine red cherry, strong bright red, orangey red, dark brown, black, vintage creme and this yellowy one.
Personally, I think the 70’s SG in a dark brown shade looks stunning, and so is a sun faded orange tinted cherry one.
SoloDallas
Posted at 16:22h, 14 AugustGlad you liked it! And it’s not just to say it.
Agree wholeheartedly with you. Those two are the colors I always go back to: walnut and dark cherry.
depuis1899
Posted at 14:18h, 14 Augustyeah nutella if you prefer ^^
how could somebody hate your guitars?
You got the best SG models and they sound like wow…
if i could have one of yours next to my Sg that would be awesome, than i truely don’t know with which one i should play 😛
depuis1899
Posted at 14:05h, 14 Augustfil, why do you always have these beautiful SG’s ?^^
tha’ts caviar for my eyes 😉
SoloDallas
Posted at 14:07h, 14 AugustYou said it right. caviar. Well I don’t like caviar that much, for me is Nutella, or Duck Liver. Still, that’s why: I drool over them too, still to this day, for each one of these. I’m so glad you like ’em too 🙂
Ryley
Posted at 12:12h, 14 Augustthat guitar has the shape of the “modern” SG standardss, do u think they’re cut the same Fil?
SoloDallas
Posted at 12:14h, 14 AugustYes, I think so.
Ryley
Posted at 12:16h, 14 Augusthaha i bet u were kicking urself after u sold urs and found out angus has one of his ownn
SoloDallas
Posted at 12:26h, 14 AugustOh yeah… 😛 😀
Tyler
Posted at 12:05h, 14 AugustWhat made you want to sell the first one you had?
SoloDallas
Posted at 12:12h, 14 AugustI was – already at the time – obsessed with Angus Young “tone”. And this one – on my skill of the time – didn’t have it.
While it is partially still true to this day – this guitar is made of Korina, not mahogany – I didn’t know what to look for in a guitar. I simply didn’t know.
deni91
Posted at 07:45h, 14 AugustFil!
Check my album from my wiring and cutaways please. What do you think from the wiring? And the cutaways? I think the cutaways are copied from the 61 model.
http://picasaweb.google.com/104650787840351780610/VS6?authkey=Gv1sRgCNXcvOfN4L2jtQE&feat=directlink
Cheers
SoloDallas
Posted at 07:50h, 14 AugustHang on, checking. Yes, cutaways are in ’61 style (I like that). Checking on the wiring
SoloDallas
Posted at 07:56h, 14 AugustIt appears to me that you’re in “modern stye wiring”. See here for reference:
http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=88796
deni91
Posted at 11:06h, 14 AugustThanks!
deni91
Posted at 11:13h, 14 AugustI havent got a soldering iron or whatsoever . Which type of this tool do you have? Like a pistol or the long one like a big cigar? The dictionary said this tool is a soldering iron but im not sure. I havent ever used this word in english:)
deni91
Posted at 14:43h, 14 AugustI’m asking about the soldering-iron because I heard that the pistol style is not good for guitar wiring.
SoloDallas
Posted at 14:48h, 14 AugustHuh sorry had forgotten about this! I use both. The pistol shaped and a stick-style one. The stick style is less powerful and easier to get into the control cavity. Soldering is not hard at all, but have you ever done it before? Please don’t get me worried knowing you will attempt this by yourself for the first time 🙂
deni91
Posted at 04:34h, 15 AugustOf course I have soldered before. It was a few years ago, but the problem is, now I havent got a soldering-iron so I will get one first then I’ll do the 50s wiring :D:D I had a pistol shaped soldering iron but it went wrong previously, so when I’ll have one, or borrow I’ll do the wiring, and tell you what is the difference :D:D
Alex
Posted at 06:51h, 14 AugustI noticed “eBay” is spelt “eGay”, that is a mistake right? LoL
SoloDallas
Posted at 07:29h, 14 AugustNot a mistake 😀 😛
Accadacca100
Posted at 07:41h, 14 Augusthehe, do you know how many guitars you have.
would like to know the number
SoloDallas
Posted at 07:43h, 14 AugustI assure you, I haven’t counted them. I think I have around 30 now 😀
There was a time when I think I had 100. Sold most of those! 😛
I ONLY keep the ones that i play regularly. And I play them all!111 😀
Accadacca100
Posted at 07:48h, 14 Augustokay, that’s alot you had and have now. You got alot of SG’s
SoloDallas
Posted at 07:51h, 14 AugustOh they’re not all SGs. I have one stratocaster (had many), a few acustics, three of four Les Pauls, one bass. Among the 30 I mean 😀
Accadacca100
Posted at 06:36h, 14 Augustby the way where did you get the pics from Angus gear equipment
SoloDallas
Posted at 06:37h, 14 AugustOnline. Got them online. You can google for “angus young guitars” I think those should pop up sooner or later
Accadacca100
Posted at 06:35h, 14 AugustOkay, that would be great
Accadacca100
Posted at 06:29h, 14 AugustHey Solodallas. Nice guitar.
Can you make your website work kind of like youtube, you know, when someone reply an comment by me, i get notified when i look on,
or i get an mail, cause maybe someone already has answered some comments by me, but i can’t remember all the comments i posted
SoloDallas
Posted at 06:30h, 14 AugustSo you’re not getting emails for replies? Hmm. I do.
Let me check. I think you ALL need to get email for replies. Hang on please.
deni91
Posted at 06:27h, 14 AugustI think my wiring is different. Of course it’s not a Gibson actually but I usually play Fling Thing on 3-4 and it’s almost entirely clean and I’m playing Johnny B Good very slowly :D:D on 2-3 and its clean when I strum softly. My Marshall MG15CDR is on OD channel with 3-4 on the gain and it’s perfect for AC/DC tone, on clean channel it is not overdriving on max volume so I’m using the stock Crunch/Blues setting from the booklet. I’ll show you a picture with my wiring after lunch 😀
SoloDallas
Posted at 07:29h, 14 AugustYou can post pictures, add links, etc. here!
deni91
Posted at 06:14h, 14 AugustAngus has the tone control bypassed am I right? Do you use this circuit? I think I’ll try the 50’s wiring if my VS6 (SG) is not wired like so.
SoloDallas
Posted at 06:17h, 14 AugustYou’re correct, the tone knobs are disabled.
You know what? I haven’t looked into the control cavity of my AY sig yet. You just reminded me I have to look.
Generally speaking though, I like 50s wiring better. When you roll off the volume knob, you can retain clarity and the tone of the guitar “cleans” nicely at about 3 or 4. I use this often. This Korina SG instead won’t clean. PUs are very powerful, and that’s one reason for sure – while I am used to older PUs that lost some of their magnetic property, being at around 8kHz of output – but still I need to check 🙂