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Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom
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Playability
75
Sound
74
Build
72
Value
59
Score
74
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Playability
72
Sound
73
Build
74
Value
58
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
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Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior vs Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom

Reasons to Get
Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior over Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Vintage
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs None
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Pickups
H vs HHH
Hum-free with more right hand freedom and sustain
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.94'' (23.9mm) vs 0.93'' (23.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Value Score
59 vs 58
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom over Brian Ray 62 SG Junior

Release Year
2020 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Vintage vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Switch Positions
3 vs 0
More tone options
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
HHH vs H
High output without hum and tons of tone versatility
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.93'' (23.6mm) vs 0.94'' (23.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands

Other Key Differences
Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior vs Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom

Bridge Pickup
Gibson Custom Dog-Ear P90 w/ Switchable Induction Coil Circuit vs Gibson 68 Custom Humbucker
Different Bridge Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior vs Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Nylon
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
D
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior Prices

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Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior is probably the better product overall with its final score of 74 compared to the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom's 73 score, although not by a lot.

The Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom has the upper hand when it comes to build quality.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior is the better choice.

The Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom meets only 3. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior Overview

  • From Gibson's 2019 Artist Collection series
  • Brian Ray Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Mahogany body
  • Solid Mahogany, Long Tenon, Hide Glue Fit neck
  • Indian Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gibson Custom Dog-Ear P90 w/ Switchable Induction Coil Circuit (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • ABR-1 with convertible options bridge
  • Custom 1962 Slim Taper Set neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Vintage tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom Overview

  • From Gibson's 2020 Artist Collection series
  • Jimi Hendrix Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gibson 68 Custom Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Gibson 68 Custom Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gibson 68 Custom Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • ABR-1 Maestro Short Vibrola bridge
  • 60s Slim Taper Set neck
  • 22 Vintage frets
  • Kluson Waffle Back, Metal Tulip Buttons tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Woods Used in the Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Woods Used in the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior has an H configuration while the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom has HHH pickups.

A single H pickup gives you the advantage of having a little longer sustain (all other things being equal) because there will be less magnetic fields from other pickups affecting the strings' vibration. However, they also give you the least versatility because you won't have other pickups at different distances from the bridge to create different tones. A single humbucking pickup is used for noiseless high output, which is used mainly for Hard Rock genres.

On the other hand, A triple Humbucker (HHH) can be intimidating at first, but it's one of the combinations that offer the most tone versatility. You'll be able to have from a lot of output for Hard Rock genres, to warm and clean sounds that are more common in Jazz.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

The Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom gives you 3 switch options while the Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior gives you 0. This means that the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Only the Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior comes with some kind of pickup modification: Multi-Voicing.

Multi-Voicing means the pickups come with multiple ''voices'', which means they can change the tone and gain by a simple switch or knob. Piezo, Fishman and similar are considered multi-voicing pickups.

Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior's switch options
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 74
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 66
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 73

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior compares to the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in United States.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Nylon nuts. It used to be one of the highest quality materials for nuts (and still is), but it's rare to find nowadays because it's hard to work with. It's a very resistant material with very low friction, so it will keep the guitar in tune and will last for a long time

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior's are Vintage while the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom's are Kluson Waffle Back, Metal Tulip Buttons

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Nylon Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Nylon Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior
Quality of materials 56
Features 60
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 72
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom
Quality of materials 66
Features 55
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 74

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 43mm (1.693'').

This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 6-string guitar. It offers a good balance of string separation at the nut. It's the size that most guitarists prefer as it gives them just enough space to play open chords without muting the strings, but without spreading the strings too wide and making bar chords difficult to perform.

Scale Length

Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior and Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 24.75".

This is the scale length that Gibson uses for most of its Les Paul guitars. It's a smaller scale than the typical Stratocaster's 25.5''. Short scale lengths like this make it easier to bend the strings, which is pretty important if you have a fixed bridge. They also have a shorter fret separation, which makes it easier to change position fast at the fretboard.

On the other hand, a shorter scale like this one will make fret buzz more likely, which can affect you if you want to use thicker string gauges.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior Neck Profile
Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior's neck profile
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom Neck Profile
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior and the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom have a D-shaped neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

Fretboard Radius

Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both the Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior and the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior favors large hands more than the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom.

Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior Frets Size
Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior's Frets Size
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom Frets Size
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom's Frets Size

The Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom's Vintage frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 55
Solo Playability 80
Playability 75
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72

Specs Side-by-Side

Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior vs Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom
General Gibson Brian Ray 62 SG Junior Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom
Brand: Gibson Gibson
Year: 2019 2020
Configuration: H HHH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Artist Collection Artist Collection
Colors: White White
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Solid Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: ABR-1 with convertible options ABR-1 Maestro Short Vibrola
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Vintage Kluson Waffle Back, Metal Tulip Buttons
Fretboard: Indian Rosewood Ebony
Neck Material: Solid Mahogany, Long Tenon, Hide Glue Fit Mahogany
Decoration: Custom Celluloid Trapezoid Custom Block
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: Custom 1962 Slim Taper 60s Slim Taper
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.94'' (23.9mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.93'' (23.6mm)
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Vintage Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Nylon Nylon
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gibson Custom Dog-Ear P90 w/ Switchable Induction Coil Circuit (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson 68 Custom Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Gibson 68 Custom Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Gibson 68 Custom Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 0 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: Multi-Voicing None
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 2