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Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom
Gibson SG Modern
VS
Playability
72
Sound
73
Build
74
Value
58
Score
73
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Playability
77
Sound
75
Build
75
Value
66
Score
76
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Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom vs SG Modern

Reasons to Get
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom over SG Modern

Release Year
2020 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Number of Frets
22 vs 24
Warmer neck pickup
Neck Profile
60s Slim Taper vs Asymmetrical Slim Taper
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickups
HHH vs HH
High output without hum and tons of tone versatility
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.93'' (23.6mm) vs 0.9'' (22.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance

Reasons to Get
Gibson SG Modern over Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom

Decorative Top
AA Figured Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Compound Radius
10" to 16" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Asymmetrical Slim Taper vs 60s Slim Taper
Adapts to the natural shape of your hand
Pickup Mods
Coil Tap vs None
Lowers output of humbucker coil to create a single coil sound
Pickups
HH vs HHH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.9'' (22.9mm) vs 0.93'' (23.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Value Score
66 vs 58
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom vs SG Modern

Bridge Pickup
Gibson 68 Custom Humbucker vs Gibson Burstbucker Pro + Lead
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gibson 68 Custom Humbucker vs Gibson Burstbucker Pro Rhythm
Different Neck Pickup
Nut Material
Nylon vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom vs SG Modern

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
2
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
2
Same tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm)
Same neck comfortability
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Vintage vs Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

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
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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 SG Modern is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom's 73 score, although not by a lot.

The Gibson SG Modern wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom in every aspect.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

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

The Gibson SG Modern meets 5 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 Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Gibson SG Modern
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • 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 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 >

Gibson SG Modern Overview

  • From Gibson's 2019 Modern Collection series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 10" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • AA Figured Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gibson Burstbucker Pro + Lead (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gibson Burstbucker Pro Rhythm (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • Asymmetrical Slim Taper Set neck
  • 24 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover Mini Rotomatics tuners
  • Weight between 7.15lbs (3.2kgs) and 7.35lbs (3.3kgs)
  • 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
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

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.

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 Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom has an HHH configuration while the Gibson SG Modern has HH pickups.

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.

On the other hand, Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even 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.

However, the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

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: Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom.

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

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Only the Gibson SG Modern comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Tap.

Coil Tap is similar to Coil Split but it works a bit differently. Instead of completely cancelling one of the coils of the humbucker, it only cuts part of the output once activated. Some people believe this gives the split pickups a more real single-coil sound.

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom's switch options
Gibson SG Modern pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson SG Modern'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 SG Modern.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 66
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 73
Gibson SG Modern
Pickups 85
Sustain 75
Versatility 68
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 75

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 Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom compares to the Gibson SG Modern.

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.

The Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom has a Nylon nut. 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

On the other hand, the Gibson SG Modern comes with a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

Winner: Tie.

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.

The Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom's brige is a 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.

On the other hand, the Gibson SG Modern's is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

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 Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom's are Kluson Waffle Back, Metal Tulip Buttons while the Gibson SG Modern's are Grover Mini Rotomatics

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 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson SG Modern
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Tap Pickups
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom
Quality of materials 66
Features 55
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 74
Gibson SG Modern
Quality of materials 65
Features 65
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 75

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 Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom 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 Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom and Gibson SG Modern'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 Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom Neck Profile
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom's neck profile
Gibson SG Modern Neck Profile
Gibson SG Modern'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.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom has a D type of 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.

The Gibson SG Modern, on the other hand, has a Asymmetrical neck. Even though this neck shape looks like a poorly-made job, it's, in fact, the neck that most naturally adapts to the arc of your hand when grabbing a guitar neck. You'll notice that the lower part of your palm makes a more pronounced, deeper curve while the upper part makes a more subtle arch. This is the shape that adapts the best to that natural arch your hand makes while playing.

Fretboard Radius

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom Fingerboard Radius
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom's Fingerboard radius
Gibson SG Modern Fretboard Compound Radius
Gibson SG Modern's Compound 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.

In this case, the Gibson SG Modern is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

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.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gibson SG Modern:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom Frets Size
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom's Frets Size
Gibson SG Modern Frets Size
Gibson SG Modern's Frets Size

The Gibson SG Modern has Medium 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 Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72
Gibson SG Modern
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 85
Solo Playability 70
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom vs SG Modern
General Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1967 SG Custom SG Modern
Brand: Gibson Gibson
Year: 2020 2019
Configuration: HHH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Artist Collection Modern Collection
Colors: White Black, Blue
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: ABR-1 Maestro Short Vibrola Nashville Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Kluson Waffle Back, Metal Tulip Buttons Grover Mini Rotomatics
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Custom Block Mother of Pearl Trapezoids
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: 60s Slim Taper Asymmetrical Slim Taper
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.93'' (23.6mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.9'' (22.9mm)
Frets: 22 Vintage Nickel Silver 24 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 10" to 16"
Nut: Nylon Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gibson 68 Custom Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson Burstbucker Pro + Lead (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Gibson 68 Custom Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Gibson 68 Custom Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson Burstbucker Pro Rhythm (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None Coil Tap
Volume Controls: 2 2
Tone Controls: 2 2