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Gibson SG Modern
Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG
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Playability
77
Sound
75
Build
75
Value
66
Score
76
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Playability
72
Sound
75
Build
70
Value
62
Score
72
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Gibson SG Modern vs Kirk Douglas Signature SG

Reasons to Get
Gibson SG Modern over Kirk Douglas Signature SG

Decorative Top
AA Figured Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Compound Radius
10" to 16" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Asymmetrical Slim Taper vs Slim Taper
Adapts to the natural shape of your hand
Pickup Mods
Coil Tap vs Coil Split
Lowers output of humbucker coil to create a single coil sound
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
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 0.92'' (23.4mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Value Score
66 vs 62
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG over SG Modern

Release Year
2020 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Number of Frets
22 vs 24
Warmer neck pickup
Neck Profile
Slim Taper vs Asymmetrical Slim Taper
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs Coil Tap
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Volume Knobs
3 vs 2
More volume control
Pickups
HHH vs HH
High output without hum and tons of tone versatility
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.92'' (23.4mm) vs 0.9'' (22.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance

Other Key Differences
Gibson SG Modern vs Kirk Douglas Signature SG

Bridge Pickup
Gibson Burstbucker Pro + Lead vs Gibson BurstBucker 3
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gibson Burstbucker Pro Rhythm vs Gibson Burstbucker 1
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Gibson SG Modern vs Kirk Douglas Signature SG

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
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
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
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT

Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG 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 Kirk Douglas Signature SG's 72 score, although not by a lot.

The Gibson SG Modern wins when it comes to playability, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG has the upper hand when it comes to.

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 Kirk Douglas Signature SG meets only 4. 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 SG Modern
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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 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 >

Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG Overview

  • From Gibson's 2020 Artist Collection series
  • Kirk Douglas Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood with White binding fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gibson BurstBucker 3 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Gibson Burstbucker 2 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gibson Burstbucker 1 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 3 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic with Tremolo bridge
  • Slim Taper Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Keystone 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 SG Modern

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.

Woods Used in the Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG

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.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Gibson SG Modern has an HH configuration while the Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG has HHH pickups.

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.

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.

However, the Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG 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 Kirk Douglas Signature SG.

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.

Both give you different pickup mod options.

The Gibson SG Modern offers 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.

On the other hand, the Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG comes with the following: Coil Split.

Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

Gibson SG Modern pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson SG Modern's switch options
Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG'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 Kirk Douglas Signature SG.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gibson SG Modern
Pickups 85
Sustain 75
Versatility 68
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 75
Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 76
Tuning Stability 65
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 SG Modern compares to the Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG.

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 Ivory Tusq nuts. 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.

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 SG Modern's brige 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.

On the other hand, the Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG's 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.

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 SG Modern's are Grover Mini Rotomatics while the Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG's are Keystone

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 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split 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

Final Build Quality Scores

Gibson SG Modern
Quality of materials 65
Features 65
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 75
Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG
Quality of materials 56
Features 60
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 70

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 SG Modern 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 SG Modern and Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG'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 SG Modern Neck Profile
Gibson SG Modern's neck profile
Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG Neck Profile
Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG'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 SG Modern has a Asymmetrical type of 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.

The Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG, on the other hand, has a C neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Gibson SG Modern Fretboard Compound Radius
Gibson SG Modern's Compound Fretboard Radius
Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG Fingerboard Radius
Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG's Fingerboard 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 SG Modern:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gibson SG Modern and Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

Final Playability Scores

Gibson SG Modern
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 85
Solo Playability 70
Playability 77
Gibson Kirk Douglas Signature SG
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72

Specs Side-by-Side

Gibson SG Modern vs Kirk Douglas Signature SG
General Gibson SG Modern Kirk Douglas Signature SG
Brand: Gibson Gibson
Year: 2019 2020
Configuration: HH HHH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Modern Collection Artist Collection
Colors: Black, Blue Black, Green
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Nashville Tune-O-Matic Aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic with Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Mini Rotomatics Keystone
Fretboard: Ebony Rosewood with White binding
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Mother of Pearl Trapezoids Acrylic Blocks
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: Asymmetrical Slim Taper Slim Taper
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.9'' (22.9mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.92'' (23.4mm)
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 10" to 16" 12"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gibson Burstbucker Pro + Lead (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson BurstBucker 3 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Gibson Burstbucker 2 (Humbucker / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Gibson Burstbucker Pro Rhythm (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson Burstbucker 1 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: Coil Tap Coil Split
Volume Controls: 2 3
Tone Controls: 2 1