Refinished SG - De-robotized

DiabloS · Post by **DiabloS** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 8:13 pm

A few years back, I bought a metallic green robot Gibson SG. I was going to sell it since I'd grown tired of the robot tuning system, but I just couldn't find another SG that I liked as much. It came with an ebony fretboard, roller saddles, extra binding, a carbon fiber pickguard, neutrik jack. So I decided to just keep it and modify it to my dream SG. The changes I made:

Removed all robot electronics
Replaced the tuning Keys with Gotoh Delta locking tuners (expensive but the quality is there)
Sanded it down to remove the old paint and had it refinished in a thin nitro-cellulose alpine white finish
Had the back of the neck sanded down to bare wood and only refinished with an oil to make it feel smooth

It was in the hands of my luthier for several months and I finally got it back. It plays and looks better than I even imagined! I may have de-valued it for the used market, but this SG is a one of a kind that's just right for me!

Les Paul Lover · Post by **Les Paul Lover** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 9:25 pm

Very nice!!!!!

Getting a guitar moded like that is something I'd like to do one day! That pickguard looks ace by the way!!!!

afjungemann · Post by **afjungemann** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 9:37 pm

Ooooooooh!!!! I have been tempted many times to do this exact thing. I love an ebony board. Did you do the work yourself?

thejay · Post by **thejay** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 10:07 pm

Fantastic, looks great

Post by **bclaire** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 10:17 pm

Looks great - I would have gone with a BWB pickguard but that's the purist in me.

I have a suspicion that robot SG's aren't going to fare well in the "vintage" market down the road so this was a smart move....

CAR-15 · Post by **CAR-15** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 10:30 pm

That looks fantastic! I love SG's, they play like a dream.

DiabloS · Post by **DiabloS** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 11:34 pm

Thanks guys!

bclaire wrote:Looks great - I would have gone with a BWB pickguard but that's the purist in me.

I have a suspicion that robot SG's aren't going to fare well in the "vintage" market down the road so this was a smart move....

I agree with the pickguard looking better as a 3-ply from far away, so it was a tough call. But from up close, I just really liked the checkered pattern on the carbon fiber.

afjungemann wrote:Ooooooooh!!!! I have been tempted many times to do this exact thing. I love an ebony board. Did you do the work yourself?

I didn't do any of the work myself, I know a really good luthier that I trust to do any mods on my guitars.

Randy Bass · Post by **Randy Bass** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 12:53 am

You got rid of the beautiful metallic green?!?

a.hun · Post by **a.hun** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 1:11 am

Randy Bass wrote:

You got rid of the beautiful metallic green?!?

Yep, as Billy said a smart move - you made yourself a better guitar. Looks great now, I actually really like the Carbon fibre scratch plate!

Andy.

Invin · Post by **Invin** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 3:14 am

Gorgeous guitar! Is that a Jazz III XL I see in the second pic? That's what I use!

DiabloS · Post by **DiabloS** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 11:06 am

Invin wrote:Gorgeous guitar! Is that a Jazz III XL I see in the second pic? That's what I use!

Yep, it's a Jazz III XL pick. I can't even find them anywhere in stores locally, so I have to order them online but they're worth it!

Les Paul Lover · Post by **Les Paul Lover** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 4:25 pm

Randy Bass wrote:

You got rid of the beautiful metallic green?!?

I liked it in green too actually...

DiabloS · Post by **DiabloS** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 5:09 pm

Les Paul Lover wrote:
Randy Bass wrote:

You got rid of the beautiful metallic green?!?
I liked it in green too actually...

I didn't "hate" it in green, but I went back and forth on it. It really depended on the lighting (it usually showed darker than that pic) or the color of the backdrop it was up against. If you wore a red shirt, you'd look like a Christmas decoration!

I've always liked white guitars and they don't clash with any other colors as much as something like a dark green. I like it much better in white, no regrets there!

thelatrobe33 · Post by **thelatrobe33** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 8:34 pm

You're making me want to get one and "de-robotize" it. Although I'd have to have the green. I don't remember seeing these guitars when they were released, but that green is amazing. And this is coming from a guy that plays almost exclusively white guitars.

Invin · Post by **Invin** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 9:03 pm

DiabloS wrote:
Invin wrote:Gorgeous guitar! Is that a Jazz III XL I see in the second pic? That's what I use!
Yep, it's a Jazz III XL pick. I can't even find them anywhere in stores locally, so I have to order them online but they're worth it!

Yeah, I buy mine in bulk from Strings and Beyond online. They have free shipping to Canada so I'm a happy picker!