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Gibson SG Modern - Trans Black Fade

Solidbody Electric Guitar with Mahogany Body, Figured Maple Top, Mahogany Neck, Ebony Fretboard, and 2 Humbucking Pickups - Trans Black Fade
7 Write review Item ID: SGME8CH
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Gibson SG Modern - Trans Black Fade
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The Iconic Workhorse Rock Guitar

The Gibson SG is a rock icon. But Gibson has upped the ante with the SG Modern. This guitar’s bevy of cutting-edge enhancements includes an eye-popping AA figured maple top, a Graph Tech nut, rock-solid Grover tuners, and push-pull coil tapping. Take hold of the speedy 24-fret SlimTaper neck topped with a bound ebony fretboard, and let ’er rip with a lick or two. Feel the power generated by two split-coil Burstbucker Pro humbuckers. The Gibson SG Modern is way more than an update of a classic solidbody electric — it’s everything a modern rocker could want in a guitar.

A lean, mean tone machine

The Gibson SG Modern, famous for its comfortable, fast-action neck, is a perennial favorite among guitarists at Sweetwater. Whether you’re chording down low or soloing up high, the distinctive SlimTaper neck carve always feels just right. The guitar’s iconic double-horned cutaway gives you free access to the high registers, while its bound, Plek’d fretboard ensures effortless playability. We can't forget to mention the Trans Black Fade top that truly makes this Gibson SG Modern a lean, mean-tone machine.

Matched Burstbucker Pro pickup set and high-performance switching

Burstbucker Pro pickups deliver the vintage flavor of Gibson’s popular Burstbuckers, enhanced with the addition of Alnico V magnets. Fat and meaty, with gobs of drive and attack, the Burstbucker Pro serves up a sweet harmonic complexity and bell-like clarity courtesy of slightly unmatched bobbin windings. It’s the classic Gibson PAF tone — with extra attitude. Routed through electronics featuring two push-pull volume controls for access to coil-tapped single-coil tones, the Gibson SG Modern gives you the tonal mastery to ace any gig or recording session.

Gibson SG Modern Solidbody Electric Guitar Features:

  • Classic SG style with eye-popping figured maple top and modern appointments
  • Comfortable, lightweight mahogany body
  • Fast mahogany SlimTaper neck
  • Bound ebony fingerboard with mother-of-pearl trapezoid inlays
  • Plek’d fretboard for effortless playability
  • Burstbucker Pro humbuckers
  • Dual push-pull volume controls switch pickups between single-coil and humbucking operation
  • Nashville Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece

Why Buy Your Guitar from Sweetwater?

See how Sweetwater goes to great lengths to give you the very best online guitar buying experience. From our online Guitar Gallery that allows you to see and select the exact instrument you want to our 55-point Inspection process and our in-house guitar techs, we take the guesswork out of buying your next guitar online.

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Electric Guitar Buying Guide

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Tech Specs

  • General
  • Number of Strings 6
  • Left-/Right-handed Right-handed
  • Body
  • Body Type Solidbody
  • Body Shape SG Modern
  • Body Material Mahogany
  • Top Material AA Figured Maple
  • Body Finish Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
  • Color Trans Black Fade
  • Neck
  • Neck Material Mahogany
  • Neck Shape Asymmetrical Slim Taper
  • Neck Joint Set Neck
  • Radius 10"-16" compound
  • Fingerboard Material Ebony
  • Fingerboard Inlay Mother-of-Pearl Trapezoids
  • Number of Frets 24, Medium Jumbo
  • Scale Length 24.75"
  • Nut Width 1.695"
  • Nut Material GraphTech
  • Hardware
  • Bridge/Tailpiece Nashville Tune-o-Matic with Aluminum Stopbar Tailpiece
  • Tuners Grover Rotomatics
  • Electronics
  • Neck Pickup Burstbucker Pro Rhythm Humbucker
  • Bridge Pickup Burstbucker Pro + Lead Humbucker
  • Controls 2 x volume (push/pull coil-tap), 2 x tone
  • Switching 3-way toggle pickup switch
  • Miscellaneous
  • Strings Gibson, .010-.046
  • Case/Gig Bag Hardshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: SGM01E8CH1

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Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5

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Real black beauty's must see in person

The pictures doesn't show the amazing fade swirling

Thanks Joe
by Joe Vida from DOWNERS GROVE, IL on

SG Modern translucent

This is the 36 addition to my very nice guitar collection with all different brands and styles. Almost all very high end or unique instruments and this is no exception. What drew me to this SG was the beauty of the maple top, the thickness of the mahogany back and neck, the ebony fretboard, and the push/pull coil selectors. It truly is a hybrid of a Les Paul and an SG, It sounds as such, I have Les Paul's and another older SG so I did compare them. The playability and intonation is spot on out of the box but I quickly replaced to the gauge of strings I use on all my guitars that in 9-42. There was no additional adjustments in bridge or neck that needed to be made which was nice. The ebony boards for me always are slinky to play and I generally prefer them. These are up to players choice of course. There were 2 things I found different from most of the photos and spec's listed on the guitar compared to older pics at the beginning of 2020 no on the Sweetwater and Gibson official site. 1. On my guitar the strap button is just on the base of the neck where it meets the body. I see this may be an update because in all the other pictures and reviews there was a big deal on how it was moved to the upper horn to help prevent "neck dive" a common problem with SG's. So where it is now dose get in the way of my hand with the strap on at the highest frets. 2.The tuners where changed from Tulip locking to simple kidney bean Grover Rotomatic non-locking,. I AM NOT sure why these changes were made? Maybe for cost of the tuners, Maybe horns were breaking off with the strap screw not anchored in as thick a piece of wood. In any event to me these are non issue and the Guitar is Superb with Gibson renewed quality and Shelby's sales manager expertice. I highly reomend for a more seasoned player who wants to explore an SG and a Gibson product. By the way the neck carve with it's slight asymetry is fine and not a big deal for the pro's or con's of getting this guitar
by Michael DeMichele from Mechanicsburg PA on
Music background: Home studio and independant prog rock artist

Great, revisions late summer 2020 and higher quality!

I had purchased 2 of these from other retailers prior to this summer and both had quality issues and were returned. Sharp fret ends mostly that were actually irritating to the hand and finish issues around the neck joint and headstock. Glad to say that from my experience if you have had this happen, the complaints to Gibson seem to have been heard.

This one I purchased from Nick Graham at Sweetwater seems to have had some spec changes from the pre-Covid ones and is flawless. Frets are perfect, board is smooth and pitch black ebony, neck/shoulder joint is now smooth unlike the standard SG, no finish problems. Oversized strap buttons are in their original place instead of on the "horn", and instead of the old keystone locking Grovers which were heavy and made the SG neck dive worse, this one is with mini Grovers and balances better than any SG I've owned.

Sounds and plays GREAT! Nice thump to it, not all mids like the Standard but still plenty of SG snarl. Very happy, and would recommend checking one out these days.
by Sean from Texas on

Sweet!!!!!!! Les G?

I have been a guitarist for 33 years, I have had this guitar for 3 weeks now and I am very pleased with it. I have heard over the past several years of how Gibson's quality has gone down, and I myself have not been impressed with their quality until this guitar came along. With Sweetwaters return policy, I figured I had nothing to loose. I will not be sending this back, this thing rocks! The guitar was set up great and played smooth right out of the case. This is not quite an SG sound since it has the maple top, it has more of a Les Paul sound. I call mine a Les G. SG body with a Les Paulish sound. I have two 1970's Les Pauls that are top notch, I absolutely love them, this guitar is about 3 pounds lighter than those. This is a high quality instrument. The pickups are hot when needed and crystal clear when clean is desired. Push/Pull pots give you plenty of versatility. If I could only take one guitar to a gig to play many different styles of music, this would be the one for sure. Way to go Gibson! I hope you are on your way back to greatness. Thank you Sweetwater for your great customer service once again.
by Sweetwater Customer from MI on
Music background: Rock/metal/blues/praise and worship.

best of both worlds

I ordered the sg modern a month ago. let me start off by saying that I am not an sg fan but this thing is a beast the neck is very les paul feeling and this thing will shred very very happy and the guys at sweetwater took great care of me.
by matt smith from Missouri on

From rockers to jazz cats, there are generations of guitarists right here at Sweetwater who swear by Gibson guitars. Not only do they make many of the most iconic solidbody electric guitars of all time - the Les Paul, the SG, the Flying V - but they also produce classic hollowbody and semi-hollowbody models and some of the most iconic acoustic guitars on the planet. We play them all! Our close relationship with Gibson often allows us to stock exclusive models and rare finds, and we're always happy to turn players and collectors on to the gems in the Sweetwater Guitar Gallery. We also have access to all the latest Gibson hardware, and the Sweetwater Guitar Repair Shop has upgraded countless guitars with their top-of-the-line humbuckers, classic P-90s, and more.

See also: Solid Body Guitars, Gibson, Gibson Solidbody Guitars
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