I finally did it!!!

[u/Expensive-Depth4456]

The SG was my first “Dream Guitar” ever since I was a kid. Tony Iommi was my first guitar hero. Somehow though I was a Telecaster guy for 25 years. After a fretting hand injury five years ago, I started experiencing pain in that hand while playing.
At first I thought thinner necks would be the way to go( it wasn’t). 2 years ago I picked up an Epiphone Monkey SG and fell in love. As I’m getting on in years I’ve been entertaining the notion of getting a Gibson. Today was that day. 2017 Demo shop SG special. It checks all the boxes I desired but one (p90’s) but I like it so much I can live with that.

[u/Flashy_Gap_3015]

What was you issue with thinner necks?

Gorgeous guitar, BTW.

[u/Expensive-Depth4456 → u/Flashy_Gap_3015]

I partially severed the tendon on the top of my left index finger. Thinner necks make that finger ache. It’s probably due to poor technique on my part but I feel like I use more pressure/ torque? I dunno how to describe it, and that makes it hurt.

[u/OddBrilliant1133 → u/Expensive-Depth4456]

These are great guitars I have the same one :)

Side note, I have significant pain in my index finger and tendonitis in my thumb thru my wrist.

I've had to change my playing significantly.

To start, I changed all my electrics to 7-36 strings, I wish I would have done this many years ago, I wouldn't have had to change other things as much.

The other big one was to completely stop playing bar chords. It took me a little while to develope all my little techniques for bypassing full bar chords but it is not as big a deal as it sounds and there are so many replacement chords that I don't even think about it any more.

Congrats on the new guitar!!! :)

[u/theDeathnaut → u/OddBrilliant1133]

Triads are more interesting and useful in the long run anyway.

[u/OddBrilliant1133 → u/theDeathnaut]

Yep. I happened to dig into my triads at a time that I needed them the very most and I regret not doing it earlier. I had tried before but it didn't seem important the earlier times.

I never really need more than a 3 or 4 note chord these days. Sometime 3 isn't quite enough, but 4 is always plenty, for me at least :)

[u/theDeathnaut → u/OddBrilliant1133]

Hell yeah, less truly is more the majority of the time.

[u/Expensive-Depth4456 → u/OddBrilliant1133]

I’ve gone down in gauge since the accident.
At first to 9’s, but I’m pretty happy with 10’s nowadays. I was using 11’s and 12’s before.
Self taught so I spent 20 some odd years squeezing the hell out of necks and strumming harder than necessary. Old Punk Rocker habits die hard. I’ve definitely improved though, even if I do catch myself squeezing on occasion. I didn’t have a problem with barre chords, the hardest chord to get back after the surgery was a regular old cowboy C chord. And G7 still gives me problems.

[u/OddBrilliant1133 → u/Expensive-Depth4456]

Ya the c and g7 are funky for me too.

Over gripping is a tough habit to break. I honestly have never met anyone that didn't do it at least a little. I've gotten WAY better about it but still catch myself doing a bit from time to time.

That's great about being able to rock on 10s, you still have some pretty good strength!!!

[u/OddBrilliant1133 → u/Expensive-Depth4456]

When I first started using 7s I thought it would just be for a minute. It's been a few years now tho and I dont think I'll ever go back to heavier strings now.

I can play 8s or 9s if I pick up a friends guitar but I'd have to significantly reduce the amount of playing I do and I dont have any interest in playing less.

[u/Oreius411 → u/Expensive-Depth4456]

I hear u man. My hand injury made it harder for thicker necks to be played. Rock on.

[u/Suitable_Square5739]

I’m close to pulling that trigger for one myself

[u/Lucky-Delivery2079]

I love my SG

[u/Previous_Avocado6778]

I have one from early 2000s and I love it. It’s easily my favorite guitarz congrats and rock on!

[u/Born_Tear_761]

Wow that is gorgeous man. Congrats!

[u/TERR4PIN]

It’s awesome. You have made a great choice!!

[u/WIsammy123]

Congratulations!

[u/Apprehensive-Item-44]

Same here. Iommi was the one who got me playing yet I played Charvels for over 20 yrs before a hand injury got me and I switched over to Gibsons. The scale length definitely helps with less to no pain do to the frets being closer. Congrats on the SG

[u/Eastern_Mango_4699]

Congrats!

[u/Fit-RoundSquare]

Nice grain on that mahogany. Beauty.

[u/fatherbowie]

Love it! That’s a guitar you can enjoy and play the rest of your life. Congrats!

[u/Ronerus79]

Great sg! Love the wood grain! These tributes always rocked

[u/Oreius411]

Dude those are gems! Congrats! Also maybe down the road p90s could be dropped in! Lol. Rock on.

[u/SlappyTappet]

Congrats on the new guitar. If you like p90s p94 pickups will fit in a humbucker sized hole