Best Affordable SGs and SG Alternatives

Perhaps no guitar is as important to classic metal and rock than the Gibson SG. Its iconic shape has inspired hundreds of chart-topping singles, and Black Sabbath enthusiasts will recognize it as Tony Iommi’s first choice throughout the band’s career. Sadly, just like their Les Paul cousins, SGs can be prohibitively expensive. But don’t worry—as we’ve already discussed, much of a guitar’s price is in the name. So before you give up on your doom metal dreams, check out these cheaper alternatives with the same general look.

Epiphone SG Standard

The Epiphone SG Standard is a budget-friendly version of the Gibson SG, but a good one will still drain your wallet. Most standard models feature a mahogany body, dual humbucking pickups, and a slim-tapered neck. They come in a variety of colors and pickguard options.

You can find plenty of comparisons between Epiphones and Gibsons online and recent Epis have really caught up in sound. Usually, it’s quite hard to tell the difference, and sometimes it’s nearly impossible. If you’re playing metal with tons of distortion or doom with low tunings and muddy pedals, you probably don’t need a fancy Gibson. It’s nice to have one, of course, but the decision is up to you.

Not everyone is Jeff Bezos.

ESP LTD Viper-1000

In my book, the ESP Viper wins the award for best looking alternative. There’s no batwing pickguard, so that’s a minus for some, but the flametop options are very visually appealing, especially for a brand known for its bleak, pointy, and jet-black metal guitars.

The ESP LTD Viper-1000 features a slightly altered double-cutaway design to the SG, with a set-thru neck for improved sustain. It also has a mahogany body, active EMG humbuckers, and a 24-fret rosewood fingerboard.

Reverend Sensei RA

We’re now entering the territory of not-so-SG designs, but the Reverend Sensei still has a cool, double cut look. It has a sleek, offset design with a colorful body and unique pickguard/knob arrangement. It features a korina body, a set neck with a rosewood fingerboard, and Reverend's own humbucking pickups. If you’re the type that loves unique guitars, this one might be right for you.

Yamaha Revstar

Another option for the unicorn hunter is the Yamaha Revstar.

The Revstar series features solid mahogany guitars with set-in mahogany necks. The necks are carved to a comfortable profile and are topped with either rosewood or ebony fretboards, depending on the model. They’re available in a variety of finishes, ranging from classic vintage colors to more modern, eye-catching hues.

One notable feature of the Revstar series is its range of pickups, which are designed to provide a wide range of tones. The guitars are equipped with either Yamaha's own proprietary humbucking pickups or P-90-style single-coil pickups, depending on the model. Some models also feature coil-tap switches, which allow players to switch between humbucking and single-coil tones.

In terms of hardware, the Revstar series features high-quality components, such as locking tuners, adjustable wraparound bridges, and aluminum tailpieces. These features contribute to the guitars' overall stability and sustain.

Guild S-100 Polara

The Guild S-100 is probably the oldest legitimate Gibson “clone,“ and this means that it’s totally worth checking out in its own right. It was introduced by Guild in 1970 and was designed as a high-end model that would compete with the popular Gibson SG and Fender Stratocaster models of the time. The S-100 was notable for its distinctive shape and high-quality components, which made it a popular choice among professional guitarists.

The S-100 was initially released with a mahogany body and a set mahogany neck, with a rosewood fretboard. It featured two proprietary Guild humbucking pickups, which were designed to provide a full and rich tone that sounds distinctly different from Gibson’s offerings. The guitar was also equipped with Guild's own vibrato tailpiece and a set of Grover tuners, which contributed to its overall stability and tuning accuracy.

Over the years, the S-100 underwent several changes and modifications. In 1978, it was rebranded as the S-100F, which featured a slightly different body shape and a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard. The pickups were also changed to a pair of Guild humbuckers with coil-tap switches, which allowed players to switch between humbucking and single-coil tones.

The S-100 has been used by a number of notable guitarists over the years, including Kim Thayil of Soundgarden, David Grohl of the Foo Fighters, and Annie Clark of St. Vincent. In recent years, Guild Guitars has reissued the S-100 Polara, offering players the opportunity to own a vintage-style guitar with modern components and features.

Harley Benton DC

Harley Benton, a subsidiary of Thomann Music, is an extreme-budget guitar retailer known for producing incredibly high-quality instruments. Though their guitars usually take a little tweaking, they can easily be improved to rival Epiphone or even Gibson offerings.

The Harley Benton DC is the company’s take on the double-cut style, and the guitar looks like something between an S-100, a Viper, and a Gibson. it features relatively dark, Roswell pickups, coil splitting, and a three-position switch.

Now that we’ve been through the options, you’ve hopefully figured out which SG alternatives are best for you. Remember, great guitars come in all shapes, sizes, and prices. The big brands are great, but they aren’t necessarily the best for you.

For more metal music, art, literature, and history, keep browsing Metalblog.