SG vs Les Paul: Which Legend is for You?

What we know as SG today was originally Gibson’s new form of their successful Les Paul model.

But even before it got its name, which means “Solid Guitar,” the SG vs. Les Paul debate was already starting as these two models would become Gibson’s most wanted ones…

Author: David Slavkovic

David has been playing guitar since 1998, his main focus back then was hard rock and metal. With years, his music tastes evolved and he eventually started appreciating all musical styles. Although officially an agricultural engineer, David began writing for Ultimate Guitar in 2017 where he’s currently working as a senior editor.

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Editing & Research: Teemu Suomala

I first grabbed the guitar in 2009. I started this website in January 2020 because I couldn’t do window installation anymore due to my health problems. I love guitars and have played dozens and dozens of different guitars through different amps and pedals over the years, and also, building a website interested me, so I decided to just go for it! I got lucky and managed to get awesome people to help me with my website.

I also got lucky because I have you visiting my website right now. Thank you. I do all this for you guys. If you have any recommendations, tips, or feedback, just leave a comment, I would love to chat with you. I have also been fortunate to produce content for several large guitar websites, such as Songsterr, Musicnotes, GuitarGuitar, and Ultimate Guitar.

I spend my spare time exercising and hanging out with my wife and crazy dog (I guess that went the right way…).

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The SG came not that long after the launch of the Fender Stratocaster and was its fierce competitor back in the electric guitar’s developing years. At the same time, it retained some of the traits typical of Gibson guitars back in the 1950s and the 1960s.

Nonetheless, the SG proved to be one of the most versatile guitar models, finding its way into jazz, blues, hard rock, and even modern metal. On the other hand, the Les Paul is arguably the best-known guitar to come out of Gibson’s arsenal. So, with this in mind, let’s dig in and see how these two guitars compare.

Check out our picks for the best Epiphone Guitars here.

Check out our picks for the best Gibson Guitars here.

SG vs Les Paul: A Head-to-Head Comparison

Summary (if you’re in a hurry!)

Key Specs

Key Similarities Between SG vs Les Paul

• Pickups: They usually come with two humbuckers or two P90s.
• Control layout: Most come with two volume and two tone controls, along with a 3-way switch.
• Neck profiles can be very similar in some cases, like the modern SlimTaper profile.
• Hardware: Both Les Pauls and SGs come with tune-o-matic bridges with stopbar tailpieces.
• Both aim for the same kind of dark and smooth tone.
• Both guitars have the same set-in body and neck construction.

Key Differences Between SG vs Les Paul

• Body design: Les Pauls are single-cut guitars, whereas SGs are double-cuts with slightly offset double-cut guitars with easy access to higher frets.
• Body construction: Les Pauls, except for Junior and Special models, come with mahogany bodies and carved maple tops. SGs are solid mahogany bodies without any top.
• Weight: SGs are usually much lighter than Les Pauls.
• Feel: The difference in body features tends to give a significantly different feel, with Les Pauls feeling “thicker” and SGs being lighter and allowing access to higher frets.

When Should You Choose an SG?

SGs are lighter guitars with easy access to higher frets. They’re fairly versatile and cover more genres on average. It’s popular in anything from jazz to extreme metal and for a reason.

They’re mostly useful for lead guitar players who are performing in different styles, as well as those who are looking for lighter instruments. They’re also a great choice for those who have smaller hands.

When Should You Choose a Les Paul?

Although maybe not as entirely versatile in all aspects, the Gibson Les Paul is way more widespread. But we’d mostly recommend it to the lovers of blues, classic rock, hard rock, and old-school-style metal music. 

Body Shape

The body shape would be the most noticeable difference between the two models. And it’s way more than just about the looks (although that’s somewhat important as well).

Les Paul

The Les Paul is a single-cutaway guitar with a set-in neck. Apart from the cutaway, the body is symmetrical. It’s fairly thick, featuring two main body components — a mahogany base and a carved maple top.

In the case of Junior and Special models, we have just the mahogany body. There’s also a double-cut LP Junior, which features a different design, but it’s still pretty much a mahogany board.

Although there’s a carved top, the body edges are straight. There are no contours on the body, not even on the Modern variant.

The body and neck joint has a somewhat rough heel. The only difference is with Les Paul Modern models, which have a smooth heel and an indent that allows easier access to higher frets. We could say that Les Pauls, by today’s standards, have somewhat uncomfortable access to the highest frets. The fretboard continues on the body from the 17^th to the 22^nd fret.

Nonetheless, it’s still one of the most recognizable and desirable body shapes among guitar players. The Les Paul has quite a fanbase, and people simply love the shape.

SG

Although it looks perfectly symmetrical, the SG’s cutaways are just slightly offset. In fact, the entire design is just slightly offset. Nonetheless, the body’s design retained its same feature from the early 1960s, back when it was still called a Les Paul.

The body is pretty much a mahogany board with electronics and hardware on it. Of course, the design isn’t as simple as it may seem at first. The body comes with slightly contoured edges and cleverly designed indents on the cutaways.

The contoured edges are more prominent on the bass side of the body, both on the front and the back. Their purpose is both aesthetic and ergonomic.

The heel is similar to the one on the Les Paul, although it can’t be the same since the body is different. We could say that it’s a little smoother, but it’s more noticeable on the SG Modern model.

Materials and Hardware Quality

With Gibson guitars and tonewoods, rules are usually pretty simple. We have a mahogany body with a mahogany neck and rosewood or ebony fretboards. Les Pauls, except for Junior and Special models, come with carved maple tops. Ebony fretboards are more common with the Les Paul Modern and SG Modern models.

Additionally, almost all SG and Les Paul guitars have acrylic or mother-of-pearl fretboard inlays, as well as binding on the fretboard.

Hardware-wise, a lot of the features are very similar. There’s the usual tune-o-matic bridge with the stopbar tailpiece. Junior and Special series with both SG and LP models have wraparound bridges. And almost all of the LP and SG guitars come with GraphTech nuts.

Most of them also come with Grover Rotomatic tuners. However, the Les Paul Standard ’50s model today has Kluson-style Vintage Deluxe tuners with so-called “Keystone” buttons. This is what we used to have with Les Paul Traditional models.

In the meantime, SG Standard keeps things simpler and just goes with Grover Rotomatics. Only SG Customs will come with vintage-style tuning machines.

But other than that, hardware is pretty straightforward with Gibson and there are rarely any variations. Across most of the Gibson models, you’ll find Grover tuners and Gibson’s tune-o-matic ABR-1 bridge with a stopbar tailpiece.

Playability and Neck Profile

Here’s where we can notice the biggest practical differences between SGs and Les Pauls. Of course, there’s some overlap in this regard, but it’s noticeable with specific models and series.

Les Paul Playability and Neck Profile

Les Pauls come with a variety of neck profiles. The older guitars and some of the current vintage-inspired models, like the Standard ’50s, come with thicker necks. These are round and thick and are usually more comfortable for those who have bigger hands.

Les Paul Standard ’60s comes with SlimTaper necks, which are a bit thinner. There’s a noticeable difference between them and the ’50s models, making them just a little more “shred-friendly.”

Les Paul Modern has an Asymmetrical SlimTaper, as well as a contoured heel where the body meets the neck. In terms of playability, these are significantly different. The neck’s special asymmetrical design, as well as easier access to higher frets, makes them a lot more ergonomic.

For the most part, Les Paul guitars come with a 12-inch fingerboard radius. The only difference these days is the Les Paul Modern, which has a compound radius going from 10 to 16 inches.

SG Playability and Neck Profile

SGs today can have two different neck options. The Standards, for instance, have old-school-style rounded necks, somewhat similar to the kind on Les Paul Standard ’50s models. Meanwhile, SG Modern has a SlimTaper neck profile. The same goes for SG Specials and SG Juniors.

The fretboard radius is 12 inches on all SGs except for the Modern variant. On it, we have the compound radius, the same as with the Les Paul Modern versions. But the main difference is that SG Modern comes with 24 instead of the usual 22 frets.

But as far as all SGs go, access to higher frets is incredibly easy. This is especially pronounced with SG Modern with the smoothened heel. But the guitar’s very thin body, two deep cutaways, and contours that we see on all variants are what make it so ergonomic.

The only downside to SG would be the so-called “neck dive” issue. There are some workarounds, but it can be annoying when a guitar’s balance is off, and the neck keeps pulling down.

SG vs. Les Paul: Playability and Neck Profile

These two guitars generally share a lot of similar features. The SG vs. Les Paul neck debate is not something you should worry about. Neck profiles and fingerboard radiuses are usually SlimTaper or those thicker ’50s-style ones.

Their scale length is also the same, and only a handful of some very specific versions didn’t have 24.75-inch scales. Additionally, frets are most commonly medium-jumbo.

But the main differences are, obviously, with body design. Which one’s “the best” Gibson guitar is impossible to say since this comes down to personal preferences. But what we can safely say is that SG has some really innovative ergonomic traits. Even Les Paul Modern may not feel as super comfortable as the SG Standard.

Again, it’s a subjective thing, and some may simply enjoy the feel of a thicker and heavier guitar like a Les Paul. But when it comes to easy access to higher frets, a smoother feel, and being lightweight — it’s hard to deny the advantages of SG models. An SG Modern with 24 frets and a compound radius is a real shred machine.

Pickups

When it comes to pickups, there’s some variety with Les Pauls and SGs. Modern variants for both models now come with Burstbucker Pro humbuckers. The volume controls come with push-pull action for coil-splitting and coil-tap features. The Les Paul Modern also has push-pull tone knobs for out-of-phase and pure bypass modes.

A lot of Les Paul and SG variants also come with P90 single-coil pickups. Today, these are Les Paul Junior, Les Paul Special, and some Les Paul Standard ’50s versions. SG Juniors and SG Specials also come with P90s.  

As for humbuckers, Les Pauls come with different versions of Burstbuckers, all of which aim to replicate the old PAF tone. SGs have different stuff, most often 490T and 490R humbuckers. Some SGs may also come with Burstbuckers, like the Standard ’61, with a Vibrola tailpiece.

Sound Comparison

As far as guitars with P90s go, these manage to get all the necessary bright sonic ingredients of single-coils, but with a twist. Despite the high-end punch, these sound beefy and can work really well with tube-driven amps that are on “the edge of breakup.”

While popular in blues and punk, you could get pretty heavy with them, although they might not be as “chunky” as average humbuckers. Either way, you most likely won’t notice any difference between SGs and Les Pauls with P90 pickups. Some may claim that maple caps on Les Pauls add some grittiness and edge, but it’s not something we can really confirm.

Most of the SGs come with 490 humbuckers. Bearing Alnico II magnets, these tend to be just slightly smoother and focused on mids. Meanwhile, Burstbuckers on the SG Modern variant are brighter and with a “hotter” output.

The same can be said about Les Pauls with Burstbuckers. The Standard ’50s version has a slightly milder output, but the general tone is there. These are your usual humbuckers but with just a dash of that much appreciated vintage-oriented jangle.

Gibson SG vs Gibson Les Paul – Pros and Cons

Gibson SG

Gibson Les Paul

SG vs Les Paul: Which One Is Best for You?

Although there are some shared traits, there are some significant differences between SGs and Les Pauls. These mostly come down to playability and feel. 

The simplest answer is that SGs are more “virtuoso-friendly” with their easy access to higher frets and super-comfortable bodies. Additionally, they’re great for anyone who likes lighter guitars without having to go with some of the more unconventional modern headless designs.

You’ll often see SGs in genres not necessarily associated with virtuosic playing, like punk rock. However, it’s more of an image thing in these cases, so don’t get discouraged to take up SG if you’re into prog rock or metal.

Check our breakdown on Why Gibson Guitars so Expensive here.

Apart from the Modern variant, Les Pauls are more for players who prefer slightly chunkier necks, thicker bodies, and slightly brighter tones. To some, playing a guitar with a thicker neck may seem counterproductive. However, Gibson’s neck design on Les Paul guitars brings a very specific feel that’s super useful for blues rock.

The Best SG Models – Our Favorites

Honestly, it’s incredibly difficult to choose a favorite SG model since all of them are incredible. Even the Epiphone has some surprisingly great SGs. But if we had to choose, here are the best options, covering most price ranges:

• Gibson SG Standard ’61 
• Gibson SG Special
• Gibson SG Modern
• Gibson Custom 1964 SG Standard Reissue
• Epiphone SG Classic
• Epiphone SG Standard 

The Best Les Paul Models – Our Favorites

Although also difficult to choose, with Les Pauls, it’s just a little easier to find what works the best in our opinion. At the same time, there are a lot of Les Paul variants, both Gibsons and Epiphones, but these are the ones we really like.

• Gibson Les Paul Standard ’60s
• Gibson Les Paul Standard ’50s P90
• Gibson Les Paul Modern
• Gibson Les Paul Supreme
• Epiphone Jerry Cantrell “Wino” Les Paul
• Epiphone Les Paul Custom
• Epiphone Les Paul Modern
• Epiphone Les Paul Studio

Famous Gibson SG Players

The SG is such a versatile guitar that it found its way into a variety of genres. These are just some of the guitar players who are known for playing SGs during their careers.

• Angus Young
• Tony Iommi
• Pete Townshend
• Derek Trucks
• Gary Clark Junior
• Eric Clapton
• Buck Dharma
• Frank Marino
• Sister Rosetta Tharpe
• Mick Box
• Daron Malakian
• Thom Yorke
• Frank Zappa
• Brent Hinds
• Gary Clarke Junior

Famous Gibson Les Paul Players

There are too many Les Paul players to name as well. The list also includes the man himself, the guy after whom the model initially got its name.

• Les Paul
• Zakk Wylde
• Slash
• Duane Allman
• Dickey Betts
• Joe Bonamassa
• Billy Gibbons
• Billie Joe Armstrong
• Jay Jay French
• Ace Frehley
• Neal Schon
• Jimmy Page
• Peter Green
• Kirk Hammett
• Gary Moore
• Alex Lifeson
• Randy Rhoads
• Bob Marley
• Paul McCartney
• Joe Perry
• Freddie King

Conclusion

Of course, the SG vs Les Paul discussion is pretty broad since there are so many variants and alternatives on the market these days. There are so many aspects to discuss here, but we can sum up the differences in two main aspects.

Gibson Les Paul is your best blues rock and hard rock companion. Sure, it’s useful for many other genres, but the guitar’s slightly “thicker” and “rougher” feel kind of makes it a beast to be reckoned with.

SGs are a little more refined instruments with a slightly darker and smoother tone on average. They’re also much lighter and more “virtuoso-friendly,” for a lack of better words.

Either way, you can rarely go wrong with any of the currently available Gibson SG or Gibson Les Paul guitars or any of the Epiphone alternatives. Just make sure to know these differences.

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