This is a guitar geek post.
Some pages back I posted a closeup pic of a Collings 290 electric guitar (based on a 1950s-style Gibson Les Paul Special) that I'd set up for an acquaintance. I was so taken with the guitar that I decided to find one, or at least something like it, for myself. Anyway on my recent trip I visited a few "vintage" & used guitar shops, and in one of 'em I played an instrument that had
it. I didn't buy right then but instead decided that if the guitar was still for sale a week later I'd pull the trigger. It was and so I did. It's a 1964 Gibson *SG Special, with pickups factory wired out-of-phase. Which means a variety of cool snarly sounds with both pickups on, depending on how the volume & tone controls are set. I've been playing it so much the last couple days that my left hand is sore. Plays fast & easy and sounds glorious.
Update: I've removed the strings the SG came with and installed a slightly heavier set more to my liking. I also popped the pickups out and had a look. Turns out they're not wired out-of-phase but rather one of 'em has its magnets installed backwards (or upside down if you prefer). I really like the OOP sound so I left 'em alone. I also cut two pieces from an old popsicle stick and used 'em to shim up the rear (aka "bridge/lead/treble/back") pickup to balance its output with the other one. This is a common non-invasive mod with these guitars as the pickups are non-adjustable height wise.
-Dave-
*The SG (Solid Guitar) was just the redesigned
Les Paul model prior to Les' endorsement deal with Gibson ending in late 1963. The volume & tone pots in my guitar date it to no earlier than March of '64.
