want this out of my head..
5. Supreme
4. Custom
3. Standard
2. Special
1. Junior
list two
7. Supreme (Supra is a variant imho)
6. Custom
5. Professional
4. Standard
3. Deluxe
2. Special
1. Junior
list three
8. Supreme*
7. Custom
6. Professional or Artist
5. Standard
4. Deluxe*
3. Studio
2. Special
1. Junior
list four
9. Supreme*
8. Custom
7. Artist
6. Professional
5. Standard
4. Deluxe*
3. Studio
2. Special
1. Junior
Notes:
*Supra is a variant imho. And Deluxe is also used for Supremes but stripped down ones
* the SG3 came in a special standard and custom variant, but was basically a deluxe in that it was experimental and meant to slightly compete with the SG standard, but for less money.
Deluxes are traditionally experimental. it is only recently that Gibson have begun using this Model on their SG types.
I wish to assign the closest Heraldic Inlay to each guitar model. (with Pictures!)
This all for fun and no one will ever read it.. so have fun me!
9. Supreme*
7. Artist
6. Professional
5. Standard
4. Deluxe*
3. Studio
Studio Alt. Three moons align with crescent moon on the 5th 12th and 17th frets only.
2. Special
1. Junior
What would I do if I were Gibson CEO?
Juniors and Melody Makers, Specials, Standards and Customs of each body type.
Studios I think, were intended to be for the studio only hence their name, and so not at all decorative. This has verged wildly. On Studios, I would have coil splits, cap and bass cut switches so you can get any tone when you are in the Studio, like the Deluxes, but Deluxes should be decorative, like Studio + Decoration, nice MOP inlays like the Standard, but the Deluxe < > Diamond.
Professionals and Artists should be this equivalent but to the Custom, being even more decorative than the Standard, again, many switching options. IMHO they should have model optional Floyd Roses.
Supreme, being all these things and flame maple/quilt maple tops, and all switching options.
IMHO
The Studios are the experimental Specials. With the Specials having light decoration and the studios having almost none. The moons illustrated above are to represent 'working all night' in a studio. with only the headstock, 5th 12th and 17th fret having any decoration. EG.. a 'SG Studio' would have no scratchplate and the pickups with be screwed into the wood with a rubber or foam balancer, 4 speed knobs and no disc to indicate the pick selection. Often the wood would not be stained at all, just a light coat of sealer and then the hard gloss is applied. If you don't like the look of it.. put stickers on it hehe. It's a studio, its not meant to look good, its meant to perform! If you want something better looking, then buy the SG Special ;)
The Deluxes are to compete with the Standards, except with experimental switching options (coil splits/ unusual pickups and configs, like single coil sized humbuckers + 24 frets).
The Professionals do something similar to the Deluxes, but as mentioned are to compete with the Custom but up the game seriously, with Piezo undersaddle acoustic style pickups or with MIDI and USB, all offered with optional Floyd Rose or hard tail at *no extra cost*. No flame maple top on the Professional, but optional extra of decorative MOP vines on the fretboard at cost.
The Artist being highly decorative and having greater switching options than the Standard, with Flame Maple Cap (at least 1/4 inch thick) fretboard vine or or hearts or ivy or tigers climbing a tree or puppies/kittens playing, if ordered from an online retailer you will get one that they send, but as an extra incentive to buy direct from Gibson, Gibson will let you choose one of the 5. By doing this kind of thing, I am *making* Gibson EARN their money instead of just sitting back and charging 3 Grand* for basically nothing more than a standard.
Putting the 'Custom' back into 'Custom'.. I'd let people order online what they wanted their Custom to be, from a set of both traditional options and Decoration options. That's it.. your guitar how you like it.
The Supreme being as the above, but instead having access or ALL the RANGE options, every. single. one.
The Flowerpot Inlay on the Supreme sometimes misnomered at the 'Smashing Champagne Glass'.. a real 'Smashing Champagne Glass Inlay' should be done, this is to signify a opera singer smashing a glass with her voice.
Supreme alt
OR
* 3 thousand dollars
