History SH-SG 2010 SG Standard Black - Heritage Wood - Original Hard Shell Case - Made By Fujigen in Japan MIJ

Used 2010 History SH-SG SG Standard in gloss Black finish - With original History hard-shell case - Made in the famous Fujigen factory in Japan - MIJ.

• Serial Number: F100398 (June 2010)
• Body: Mahogany - 2 piece centre seam
• Neck: Heritage Wood Hard Maple 3 piece neck - 18 degree head angle
• Fretboard: Rosewood - very dark brown
• Fretboard Radius: About 12"
• Fret Edge Binding: No
• Inlays: Acrylic celluloid looking amber tinted trapezoid inlays
• Frets: 22 x Medium Jumbo (1.0mm tall x 2.7mm wide) Sanko SBB-213 frets - with C.F.S. technology and Custom Shop Finish fret ends
• Nut Width: 44.1mm
• Width at 1st Fret: 44.7mm
• Width at 12th Fret: 53.1mm
• Thickness at 1st Fret: 21.3mm
• Thickness at 12th Fret: 24.1mm
• Nut: Bone
• Tuners: Original nickel Gotoh SD90-SL Kluson style tuners
• Bridge & Tailpiece: Original chrome Gotoh GE104B bridge with hard zinc saddles, and Gotoh GE101A aluminum tailpiece
• Pickups: Original gold covered History FH-7D pickups
• Neck Pickup Resistance: 7.73K ohm
• Bridge Pickup Resistance: 7.69K ohm
• Pots: Original CTS inch standard 500k pots
• Strings: Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 2221 10-46 strings - E Standard tuning
• Weight: 7.96lbs
• Non Original Parts: None
• Case: Original History SG case with crushed black interior
• Truss Rod: Works as expected with room in both directions

If you're not familiar with the History brand of guitars, this is the house brand for Shimamura Music in Japan - one of Japan's largest musical instrument retailers. This brand has been around since at least the mid 1990's and is still around today. The History brand is used for their higher end models, while the Cool Z brand is used for their more affordable models. All of the History instruments are made by the world renowned Fujigen factory in Japan - the same factory that built vintage Greco's and Ibanez guitars, and still builds the Prestige and J Custom line for Ibanez today, as well as their own FGN brand.

This SH-SG model is of course History's SG Standard model. Like all History models, I would call this a modern take on the SG Standard, rather than trying to make it a historically accurate model like many other brands do.

All of the components on this guitar are top shelf - including the chrome Gotoh bridge with hard zinc saddles, aluminum tailpiece, nickel Gotoh SGV510 tuners, CTS inch standard pots, Switchcraft 3 way switch and output jack, and cow bone nut. These features alone are rarely seen on Japanese made guitars, and only on the high end models.

But what really sets the SH-SG model apart from other models within the History lineup, as well as other SG Standards, is the 3 piece Heritage Wood Hard Maple used on the neck. This is old stock North American hard maple that apparently sank to the bottom of the great lakes while it was harvested. The slow growth means that the growth rings within the wood is much finer and tighter, which results in a more pleasing and unique tone.

History used a 3 piece Heritage Wood Hard Maple neck on their 2010 GH-LCV Les Paul Custom as well - their flagship model.

In the hands, what I find is this neck is a little stiffer and stronger than a traditional 1 piece mahogany neck. For example, I originally strung this guitar up with s set of Ernie Ball 9-42 strings, and set it up - including neck relief. I then replaced the strings with a set of 10-46 Ernie Ball Strings, and the relief was the same. Most 1 piece mahogany necks would need the relief adjusted again - but this one was solid.

It just feels a little different in the hands than a traditional SG because of this. I also find its a little more stable to drop tuning - the neck is a little stiffer, so it doesn't change as much when the strings are down-tuned.

All History brand guitars use the Fujigen proprietary C.F.S. (Circle Fretting System) - which means that the frets are slightly rounded to match the radius of the fretboard, nut and bridge, instead of perfectly perpendicular to the fretboard. This technology is supposed to help with intonation across the entire fretboard. To me, playing it doesn't look or feel any different than a SG, so the difference is subtle and you don't have to worry about it feeling off, but it does play extremely well and the C.F.S. technology may be part of that reason.

You can read more about these features in the 2010 History Catalog (you'll need to translate it from Japanese to English if you don't speak/read Japanese).

Everything on this guitar appears to be original, and this guitar is in good player grade condition. With it being a 15 year old gloss black guitar, it shows every blemish, and there are multiple dings, dents, scratches, swirling, and chips in the finish all over the entire guitar - but nothing major that affects the tone or playability, and no signs of a heel or headstock crack or repair.

All of the nickel hardware, especially the pickup covers & pole pieces, screws and tuners have varying degrees of corrosion, tarnish, pitting, peeling and/or rust, but everything works as expected, and everything has been cleaned and polished - what you see is patina on the metal parts but everything is smooth to the touch. The bridge and tailpiece are both chrome finish, and they are in great shape - chrome is much harder and more resilient than nickel finished hardware.

The finish on this guitar is jet black. It is a poly type finish and not a lacquer - or at least it doesn't react to acetone - but it is a high quality finish. It's like piano black, and it feels great to play on.

The 3 piece maple neck on this is a joy to play on, and has a down the middle neck carve - not super thin, and not super thick, starting out at 21.3mm at the 1st fret and making it up to 24.1mm at the 12th fret. The neck is very wide, with a nut width of 44.1mm, and has a D shape carve to it.

This neck has a really nice and super dark brown, almost black at times, rosewood fretboard, with expertly done acrylic trapezoid inlays that resemble vintage celluloid. I'm not sure if they started out yellow tinted, or if they have aged with time, but they look excellent with the aged yellow neck binding.

The 22 medium jumbo frets have been played a lot across the entire neck, with most play wear on the plain strings, and mostly on the 1st to 12th frets, but overall there's lots of life left in these frets, and the guitar plays well up and down the entire neck.

The original History FH-7D nickel covered humbuckers are powerful sounding pickups. They are a low wind humbucker, both coming in around 7.7K ohm, using a Ferrite magnet to give them a good amount of power. Even with the strong magnet, the output isn't too hot thanks to the lower wind - similar to a hot P.A.F. output level. These pickups remind me a lot of the Greco SCREAMIN humbuckers from the 1980's - they have a good amount of low end without sacrificing high end and mids. They can handle all genres well - and sound good turned up to full volume, or with the volume rolled down.

All the guitars I sell, I test, thoroughly clean, and setup completely before I list them. Anything that is missing, damaged, or non original is mentioned in the listing.

I setup all my Gibson style guitars to Gibson factory specs - including neck relief, action, pickup height, intonation, and tailpiece height. So this guitar will be ready to play out of the box (after you tune it up - I ship my guitars with the strings loosened).

Of course with an instrument of this caliber, it came from the factory with a high quality case - and that is also included with this guitar, along with the original warranty card, hand tags, the protective plastic and C.F.S. sticker that was on the pickguard (now crumpled), and the original truss rod wrench. The case is in usable condition, all hinges and latches are in tact, but there is corrosion on the hardware, and some minor staining and rips on the tolex. There is no key for the case.

Overall, this is a professional grade guitar made by one of the best guitar factories in the world.

If you're looking for a Japanese made gloss black SG Standard that's offers something a littler different than all the other, grab this one today!

CONDITION ------------

Overall it's in good player grade shape.

I've tried to capture all of the flaws in the photos and in the description - if you want more photos or details just let me know.

Across the entire body, top, back side, neck, and headstock, there are numerous dings, dents, scratches, and swirling in the black finish.

There is a hairline finish crack on the back of the neck/headstock. It runs from the nut of the high E side of the fretboard, to almost the other side of the neck. This is only in the finish and not in the wood. The neck is solid, and there are no signs of a headstock crack or repair.

There are some larger chips in the finish on the bottom edge of the body, and the top of the headstock.

There is a larger dent in the top of the body on the low E side between the pickups.

There is a smaller dent by the neck tone knob.

There's some pick marks on the finish one the low E side of the body by the neck pickup ring.

All of the nickel hardware, especially the pickup covers & pole pieces, screws and tuners have varying degrees of corrosion, tarnish, pitting, peeling and/or rust, but everything works as expected, and everything has been cleaned and polished - what you see is patina on the metal parts but everything is smooth to the touch. The bridge and tailpiece are both chrome finish, and they are in great shape - chrome is much harder and more resilient than nickel finished hardware.

The black plastics are in tact with typical scratches and pick marks.

The neck pickup ring has a small crack on the top high E side corner.

All of the Gotoh nickel tuners are are straight and working properly.

Around the strap buttons there's strap marks/swirling.

The 22 medium jumbo frets have a lot of playwear across the fretboard, mainly on the plain strings, and mostly between the 1st and 12th frets, but overall there is lots of life left in these frets, and the guitar plays well up and down the entire fretboard.

There's no signs of a headstock, heel or any other repair.

The truss rod works as expected, with room in both directions.

SHIPPING ------------  

Every shipment is expertly packed with great care and includes tracking, signature required on delivery, and full insurance coverage for both the purchase price and shipping.

Every guitar is fully wrapped in bubble wrap, in a cardboard box meant for guitars, with proper support inside. To reduce environmental impact, the packing material (paper, newsprint, gift wrap, bubble wrap, air packets, foam, carboard boxes and/or tube supports, etc...) used may be recycled.

Package dimensions are 118cm x 47cm x 17cm

Note: if you want an exact shipping quote, just send me a note with your postal/zip code, and I'll get a proper quote for your address. 

Note: If you're buying from outside of Canada, you as the Buyer may be required to pay import duties, tariffs, taxes and/or VAT upon delivery, depending on your location and the purchase price.

QUESTIONS ------------

Any questions? Want more photos or detailed shots? Measurements? Shoot me a message, and I'll be happy to answer them, or send more pics, or take any measurements you want/need.

Thanks for looking!