I bought a Gibson Les Paul Classic about a month ago. The quality is superb!! Best fiddle I have ever owned, and I have owned many. Whoever told you that Gibson makes crap is probally a Fender player. Fenders suck!! To twangy and countryish for me. But if thats your style then go for one of those sticks with strings. The only thing that I would tell you to stay away from that has a Gibson name attached to it is an Epiphone. Those are the only entry level Gibsons that go a little cheesy when it comes to the hardware and such on them! Gibson SG is a great guitar! Warm lows and screaming highs with plenty of room on the upper part of the neck for some fast high scaled leads. It all depends on what kind of sound and style your going for. Tonni Iommi and Angus Young are 2 of many Guitarists that swear by the SG. And they sound great through a Marshall tube! Then again just about anything does!