Epiphone SG Special Tony Iommy or Yamaha Pacifica 112VM

[tawny saffron]

Is an Epiphone SG Special Tony Iommy, used like new, set up by a luthier, with a hard case for $500 (equivalent in my country currency, but this is not in USA, however similar savings over the new guitar), a good option or is it better to buy some Harley Benton guitar at this price? 🙂
I like the sound of Black Sabbath, but I would also like to play other music. Will it work on this Epiphone? 😅
https://www.thomannmusic.com/epiphone_tony_iommi_sg_special_w_case.htm
Now I'm learning to play the guitar with my Yamaha Pacifica 112VM, for which the luthier quoted $100 for setting up and levelling and polishing frets. Apart from that it is in good used condition.
So I think I have two options (one guitar is enough for me :): set up this Yamaha or buy a new guitar. Choices... 🙂

[slender knot]

do you like what you have rn?

that epiphone goes for 800 USD, so with a hard case too thats a pretty great deal

personally i think setting up your guitar is a very easy job that shouldnt take no more than an hour at most to do

[unique palm]

if you want the SG, its a great deal, and you can play any type of music you want on it. You can also get your Pacifica set up, and it'll play just as good, and be equally versatile. It just depends on what you want

since both will be set up professionally, it really all comes down to what you want

I personally think that SG is very sick, and the hardshell case it comes with is sexy too

[tawny saffron]

Yeah I initially said to the luthier that the "new" shiny SG will not make me better player and left. But on the way home was thinking about this SG. It looked great. Called the luthier and asked him to wait with work on Pacifica until I make my mind about SG lol. He is willing to lend me it for a couple of days to try it.

[tawny saffron]

I am OK with Pacifica. Still will need to learn a ton before I will need something better in terms of an instrument 🙂
SG is nicer though. May (potentially 🙂 be a better motivation to grab it and play it. Don't know. Maybe it's just a fantasy lol.

Polishing and levelling frets is probably most difficult of all that it needs doing. At least that's what it seems to me.

[unique palm]

you being at the beginning of a journey doesnt mean you should settle for less :) if you can get it, and want it, by all means, nothing should stop you

[signal jacinth]

I would personally buy the guitar for 500 plus yeah like you said a better guitar does give some more motivation to play as it is easier to play

[gloomy grove]

the epiphone is great and it's a great deal

SG playability is very good, fairly universal neck and very good high fret access

the only caveat is the fretboard is a little weird and takes some time to get used to depending on how long you've been playing

it's shifted a little more to the left so if you're playing a strat-style instrument, where you rest you hand for the 5th fret is now the 7th.