Navigator SG Copies

The first Navigator SG copies were introduced around 1976, with Navigator being ESP's high end sub-brand. They were originally manufactured by Kasuga. Kasuga builds can be identified by the larger control cavity. Around 1982, production moved to ESP. The logo changed in 1982-1984 so that the "v" no longer dropped below the baseline.

ES-11 "SGUDEL"

Walnut

This copy is most similar to the 1973-1974 Gibson SG Standard, due to the pickguard shape, large headstock and black binding resembling the unbound fretboard.

• ~1976-1977
• 75,000 Yen MSRP
• 120,000 Yen MSRP (3 pickups)
• 125,000 Yen MSRP (Custom made)

Body:

• Beveled, solid African Mahogany body
• Varnished finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn African Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • Joins body at 18th fret

• Rosewood fretboard
  • Mother of Pearl trapezoid inlays
  • 15.75" radius?
• Large Open Book headstock
  • Navigator inlay
  • Crown inlay (inconsistent use)
  • Volute
• 22 frets
• 24 ³/₄" scale
• 1 ⁹/₁₆" nut width???

Wine Red

Binding:

• Neck, single-ply
• Black color

Electronics:

• Two humbuckers
• 3-way switch
• 2 Vol, 2 Tone

Hardware:

• Nickel hardware
• Gotoh tuning machines
  • 12:1 ratio
  • Grover-style buttons
  • Keystone buttons
    • Double ring
• 5-ply Angel Wing style pickguard
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • 2-ply b/w
  • 2 screws
• Black Speed knobs
• Tune-O-Matic style bridge
• Harmonica-style bridge (inconsistent use)
• Stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

• Wine Red
• Walnut

SG-75

This model is based on the Kasuga SG-600.

• 1980
• 75,000 Yen MSRP

Body:

• Beveled, solid African Mahogany body
• Varnished finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn African Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • Joins body at 18th fret

• Rosewood fretboard
  • Acrylic pearloid small block inlays
  • 15.75" radius
• Large Open Book headstock
  • Holographic foil Navigator inlay
  • Volute
• 22 frets
• 24 ³/₄" scale
• 1 ⁹/₁₆" nut width???

Binding:

• Neck, single-ply
• Black color

Electronics:

• Two humbuckers
• 3-way switch
• 2 Vol, 2 Tone

Hardware:

• Nickel hardware
• Gotoh tuning machines
  • 12:1 ratio
  • Grover-style buttons
• 5-ply Angel Wing style pickguard
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • 2-ply b/w
  • 2 screws
• Black Speed knobs
• Harmonica-style bridge
• Stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

• Wine Red
• Walnut

SG-125

Not shown in catalogs, possibly represents the custom build option. 125,000 Yen MSRP.

SGS-140

Introduced as SG-140 and re-named SGS-140 by 1983.

• 1978-1985
• 140,000 Yen MSRP

Body:

• Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
• Angled heel (???-1985)
• Polyurethane finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • Joins body at 19th fret (1978-1983?)
  • Joins body at 22nd fret (1983?-1985)

• Rosewood fretboard
  • Acrylic pearloid dot inlays
  • 15.75" radius
• Narrow Open Book headstock
  • Holographic foil Navigator inlay
  • Holographic foil crown inlay (1978-1982?)
  • Maple veneer
• 22 frets
• 24 ³/₄" scale
• 1 ¹¹/₁₆" nut width???

Binding:

• Neck, single-ply
• Fret-edge-binding

1985

Electronics:

• Two LH-200 humbuckers
• 3-way switch
• 2 Vol, 2 Tone

Hardware:

• Nickel hardware
• Gotoh tuning machines
  • 12:1 ratio
  • Keystone buttons
  • Double ring
• 5-ply Angel Wing style pickguard
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • 2-ply b/w
  • 2 screws
  • Wide bevel (1978-1982?)
• Black Witch Hat knobs
• Tune-O-Matic style bridge
• Stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

• Wine Red
• Walnut
• White

SGS-180

Introduced in 1981 as SG-180. Though not depicted in catalogs, these appear to have been made with Batwing pickguards as well.

• 1981-1989
• 180,000 Yen MSRP

Body:

• Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
• Angled heel
• Lacquer finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • Joins body at 22nd fret
  • Stepped hangover

• Rosewood fretboard
  • Acrylic pearloid trapezoid inlays
  • 15.75" radius
• Narrow Open Book headstock
  • Mother of Pearl Navigator inlay
  • Mother of Pearl 2-pc crown inlay (late 1980s?)
  • Maple veneer
• 22 frets
• 24 ³/₄" scale
• 1 ¹¹/₁₆" nut width???

Binding:

• Neck, single-ply
• Fret-edge-binding

Electronics:

• Two LH-200 humbuckers
• 3-way switch
• 2 Vol, 2 Tone

Hardware:

• Nickel hardware
• Gotoh tuning machines
  • 12:1 ratio
  • Keystone buttons
  • Double ring
• 5-ply Angel Wing style pickguard
• 3-ply Batwing style pickguard
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • 2-ply b/w
  • 2 screws
  • Wide bevel
• Black Reflector knobs
• Tune-O-Matic style bridge
• Stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

• Wine Red (WR)
• Snow White (SW)

SGC-180

"SGC" may simply refer to any custom order SG model, but this is speculation.

• 1983
• 180,000 Yen MSRP

Body:

• Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
• Angled heel
• Lacquer finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • Joins body at 22nd fret

• Rosewood fretboard
  • Acrylic pearloid trapezoid inlays
  • 15.75" radius
• Open Book headstock
  • Mother of Pearl Navigator inlay
  • Maple veneer
• 22 frets
• 24 ³/₄" scale
• 1 ¹¹/₁₆" nut width???

Binding:

• Neck, single-ply
• Fret-edge-binding

Electronics:

• Two LH-200 humbuckers
• 3-way switch
• 2 Vol, 2 Tone

Hardware:

• Gold hardware
• Gotoh tuning machines
  • 12:1 ratio
  • Keystone buttons
  • Single ring
• Bell shaped truss rod cover
  • 2-ply b/w
  • 2 screws
• Black Speed knobs
• Tune-O-Matic style bridge
• Stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

• Black

NS-180

4th and 5th digit of serial number indicate production year.

• ~1993-1998
• 180,000 Yen MSRP

Body:

• Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
• Angled heel
• Lacquer finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • Joins body at 22nd fret
  • Stepped hangover

• Rosewood fretboard
  • Acrylic pearloid trapezoid inlays
  • 15.75" radius
• Open Book headstock
  • Mother of Pearl Navigator inlay
  • Mother of Pearl 2-pc crown inlay (inconsistent use)
  • Maple veneer
• 22 frets
• 24 ³/₄" scale
• 1 ¹¹/₁₆" nut width???

Binding:

• Neck, single-ply
• Fret-edge-binding

Electronics:

• Two LH-200 humbuckers
• 3-way switch
• 2 Vol, 2 Tone
  • CTS pots

Hardware:

• Nickel hardware
• Gotoh tuning machines
  • 12:1 ratio
  • Keystone buttons
  • Single ring
• 3-ply Batwing style pickguard
• Tombstone shaped truss rod cover
  • 2-ply b/w
  • 2 screws
  • Wide bevel
• Black Witch Hat knobs
• Tune-O-Matic style bridge
• Stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

• Wine Red (WR)

NS-300W

• 1993
• 300,000 Yen MSRP

Body:

• Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
• No cutaway bevels
• Lacquer finish

Necks:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• Set-in construction
  • Join body at 15th frets?
• Indian Rosewood fretboards
  • Acrylic split parallelogram inlays
  • 15.75" radii
• Open Book headstocks
  • Inlaid Mother of Pearl Navigator logos
  • Maple veneers
• 20 frets per neck
• 24 ³/₄" scale
• 1 ¹¹/₁₆" nut width???

Binding:

• Necks, single-ply
• Fret-edge-binding

Electronics:

• Four uncovered "Mother-II" humbuckers
• 3-way pickup switch
• 3-way neck switch
• 2 Vol, 2 Tone (One for each neck)
  • CTS pots

Hardware:

• Nickel hardware
• Gotoh tuning machines
  • 12:1 ratio
  • Keystone buttons
  • Single ring
• 4-ply pickguard
• Tombstone shaped truss rod cover
  • 2-ply b/w
  • 2 screws
  • Wide bevel
• Black Speed knobs
• ABR-style Tune-O-Matic bridges
• Stopbar tailpieces

Finishes:

• Walnut?

N-SG-LTD

Introduced as N-SG-300 LTD in 2002, renamed N-SG-320 LTD in 2006 and renamed N-SG-450 LTD in 2008. In 2014, the numbers (roughly) representing the price are finally removed and it's re-named N-SG-LTD.

This model is intended to compete with Gibson's Custom Shop Historic SG Reissue.

• 2002-Present
• 2002-2005: 300,000 Yen MSRP
• 2006-2007: 336,000 Yen MSRP
• 2008-2013: 472,500 Yen MSRP
• 2014-Present: 480,000 Yen MSRP

Body:

• Beveled, 1-pc Honduran Mahogany body
• Angled heel
• Lacquer finish

Neck:

• 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
• U shape profile
• Set-in construction
  • Joins body at 22nd fret
  • Stepped hangover

• Honduran Rosewood fretboard
  • Acrylic pearloid trapezoid inlays
  • 12" radius
• Open Book headstock
  • Mother of Pearl Navigator inlay
  • Maple veneer
• 22 JESCAR FW47104-NS frets
• 24 ³/₄" scale
• Bone nut
• 1 ¹¹/₁₆" nut width

Binding:

• Neck, single-ply
• Fret-edge-binding
• Ivory color

Electronics:

• Two Seymour Duncan APH-1 humbuckers
  • AlNiCo II magnets
  • ~7.6k (neck) & 8.1k (bridge) ohms D.C. Resistance
• 3-way switch
• 2 Vol, 2 Tone
  • CTS pots
  • Paper-In-Oil caps

Hardware:

• Nickel hardware
• Gotoh SD-90 tuning machines
  • 12:1 ratio
  • Keystone buttons
  • Single line, single ring
• 5-ply Angel Wing style pickguard
  • Wide bevel
• Fish shaped truss rod cover
  • 2-ply b/w
  • 1 screw
• Black Reflector knobs
• Tune-O-Matic ABR-style bridge
• Aluminum Gotoh GE101A stopbar tailpiece

Finishes:

• Cherry Red (CHR)
• Natural (NT, 2002-2003)
• Walnut (WN, 2004-2009)
• Black (BK, 2010-Present)