NGD - The SG that is not an SG

[shoule79]

So i've always loved the idea of an SG, the look, the sound, everything. However, i've never been able to to bond with 99% of the ones i've played/owned. Always neck dive, tuning problems, or just didn't like the feel. Vintage, new, didn't matter, of the 5 or 6 i've owned, aside from a Melody Maker shaped SG, none have ever been in it for the long haul. I'd just resigned to never owning a proper 2 humbucker SG.

I walked into a local shop looking for strings and walked out with this heavily modified 74 Guild S-100.

The S-100 has been on my list of guitars to own at some point since the 90's, but i've never found one in the flesh. This guy is very modified, bigsby, harmonica bridge, hot rio grande bridge pickup, what appears to be a period correct Gibson pickup in the neck, lots of dings in the original see through walnut finish. But its solid overall and the mods were well done.

The shop had a 66 SG special and a number of newer standards/specials in at the same time, and the Guild blew them all away. I love the neck and feel of this guitar. Its lighter than I would have expected, and the thin, slightly narrower neck are fast and easy to play. The sounds are as good as any Gibson, the bridge pickup is hotter than i'm used to, but other than that i'm very happy with it.

At some point I may try to find original HB-1's to put in there, maybe some PAF clones. Considering it cost only a bit more than a used MIM Fender i'm thrilled.

[Embenny]

Congrats, that's a great find. Guild remains criminally underappreciated.

[Trout]

Nice

[PorkyPrimeCut]

Yeah, that's lovely!!

The mismatched pickups are an eyesore but I bet it sounds & feels great!

[Larry Mal]

Keep that harmonica bridge on there... that was an upgrade.

[Jonesie]

Guilds are the best. I miss my Guild acoustics.

Now go forth and get your Thayll on.

[cestlamort]

Congrats, old Guilds are amazing and something like this has been on my wishlist since the 90s as well...

Note that if you do go for the original pickups there are a few different HB-1 specs over the years, with different sizing.

[garyptaszek]

saw a black one of these before and I've wanted one ever since, very jealous

[shoule79]

Keep that harmonica bridge on there... that was an upgrade.

That’s what I have been discovering. At first I wanted to yank it off, but then I noticed the posts weren’t angled like on the ABR or Nashville, so intonation wouldn’t be happening without the additional play the harmonica gives. It’s really solid too.

Not ideal aesthetically, but I don’t think I’ll get the same functionality out of another one. I like a lot of Norlin era changes, volutes, long tenon necks, 3 pc maple necks, just simple improvements. I’d add this thing to the list.

[shoule79]

Congrats, old Guilds are amazing and something like this has been on my wishlist since the 90s as well...

Note that if you do go for the original pickups there are a few different HB-1 specs over the years, with different sizing.

Yeah, I’ve discovered the sizes varied on the HB-1’s. I may just grab something like 57 classics to stick in there till I find some. It’s good as is, I just prefer something a bit lower output and with PUP covers on it.

[shoule79]

Congrats, that's a great find. Guild remains criminally underappreciated.

Yeah, it’s my 2nd vintage Guild (68 T100 was my first) and both have punched way above their weight. A luthier in the town I grew up near was a big guild fan and recommended them to me over comparable Gibsons because of the built quality (neck joint and headstock strength) many years ago.

[Veitchy]

Neat. I love a guitar that induces a double-take. Don't know when the mods were made but it looks like a guitar modified in the 70s, and that's rad.

[stevejamsecono]

Damn, that's a steal. Well done.

All Guilds are special and I imagine this one is no different.

[Fiddy]

This is a fantastic looking instrument. Congrats.

[Cornelius Plum]

That's neat! Too bad it doesn't have the old HB-1s. Those are amongst my favorite humbuckers.