DeArmond versions of the Guild S-100

[bunuel]

Anyone ever tried one of these? I run across them occasionally for pretty little change & have wondered whether they're worth taking a shot at. I know that DeArmond was Guilds lower tier affiliate & have good things about some models, but have never heard anything on their take on the S-100. Any experienced opinions would be of interest. Thanks!

 

[Qvart]

Anyone ever tried one of these? I run across them occasionally for pretty little change & have wondered whether they're worth taking a shot at. I know that DeArmond was Guilds lower tier affiliate & have good things about some models, but have never heard anything on their take on the S-100. Any experienced opinions would be of interest. Thanks!

A few people around here have S-73's, including tele4tone who has the one I used to own. They're decent enough guitars, but don't compare to S-100's. They're similar to the reissue S-100's but I always recommend the real deal - vintage.

 

[tele4tone]

I have a S-73 and it's a nice guitar. It is definitely an import guitar. Nice finish, but poor fret work and cheap hardware. I have spent a lot of time making mine a player with different electronics and vintage Guild pups. It now sounds good, but the neck is like a baseball bat and it's not a finesse guitar. The pups are alright. I think these guitars are on par with some of the epi's I've played

My reissue is a much better guitar. I have owned two and I really don't like the ones with the painted or high gloss finish. I sold my Black reish and kept one that has a hand rubbed finish.

I never play my Dearmond, but I play the S-100 all the time. Qvart is probably right that vintage are the best. I plan on owning both vintage and reissue.

Jeff

 

[Hammer]

Two completely different animals, no comparison. The S-73 is an alright guit...very thick poly finish though. The pups are very bright and chimey too. Definitely an acquired taste and you have to be in the mood to hear em, but the guitar has its place.

 

[tele4tone]

I still want to refret mine and dull that finish.....better yet remove the finish. I think it holds back some resonance.

I noticed a big difference between my Black and Natural S-100's

Jeff

 

[Hammer]

I still want to refret mine and dull that finish.....better yet remove the finish. I think it holds back some resonance.

I noticed a big difference between my Black and Natural S-100's

Jeff

It definitely holds something back. Mine has a pretty good ding on it right where your strumming arm rests. You can tell it was hit pretty hard in that one spot...but it doesn't even make it through to the wood.

 

[brianeharmonjr]

I've got an S-73 and absolutely love it. It nearly completely quelled my S-100 GAS. The fretwork on mine is nearly perfect and it's very resonant, even with the thick poly finish. I got mine used and the previous owner installed Grover tuners, a Schaller fine-tuning tailpiece, and a set of Bill Lawrence L-90 pickups. I absolutely love the pickups! They sound more like a P-90 than a humbucker. I've got 4 DeArmonds and the S-73 is my favorite. It's one of my easiest playing guitars and it sounds incredible. I can't really compare it to an S-100, but it's an incredible guitar for what they go for. I got mine on Craigslist locally with the aforementioned modifications and a hard case for $250 and it is worth every penny of that to me, if not several times over.

 

[bunuel]

Thanks folks, this is a huge help. Did they make a bolt-on neck version of this model or do they have set neck version? Thanks, this has already been a huge help!

 

[Qvart]

Thanks folks, this is a huge help. Did they make a bolt-on neck version of this model or do they have set neck version? Thanks, this has already been a huge help!

They did make a bolt-on version, and some have pickups of lesser quality. If you shop for one make sure it's bolt-on and has the GoldTone pickups. Even if you end up not digging the sound so much (like me) those p'ups are part of the selling point for many people.

 

[mad dog]

I had the Dearmond S-73, later a vintage S-100. It's as Qvart says. Quite a nice instrument in its own way, but nowhere near the original in comparison. My S-73 had perfect frets, a great playing neck too. But a plasticky feel overall, and a bit plinky on sustain, somehow just didn't work that well. By contrast, the S-100 felt light but really solid, and rang like the proverbial bell ... clearly made of one fine piece of wood.
MD

 

[Hammer]

Thanks folks, this is a huge help. Did they make a bolt-on neck version of this model or do they have set neck version? Thanks, this has already been a huge help!

They did make a bolt-on version, and some have pickups of lesser quality. If you shop for one make sure it's NOT bolt-on and has the GoldTone pickups. Even if you end up not digging the sound so much (like me) those p'ups are part of the selling point for many people.

Fixed that for you. The bolt-ons are cheap, cheap crap. They are easy to spot too...lack of binding and regular looking uncovered black pups being the first give aways. The bolt-ons were made in Indonesia. Stay away from em. I would equate them to an Epiphone G-310. A balsa wood toy.

 

[Qvart]

They did make a bolt-on version, and some have pickups of lesser quality. If you shop for one make sure it's NOT bolt-on and has the GoldTone pickups. Even if you end up not digging the sound so much (like me) those p'ups are part of the selling point for many people.

Fixed that for you.

Thanks. Again, that's what I get for posting pre-coffee. :lol:

 

[bunuel]

Thanks again, all, for the helpful & informative responses. I think I'm just gonna keep saving up for guild s-100...

 

[Thunderface]

I can help you out if you chose to go either way. There's a bolt-neck DeArmond S-65 in my neck of the woods:

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/wsh/m ... 82676.html

and a '77 Guild S-100 in the basement (pardon the crappy cellphone photo)