Guild Full-Sized HB1 and SD1 Pickup Variations

[GAD]

I get a lot of PMs and emails from people asking me what type of pickups they have in their Guild electrics. I'm not the expert, but I finally decided to put what I've learned into a blog post. Hopefully, this post will help people who are looking for information about the full-sized pickups in their Guild electric guitars.

You can read all about it here: http://www.gad.net/Blog/2011/11/25/guild-full-sized-hb1-and-sd1-pickup-variations/

 

[AlohaJoe]

That's great Gary. Thank you, thank you!

 

[Zelja]

Great read - very much appreciate you doing that for the community GAD. 8) I have discovered that my (as yet unseen to me) 1997 SFIV has probably got the SD-1s, based on the adjustment screw spacing, which makes me a little happier.

Re the terminals on the back of the HB-1s - very useful so that you don't have to feed wires through, especially on semi-hollows etc, but I guess it's not common practice due to space issues. Most PU routs in guitars I have seen have deeper routs for the mounting brackets & as shallow a rout as possible under the pickup itself. I am assuming you would need more space under the pickup if you have the terminal block protruding well beyond the bottom of the PU cover. On your SFIV pics, the rout seems to be uniform (does the centre block actually go all the way to the top between the PUs?) & I wonder what they do with the S-100s & M75s etc - deep uniform rout or maybe just additional space where the terminal is?

 

[GAD]

Here's another pic of the SF4 route:

But then check out this pic from the neck route!

 

[Manic Manager]

Great Post.

thx!

Ken

 

[Ravon]

Thanks GAD. I see your an astronomer, me too (amateur). I've got a 10" Meade LX50 SCT. I'll have to post some pics of the beast one day !

 

[GAD]

Thanks GAD. I see your an astronomer, me too (amateur). I've got a 10" Meade LX50 SCT. I'll have to post some pics of the beast one day !

Nice rig! I used to have a Celestron 8" Ultima, but it was so big and tough to carry around that I ended up selling it. I've been toying with the idea of getting a Dobsonian (I know - even bigger, but lighter) since I have pre-teen kids that would find it interesting. You probably saw on my page, but here's my old scope. I miss it, but it's not dark enough where I live, which means travel.

We recently went to the observatory in Concord, NH where they have a 14" Celestron mounted. I'll have to see if I can find the pic.

 

[Ravon]

Thanks GAD. I see your an astronomer, me too (amateur). I've got a 10" Meade LX50 SCT. I'll have to post some pics of the beast one day !

Nice rig! I used to have a Celestron 8" Ultima, but it was so big and tough to carry around that I ended up selling it. I've been toying with the idea of getting a Dobsonian (I know - even bigger, but lighter) since I have pre-teen kids that would find it interesting. You probably saw on my page, but here's my old scope. I miss it, but it's not dark enough where I live, which means travel.

We recently went to the observatory in Concord, NH where they have a 14" Celestron mounted. I'll have to see if I can find the pic.

That 14" must have been a monster! http://www.astronomics.com/main/product ... LB16DSorry to hijack your thread but I've been toying with this idea for a couple years

 

[Ravon]

Don't think the link works. Its a 16" Meade LightBridge Dob

 

[AlohaJoe]

Since they mini-hums were never reproduced, there’s really no discussion about what versions are out there. If you’ve got these, keep ‘em, because they’re fabulous pickups.

I agree. Those are the pickups on my Starfire, and I've learned to love their versatility. They're very forward and bright but in a good way, with lots of rich mids... perfect for the blues 8) and I can get a nicely balanced modern jazz tone from the neck pup with a bit of EQ.

 

[Zelja]

Here's another pic of the SF4 route:

Thanks. Nice, big cut-outs to allow the cable to get through. Must allow for a more "airy" sound.

 

[WahmBoomAh]

thanks for the info ...
SO ... are there any differences between the HB-`s 1 from the 70`s,80`s,90`s ?
all good ?
Paul

 

[GAD]

thanks for the info ...
SO ... are there any differences between the HB-`s 1 from the 70`s,80`s,90`s ?
all good ?
Paul

All the vintage HB1s I've played have sounded great. I don't know of a known difference between decades, other than the visual difference outlined in my blog. If anyone else knows of differences, I'd love to hear about them, but in my experience, no.

 

[dapmdave]

Great post, GAD. Lots of good info.

Having had a '73 Starfire with HB1's, and a '97 Bluesbird with the SD1's, I find that what I was looking for all the time was the smaller 60's humbuckers.

Dave

 

[AcornHouse]

Thanks for the info. Going by the Westerly Guild site, I had assumed the pups in my '86 X-170 were the SD1s. After measuring, I find that they are, indeed, the Guild HB1s. (And sound so wonderful!) I guess mine is early enough that is has some appointments that weren't standard to the later X-170s like the HB1s, and the ebony – instead of rosewood – bridge.

It just keeps getting better and better.

 

[GAD]

Thanks for the info. Going by the Westerly Guild site, I had assumed the pups in my '86 X-170 were the SD1s. After measuring, I find that they are, indeed, the Guild HB1s. (And sound so wonderful!) I guess mine is early enough that is has some appointments that weren't standard to the later X-170s like the HB1s, and the ebony – instead of rosewood – bridge.

It just keeps getting better and better.

I've seen X170s with all three variants - My X170T has the Fenders in it, but my estimation would be HB1s for an '86.

I don't think I ever physically measured my SD1s. If anyone has known SD1s they'd like to measure, I'd love to include the info.