Guild s-200 Thunderbird....a refin?

[Trainbridge]

Hello everybody, I got this Guild s-200 Thunderbird last month and couldn't be more pleased with it. My FIRST guild! I was just wondering if it was a refinish? I had asked around over at Harmony central effects forum and a nice forum member Bieke said I should register here and talk to Hans Moust and that he would most certainly know. It seems pretty clean under the hood except a piece of wood had been chunked out on the top part of the neck pickup cavity (it seems one of the previous owners painted the naked wood with some whiteout to make it less obvious. Stand is missing and the serial number is kinda faint in the wood (which is not to uncommon from white guitars I have owned in the past) Also the phase switch doesn't seem to be doing anything (if anyone could help me with what might be wrong with that. I am not to good with electronics and appreciate any suggestions) Ok well here are the pics...cheers

sorry for the bad pictures...I can take better pictures if need be.

 

[SouthernSounds]

Welcome to LTG Trainbridge!

You'll like it. A lot of great and knowledgeable folks over here!...

Someone will chime soon and will give you some answers! I'm just here to say welcome!!!

All the best,

B.

* And thanks for the pics, btw.

 

[Zelja]

Hey Trainbridge, welcome. I won't hazard a guess but if it is a refin I reckon it really fits that guitar. Tre cool.

 

[Trainbridge]

Thanks for the welcome guys. I am so happy with this guitar it covers so much ground and just has an awesome vibe about it. Plays like a dream as well! 8)

 

[Russian Guy]

Welcome to LTG, Trainbridge! This 'bird looks way too cool. On the close-up of the back of the body it almost looks like it's made out of ceramics. I'd most certainly be afraid of touching it and would just be eyeballing it all day long

 

[Thunderface]

Welcome Trainbridge. If I'm reading the serial number correctly, it looks like you have a '65 Thunderbird there, and while others can confirm this, I'm going to go out on a limb and say it is definitely a refin, and I think at least two of the knobs might be replacements, because the uppper ones normally are solid black. But other than that, it looks sweet as all get out to me! A most excellent first Guild. Congratulations.

Here's a little video for you, of Dan Auerbach playing a sunburst Thunderbird on Letterman last month.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcNyhCXNvQE

 

[zulu]

Welcome! Really cool guitar. I can't say that I have personally seen another in white, but I like the way it looks. In case you didn't already know, a phase switch will only affect the sound when both pickups are being used. I'll bet more knowledge will arrive soon. Again, glad to have you and thanks for the pics!

Z

 

[Treem]

Welcome to the LTG, Trainbridge!!! and congratulations on your first Guild!

 

[Geo]

Oh Man. Man Oh Man!! I love it. Never seen one in white. :shock:

Probably a refinish but a really good one. The serial numbers do look like they were painted over and not as bold as they should be to me.

I love it. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Oh and welcome. I was so busy checking out the great pictures I almost forgot you were new here. Great job getting the pictures up on the first post.

George

 

[Los Angeles]

That guitar is stunning in white!

Welcome!

 

[Trainbridge]

Welcome Trainbridge. If I'm reading the serial number correctly, it looks like you have a '65 Thunderbird there, and while others can confirm this, I'm going to go out on a limb and say it is definitely a refin, and I think at least two of the knobs might be replacements, because the uppper ones normally are solid black. But other than that, it looks sweet as all get out to me! A most excellent first Guild. Congratulations.

Here's a little video for you, of Dan Auerbach playing a sunburst Thunderbird on Letterman last month.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcNyhCXNvQE

You better believe I watched that performance! :wink: TBK have been my favorite band by far over the last 6 or so years. And yes it seems to be a '65 with the 42*** serial number.

OK so here is where things get interesting guys...after I got my Tbird I was obviously curious and scoured the internet for research on them like a "normal" person :lol:. I Stumbled upon this.....

that is not me and that is not my guitar...so another one is out there.

Although it certainly is modified it doesn't necessarily make it a refinish. As far as my opinion is concerned I still don't know for sure that's why I've come to you guys. Also as far as the knobs on my guitar I had wondered why it didn't have 2 of the smaller (all black knobs) but after some research I found out that some have them on the top some have them on the bottom and its kinda random where they end up. Also I had noticed different color slider switches (red, yellow, black, orange? white) These too seem to be a random placement as well. Although I am not positive because after all I am here to ask questions to you guys.

I would like to get a replacement tremar at some point because the black plastic piece had busted off mine years ago it seems. Any info on these?

 

[Los Angeles]

I would like to get a replacement tremar at some point because the black plastic piece had busted off mine years ago it seems. Any info on these?

There's a guy on ebay selling replacement hagstrom trem arms. The posts come up every couple of weeks or so. If I recall correctly, they are newly made, not "New Old Stock (NOS)" but they look pretty good.

 

[Thunderface]

That photo of a second white Thunderbird is pretty solid evidence that youts might not be a refinish after all. Either way, it's cool as all get out.

I have to quit looking at T-birds, because they are really starting to grow on me.

 

[dapmdave]

Welcome to LTG!

You have the gumby guitar!

Dave

 

[fronobulax]

That photo of a second white Thunderbird is pretty solid evidence that youts might not be a refinish after all. Either way, it's cool as all get out.

I would agree. However if the person pictured is from The Hives, the always reliable Wikipedia says "The Hives are noted for wearing matching suits or outfits, always in nothing but black and white." It could be that a backup and spare were refinished to match the preferred (non)color scheme.

Possible, but unlikely, IMO.

 

[bluesypicky]

Nice Guild.
My gut feeling, just looking at the pics, points to a refin, but if it's not,it has been extremely well cared for since the 60's....
As a friend said, these T-birds start to grow on me too.... let me look away.

 

[Thunderface]

That photo of a second white Thunderbird is pretty solid evidence that youts might not be a refinish after all. Either way, it's cool as all get out.

I would agree. However if the person pictured is from The Hives, the always reliable Wikipedia says "The Hives are noted for wearing matching suits or outfits, always in nothing but black and white." It could be that a backup and spare were refinished to match the preferred (non)color scheme.

Possible, but unlikely, IMO.

Howlin' Pelle Almqvist! I THOUGHT he looked familiar!

 

[Thunderface]

I would agree. However if the person pictured is from The Hives, the always reliable Wikipedia says "The Hives are noted for wearing matching suits or outfits, always in nothing but black and white." It could be that a backup and spare were refinished to match the preferred (non)color scheme.
Possible, but unlikely, IMO.

Lead singer Howlin' Pelle Almqvist! I thought he looked familiar.

From left: drummer Chris Dangerous, Howlin' Pelle Almqvist, guitarist Vigilante Carlstroem, bassist Dr. Matt Destruction, guitarist Nicholas Arson.

Vigilante Carlstroem plays vintage Epiphones (a '59 Cornet and a '60s Crestwood) on stage ...

... and although the above photo wasn't from the same night, he did throw his tie into the crowd during a show I saw at First Avenue in Minneapolis. Being much taller than everyone esle in the mosh pit does have its advantages. Thank you, Mr. Carlstroem.

 

[Zelja]

I would agree. However if the person pictured is from The Hives, the always reliable Wikipedia says "The Hives are noted for wearing matching suits or outfits, always in nothing but black and white." It could be that a backup and spare were refinished to match the preferred (non)color scheme.
Possible, but unlikely, IMO.

Lead singer Howlin' Pelle Almqvist! I thought he looked familiar.

Yep, definitely Howlin' Pete! I though he looked familiar too. Good catch guys!

 

[Trainbridge]

I would like to get a replacement tremar at some point because the black plastic piece had busted off mine years ago it seems. Any info on these?

There's a guy on ebay selling replacement hagstrom trem arms. The posts come up every couple of weeks or so. If I recall correctly, they are newly made, not "New Old Stock (NOS)" but they look pretty good.

Thanks I was able to buy one tonight.