Guild S-280 vs S-284
- Thread starter adam79
- Start date
guildzilla
Senior Member
Same era (1984-86) but different guitars.
Two of the main differences are body shape and neck construction. S-284 Aviator has symmetrical horns at the double cutaways and a set-in maple neck; S-280/S-281 Flyer has an elongated shape with Strat-like double cutaways and a bolt-on maple neck.
Both guitars were available with a wide range of shared options. These include pickup choices (California, DiMarzio, Kent Armstrong & EMG) and Kahler trems.
Both were standard with a poplar body. But you see rare S-284's with maple bodies.
Both had stupid names. Aviator? Flyer? Sounds like the Wright Brothers.
IMO, these are the most underrated and underpriced Guild electrics. Not a lot of LTG'ers get excited about them, but I like them.
Two of the main differences are body shape and neck construction. S-284 Aviator has symmetrical horns at the double cutaways and a set-in maple neck; S-280/S-281 Flyer has an elongated shape with Strat-like double cutaways and a bolt-on maple neck.
Both guitars were available with a wide range of shared options. These include pickup choices (California, DiMarzio, Kent Armstrong & EMG) and Kahler trems.
Both were standard with a poplar body. But you see rare S-284's with maple bodies.
Both had stupid names. Aviator? Flyer? Sounds like the Wright Brothers.
IMO, these are the most underrated and underpriced Guild electrics. Not a lot of LTG'ers get excited about them, but I like them.
I'm looking for a balls out rock guitar with a fast neck and Floyd Rose/Kahler setup, which is why the S-280/281 and S-284 interest me.. but I thought they where made of Alder; I already have a '65 Fender Mustang reissue with a Poplar body..
Ive had both, but I kept my 284s. The 281 seems more geared to straight ahead rock/hard rock, but the 284s are real shred machines. Very nice necks, not too thin like an Ibanez, but thin like a Soloist. They look similar, but they are very different beasts........
guildzilla
Senior Member
Both of the S-284's I had - one of which I sold to a music buddy locally - had beautiful, jet black and glass smooth ebony fingerboards. A pleasure to play them.
Favored the guitars with the Kahler 2300 Professional trem model over the Floyd Rose versions, but that's preference not expertise.
I'm pretty sure but not certain about the poplar bodies, so if anyone can correct or confirm please go ahead.
One of the interesting issues with the S-280 and the S-284 series is the weight variation from guitar to guitar. The ones with pickguards have more wood removed in the body route. The ones with just a single pickup have very little weight removed in the routing process. The difference is very significant relative to weight and balance points. Makes a tonal difference as well, I think.
Lots of factors with these and lots of variations within each model designation due to all the options and variables.
Favored the guitars with the Kahler 2300 Professional trem model over the Floyd Rose versions, but that's preference not expertise.
I'm pretty sure but not certain about the poplar bodies, so if anyone can correct or confirm please go ahead.
One of the interesting issues with the S-280 and the S-284 series is the weight variation from guitar to guitar. The ones with pickguards have more wood removed in the body route. The ones with just a single pickup have very little weight removed in the routing process. The difference is very significant relative to weight and balance points. Makes a tonal difference as well, I think.
Lots of factors with these and lots of variations within each model designation due to all the options and variables.
They definately do have various weights. The one that I have made of solid maple is about twice the weight of one of my pickguard ones.......
The neck on the 281s feels like a traditional neck, much like alot of the cookie cuter guitars from the pre shred era of the late 70s/early 80s. The neck on the 284s has a very post shred feel. It feels very close to a hand made Jackson neck of the same era..........
The neck on the 281s feels like a traditional neck, much like alot of the cookie cuter guitars from the pre shred era of the late 70s/early 80s. The neck on the 284s has a very post shred feel. It feels very close to a hand made Jackson neck of the same era..........
hansmoust
Enlightened Member
adam79 said:
Hello adam79,
You can't tell the body wood by looking at the serial number but I looked in my database and the guitar you're looking at is an early model. It should have a red metallic finish and it is the version with the pickguard. I would assume it has poplar for the body.
Hope this is of some help.
Sincerely,
Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl
guildzilla
Senior Member
I'm posting this e-Bay listing of a similar guitar. Has the Kahler Traditional 2500 series trem and active EMG pickups. But it isn't a Flyer; the seller is mistaken. Probably an S-260, S-270 or S-271.
Body shape is more conventionally Strat-shaped, as opposed to the elongated lower treble bout on a Flyer. This shape, which is the same as the S-270 Runaway in my signature, fits in a typical guitar stand lots better than a Flyer does.
It's not my listing nor my recommendation, just a price check (not a bad deal) and some food for your thoughts. But in defense of the seller's misidentification, it's quite understandable. Hard to research these guitars, plus the S/N's of the S-260, S-270, etc. use the same S/N prefix and sequence as the Flyers.
Fortunately all mysteries will end when Hans publishes Part II of The Guild Guitar Book.
http://cgi.ebay.com/1986-GUILD-S-281-FL ... dZViewItem
Also, re: poplar or maple. At least generally speaking, when any of these guitars were built with the maple body option the finish is natural or transparent to show the wood figure.
Body shape is more conventionally Strat-shaped, as opposed to the elongated lower treble bout on a Flyer. This shape, which is the same as the S-270 Runaway in my signature, fits in a typical guitar stand lots better than a Flyer does.
It's not my listing nor my recommendation, just a price check (not a bad deal) and some food for your thoughts. But in defense of the seller's misidentification, it's quite understandable. Hard to research these guitars, plus the S/N's of the S-260, S-270, etc. use the same S/N prefix and sequence as the Flyers.
Fortunately all mysteries will end when Hans publishes Part II of The Guild Guitar Book.
http://cgi.ebay.com/1986-GUILD-S-281-FL ... dZViewItem
Also, re: poplar or maple. At least generally speaking, when any of these guitars were built with the maple body option the finish is natural or transparent to show the wood figure.
The Guilds of Grot
Enlightened Member
At first I thought this was a Detonator.
But compared to mine, the cut-aways look bigger therefore making the horns thinner.
The guitar in question;
My Detonator;
He says his is an '86. Mine is an '87.
I thought maybe the offset headstock came later and when they did that they might have thinned down the horns.
Hans????
But compared to mine, the cut-aways look bigger therefore making the horns thinner.
The guitar in question;
My Detonator;
He says his is an '86. Mine is an '87.
I thought maybe the offset headstock came later and when they did that they might have thinned down the horns.
Hans????
Last edited by a moderator:
guildzilla
Senior Member
Damn, now that you mention it, Kurt, the horns on my guitar aren't pointy like that either. These guitars just meander all over the place.
matsickma
Senior Member
I beleive the guitar in the ebay auction listed as a Flyer is actually an odd ball model. The body shape is that of a Liberator. However the Liberator normally comes with a set neck, 24 fret ebony fingerboard and the 25.5 inch scale. It also has a headstock with binding around the perimeter.
Liberator came in two levels: the Standard Liberator and the Deluxe model. The Deluxe model usually has fancy maple tops, fancy fret markers and had a 3-three position mini toggle switchs to select the various pickup configurations. Also the Deluxe came with high end pickups (Bertenelli ? sp). GOG has at least one on his web page.
In regards to the S280, S281 and S284 they are different models and have a lot of pickup combinations. The Flyers tend to look like a distorted Strat or Jazzmaster and have bolt-on necks. The S284's have set necks and symmetric body horns. If I recall correctly the S285 is a high end version of a S284 and has the main feature of a solid maple body with excellent wood. I remember coming across one of these in a picture or advertisment material a while back.
These are all really decent guitars. I had a nice S281 a while back with active pickups and tone controls including some kind of band pass control and a boost switch. I have never seen another and wish I would have held on to it.
M
Correction per GoG info bdlow: Two different Liberator models: Standard and Elite (not Deluxe).
Also added a link to a earlier discussion of my long lost Flyer.
http://www.letstalkguild.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=39
Liberator came in two levels: the Standard Liberator and the Deluxe model. The Deluxe model usually has fancy maple tops, fancy fret markers and had a 3-three position mini toggle switchs to select the various pickup configurations. Also the Deluxe came with high end pickups (Bertenelli ? sp). GOG has at least one on his web page.
In regards to the S280, S281 and S284 they are different models and have a lot of pickup combinations. The Flyers tend to look like a distorted Strat or Jazzmaster and have bolt-on necks. The S284's have set necks and symmetric body horns. If I recall correctly the S285 is a high end version of a S284 and has the main feature of a solid maple body with excellent wood. I remember coming across one of these in a picture or advertisment material a while back.
These are all really decent guitars. I had a nice S281 a while back with active pickups and tone controls including some kind of band pass control and a boost switch. I have never seen another and wish I would have held on to it.
M
Correction per GoG info bdlow: Two different Liberator models: Standard and Elite (not Deluxe).
Also added a link to a earlier discussion of my long lost Flyer.
http://www.letstalkguild.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=39
matsickma
Senior Member
Hi Hans,
I see you BINed of this guitar. Can you comment a bit more on its uniqueness?
M
I see you BINed of this guitar. Can you comment a bit more on its uniqueness?
M
The Guilds of Grot
Enlightened Member
Ah yes, the Liberator of course! It looks to have a flat top where as the Liberator was radiused.matsickma said:
Just for reference...
My Liberator Elite
Yes Hans, please enlighten us with your wisdom!
matsickma
Senior Member
GoG,
The standard Liberator model is a flat slab body-no top arch. I didn't know the Elite had a archtop. It makes sense as they are beautiful guitars. Also the standard Liberator usually come with a Mueller two-point Strat type vibrato similar to your Detonator. I once had a black Detonator II guitar. It had Gold hardware, active EMG H/S/H PUPS and a gold Floyd-Rose. I didn't care for the FR and perfer the Kahler. It was a lot heavier than a standard Detonator.
M
The standard Liberator model is a flat slab body-no top arch. I didn't know the Elite had a archtop. It makes sense as they are beautiful guitars. Also the standard Liberator usually come with a Mueller two-point Strat type vibrato similar to your Detonator. I once had a black Detonator II guitar. It had Gold hardware, active EMG H/S/H PUPS and a gold Floyd-Rose. I didn't care for the FR and perfer the Kahler. It was a lot heavier than a standard Detonator.
M
hansmoust
Enlightened Member
matsickma said:
Hello Mike,
Yes, I can! It's not unique but it's pretty rare!
Sincerely,
Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl
guildzilla
Senior Member
They call this one the Pointyator?
Just kidding. Did they have a name for it, Hans?
Just kidding. Did they have a name for it, Hans?
hansmoust
Enlightened Member
guildzilla said:
Close! 5 letters (out of 10) were correct!
Sincerely,
Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl
guildzilla
Senior Member
And? And?
Now you're just teasing us, Hans.
Now you're just teasing us, Hans.