NGD 1997 S-100

[Norrissey]

I purchased this almost month ago. Just getting around to posting now. I purchased on the GC web site so like always with them I wasn't sure what I would get. When the guitar arrived I was very pleasantly surprised. It was in almost mint condition, no marks, just a couple of almost imperceptible swirls. The build quality is absolutely fantastic. The original pickups had been replaced with Fralin Sunbucker Blues pickups which I am really enjoying. (unfortunately, the originals were not in the case) The neck is perfect, just a smidge wider than my '71 S-100. Loving it.

I have never played a '90s S-100 with the original SD '59, SD JB pickups. Curious if the S-100 experts out there consider the Fralins comparable? Better? Worse? Or is it subjective?

 

[Harp Tail]

Congratulations Norrissey!

Dealing with GC can be a question mark, but I'd say you scored big in this case.

 

[GAD]

The original pickups are good but not what I'd call boutique. The '59 is a fairly typical PAF clone and the JB is a very hot (16k) lead pickup that I can see someone wanting to replace if they were chasing a more vintage sound.

Sunbuckers are advertised as sounding more like single coils which is not something I'd associate with an S100 unless by "single coil" they mean P90 in which case I bet they'd sound pretty great. An Alnico-II P90 in an SG (or any all-'hog guitar) is a glorious, glorious thing.

 

[Norrissey]

Sunbuckers are advertised as sounding more like single coils which is not something I'd associate with an S100

The Fralin Sunbucker Blues neck pickup is a pretty fat, deep sound, borderline a little bland. Reminds me of the Gibson Patent Number Humbucker neck pickup on my '64 Starfire. (the original owner put the Gibsons on it) The Sunbucker Blues bridge pickup is very twangy. The middle position is my favorite. A really nice range of tones. They drive well and sound great with reverb too. I plan to keep them on there for now.

@GAD one slight correction. The link you posted above is for a Fralin Sunbucker pickup. The pickups on my guitar are Fralin Sunbucker Blues pickups, they are different from the regular Sunbuckers.

Sunbucker Blues®

The Fralin Sunbucker Blues provides bright, scooped-mids tone. Perfect for Blues, Funk, and anyone looking for a clear, clean humbucker.

www.fralinpickups.com

 

[GGJaguar]

Very nice! Pickups are going to be subjective, but they are standard size PAFs so you've got a lot of choices based on your preference.

 

[walrus]

Congratulations!

walrus

 

[GAD]

The Fralin Sunbucker Blues neck pickup is a pretty fat, deep sound, borderline a little bland. Reminds me of the Gibson Patent Number Humbucker neck pickup on my '64 Starfire. (the original owner put the Gibsons on it) The Sunbucker Blues bridge pickup is very twangy. The middle position is my favorite. A really nice range of tones. They drive well and sound great with reverb too. I plan to keep them on there for now.

@GAD one slight correction. The link you posted above is for a Fralin Sunbucker pickup. The pickups on my guitar are Fralin Sunbucker Blues pickups, they are different from the regular Sunbuckers.

Sunbucker Blues®

The Fralin Sunbucker Blues provides bright, scooped-mids tone. Perfect for Blues, Funk, and anyone looking for a clear, clean humbucker.

www.fralinpickups.com

Oh! My mistake! Those Sunbucker Blues actually look pretty interesting.

 

[chazmo]

Very nice, Norrissey!!!!!