Picked up a 1960 M-65 3/4!

[Tweedledee]

One of my dream guitars is a late 1950s Aristocrat, but they're so expensive that I'll probably never buy one. As a compromise, I decided to get this 1960 Freshman.

So far I'm impressed with the Franz pickup. Combined with the hollow body and short scale, it delivers a great airy, woody tone with really articulate highs.

The short scale is actually not nearly as cramped as I feared it might be. Then again, I have really small hands so I like short scales. I think it's strung up with 10s right now, but I might put some 11s on it and see how it feels.

So, here are the negatives with it: the bridge, tailpiece, knobs, and tuners aren't original. Also, at least the back and neck have been refinished. It's difficult to tell if the finish on the top of the body is original or not. The label inside doesn't indicate the original finish color - is that normal for ones with natural finishes?

I probably paid a little more than I should have for it, but right now I'm loving it!

I had to spend some time pulling the pots out of the F hole so I could get some contact cleaner inside them. They were having some issues after 50 years. Now that they're cleaned, all the issues are gone! No more scratchiness or cutting out. There must have been a lot of buildup inside there.

On to the photos!

 

[twocorgis]

Congratulations on the new baby Tweedledee. I love the old school headstock. 8)

 

[john_kidder]

I have a gold tailpiece (actually, I have two - an unusual New York Craigslist buy a couple of years ago) which is too small (5 1/2") for my archtops.

Somebody (even perhaps someone other than Hans) probably knows if this is original for the M65 3/4. Interested?

 

[hansmoust]

I have a gold tailpiece (actually, I have two - an unusual New York Craigslist buy a couple of years ago) which is too small (5 1/2") for my archtops.

Somebody (even perhaps someone other than Hans) probably knows if this is original for the M65 3/4. Interested?

Hello John,

That would be for an early Aristocrat. Would you like to make a trade for a tailpiece that is big enough for one of your archtops?

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[zizala]

Refinished or not, thats a very attractive and cool little 3/4, Tweedledee....

Glad you enjoy the sound of that Franz......

There was just the right small nickel plated harp tailpiece on Ebay last week but I think its gone.....these things do show up now and then.
The amber knobs pop up now and then too.....but I think your guitar looks good and am sure it works fine just the way it is.

Congrats!

z

 

[Tweedledee]

Thanks zizala! I'm really loving it. There was an original Freshman harp tailpiece on eBay that ended last night, but it ended up going for a little over $100, which was a bit more than I was willing to spend right now. I'll be keeping my eyes open and hoping that one pops up eventually. For now, the guitar is great as it is!

John_kidder - Thank you for the offer on the tailpiece! As Hans indicated, it's not quite the right one for my Freshman, but thanks for looking out for me.

 

[walrus]

That is one cool guitar!! Congrats!!

walrus

 

[MojoTooth]

I miss my M65c 3/4 all the time, it was a smoking little guitar and I WILL have another one some day! ENJOY!

 

[Tweedledee]

I miss my M65c 3/4 all the time, it was a smoking little guitar and I WILL have another one some day! ENJOY!

I can see why you would miss it! It's such a fun guitar to play and it has such a distinctive tone. I would love to find a similar deal on a full scale one to see how much of a difference it makes it how it sounds.

 

[MojoTooth]

I miss my M65c 3/4 all the time, it was a smoking little guitar and I WILL have another one some day! ENJOY!

I can see why you would miss it! It's such a fun guitar to play and it has such a distinctive tone. I would love to find a similar deal on a full scale one to see how much of a difference it makes it how it sounds.

you and me both, my next guild purchase will be a full scale M-65 or another M-65 3/4...unless I find a deal on a Starfire IV first.

 

[Tweedledee]

I miss my M65c 3/4 all the time, it was a smoking little guitar and I WILL have another one some day! ENJOY!

I can see why you would miss it! It's such a fun guitar to play and it has such a distinctive tone. I would love to find a similar deal on a full scale one to see how much of a difference it makes it how it sounds.

you and me both, my next guild purchase will be a full scale M-65 or another M-65 3/4...unless I find a deal on a Starfire IV first.

You sound just like me. I'm always looking for a great deal on a Starfire IV or V. The blonde '66 SF-IV that sold on Ebay yesterday seemed like a pretty good deal. I'm out of cash after buying the M-65, otherwise I might have bid on it.

I had a blonde '79 Starfire for a while that sounded incredible and played like a dream, but there was something about the weight and balance of that particular one that never quite felt right when it was on a strap. It's strange, because I haven't had that issue with other Starfires I've played. Somehow it was just the wrong combination of things for my particular body or something. But, the quest for the perfect Starfire continues!

 

[teleharmonium]

The bridge on your guitar is very similar to the original one, the only difference I see is the holes on each side going through to the top. The tuners are pretty close as well and they may not be any worse in quality than the originals.

I have a blonde '62 which is all original (blonde) , it says "M - 65 3/4 N.T."

Also have a '60 full scale, but it's a red one. Still, if that top has been refinned, it looks like the right shade and like it was done competently.

So I think you're just two aftermarket knobs and a tailpiece away from the guitar looking as good as possible. If there is a refin involved, and you like the scale, it might even be a candidate for adding a bridge pickup. I hope to find a nice "project" full scale model to do that mod to myself at some point. I've got a spare Franz (sadly with no cover) set aside for that purpose, or in case one of the ones on another guitar dies on me.

Every time I look at the fingerboard and neck joint of my 3/4 model I chuckle at the fact that this was a cheap student model. It's just too nice for that, really.

I use a set of .013 T-I flatwounds on my 3/4. It's great for jazz. In a year or two when it's time to change strings, I'm going to string it as a Nashville tuning guitar, I've got a set of Pyramids left over from a 12 string set which I raided already for the bottom 6 just waiting for that day.

 

[Tweedledee]

Thanks for all of that, teleharmonium! I'm definitely going to keep my eyes open for an original tailpiece because I think it adds so much to the guitar, aesthetically. I can't really decide about the knobs. I like the look of the original ones better than the ones that are on there, but when they come up for sale they're usually so expensive that it's just not worth it. If I find a reasonably priced set, I'll go for it.

The tuners and bridge don't really bother me at all. Like you said, the bridge is basically the same as the original one and the tuners look good and function well, so there are no worries there for now.

As for the finish, I'm feeling more and more like the top is the original finish. It doesn't look or feel anything like the back of the body and neck, which have definitely been refinished. Also, the back and neck were sort of poorly refinished, in a sense (even though they're fine), but the finish on the top is perfect. It also just feels like an original finish and where the top and neck meet looks original. It doesn't look like any finish was ever removed.

I was considering the two pickup mod, but I think I'll just leave it as it is. I probably use the neck pickup about 80% of the time anyway on my other guitars. However, It would be fun to have a two pickup Freshman like Keith, but only 3/4 scale.

I agree that the neck joint on these is incredible for a "cheap" guitar.

I think mine is strung up with 10s right now. I'm going to put a set of 11s on there when I decide to change them. I hadn't really considered going higher than that, but using a set of higher gauge flatwounds sounds like it could be interesting. The pickup is so articulate that flatwounds wouldn't make it sound muddy or dull at all, I'm sure.

 

[MojoTooth]

I noticed today in Hans' book that there is a M-65 with 2 pickups and that is what I want! :lol:

 

[Tweedledee]

I noticed today in Hans' book that there is a M-65 with 2 pickups and that is what I want! :lol:

I saw one of those for sale on eBay a few years ago and lusted after it. Too rich for my blood, though.

 

[parker_knoll]

i'd love a full scale freshman. Digging the wood on that.

 

[zizala]

I've managed to accumulate 3 of the full scale M-65's......guess I like the little beasts!

Been thinking very hard about adding a bridge pickup to the most "compromised" of the bunch.
I've got an extra pickup, cover, knobs and a second harness.....just have to get past my usual insistence about keeping old guitars original.
Its a tough decision......

If I do, the plan would be to make it as close to the one pictured in the Guild book as possible....like Keith Richards' version.

What I'd really want to do is make it look good enough to fool Hans!

I'll post a group photo over the weekend when I can get some good daylight on them....

z

 

[Tweedledee]

I've managed to accumulate 3 of the full scale M-65's......guess I like the little beasts!

Been thinking very hard about adding a bridge pickup to the most "compromised" of the bunch.
I've got an extra pickup, cover, knobs and a second harness.....just have to get past my usual insistence about keeping old guitars original.
Its a tough decision......

If I do, the plan would be to make it as close to the one pictured in the Guild book as possible....like Keith Richards' version.

What I'd really want to do is make it look good enough to fool Hans!

I'll post a group photo over the weekend when I can get some good daylight on them....

z

I would love to see a group shot!

How "compromised" is the one you're thinking of modding?

 

[MojoTooth]

I've managed to accumulate 3 of the full scale M-65's......guess I like the little beasts!

Been thinking very hard about adding a bridge pickup to the most "compromised" of the bunch.
I've got an extra pickup, cover, knobs and a second harness.....just have to get past my usual insistence about keeping old guitars original.
Its a tough decision......

If I do, the plan would be to make it as close to the one pictured in the Guild book as possible....like Keith Richards' version.

What I'd really want to do is make it look good enough to fool Hans!

I'll post a group photo over the weekend when I can get some good daylight on them....

z

I would love to see a group shot!

How "compromised" is the one you're thinking of modding?

that was MY next question as well!! :lol:

 

[zizala]

The most likely candidate for conversion is from late '58, perhaps early '59 and had suffered from one of the more severe cases of binding-rot-atosis that plagued many a Guild of the late 50's.....

Someone gamely glued the various binding sections and parts back in place, but its a bit rough....I'd probably have it rebound if I knew someone not too far away that wouldn't mind doing the work and would do a good restoration.
Its also missing the most significant portion of the "Ghost" label......though the headstock stamped serial number still reveals it age.

Otherwise its got no real problems.
I really like the neck profile and the neck pickup is sensational.......

It seems like the one....and the damaged label would tell no tales!

z