Pickups for model DE-400

[Jeremy Raines]

I just took delivery of a Guild model DE-400, serial number 24411. It sounds fantastic and produces the distinctive, deep throated twang that was Duane Eddy's hallmark style. I'd like to know more about the reasons why this guitar sounds the way it does. It is not in mint condition but in good enough condition so that I suspect all parts are original. For example, the tuners have the same distinctive knobs shown on the banner of this forum. They say "Grover" on the back. Mostly, I'm curious about the pickups. What can you tell me about them, assuming they are the originals for this serial number?

 

[jp]

What kind of pickups are they? The serial number would date it to a 1963, so I'm guessing Guild white-topped Dearmonds? Can you post a pic? That's around the time when Guild transitioned to the mini-humbuckers, but most '63s I've seen have the Dearmonds.

 

[hansmoust]

Hello Jeremy,

Welcome! That particular guitar was built around the time that the switch from DeArmond model 2000 pickups to the Guild small humbuckers took place, so it could have had either style depending on when exactly the guitar was completed in 'final assembly'.
Having said that, I should add that the last time I saw your DE-400 with serial # 24411, it had lost some of its original hardware and pickups. The pickups that were on it were Guild HB-1 pickups, which were introduced during the early '70s and consequently must have been installed after the guitar left the factory during the first half of the '60s.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Jeremy Raines]

I will try to post a photo next time my sister visits, since she has the camera gear. Meanwhile, here is a description. They are gold plated and measure about 2.75 by 1.25 inches. They are either sitting on or surrounded by a black plastic substrate. There is no identifying words on them.

 

[Jeremy Raines]

Hello Jeremy,

Welcome! That particular guitar was built around the time that the switch from DeArmond model 2000 pickups to the Guild small humbuckers took place, so it could have had either style depending on when exactly the guitar was completed in 'final assembly'.
Having said that, I should add that the last time I saw your DE-400 with serial # 24411, it had lost some of its original hardware and pickups. The pickups that were on it were Guild HB-1 pickups, which were introduced during the early '70s and consequently must have been installed after the guitar left the factory during the first half of the '60s.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

Wow! Thanks for the prompt reply, Hans. It's fascinating that you are acquainted with this particular serial number. I would love to know more of its history. I found it reposing in a "Music & Loan" shop in Denver, which sounds as though it may be a pawn shop. In any case, it seems to be in remarkably good shape for its age and it sounds great. From the general wear and tear, it seems to have enjoyed a productive life in a band or on stage. Can you tell me more about it, please? How many different owners? Any celebrity owners?

 

[Harp Tail]

1963 Guild Duane Eddy DE-400 - Blonde W/ Original Hard Case | Reverb

This is an awesome 1963 Guild hollow body. It plays well and the neck is straight. Comes with original the hard case. (case not in the best condition) The guitar has also picked up some dings, dents & buckle rash along the way, and it does have a bit of a delamination issue on the headstock t...

reverb.com

Hey Jeremy - is this the guitar you purchased? Welcome to LTG! I'd say it's a nice score and remarkable entry into Guild-dom.

 

[chazmo]

Welcome aboard, Jeremy! Very cool to get your hands on an early '60s Duane Eddy. Congrats.

Welcome to LTG, and keep sharing the details of your axe with us. Best wishes.

 

[Harp Tail]

The tuners are Grover Imperials, which I'm not sure were ever original equipment on DE-400s

 

[GAD]

1963 Guild Duane Eddy DE-400 - Blonde W/ Original Hard Case | Reverb

This is an awesome 1963 Guild hollow body. It plays well and the neck is straight. Comes with original the hard case. (case not in the best condition) The guitar has also picked up some dings, dents & buckle rash along the way, and it does have a bit of a delamination issue on the headstock t...

reverb.com

Hey Jeremy - is this the guitar you purchased? Welcome to LTG! I'd say it's a nice score and remarkable entry into Guild-dom.

If that's the guitar I'd say Hans nailed it, which shouldn't be much of a surprise.

 

[GAD]

Wow! Thanks for the prompt reply, Hans. It's fascinating that you are acquainted with this particular serial number. I would love to know more of its history. I found it reposing in a "Music & Loan" shop in Denver, which sounds as though it may be a pawn shop. In any case, it seems to be in remarkably good shape for its age and it sounds great. From the general wear and tear, it seems to have enjoyed a productive life in a band or on stage. Can you tell me more about it, please? How many different owners? Any celebrity owners?

Hans literally wrote the book on Guild Guitars and he has a comprehensive database of most models. It's pretty awesome.

 

[Jeremy Raines]

If that's the guitar I'd say Hans nailed it, which shouldn't be much of a surprise.

That's the one!

 

[Harp Tail]

That's the one!

I hadn't noticed it's not your first Guild but it's certainly a significant addition to your collection

 

[Jeremy Raines]

Thanks to all for your inputs to date. I am still bonding with this DE-400, and there have been no unpleasant surprises so far, even if all the hardware is not original. Cosmetically, from a reasonable distance it looks just fine, with the same blonde finish that Eddy posed with on his album covers. If you look up close, you can find a couple of small scratches that I'm sure can be erased with a marker from Stew Mac. That's not high on the list, however. I am very pleased to report that the action is low and smooth, and that the tuners are very effective. The strings hold their tune quite well. Most important is the deep throated twangy sound that was Duane Eddy in the early 60s. If you had not told me the pickups are not originals, I never would have guessed. I wonder why they were ever replaced? When I play it, I add a little delay, which was the style back then, and the sound just blows me away. Apparently, this axe has aged well. More later...

Anyone know what gage strings Eddy used?

Long ago, I acquired a Guild Manhattan X-175B. It was a reissue, not an original. So far, I much prefer the sound and the tuning stability of the vintage DE-400.

 

[chazmo]

Outstanding, Jeremy! Best of luck with the new addition.

 

[Harp Tail]

Long ago, I acquired a Guild Manhattan X-175B. It was a reissue, not an original. So far, I much prefer the sound and the tuning stability of the vintage DE-400.

No personal experience with either model, but I'd say it's almost like comparing rayon to silk

 

[Jeremy Raines]

Outstanding, Jeremy! Best of luck with the new addition.

Your collection is impressive, indeed, Chazmo. Another favorite rocker of mine is Charlie Gracie, who passed less than a year ago. He is perhaps best known for "Butterfly" from 1956, but he recorded other catchy tunes. He deserves mention here because he apparently played a circa 1950s Guild Stratford, complete with the six pushbuttons. In all the videos I've seen, he's playing that same Stratford. Guild has reissued the Stratford but without the pushbuttons, which is unfortunate, in my opinion. I'd be afraid to buy an original because of all the vulnerable wiring in those pushbuttons. I hope some of you are still enjoying that classic axe.

 

[GGJaguar]

Welcome to LTG! Really looking forward to seeing some photos of your guitar when they become available. We don't see too many DE-400s here.

 

[Jeremy Raines]

Welcome to LTG! Really looking forward to seeing some photos of your guitar when they become available. We don't see too many DE-400s here.

Thanks! As a Duane Eddy fan since my teenage years, I've been on the lookout for a blonde DE-400 for many years if not decades. They have been very difficult to find until just lately, at least for me. Previously, the ones I saw advertised were badly damaged, the wrong color, or unreasonably expensive. As a result, the one I wanted was simply not available. I can't explain why a crop of them have suddenly appeared. My best guess is that the original owners have passed, and the heirs did not share their enthusiasm for Duane Eddy and his generation of music. So they are more than willing to part with the axes. Perhaps some of you have a better explanation.

 

[Harp Tail]

Don't neglect the DeArmond T-400 should you ever come across one (in a pawn shop...).

It's almost like the poor man's Duane Eddy and it's equipped with DeArmond pickups.

 

[GAD]

Your collection is impressive, indeed, Chazmo. Another favorite rocker of mine is Charlie Gracie, who passed less than a year ago. He is perhaps best known for "Butterfly" from 1956, but he recorded other catchy tunes. He deserves mention here because he apparently played a circa 1950s Guild Stratford, complete with the six pushbuttons. In all the videos I've seen, he's playing that same Stratford. Guild has reissued the Stratford but without the pushbuttons, which is unfortunate, in my opinion. I'd be afraid to buy an original because of all the vulnerable wiring in those pushbuttons. I hope some of you are still enjoying that classic axe.

I can’t speak to the wiring, but the pushbuttons are a single mechanism and are surprisingly robust. I’ve got one somewhere if you’d like to see a pic.