Thinking of Getting a M-75 Aristocrat Patriarch

[Rich Cohen]

Interesting that all three of the NH Custom Shop AP models have a 1-5/8 nut width. Too narrow for me.

The Guild website says the M-75 AP Aristocrat's neck is 1.7" which is equal to 1 11/16ths, not 1 5/8ths.

 

[HeyMikey]

The Guild website says the M-75 AP Aristocrat's neck is 1.7" which is equal to 1 11/16ths, not 1 5/8ths.

Hmmm. Yet another Guild spec discrepancy. I got that info from an old post Ralf made in 2013, which lists the specs for all three of the AP models. It says Nut Width: 1.627" (41.32 mm), which is essentially 1-5/8. Another example of why it is wise to always ask the seller to take an actual measurement.

NAMM 2013: New Custom Shop American Patriarch™ Series

NAMM 2013: New Custom Shop American Patriarch™ Series In celebration of Guild’s 60th Anniversary, the iconic American company has officially opened the GUILD® CUSTOM SHOP in New Hartford, Connecticut. The GUILD® CUSTOM SHOP in New Hartford not only introduced a whole new series of acoustic...

letstalkguild.com

 

[Rich Cohen]

Hmmm. Yet another Guild spec discrepancy. I got that info from an old post Ralf made in 2013, which lists the specs for all three of the AP models. It says Nut Width: 1.627" (41.32 mm), which is essentially 1-5/8. Another example of why it is wise to always ask the seller to take an actual measurement.

NAMM 2013: New Custom Shop American Patriarch™ Series

NAMM 2013: New Custom Shop American Patriarch™ Series In celebration of Guild’s 60th Anniversary, the iconic American company has officially opened the GUILD® CUSTOM SHOP in New Hartford, Connecticut. The GUILD® CUSTOM SHOP in New Hartford not only introduced a whole new series of acoustic...

letstalkguild.com

I will do that!

 

[swiveltung]

I notice that has a rosewood board. My '69 had an ebony board. Did the 50's ones have the rosewood like that reissue? or what's the story on rosewood vs ebony on these models?

 

[Rich Cohen]

Hmmm. Yet another Guild spec discrepancy. I got that info from an old post Ralf made in 2013, which lists the specs for all three of the AP models. It says Nut Width: 1.627" (41.32 mm), which is essentially 1-5/8. Another example of why it is wise to always ask the seller to take an actual measurement.

NAMM 2013: New Custom Shop American Patriarch™ Series

NAMM 2013: New Custom Shop American Patriarch™ Series In celebration of Guild’s 60th Anniversary, the iconic American company has officially opened the GUILD® CUSTOM SHOP in New Hartford, Connecticut. The GUILD® CUSTOM SHOP in New Hartford not only introduced a whole new series of acoustic...

letstalkguild.com

I did ask and he reported back 1.7”.

 

[SFIV1967]

Did the 50's ones have the rosewood like that reissue? or what's the story on rosewood vs ebony on these models?

Yes, the 50's Aristocrat all had braz rosewood fingerboards as shown in the 1954 T&D catalog:



The 1970 catalog showed the M-75G (gold hardware) with ebony fretboard and the M-75C (chrome hardware) with rosewood fretboard. Before the June 1969 price list only showed one M-75 (with rosewood fretboard) but the November 1969 pricelist showed both new versions, so the change happened during second half 1969 as it looks. (EDIT: Maybe not yet, see next two posts).

Ralf

 

[BradHK]

Yes, the 50's Aristocrat all had braz rosewood fingerboards as shown in the 1954 T&D catalog:



The 1970 catalog showed the M-75G (gold hardware) with ebony fretboard and the M-75C (chrome hardware) with rosewood fretboard. Before the June 1969 price list only showed one M-75 (with rosewood fretboard) but the November 1969 pricelist showed both new versions, so the change happened during second half 1969 as it looks.

Ralf

I have two 1970 M75 hollow Bluesbirds with gold hardware and rosewood fretboards. One is a later 1970 build after they made the serial number format change back to only numbers.

 

[SFIV1967]

I have two 1970 M75 hollow Bluesbirds with gold hardware and rosewood fretboards. One is a later 1970 build after they made the serial number format change back to only numbers.

Interesting! So maybe the change to an ebony fretboard on the Gold one only happened during later 1970. I would have to search for more pictures of 1969 and 1970 BluesBirds.

Nov 1, 1969 pricelist:


The 1970 brochure (but no exact date on it):



Ralf

 

[swiveltung]

Yes, the 50's Aristocrat all had braz rosewood fingerboards as shown in the 1954 T&D catalog:



The 1970 catalog showed the M-75G (gold hardware) with ebony fretboard and the M-75C (chrome hardware) with rosewood fretboard. Before the June 1969 price list only showed one M-75 (with rosewood fretboard) but the November 1969 pricelist showed both new versions, so the change happened during second half 1969 as it looks. (EDIT: Maybe not yet, see next two posts).

Ralf

Nice info. This helps me finally sort that out. My '69 Black with gold hardware M-75 'Bluesbird' had the fine ebony fretboard I mentioned earlier. That's why I wondered.
What were the "new Guild Anti Hum" pickups these had, in today's terminology?

 

[SFIV1967]

What were the "new Guild Anti Hum" pickups these had, in today's terminology?

HB-1 ! Until that they only had the mini-humbuckers (left). The right one is a rosewood board version as it looks with chrome hardware.



Ralf

 

[swiveltung]

HB-1 ! Until that they only had the mini-humbuckers (left). The right one is a rosewood board version as it looks with chrome hardware.



Ralf

Thanks!
Mine had the two height screws on the one end of the pickup so I guess it had the HB-1. Although by memory those look big.

 

[Prince of Darkness]

HB-1 ! Until that they only had the mini-humbuckers (left). The right one is a rosewood board version as it looks with chrome hardware.



Ralf

Terminology can be a bit confusing. "Anti Hum" usually seems to refer to the mini humbucker, but "New Guild Ant Hum Pick-Ups" could only refer to the HB-1 in 1970

Mine had the two height screws on the one end of the pickup so I guess it had the HB-1. Although by memory those look big.

The HB-1 is big, slightly wider than the standard (Gibson) size.

 

[swiveltung]

Terminology can be a bit confusing. "Anti Hum" usually seems to refer to the mini humbucker, but "New Guild Ant Hum Pick-Ups" could only refer to the HB-1 in 1970

The HB-1 is big, slightly wider than the standard (Gibson) size.

I was just repeating the Guild wording in the old Guild ad shown in post #28.

Also,my 69 was bound front and back on the body. At some point they went to a milled body with the back/sides all one piece didn't they?