M80 vs S100 from the 70s

Hellz Kitchen

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I have a Guild S90 from 73/74 that is awesome and love the wood feel of the neck and all around rock machine that it is. Just discovered the M80 and thinking that a 70s one would be getting into that les paul territory since it is semi hollow to my understanding. Thoughts on the M80s guitars from the 70s and if they are worth it?
 

The Guilds of Grot

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I don't believe any of the M80 series were semi-hollow. I'm pretty sure they were all solid.

Here's my three:

M-80s.jpg
 

S100

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They seem to be on the heavier side, so that’s something to keep in mind.
 

drc

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steal of a deal, but they definitely don't feel or play like a Les Paul. Heavy with skinny necks has been my experience.

Should check out the 2001 Bluesbird I'm selling, just saying...
 

AcornHouse

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I think the M75s should be a better equivilant than the M80. Hollwbody in the 50s under the Aristocrat name, then as the early Bluesbirds. The later Bluesbirds were also chambered, and LP-ish.
 
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GAD

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All spot-on. From the '70s, it's the M75 you're after: http://www.gad.net/Blog/2016/10/31/guild-1974-bluesbird-m75/

Guild-1974-M75-Bluesbird-TopFull.jpg


No maple cap, so it doesn't quite sound like a Les Paul. If you want that I'd recommend a '90s Bluesbird: http://www.gad.net/Blog/2016/07/17/1997-guild-bluesbird-guitar/

Guild-97-Bluesbird-Full.jpg


Still not quite a Les Paul because it's chambered and looks a bit different, but closer than the M75 IMO.



Just get a Nightbird: http://www.gad.net/Blog/2017/10/23/gads-guide-to-guild-nightbirds/ :encouragement:

GuildNightbirdGGFull.jpg
 
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Quantum Strummer

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If you're more a Les Paul person then a solid/chambered Bluesbird or a Nightbird might float your boat. If, like me, an SG is more your thing then a '70s/90s S-100 is like an SG variant Gibson never made…with better quality control and far better price/performance ratio too.

-Dave-
 

Harpymorgan

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Go for a 70s M80 with HB1s. If you can deal with the weight it's one of the finest guitars you'll ever lay your hands on.

Here us mine being put through it's paces by a mate a few weeks ago (and he hadn't even seen it before we played this.)


https://youtu.be/Sy2WMnO9KEs
 
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