S-100 ergonomics question

lungimsam

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While standing with the axe strapped on, does the belly cutout cause the guitar face to rock upward (top tilts back and you can see fretboard) or does the body sit straight like a flat back Gibson SG and not rock back? Thanks for the info.
 

fronobulax

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While standing with the axe strapped on, does the belly cutout cause the guitar face to rock upward (top tilts back and you can see fretboard) or does the body sit straight like a flat back Gibson SG and not rock back? Thanks for the info.

No experience with a Gibson but I am willing to extrapolate from a JS...

I notice a slight tilt but that is not significantly different from any of my electrics. All of them have some tilt but not all of them have cutouts. I believe the tilt has more to do with my paunch than it does the body style. I can vary the tilt slightly by changing the angle of the neck to my body. As I push the neck forward from zero degrees to forty five the tilt gets smaller. That makes sense since part of the body is on my hip and no longer on my belly. As a veer the 45 angle makes a lot of ergonomic sense for me when sitting down because there is less work for my elbow and shoulder when moving on the neck.

@The Guilds of Grot might have some relevant comments because he has Pilots with and without the belly cutout and personal experience with and without a belly.
 

Boneman

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Hi Lung, I am not sure the body cutout has any effect. It‘s not any more or less pronounced than say a Stratocaster. I have an NS S100 which had the strap button place on the upper horn. I kept that there and put the original back on the heel of the neck. When strapped and standing, if I use the horn button, it sits perfectly upright, great playing position. When I use the neck heel button, the guitar leans away from my body, showing me more of the back of the neck. Not ideal so I will probably remove that and just go with the horn button ala an SG.

Are you considering buying one?
 

lungimsam

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I eventually want to get a JS bass and S-100 guitar. So if the neck heel button makes the top tilt forward so you see the back of the neck more then that is what I am looking for and the belly cut doesn’t sound like it causes the top to tilt back like a Strat does.

@frono:
So compared to the Starfires does the top edge of the JS tilt back more? Or pretty much the same angle. This is all standing, of course.
 

fronobulax

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@frono:
So compared to the Starfires does the top edge of the JS tilt back more? Or pretty much the same angle. This is all standing, of course.

Same angle. Stock locations for strap buttons. As I say this I recall that my strap is hefty enough that even if there were a tilt the strap may counter it. Only list of things I will try and remember to check out and verity.
 

Groundwire

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So, after reading your question, I had to go put on my S-100 to check. I ended up playing it for the last 45 min. What a great guitar.

No issues with the balance or tilting the face of the guitar upward. Of course this does have some to do with your own body ergonomics, but I’d say the S-100 balances great and sits at an excellent playing angle.
 

mavuser

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A JS bass is much easier to play standing up than a Starfire, that is not even a question. It is one of the easiest basses out there to play.

The slight contours on the back of a Guild 70s JS/S-100, and even the 60s S-50/S-100 etc, are not nearly as agressive as Fender's, and should not cause any unwanted movement. The Fender Mustangs with those contours definitely pop up and down on me- I know exactly what you're talking about. I love the Mustangs but only the ones that pre-date that contour (and then became the Musicmaster). You won't be dissapointed with a JS bass or an S-100.
 
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