Let's talk about S-250's & S-25's

The Guilds of Grot

The Guilds of Grot

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So somebody on the "Guild Guitars Owners and Fans" facebook page has posted a photo of his 1981 S-250.

152527925_10158983937749868_6328031863735678063_o.jpg


Other then the TRC being up-side-down I had never seen a S-250 without binding. I would have thought it was a "four knob" S-25! (I have seen "two knob" and "three knob" S-25's so why not four?)

Have we here at LTG ever run across an S-250 without binding & with relief cuts?

Here is my S-250: (With binding & three knobs!)

S-250.jpg


Here is my S-25: (With two knobs)

S-25.jpg


(I used to have a three knob S-25 but I sold it when I got the one above.)

Now we know that Guild did bound and unbound on the M-80 so I guess it's not too far of stretch to see they also did it with the S-250.

M-80s.jpg


Thoughts?
 
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Rambozo96

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Perhaps a factory employee simply installed the wrong truss rod cover before shipping it out? I heard of Guild mislabeling models before but I seem to recall this was during the very end of the Westerly era. I believe the models in question were long since discontinued by then?
 
AcornHouse

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Kurt, could your bound 3-knob S-250 really be an S-275? Those are its characteristics.
 
The Guilds of Grot

The Guilds of Grot

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AcornHouse said:
Kurt, could your bound 3-knob S-250 really be an S-275? Those are its characteristics.
Click to expand...

Well unless you're going with Rambozo's theory of incorrect TRC (which really doesn't hold up based on the add Ralf posted), I would think it's an S-250. If I remember correctly (which has been a challenge lately), the S-250 is with "Chrome" and the S-275 is with Gold.
 
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adorshki

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Rambozo96 said:
Perhaps a factory employee simply installed the wrong truss rod cover before shipping it out? I heard of Guild mislabeling models before but I seem to recall this was during the very end of the Westerly era. I believe the models in question were long since discontinued by then?
Click to expand...
Possibly you were thinking of the fact that the s/n records stop at '97?
I think the most examples of label errors I've seen were actually from mid-late '80's when there were so many model number changes/introductions, especially on flattops. It's been suggested it was due at least in part by turmoil of 2 ownership changes within a short period.

The S275/250/25 all came out during that time, and yes gone by late Westerly.
 
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mushroom

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I've always liked these - the three knob one with binding looks great.
Has anyone ever seen one with neck binding? That would get my heart rate up!
 
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beinhard

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The Guilds of Grot said:
Well unless you're going with Rambozo's theory of incorrect TRC (which really doesn't hold up based on the add Ralf posted), I would think it's an S-250. If I remember correctly (which has been a challenge lately), the S-250 is with "Chrome" and the S-275 is with Gold.
Click to expand...

Here is another bound 3-knob S-250 (that I once owned):

DSC_0152.JPG


beinhard
 
AcornHouse

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mushroom said:
I've always liked these - the three knob one with binding looks great.
Has anyone ever seen one with neck binding? That would get my heart rate up!
Click to expand...
The S-275 was the most premium of these, AFAIK; and it‘s neck was unbound, but it did have an ebony board. At least mine does.

88B3A947-B844-4CF2-851A-504BF02C75CB.jpeg
 
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lungimsam

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I like the looks of the unbound one better. Bet it is more comfortable against the 4arm, too.
 
hearth_man

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I agree. I prefer the unbound contoured solid body guitars like the S100 and S300 series. I also have an early 1981 M80 (not M80-CE from the 70s) that was contoured. Much more comfortable. I have never been much for Les Paul body styles.
 
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matsickma

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I definitely like the unbound S250 shape and I also perfer the 4-knobs over 3. For looks the bound models look cool and the 3 knobs add to that look but as a player the contoured unbound S-250 and M80 are the way to go.
M
 
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