1958 M-65 3/4 Freshman Project Questions

[drmilktruck]

I picked up this M-65 ¾ Freshman Husk on Reverb. The seller claims it’s a 1957 from the serial number 6266. (It looks like it should be 1958?) It has already been stripped and primed. He also filled in a modified neck pickup rout. He decided he didn’t have enough time to finish the job. Neck is straight, frets are a bit worn, but will do for now. The seller got a little paint on the fretboard also so that will have to be sanded off. The binding will need to be scraped. A true hollow body, it weighs 3 lbs. 4 oz.!

My plan isn’t finalized yet. I'm leaning towards trying to recreate what the guitar would have been like in 1958, but with some deviations to improve it. Since it's been refinished, little value in vintage parts. Also since it's been primed, no thoughts of transparent finishes.

I’m thinking of going with a Reissue DeArmond Rhythm King pickup, so I don't need to cut into the top. Or a Dyna Sonic in the usual neck position. I own a few guitars with soap bar P-90s and Charlie Christian pickups, plus I didn't like the reissue Aristocrat pickups much, so I'm not thinking Franz pickups. Guild reissue pickguard. Volume and tone controls with Guild knobs. Output jack on the side. Floating bridge and Guild tail piece. Maybe gold, going for an Aristocrat vibe.

I joined LTG in 2014 when I bought an Aristocrat reissue, but haven’t been around much since.The M-75 has been one of my White Whale guitars for years after playing a beat up one in a guitar store on vacation. (Sadly I didn’t bring it home with me.) I didn’t bond with the reissue though, so I sold it on. I’ve owned Gretsch Ramblers in the past, which are similar to the Freshman. Lately I’ve been putting together and/or modifying guitars so see this as a fun project, a way to get a Faux Aristocrat at a more affordable price.

I usually hang out on Gretsch-Talk & Gretsch Pages as I have owned many of those guitars. There I’m known for my obsession with blue guitars, so this likely will be painted a shade of blue, possibly Pelham blue. Or maybe, to take a complete detour, Shell Pink.

Questions:

1) Any sources for Guild headstock stickers?

2) Would modern Aristocrat parts from the Guild website fit this guitar?

3) The space for the bridge under the strings is very short, where can I find a bridge that fits?

4) Opinions on the Rhythm King reissue? While it's meant to have pick guard mounted controls, can it be wired up the usual way? Other ideas for pickups?

5) Are there any past or present Guild models in blue - custom, FSR or production, et al. ?

Thanks for any help.

Jim Welters

 

[Default]

Hey Jim!
An Aristocrat bridge might be the best option, but they don't seem to carry them anymore. My suggestion would be to get a luthier to make you something low profile. I believe there are places you can get a new headstock plate made. The parts should fit fine, although the new ones are metric. You can buy higher quality pots and switches than Guild's offerings, though. I would probably go that route.
The new Rhythm Chief is supposed to be very close to the original DeA pickup, although I haven't had the pleasure.
Yes, there have been a few blue Guilds over the years, from the Eighties and newer. None before that I know of.

 

[drmilktruck]

Wanted to share the finished product. The tech I took it to didn't want to cut blindly into the neck pickup spot, so we decided to go with the DeArmond pickup. I also sprayed the original binding with.a touch of amber, giving it a bit of reliced look.

 

[geoguy]

Cool!

(btw, the truss rod cover is upside down)

 

[drmilktruck]

Cool!

(btw, the truss rod cover is upside down)

Thank you for that. I debated which way I wanted the letters to go, but didn't think of the TRC shape.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Thank you for that. I debated which way I wanted the letters to go, but didn't think of the TRC shape.

Well for a Guild, the lettering is also up-side-down.

 

[geoguy]

It should be oriented so that the adoring fans in your audience can easily read the text.