Sold 1965 S50 Alder Bod Lightweight Special w/Tremar

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I thought I had my mind made up exactly what I wanted in a Jet Star (Cherry, 3+3 headstock). This is very tempting....
 

HeyMikey

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This one is so nice, it’s hard to stop coming here to look at it. What a nice change from the same old same old.
For anyone playing in a band and/or playing electric to record this would be cool one to have.
 

D30Man

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Yeah that is super cool. Something about a single p90... I love the burst and the headstock on those..
 

D30Man

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Yeah that is super cool. Something about a single p90... I love the burst and the headstock on those..
Right??? Please lord do not do that. That thing is perfect just the way it is. If I wasn't post COVID po I would be all over that!!!!
 

lungimsam

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I’m curious what this thing sounds like (not the ones online, but this one).
 

Guildedagain

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It sounds amazing to me, HUGE. The p'up has a lot of B*ALLS, for lack of a better word. I don't play it often, but when I do the cats run and the neighbors dogs go into hiding ;]

I keep meaning to measure the DC resistance on the p'up, it must be quite hot, or maybe it's just the resonant peak - Henries - but it has a lot of authority through a decent amp, like my old Ampeg 1x12 combo, very loud. The last 2 numbers on the guitar's volume dial are whoppers.

Clean it sounds fabulous, would make a fantastic recording guitar for laying down clean = clearly audible rhythm tracks.

With dirt, it will not cop any kind of EVH tone, the p'up placement is too far north, but it will do is cop that rare warm bluesy old time Blues sound. raspy warmth, a tone that's actually a lot harder to find on the typical Gibson/Fender guitars than you would think.

It has the tuning stability of a fixed bridge guitar, but the beautiful Hagstrom Tremar gives it the ability to quaver chords.

The fit, finish, burst, quality of hardware is on the par with anyone from that era, quite possibly superior actually.

The unsung hero of the vintage guitar world, a whole lot of vintage goodness for a fraction of the price of a Gibson, I would describe it as three times the guitar for a third of the money.

With original from day one upsell hardcase, a deluxe Ace strap that was quite possibly bought new with the guitar, the hang tag, case keys, overall very clean with wonderfully naturally relic-ed condition, a very solid value as a collectible. With the "Special" designation, it is instantly in the top offerings for this model to be seen, and will remain so. The case/guitar smell wonderfully neutral, no mildew odor no toxic "new age" Febreze/drier sheet odor "remedy" that's unbearable to me.

100% original, never tinkered with, never a pickguard screw turned or a knob pulled, which would border on the unheard of in the Gibson/Fender world.

Also light, easy on your back. The Alder body is lighter and more musical than the Cherry Mahogany counterpart I had, a little less "SG-ish" and more like its own thing altogether.

The odd body shape and reverse headstock make it more unique than any Gibson/Fender product from the 60's, also to note the scooped bottom makes it more stable leaning against an amp than any of the previously mentioned "big brands".

Guild innovation and quality at this time is still something to fully realize to this day.

Belongs in a collection, or in a live/studio setting where unreal expectations aren't put on it. It's a one pickup guitar, and it's great for someone who can just play, rather than needing to twiddle knobs and switches for a radically different tone every for bars of playing.

Clean into an amp is where the guitar shines. The volume knob can really work some magic, as well as the tone knob feels like a second volume, the treble cut tames it. Without unreal expectations, it is actually quite versatile and also feels like playing a nearly new guitar from nearly 50 years ago.

It's a time machine.
 
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Guildedagain

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Sadly or not sadly, after doing inventory yesterday and fooling around with the S-50, I may be real close to pulling the plug on the listing.

It was strung with 10-46 strings, and while it had a very solid chording tone, string bending - at minimum string height needed for big bends - wasn't up to par for me, so I decided to restring it with 9-42 Cryo-Boomers, which I knew would be a slippery slope to keeping it.

The change was amazing, easy whole tone bends on the high E, amazing playability rivaling or surpassing my 335 Dot.

Today I raised up the B/E pole pieces from the factory settings, getting a little louder B/E response with better sustain.

I found the guitar to be highly inspirational as soon as I put the lighter strings on, had some chordal epiphanies, as well as a couple lead guitar epiphanies.

The guitar actually has better distorted tone than I remembered, recorded rhythm guitar tracks cut right through. One way to control excessive woofiness is to turn the volume down a hair.

I may have to reconsider my guitar priorities and keep this unusual and lightweight gem with a really wonderful neck.

The neck wood looks strangely like Alder, same as the body. Could it be Alder with Rosewood board?
 

Guildedagain

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I’m curious what this thing sounds like (not the ones online, but this one).

Acoustically, rings like a bell, feather light, dreamy fingerboard/access, it's got it all. Plugged into a Tweed Champ wide open, this one's got a million tones in it, it will Jazz, it will Rock/Grunge, from beautiful cleans to great natural overdrive at the roll of the volume/tone knobs.

It's got me writing new - and actually good - material in ages, Reverb ad is pulled, it looks like a keeper.
 
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