It sure is interesting, having several DAs lying about. The M-72 and S-73 promised to be similar. My assumption was I'd mod the plainer S-73, add a Bigsby and HB sized single coils, to push it surfward. While the beautiful and sweet toned M-72 (chambered mahogany body with thin maple cap and Goldtone HBs) would stay stock. It's not turning out that way. The M-72 does sound sweet. With new pots and caps, even better. The surprise is that the S-73, same pickups, but a simple mahogany plank much like the old Guild S100, has something the other doesn't. Stock everything, bridge tone pot non-functional. Doesn't matter. It sounds like an acoustic unplugged, sort of thin but bright and loud. Plugged in, the bass is perfect, the balance bass to treble is perfect. A propensity to wail when you dig in, cleans up when you back off. Ever play a guitar that has it? This one has it. So the plain jane S-73 goes untouched. The M-72 will get the B5 Bigsby (using a Vibramate, no holes) and Z-90s. For the sake of tone science.
Comparing the Dearmonds, M-72, S-73
- Thread starter mad dog
- Start date
coastie99
Enlightened Member
Dog, that's of considerable interest to me.
I bought an M-72 with the express intention of swapping-out the p/u's for H/B sized P90's. But then I found that I really liked the Goldtones in the DA, especially the neck p/u.
So, I thought that I'd get an S-73 and perform the switch. At the moment, any plans of buying a guitar, or most anything ex the USA, are well and truly up the pictures, with our dollar currently buying around US $0.50 !!
Hopefully, there'll be a reasonable recovery sometime soon !
Could be though, that I'll end up with two DA's and want to convert neither of them !!
What a tragedy that would be !
I bought an M-72 with the express intention of swapping-out the p/u's for H/B sized P90's. But then I found that I really liked the Goldtones in the DA, especially the neck p/u.
So, I thought that I'd get an S-73 and perform the switch. At the moment, any plans of buying a guitar, or most anything ex the USA, are well and truly up the pictures, with our dollar currently buying around US $0.50 !!
Hopefully, there'll be a reasonable recovery sometime soon !
Could be though, that I'll end up with two DA's and want to convert neither of them !!
What a tragedy that would be !
Coastie:
Those Goldtones are sweet as hell. Before I swap them out of the M-72, I'll try to exactly replicate pickup heights from the S-73. Perhaps the S-73 is perfectly set up that way while the other is not. It could just be my ears prefer those pickups in that simple mahogany plank body style, vs.the chambered mahogany, maple cap of the M-72. I'm finding there are some tradeoffs to chambered solid bodies. Maybe that is what I'm reacting to.
Guitars are such a crap shoot. You might get the same two guitars in your hands, and decide the M-72 has the better sound with those Goldtones. I'll report back when I get the Bigsby on, Z90s in on the M-72.
MD
Those Goldtones are sweet as hell. Before I swap them out of the M-72, I'll try to exactly replicate pickup heights from the S-73. Perhaps the S-73 is perfectly set up that way while the other is not. It could just be my ears prefer those pickups in that simple mahogany plank body style, vs.the chambered mahogany, maple cap of the M-72. I'm finding there are some tradeoffs to chambered solid bodies. Maybe that is what I'm reacting to.
Guitars are such a crap shoot. You might get the same two guitars in your hands, and decide the M-72 has the better sound with those Goldtones. I'll report back when I get the Bigsby on, Z90s in on the M-72.
MD
danerectal
Senior Member
mad dog said:
You may want to take a multitester after those pickups before you rely solely on the pickup height. If their resistance varies, they may never sound quite the same. Of course, the height adjusting is a good way to figure that out. I too am interested in what you find.
Dane: Can I test p/us in the guitar, or do I have to take them out? I do have a multitester, but am otherwise clueless. Thanks.
MD
MD
danerectal
Senior Member
I think you can test them in, but I've never done it. It's worth a shot.