Difference in tone between pickups on a T-100 SP?

[AfterDarkMusic]

Hey guys. I've been interested in a T-100 for a couple months now. I'm curious about the sound of the different pickups they came with. How do they compare to one another and do any of them sound like anything that's available today?

Thanks a lot

 

[matsickma]

Franz pickups are Full and bright. Can have strong bottom end and bright upper end. With strings close to the brdge pickup they can have a great sounding growl in the tone.

The white Mickey Mouse (MM) pickups are bright. With the strings close to the pickups the non adjustable alinco magnet pole pieces are strong enough to pull off the tuning. If you get them adjusted right they can growl a bit.

The mini chrome soapbar (SB) pickups are full sounding with less brightness than the Franz or MM. These are a little different and sound a bit like a P90 with less bite.

If you could blend the MM with the SB the combined tone would sound very Franz like.

I often think of adding a MM to the "middle position" of a old Polara I have with CS pickups. I think the blended combination would sound pretty good.

Tone is subjective but that is how I would describe the pickup assortment. Inerestingly all three of these pickups were not widely used so from todays pickup standards you may find the tone pleasently unique.

M

 

[jp]

My only true experience is with the Franz pickups on the T-100s. I've never had a Guild with the Micky Mouse pickups, the white-Dearmonds, or the larger silver single coils--only fooled with a few MM-PU equipped T-100s in music stores a few times.

Ditto what matsickma said about the Franz PUs. They can be very bright and punchy, but you can still roll off a little volume and highs and get a smooth full jazz tone. I've read on the net, however, that there can be inconsistencies between them, i.e. how strong they are. I don't know how much they're supposed to pull on a meter, and I haven't been able to A/B the ones on my old and new T-100 yet.

 

[Default]

FWIW, I used to have a T-100D with the Mickey Mouse pups back in the day. I remember them as being very bright, too bright for my tastes at the time. Jeff Haddad has a '59 T-100 up for sale. I don't know if he's put it on ebay yet, but I was taking a long hard look at it. If I had a passable acoustic, I definitely would have bought it. Don't get me wrong, I love my D-40 and I'm glad I bought it, but Jeff's guitar will be "the one that got away".

<slobber>

 

[AfterDarkMusic]

And a bigsby. Wow. Killer guitar.

It sounds like the Franz pickups are the way to go for versatility, especially since I'd be looking at a single pickup model.

 

[guildzilla]

Just my two cents here. I agree that the MM pickups are a tad bright for many tastes, including mine. It could be that the laminated maple archtops make them even brighter than otherwise. Also agree that the Franz pickups have a wonderful vintage tone, as described above.

But I really like the chrome single coil soapbar pickups and consider them to be an excellent option on the 60's Guild T-100, X-50, T-50, etc, especially on a guitar with a single neck position pickup. Personally, I like their tone as much as the Franz pickups. Sweet, clear and warm. I also like the fact that they have adjustable pole screws (unlike the MM's) and can be adjusted for height with the pickup ring screws as well (unlike the Franz's).

BTW, both the MM pickups and the chrome soap bar pickups are frequently (mis)identified as made by DeArmond.

Can anyone clear this up and identify the company that made these two types of pickups for Guild?

 

[jp]

BTW, both the MM pickups and the chrome soap bar pickups are frequently (mis)identified as made by DeArmond. Can anyone clear this up and identify the company that made these two types of pickups for Guild?

The "silver soap bar-type" are Hagstrom Adjustomatics. They came with white plastic top covers or chrome. Can't tell you about the Mickey Mouses. Anyone?

 

[guildzilla]

Thanks, JP.

While we're on the subject of 60's pickups, are the cream colored soapbars on the early M-75's (the ones that are recessed into the body of the guitar) simply another type of Franz pickup? They appear to have the same color to the covers, and Guild seemed to use them at the same time period as the Franz style discussed above.

 

[cawfeereglah]

I'm with those that prefer the Franz pickup. I fell in love with Guild guitars because of my sunburst with the soap bar pick up, but it stays in the case most of the time. I love the vintage sound of the Franz. It's not as "hot" and has a little less bite -- you know, like just because the salsa is really hot that doesn't make it taste great. I would say Franz is the green chili of pickups.

 

[jp]

Hey zilla,
I've always heard them also referred to as Franz PUs. I've never had the luck or luxury of being able to compare. I tried to deduce by comparing Don's pics in this thread. . .
http://www.letstalkguild.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7619&start=15
to the nudies I posted in this thread. . .
http://www.letstalkguild.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=8169.

Still can't tell for sure. :?

 

[Jeff Haddad]

Thanks for the plug! My T100D is still available.

http://pages.prodigy.net/bluesman1/_wsn/page4.html

 

[Default]

Ain't no thang,
On the mickey mouse pup, I seem to remember someone stating that they were made in the Guild factory itself. I don't remember where though, so I wouldn't bet the farm on it...

 

[danerectal]

ADM, is this what you're eying? Are you near Tucson?

1958 T-100

 

[AfterDarkMusic]

ADM, is this what you're eying? Are you near Tucson?

1958 T-100

Thats a great looking instrument. Unfortunately, no. I'm in Toledo Ohio at this point in my life.

 

[Guildmark]

ADM, is this what you're eying? Are you near Tucson?

1958 T-100

Not sure the one in this add is the one they're eyeing, either. They describe a harp tailpiece that isn't on this guitar. :?

 

[AfterDarkMusic]

ADM, is this what you're eying? Are you near Tucson?

1958 T-100

Not sure the one in this add is the one they're eyeing, either. They describe a harp tailpiece that isn't on this guitar. :?

I wondered about that a little bit myself but they did say something like 'early guild logo and early harp tailpiece' so I don't know if they just think that its an earlier version of the 'harp tailpiece' or if they really do have the wrong description. *shrug*

 

[danerectal]

I wondered about that a little bit myself but they did say something like 'early guild logo and early harp tailpiece' so I don't know if they just think that its an earlier version of the 'harp tailpiece' or if they really do have the wrong description. *shrug*

See page 60 of "The Guild Guitar Book" by Hans Moust.