Hi guys, I wound up with a circa '70 M-75 hollow-body guitar

gilded

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Like it says, I wound up with a hollow-body M-75. It's got some issues though, and I hope that some of you boys and girls can help me figure out a good way to re-hab this here axe!

Particulars:
This guitar weighs six pounds! Thank you, Guild!
Sunburst maple body,
Neck fits the body at the 18th fret,

It has some purported Gibson patent number pickups although I am sure they are not the real deal as decals are not legit. For me, it indicates a new level of fooling the public, with goods that look vintage but aren't vintage.

Chesterfield head-stock decor,
Gold USA Grovers, Gibson tune-a-matic bridge-top on the appropriate bridge.
I think the Truss Rod may be upside down!!!

'Made in Germany' Engraved Tailpiece. From youth, I remember seeing the phrase, 'Made in West Germany' a lot and I wondered if this should apply to this tail-piece. Accordingly, I went to wikipedia and got schooled a bit on the difference between East and West Germany 'Branding' before an important Judicial Ruling in 1973!

Switch tip is missing. Egad!
Volume & Tone Knobs seem to be the correct ones,

I can see from looking at the pickup cutouts that 'some repair-guy some-where' has taken some of the wood away. I also don't know if astute observers such as my learned colleagues here at LTG can tell what type of Guild pickup was first installed in the Guitar and whether it would be practical to see if the original pickup version could be replaced.

Original case, if only because the body of the guitar is 17" and it fits the case like a glove in the lower shoulders.

Here are some pics. If any body has any thoughts about putting the appropriate Guild pickup back into it, or any other advice, lemme know.

gilded
 

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krysh

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Looks like it originally hat the little buckers and somebody enlarged the holes, so back to original wont work. Hardware might be original. My gues is early 1970 late 69. whats the serial no.?
 

gilded

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Looks like it originally hat the little buckers and somebody enlarged the holes, so back to original wont work. Hardware might be original. My gues is early 1970 late 69. whats the serial no.?
DD424
 

BradHK

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I agree from the photos it looks like it originally came with the small anti-hum pickups. It also looks like the neck pickup cutout in the pickguard has been enlarged to fit the larger pickups. Serial number puts it in the 1969-1970 range. I am sure somebody will come along and confirm exact year. If it was my guitar I would try to locate some original Guild HB-1 pickups but that might be very difficult in gold and expensive.
 

twocorgis

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Good score Harry! Not an expert on these, but the TRC is definitely upside down. And as Michael said, there probably isn't a way to reinstall mini humbuckers, but maybe HB-1s will fit? I'll wait for others more knowledgable to chime in, like @GAD.
 

GGJaguar

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Nice, congrats! It's still beautiful even with the Gibby pickups and bridge. I'll bet it sounds good as is.
 

gilded

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I agree from the photos it looks like it originally came with the small anti-hum pickups. It also looks like the neck pickup cutout in the pickguard has been enlarged to fit the larger pickups. Serial number puts it in the 1969-1970 range. I am sure somebody will come along and confirm exact year. If it was my guitar I would try to locate some original Guild HB-1 pickups but that might be very difficult in gold and expensive.
Brad, thanks for coming into the conversation/dialogue. I very much like the idea of finding a gold set of HB-1 pickups, though I agree with you about the price.

Somebody told me long ago that the HB-1 guitars were more versatile. 10 years ago, I had a 'nature boy' finished S100 with the big 'buckers. That was a good sound for me, too.
 

gilded

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Good score Harry! Not an expert on these, but the TRC is definitely upside down. And as Michael said, there probably isn't a way to reinstall mini humbuckers, but maybe HB-1s will fit? I'll wait for others more knowledgable to chime in, like @GAD.
Hey, Sand! Did I tell you I have a '93 MIJ fretless jazz? It's a hum-dinger!
 

gilded

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Nice, congrats! It's still beautiful even with the Gibby pickups and bridge. I'll bet it sounds good as is.
It actually sounds really good with the faux Gibsons! All my old guy buddies just smile away when they play this one!

Somebody played that guitar a lot and kept it clean and shiny. It just needs a bit of fixing; frets, harness, potentiometers, stuff like that.

I've found the best way to play it is to put my right shoulder across the guitar body and tilt the neck up at the same time.
 

gilded

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If I dont get hansed I‘d say early 1970. and you wont get my spare set of gold HB-1‘s 😎. Should be a great guitar with some work. I love my 1971.
Does it have a soundpost under the bridge?
I looked for a sound post but didn't see one. No label, either.
 

BradHK

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Brad, thanks for coming into the conversation/dialogue. I very much like the idea of finding a gold set of HB-1 pickups, though I agree with you about the price.

Somebody told me long ago that the HB-1 guitars were more versatile. 10 years ago, I had a 'nature boy' finished S100 with the big 'buckers. That was a good sound for me, too.
The HB-1’s would be amazing but I think any nice pickup would sound great in that guitar. Since it sounds good with the current pickups no reason to rush! I have a 1967 similar to yours but with the spruce top, mahogany sides and back and no binding on the back (Pic below). Fully hollow and as you said, really light. 5.4lbs!

Have you tried yours with a rosewood bridge? Nice and easy to just swap out with those bridge feet. I have bounced back and forth between the original rosewood and an ABR1. I have decided I like the woody warm sound of the rosewood better on my particular guitar. Enjoy that beautiful guitar!
1637786834675.jpeg
 

Norrissey

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Hello Gilded,
I'm curious why you think the Gibson pickups are fakes? A few months ago I purchased a '64 Guild (Starfire) that came with patent number pickups installed (and the original mini hums in the case). Sounds fantastic . The stickers on your pickups look pretty much the same as mine. How can you tell if they are genuine?
Very cool guitar BTW : )
 
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twocorgis

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Hey, Sand! Did I tell you I have a '93 MIJ fretless jazz? It's a hum-dinger!
Harry, I guess we haven't talked recently. I love my fretted MIJ Jazz bass, but I recently bought a shell pink G&L JB that I like even more! Talking about light weight, it has an empress wood body, and is only slightly over seven pounds. Very geezer friendly!

Here it is in action at our last gig, and it's a keeper!

255717140_4880014085376225_6791040258260881947_n.jpg
 

gilded

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Hello Gilded,
I'm curious why you think the Gibson pickups are fakes? A few months ago I purchased a '64 Guild (Starfire) that came with patent number pickups installed (and the original mini hums in the case). Sounds fantastic . The stickers on your pickups look pretty much the same as mine. How can you tell?
Very cool guitar BTW : )
How can I tell? Well, first off, I wasn't looking through a camera when I pulled the pickups out of the body last night. A camera lens made everything look old. No dust, no grime, no corrosion on the screws, just brand spanking new.

Dig this: It was pristine, and yet the outside base and cover(s) of what was supposed to be a 50 year old vintage was/were beat-up. One couldn't beat up a guitar that badly outside without getting something smudged, dusty etc. In short, I believe the pickups were relic'd to look older.

Your guitar looks great. I think that it may be lighter than mine because your tuners (Sta-tites?) aren't as heavy as the Grovers.

That's my best explanation.
 

gilded

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Harry, I guess we haven't talked recently. I love my fretted MIJ Jazz bass, but I recently bought a shell pink G&L JB that I like even more! Talking about light weight, it has an empress wood body, and is only slightly over seven pounds. Very geezer friendly!

Here it is in action at our last gig, and it's a keeper!

255717140_4880014085376225_6791040258260881947_n.jpg
Cool, cool, cool!! I'm jealous!
 

secndshft

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And I’m jealous of this M75, even with the fake Gibson pickups. ❤️
 

mavuser

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Harry very cool Guild!! congrats and enjoy that bird!

I have a NOS pair of gold Duncan SH-1 59's, if u wind up needing them. never used or installed. sent u a messgae
 

gilded

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Hello Gilded,
I'm curious why you think the Gibson pickups are fakes? A few months ago I purchased a '64 Guild (Starfire) that came with patent number pickups installed (and the original mini hums in the case). Sounds fantastic . The stickers on your pickups look pretty much the same as mine. How can you tell?
Very cool guitar BTW : )
Norrissey:
I answered this earlier in the evening but your Name kept popping up, so let me re-answer it!

How can I tell? Well, first off, I wasn't looking through a camera when I pulled the pickups out of the body last night. A camera lens makes everybody/thing look old.

In real life, inside the hollow-body of the guitar the pickup base was amazingly clean and nothing about it suggested that it had ever gotten dirty. It was pristine inside, although the outside of what was supposed to be a 50 year old vintage pickup was fairly beaten-up. How could one beat up a guitar that badly without getting something smudged, dusty etc.? I dunno.
In short, I believe the pickups were relic'd to look older.
 
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