Impulse NGD... kaboom Detonator

zulu

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2008
Messages
2,132
Reaction score
1,801
Location
NV west of Los Angeles
Guild Total
4
I haven't bought a guitar for myself in years, but GAS finally got the best of me. So, to avoid buying an expensive guitar - I sent an ebay offer on this Detonator and found it was in my "cart" the next day. Always wanted to try a Detonator, and I should have sooner! I love this thing! When I told Mrs Zulu I got a Guild she was certainly expecting $1000 or way more. No, I said this may be - sort of a "bottom of the barrel" USA Guild electric price-wise - but a great value. She told me that, back home in Rhode Island, their term for the last lady in the bar at closing time was "Bottom of the Barrel Carol". So that's what we named this guitar. BBC

Its a pleasure to play. For a (now) occasional player like me, this is a great affordable second electric to my Nightbird. It's plenty "Stratty" for me. I should have found one of these instead of the Japanese Strat I used for several years.

Quite clean. Works good. Some wear - but more body wear than neck or fret wear.

detonator-1.jpg
detonator-2.jpg
detonator-3.jpg
detonator-4.jpg
detonator-6.jpg
 

mavuser

Enlightened Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
8,128
Reaction score
2,636
Location
New York
khaaAAAABOOOooouuum! bombs away! very nice congrats and enjoy!

bottom of the barrel Carol...i've heard a lot but that is a new one. love it!
 

Guildedagain

Enlightened Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2016
Messages
8,999
Reaction score
7,160
Location
The Evergreen State
Why don't I have one of these instead of a Kramer, I don't know but maybe I should.

Is the trem better than a Floyd Rose?

Are the Sperzels original?

A locking nut is a real PITA, turns out it can be avoided with locking tuners, not quite the same, different, better?
 

zulu

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2008
Messages
2,132
Reaction score
1,801
Location
NV west of Los Angeles
Guild Total
4
Is the trem better than a Floyd Rose
This trem is good but I might wish for the fine tuning knobs
Are the Sperzels original?
I have seen another detonator with these tuners so I think they're original
locking tuners, not quite the same, different, better?
These are the first I've tried. I always had an incorrect assumption that locking tuners would lock the pegs from turning. They actually lock the string into the hole on the peg. You guys probably knew that.
I would guess that a locking nut would be more effective at keeping in tune.
 

The Guilds of Grot

Enlightened Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2006
Messages
9,547
Reaction score
4,716
Location
New Jersey Shore
Guild Total
117
To have the locking tuners work like a locking nut there should not be string wraps on the tuner post. When you string the guitar, run the string straight up from the nut, through the tuner post and lock it! It should tune to pitch with-in one wrap.
 
Last edited:

Guildedagain

Enlightened Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2016
Messages
8,999
Reaction score
7,160
Location
The Evergreen State
^ What he said. ^


1984, a good year for wine and novels by that title ;]

Supposedly locking tuners over a graphite nut = same a locking nut without all the hassles of locking, unlocking, locking, unlocking.

Use good strings, stretch them really well and they should stay in tune no matter what you do.

Fine tuners are amazing but, you don't really need them without the locking nut.

Edit X posting; What GOG is saying is critical, just shove the string straight through the hole pointing straight up, pull tight, lock tight and snip. You guys are giving me Sperzel envy ;]
 
Last edited:

zulu

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2008
Messages
2,132
Reaction score
1,801
Location
NV west of Los Angeles
Guild Total
4
To have the locking tuners work like a locking nut there should not be string wraps on the tuner post. When you string the guitar, run the string straight up from the nut, through the tuner post and lock it! It should tune with-in one wrap.
I didn't know thank you!
 

zulu

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2008
Messages
2,132
Reaction score
1,801
Location
NV west of Los Angeles
Guild Total
4
Awesome thank you Ralf! A fairly expensive guitar with the EMGs - I paid less for my Nightbird 1 If I recall correctly.
 

GAD

Reverential Morlock
Über-Morlock
Joined
Feb 11, 2009
Messages
22,582
Reaction score
17,797
Location
NJ (The nice part)
Guild Total
112
Why don't I have one of these instead of a Kramer, I don't know but maybe I should.

Is the trem better than a Floyd Rose?

Are the Sperzels original?

A locking nut is a real PITA, turns out it can be avoided with locking tuners, not quite the same, different, better?
I love my Guilds but I wouldn’t replace a vintage Kramer with one, and none of the ‘80s Guild shredders come anywhere near my US or Japanese Jacksons. I have a few that desperately wished they did like the Liberator Elite and X4000s, but they really don’t.

The trem is nothing like a Floyd. It doesn’t suck, but this was a low end guitar so it’s not really a high-end bridge (though my Liberators have the same or similar bridge). While it would be fine for most, it would not be my first choice for a full-on set of EVH or Steve Vai tunes. Then again I doubt I have the stamina for a full set anymore anyway so I’d probably give out before the bridge did. :)

Biggest problem is likely parts. The arm is not something you’ll find at Guitar Center.

Still a great guitar, though.
 
Top