intros...and a T-50

[in a little rowboat]

heya all...wanted to introduce and ask a question...I am a singer/songwriter/recording artist and gear nut...Ive recently purchased a 1963 T-50, my first Guild, and Im pretty happy with it...after years of playing primarily acoustic acoustic guitar ive really wanted adapt to an electric sound and I like the Guild better than the Gibson Les Paul and ES125 Ive worked with prior...

i wondered what I can do to get more sustain out of the of the higher strings...the bridge appears placed well and intonation sounds right, but perhaps i am used to a bone saddle and steel on an acoustic...the fretted higher notes sound a little plinky and weak in sustain, at least when plugged in...has anyone had a similar experience and fix? i like the idea of keeping the guitar as original as possible, but maybe i need a new floating bridge...


thanks, looking forward to learning more about these terrific instruments

 

[GuildFS4612CE]

Somebody smart will be along shortly, but in the meantime...

Off the top of my head:

Neck Adjustment
String Gauge
Age of strings (fresh or dead)...mag pickups DO NOT like dead strings.
Pickup/Pole adjustments
Pots needing cleaning and/or replacement
Tone pot settings
Amp
Amp settings
Preamp
Cables

That ought to start you off. :wink:

 

[fronobulax]

I'm not the smart person GuildFS4612CE promised would be along so all I'm saying is Welcome!

 

[workedinwesterly]

Nice guild you got there.
plinky notes could be a sign of a bad fret or frets.
As far as sustain goes, it's an archtop..... if you want sustain get a solidbody or semisolid.

 

[Sarah93003]

Beautiful guitar! I have a 1961 X-50 that looks identical (except the body on mine is thicker). I don't know how the sustain of these compares to the other hollowbodies, such as X350 or X500, but I suspect since the body of your T-50 is a thinline (2" thick) and remember these were inexpensive entry level guitars that we can't expect the tones of a much more expensive model.

I've added metal bridges to my Gretsch guitars to improve sustain, but on my vintage guitars I don't like to change anything. Since your bridge sits on two threaded posts it is a very simple mod to make, you just have to be careful not to lose your original wood bridge. I use Compton bridges made by Wayne Compton on my Gretsch's. There are also Tru-arc bridges made by Tim Harmon. Both bridges greatly enhance sustain and they improve the action on your guitar as they are matched to the radius of your fretboard. The Compton bridges are much less expensive. You can see them at http://www.comptonbridges.com/home. I don't think Tim has a website but you can read about them on the Gretsch Discussion Pages. Here is a picture of a Compton bridge on one of my Gretsch's. If you decide to guy one, tell Wayne I sent you. He'll give you a good price.

 

[Sarah93003]

Oops! I forgot to say welcome to the forum!! :mrgreen:

 

[taabru45]

Welcome aboard Rowboat, you'r gonn'a love your new guitar, more and more..maybe some one will recommend a favorite string for that model... :wink: Steffan

 

[krysh]

welcome to both of you.
i don't know the particular thread right now but archtop bridges have been recently discussed, maybe try the search function?

 

[bluesypicky]

Welcome rowboat!.... You will soon realize that the "gear nut" you called yourself in your introduction, tends to translate into " normal guy" around here..... :lol:

 

[teleharmonium]

Nice guitar. It might be a little earlier than '63, I'm guessing, based on that logo.

I personally have come to prefer the sound of wooden bridges, which as a tradeoff does mean less sustain than you get with a metal bridge. But you might try using a heavier gauge of string, before changing the bridge. That can help with sustain.

 

[in a little rowboat]

heya all...thanks for the prompt and helpful responses...im overwhelmed...

As far as general condition, frets, electronics, neck tension...i think it is where it is supposed to be, i have a lot of experience working on guitars...my guess is the tonal qualities of a good wooden bridge archtop are just new to me...

Im going to slap some different and high gauge strings on it and see what changes I can detect...i think Im just adjusting to the wooden bridge, and after a pole piece adjustment on the high e ill probably be where i need to be...it came with light flat wounds, im going to try rounds and work from there...and report back.

Ill check on the serial, it was listed as a '63

Im a pretty big fan of the band Grizzly Bear, and as has been posted here, daniel rossen uses a t-50 similar to mine...it has been interesting to note how a new guitar alters how i play certain things, differently than i would on another guitar...keeps things fresh for me

Nice to know Im not the only gear nut...

 

[in a little rowboat]

and in the 'im, new, and and idiot dept...' turns out the floating bridge had shifted 3 mm to the bass side, and the strings werent lined up on the pole pieces...fixed! Awesome sounding guitar, and I cant believe these franz pickups sound so strong...really cooks on my Deluxe Reverb...thanks all...ill try harder...

 

[legato72]

nice pyramid song ref
if you wanna sound exactly like dan yer gonna need a mickey mouse pickup, I'll take that franz off ya for a few bucks :twisted:

 

[in a little rowboat]

nice pyramid song ref
if you wanna sound exactly like dan yer gonna need a mickey mouse pickup, I'll take that franz off ya for a few bucks :twisted:

close enough for me...ill keep the franz, thx! what are we on like 50 of the same MBs legato?

 

[legato72]

yeah I'm pretty sure we're the same person, just in different parts of the country :lol:

 

[hansmoust]

heya all...wanted to introduce and ask a question...I am a singer/songwriter/recording artist and gear nut...Ive recently purchased a 1963 T-50, my first Guild, and Im pretty happy with it...after years of playing primarily acoustic acoustic guitar ive really wanted adapt to an electric sound and I like the Guild better than the Gibson Les Paul and ES125 Ive worked with prior... thanks, looking forward to learning more about these terrific instruments

Hi there,

Welcome! If you give me the serial number of your guitar I might be able to find it back in the original ledgers of 'final assembly', which will tell me on what day exactly your guitar was set up and made it's first musical noises.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl