M-75 Aristocrat Newark St.

[Stefan Eff]

Hi, my first post ;-)

I‘ve recently bought a very inspiring M-75 Goldtop: great guitar, fine build quality, fantastic tone, superb playing comfort.

No need for any modding except a bridge swap (Truarc Serpentune).
But I‘d like to know:
is it a laminated or massive spruce top?
Are sides and back laminated or massive mahogany?

What about the woods used on the old originals? Massive or laminated?

Thanks much for some information!

 

[GGJaguar]

Welcome to LTG! The top is laminated spruce and the body is solid mahogany (or at least a mahogany-like wood) that has been routed so it is a fully hollow guitar. The originals were made the same way.

 

[Stefan Eff]

Welcome to LTG! The top is laminated spruce and the body is solid mahogany (or at least a mahogany-like wood) that has been routed so it is a fully hollow guitar. The originals were made the same way.

Thanks!
It‘s for sure Mahogany (I‘ve endoscoped the body in search of a rattle- there was a lonely washer inside the guitar ) the raw wood looks definitely like that.

 

[cupric]

Nice guitar! Welcome aboard.

 

[Stefan Eff]

Nice guitar! Welcome aboard.

Thanks!
Due to the bridge swap it‘s a very good guitar with a fantastic tone.

The copper Serpentune is a perfect match since it rounds the top end and the high mids in a good way. Not sure about the copper/goldtop-mix esthetically...I’ll see, I have a Bigsby Bridge (aluminum) on the way, can‘t wait to check the tonal differences.
The guitar is easily in the Gretsch-Proline ballpark and I prefer her sophisticated tone over a dynasonic Jet! They‘ve done a real good job!
I‘ve owned a x-175 and sold her in a mad mood- also a real good guitar, even if the Aristocrat is a tad better finished:

 

[Walter Broes]

If you want it to sound more like an original, put a rosewood bridge saddle on it.

 

[Stefan Eff]

If you want it to sound more like an original, put a rosewood bridge saddle on it.

Yes, I thought about it. Dunno if I like the basses with a wooden bridge. But then again I‘ve played an ebano bridge on the X-175, was great

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Welcome to LTG! The top is laminated spruce and the body is solid mahogany (or at least a mahogany-like wood) that has been routed so it is a fully hollow guitar. The originals were made the same way.

I don't believe the original M-75 Aristocrats were routed. Fully hollow yes but they had a front, back, and sides.

 

[Stefan Eff]

I don't believe the original M-75 Aristocrats were routed. Fully hollow yes but they had a front, back, and sides.

That’s exact the way the M-75 aristocrat is build.

 

[cupric]

Love that rig! The amp is very cool.
I think the copper would contrast well with the gold. I live in copper country here in Arizona. Gold and copper are often found together, so nature liked the idea!
I haven't had the pleasure of trying a Aristocrat. A reissue was a great idea. I got into Guilds in the 1970s. By the time I was able to afford browsing instruments the originals were rare and expensive. It was a grail for me. Unfortunately, here where I live there are no music st ores. The closest is in Tucson, which is about 160 miles away. That would be a day trip!

 

[F30]

Beautiful Gold Top M75! Congrats and welcome.

 

[Stefan Eff]

Here’s an impression ^

 

[SFIV1967]

...the body is solid mahogany (or at least a mahogany-like wood) that has been routed so it is a fully hollow guitar. The originals were made the same way.

No.

I don't believe the original M-75 Aristocrats were routed. Fully hollow yes but they had a front, back, and sides.

Correct, built like an Archtop.
The 50ies originals have a solid Honduras mahogany back, laminated Honduras mahogany sides and a laminated spruce top.
Later the solid back changed to a laminated back. See Hans' post.

Here's a picture into my 1956 one through the removed output jack hole (and removed pickups, otherwise it would be dark inside):

Ralf

 

[29er]

Beautiful guitar! Question for anyone who can answer: Is the M-75 currently offered in the gold top? A quick search on Reverb does not show anything but sunburst.

 

[GGJaguar]

D'oh, I got Ralf'd! I must have been thinking DuoJet.

 

[29er]

Just answered my own question by looking at the Guild web site to check their specs. My next thought is how long the gold top was produced and if they are a rare bird. I sure don't see them often.

 

[Stefan Eff]

Just answered my own question by looking at the Guild web site to check their specs. My next thought is how long the gold top was produced and if they are a rare bird. I sure don't see them often.

Afaik a rare bird, only 24 were shipped to europe. Took me a long time to find one. It‘s been rumored that a batch of sunburst tops didn‘t pass the QC, those tops were refinished in black -and gold

 

[GAD]

My take: https://www.gad.net/Blog/2019/06/21/guild-newark-st-m75-aristocrat/

I must not have had my borescope yet or I'd have lots of internal pics.

 

[Stefan Eff]

My take: https://www.gad.net/Blog/2019/06/21/guild-newark-st-m75-aristocrat/

I must not have had my borescope yet or I'd have lots of internal pics.

I‘ve read your reviews! Great stuff, thanks!

 

[fronobulax]

Afaik a rare bird, only 24 were shipped to europe. Took me a long time to find one. It‘s been rumored that a batch of sunburst tops didn‘t pass the QC, those tops were refinished in black -and gold

Yeah. I've spread those rumors 'cause I heard them from different sources I considered reliable and independent. But I can't quote them by name even if it has been several years. One source said "one batch" and a batch was 80 guitars which kind of fits with 24 to Europe since we have seen numbers where Europe got 25%-50% of a limited edition.