Modern Aristocrats

[swiveltung]

It seems I've seen the true hollow, double bound M-75's as well as the many chambered ones that are not bound on the back.
Is this right? Which model is which? It's confusing...
Is there a full hollow double bound other than the vintage ones ? Or am I dreaming that up? haha
Also, the single bound version appears to have a rosewood board , does the double bound (if it exists) also have that or ebony?

 

[F30]

These are great questions that I wouldn't mind be educated about.
I had an older Newark Aristocrat in sunburst that was just bound on top.
I loved that guitar....deemed to get another since I had sold it a while ago.

Then LesB3 posted the limited M75 he bought in black with nickel hardware, aged binding and pickup covers.
All other Guild searches now seize to exist (for the time being).
These are really nice and LesB3 is very happy with it. Which is always good to hear first hand from LTG member.

 

[F30]

The attached in last post is LesB3's actual M75 so they do present well in hand.
Which sold me - website pics can be deceiving or not quite current offering. But after seeing his actually
M75 - I bought one. The Newark street stuff is great. Many times a good set up can do worlds of improvement.
With Curtis Novak making these pickups now and a few bucks to make you own wiring harness - if you feel you need to
...the sky's the limit

If money was no object then this is the one you should check out:

Guild Aristocrat M-75 NOS Unsold Condition Vintage Museum Condition 1960 Sunburst | Reverb

Probably the cleanest Guild Aristocrat in existence.Virtually un-played condition. Original Guild Hang Tag, along with retail guitar store inventory “tag” still on the guitar from 1960. You will not find a cleaner M-75 anywhere. A true museum piece, one of, collector piece gem. Slight lifting to ...

reverb.com

That vintage one is only top bound - what beautiful guitar.

 

[chazmo]

swiveltung, I think what may be confusing is that you are talking about the Newark Street guitars. There is very little consistency in the models over time, and it's fast and furious with the changes. I don't really know if this is a good or bad thing for Guild, but it's reality.

Good luck trying to keep up with all that. I've given up.

 

[LesB3]

I've never seen a double-bound Aristocrat, but that doesn't mean there wasn't any. My new black one is definitely hollow, as would be the sunburst (regular) one that is also $1199: https://guildguitars.com/g/m-75-aristocrat-antique-sunburst/
I believe these models are made in Korea.

There's also Chinese-made Aristocrats, a humbucker and a "P-90" version, that are chambered, but not hollow:
https://guildguitars.com/g/aristocrat-hh-trans-black-burst/
https://guildguitars.com/g/aristocrat-p-90-vintage-sunburst/

I think the confusion arises from the similarity (in appearance) of the sunburst M-75 and the sunburst "P-90."
Maybe an unofficial rule for figuring it all out is that the Korean models are hollow and the Chinese ones are not.

 

[swiveltung]

Yeah, the old ones, (and I'm not sure if it was the M-75, Bluesbird or what designation in any given year!), had a double bound model with true acoustic hollowbody design, no F holes. The modern milled out single bound are not true hollowbody acoustic style designs.
But I thought for sure there were some newer ones with the double bound, not milled out body. But maybe not as I can't find that on line.

My '69 and a later one I had early 70's pre "DeArmond" were true hollow and light as a feather, around 5.7 lbs.
The newer milled out ones tend to be a couple pounds heavier.

 

[BradHK]

Yeah, the old ones, (and I'm not sure if it was the M-75, Bluesbird or what designation in any given year!), had a double bound model with true acoustic hollowbody design, no F holes. The modern milled out single bound are not true hollowbody acoustic style designs.
But I thought for sure there were some newer ones with the double bound, not milled out body. But maybe not as I can't find that on line.

My '69 and a later one I had early 70's pre "DeArmond" were true hollow and light as a feather, around 5.7 lbs.
The newer milled out ones tend to be a couple pounds heavier.

The vintage Aristocrats never had binding on the back but were fully hollow. When the hollow Bluesbird introduced in 1967 switched from the Aristocrat build of a spruce top with mahogany back and sides around 1968 or so to the maple top, back and sides it was bound on the back. The newer hollow aristocrats follow the vintage aristocrats of being fully hollow but without binding on the back. On the new ones just look at the back of the guitar. If there is no access panel then it is fully hollow.

 

[swiveltung]

The attached in last post is LesB3's actual M75 so they do present well in hand.
Which sold me - website pics can be deceiving or not quite current offering. But after seeing his actually
M75 - I bought one. The Newark street stuff is great. Many times a good set up can do worlds of improvement.
With Curtis Novak making these pickups now and a few bucks to make you own wiring harness - if you feel you need to
...the sky's the limit

If money was no object then this is the one you should check out:

Guild Aristocrat M-75 NOS Unsold Condition Vintage Museum Condition 1960 Sunburst | Reverb

Probably the cleanest Guild Aristocrat in existence.Virtually un-played condition. Original Guild Hang Tag, along with retail guitar store inventory “tag” still on the guitar from 1960. You will not find a cleaner M-75 anywhere. A true museum piece, one of, collector piece gem. Slight lifting to ...

reverb.com

That vintage one is only top bound - what beautiful guitar.

swiveltung, I think what may be confusing is that you are talking about the Newark Street guitars. There is very little consistency in the models over time, and it's fast and furious with the changes. I don't really know if this is a good or bad thing for Guild, but it's reality.

Good luck trying to keep up with all that. I've given up.

Yeah it is confusing. Here's an example of the double bound full hollow old version I'm speaking of: My 69 was like this but all black and only had 'Bluesbird' on the truss rod cover IIRC.

Guild Bluesbird M-75 1969 - Cherry Sunburst | Reverb

1969 GUILD BLUESBIRD M-75 Cherry finish over an all mahogany body, Gold Parts, 22 fret OHC code VA021969 Guild M-75 Bluesbird in its original CherrySunburst finish with Gold hardware. This guitar is in very good condition for its age and features the kind of minor cosmetic wear you woul...

reverb.com

and another:

1969 Guild M-75 Bluesbird - Sunburst - Semi Hollow Body - 6.2 Pounds! | Reverb

Here is a 1969 Guild Bluebird M-75. Features include a Semi-Hollow Construction, Sunburst Finish, Dual Humbucking Pickups, Gold Hardware, Factory Grovers, and Harp Tailpiece. Lightweight at only 6.2 pounds. Very Good vintage condition displaying some play wear with finish checking. Gold platting ...

reverb.com

 

[F30]

Thanks for posting those pics swiveltung
I don't think I've ever seen the double bound M75 before now. Those are really sweet and come with a higher price point
than what I can afford as many guitars "I want" but great to be informed about the earlier M75s

 

[swiveltung]

Found another double bound in Black like mine was, well worn, seems many are 69's.

Guild M75 Bluesbird 1969 - Black | Reverb

CONTINENTAL USA ONLY1969 (I think) Guild M75 Bluesbird (hollow) with (worn) gold hardware.Overall very good condition. Pro set up (low action) and I bought a Stew-Mac screw on cap (not included!) to clean the pots (without fishing the pots out through a pickup hole). No scratchy pot noise.Plays n...

reverb.com

 

[F30]

Hey thanks for that one.
Really great to see these older ones and double bound no less.

 

[LesB3]

According to the Guild Bible (aka The Guild Guitar Book), the original Aristocrat M-75 was always fully hollow, no bound back. Made between 1954 - 1963.

The Bluesbird M-75 (1967 - 1972) were also hollow, and got the bound back in 1969.

My new '23 Ltd Ed. is like the original Aristocrat, fully hollow (my luggage scale says about 5.5 lbs.), no bound back.

 

[Maguchi]

It seems I've seen the true hollow, double bound M-75's as well as the many chambered ones that are not bound on the back.
Is this right? Which model is which? It's confusing...
Is there a full hollow double bound other than the vintage ones ? Or am I dreaming that up? haha
Also, the single bound version appears to have a rosewood board , does the double bound (if it exists) also have that or ebony?

I checked Sweetwater and right now they list 3 new Guild Aristocrat models. The made in Korea Guild M-75 Aristocrat for $1199 which they call a hollowbody with ebony (not rosewood) fretboard. And 2 Chinese made Aristocrats. The Aristocrat P90 and the Aristocrat HH each for $849. They call the P90 a chambered hollowbody with Pau Ferro (not rosewood) fretboard. And the HH model a chambered solidbody also with Pau Ferro fretboard. None of the 3 appear to have binding on the back from the pics on Sweetwater's site.

Product Compare | Sweetwater

Check out the Product Compare page at Sweetwater — the world's leading music technology and instrument retailer!

www.sweetwater.com

 

[krysh]

My 1971 is also double bound