My missing guitar

[Sarah93003]

In the mid 70's I was a teenager and bought my first guitar. It was a 1962 Guild solid body electric in a deep red color. It was a beautiful player and I loved it! It was stolen a couple of years after I got it and I've never seen one like it. I think I would recognize one if I saw it, but I'm not sure. I'm wondering if someone can tell me what models were produced in 1962.

thank you!

 

[Qvart]

what models were produced in 1962.

Hm, I'm not up on the '60's models, but I don't think there were many. The heyday for solids seems to be the '70's with the S-series. Maybe an M-65 (chambered)?

Sounds like a question for Hans Moust. I'm sure he'll be around before long. Or you could message him with your question.

 

[capnjuan]

Hi Sarah; this LTG thread has pics of a Guild S-200 Thunderbird from the early/mid 1960s. If yours was a Guild and looked like this guitar but didn't have the switches, then it might have been a Polara S-100 with twin pickups or a single pickup Jet Star S-50; all with the unusual headstock (see Book of Moust pages 151 - 162). CJ

 

[fronobulax]

Hans' and his book will have the answer. I too expect he will be along shortly.

In the meantime, there were not too many solid body electrics in the early '60's. You might mosey over to Grot's to see if his '65 S-100 or S-200 look familiar. I actually cannot recall any other '60's solid bodies although if you can slide into the'70's there are a lot more candidates.

 

[matsickma]

Interesting. 1962 might be a year to early for solid body guitars. However I think Guild issued three solid body guitars in 1963: S200 Thunderbird, S100 Polara and S50 Jetstar. The Thunderbird is sometimes refered to as a "Gumby" shaped guitar. The origional came with a pair Guild mini humbuckers, a lot of switches and block neck fret markers. The S100 Polara was was a double cutaway solidbody with a pair of chrome mini soapbar single coil pickups. The Jetstar looked like a Polara but came with a single chrome soapbar pickup mounted in the "middle" position. The Thunderbird and Polara both had the famous "patent applied for" crash-o-matic guitar stand mounted inthe back of the guitar. The Jetstar did not have the stand.

Can you describ the guitars features?

M

 

[Default]

Did it look or sound anything like this?
Skip to 3:45.


"sorry"

 

[Maxer]

That Gumby vid killed me. Thanks for awakening some long-buried memories. Weird song, though.... wacky arrangements. I didn't hear any guitar, just cheeseball synth... LOL

 

[capnjuan]

Seriously good-looking '66 Thunderbird at Chicago Music Exchange

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Seriously good-looking '66 Thunderbird at Chicago Music Exchange

It would look nicer with the "Thunderbird" headstock like this;

S-200

Or is the mystery guitar an S-100;

Or maybe an S-50;

 

[Default]

I be hatin' you, Grot. :mrgreen:

 

[capnjuan]

Yup; the eccentric headstock really goes best with the Gumby thing ...

 

[Sarah93003]

The S-100 looks just like the shape as best that I can recall. It was a deep reddish color and played amazingly. Do you know what years they were made? I remember the little vibrato arm and a metal thing in the back but I did not know what that was for. I thought it was some sort of support feature. I'd like to have another one! Now at least I know what to look for.

Thank you very much!!!!

 

[Qvart]

The S-100 looks just like the shape as best that I can recall. It was a deep reddish color and played amazingly. Do you know what years they were made? I remember the little vibrato arm and a metal thing in the back but I did not know what that was for. I thought it was some sort of support feature. I'd like to have another one! Now at least I know what to look for.

Thank you very much!!!!

That would be the infamous crash-o-matic stand!

 

[stclrob]

The S-100 looks just like the shape as best that I can recall. It was a deep reddish color and played amazingly. Do you know what years they were made? I remember the little vibrato arm and a metal thing in the back but I did not know what that was for. I thought it was some sort of support feature. I'd like to have another one! Now at least I know what to look for.

Thank you very much!!!!

That would be the infamous crash-o-matic stand!

Looks like an S 100, but built earlier. My guess would be a polaris:
http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDetails.aspx?Item=2033874

 

[matsickma]

Atta way Grot....makin us all start drooling for the sunburst collection!!!

 

[Sarah93003]

stclrob, that looks just like it! That is amazing. Is a Polaris the same thing as an S-100?

The S-100 looks just like the shape as best that I can recall. It was a deep reddish color and played amazingly. Do you know what years they were made? I remember the little vibrato arm and a metal thing in the back but I did not know what that was for. I thought it was some sort of support feature. I'd like to have another one! Now at least I know what to look for.

Thank you very much!!!!

That would be the infamous crash-o-matic stand!

Looks like an S 100, but built earlier. My guess would be a polaris:
http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDetails.aspx?Item=2033874

 

[dane]

Is a Polaris the same thing as an S-100?

The Polaris and the S-100 are two different guitars. Compare this photo of an S-100 with the Polaris above and you’ll notice many differences. But I’d love to have ether one myself. :mrgreen:

 

[Qvart]

Is a Polaris the same thing as an S-100?

The Polaris and the S-100 are two different guitars.

The S-100 evolved over time:

'60's:

'70's:

'90's:

 

[dane]

Qvart, thanks for the pics. But are you saying the Polaris evolved into the G-100? :? I always thought they were two different guitars.
But I could be wrong…sometimes twice in one day. :roll:
Please explain…inquiring minds want to know! :wink:

 

[danerectal]

are you saying the Polaris evolved into the G-100?

They're actually both designated the S-100. The Polara just happens to have a funkier body style. They changed over to a more SGesque style around 1970 to offer more relevant competition.