My new 1969 M-75...verdict is still out

[sugabear2133]

I have a new-old 69 M-75. It's the complete hollow version. I was so excited to pick this one up. It is not all original. It has 60's Gibson humbuckers, 60's Gibson Kluson tuners, and a different bridge. All of the mod's were done in around 1971. It is at the shop at the moment because the high e string was getting stuck on some frets that are starting to come up way up top. Not a big deal, just something that needed to be fixed. The frets are in great shape though.

Onto the sound...I have only played it a few times on my whole rig because of the fret issues. I am huge on first impressions. The pickups when selected together seemed to be out of phase. Kind of weird. I checked the wiring and everything seems to check out. Also, it is a full hollowbody. I love the rich hollowbody sound. I am aware of the feedback issues with hollowbodies, but for some reason this thing was like feedback city. I could mute the strings and everything and it was howling lol.

I play pop rock music, so It should be able to hang just fine, but the feedback is an issue. If the pickups are wired weird, it could definitely be causing something to be out of whack. It definitely did not seem to cut well. I really hope my guitar guy can find something wrong with the wiring or something.

Needless to say, I realize I have not given it a fair try yet, but because it is at the shop, I am itching to figure out what's wrong and if it is something that will last in my rig. I realize you don;t play a guitar this old, it plays you lol. I am worried that I shouldve just waited on finding a solid body m75. Im sure I could find someone to trade on here if I wanted to lol. A 69 is killer, but it has to sound good in my rig for me to keep around...

So any insight into these mythical full hollobody m75's, their sounds and/or trouble spots would be much appreciated. It plays like a dream. It's super light which is awesome. It's so light, it almost feels cheap haha,,,but it's wasn't!

I appreciate any thoughts at all. I will definitely follow up once I get it back to from the shop.

 

[GAD]

Sexy! If you don't like it, PM me.

The pickups may be wired backwards. Come Les Paul guys like them that way and call it the Peter Green mod. Easy fix if that's the case.

 

[adorshki]

The pickups may be wired backwards. Come Les Paul guys like them that way and call it the Peter Green mod. Easy fix if that's the case.

That's hilarious! I LOVE Peter Green!

 

[coastie99]

The pickups may be wired backwards. Come Les Paul guys like them that way and call it the Peter Green mod. Easy fix if that's the case.

That's hilarious! I LOVE Peter Green!

Well then, here's whatcha need .............. http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/ZH-pgblues.html

Bit more to it than merely wiring backwards. http://www.sweetwater.com/expert-center ... 10/03/2007

 

[GAD]

Bit more to it than merely wiring backwards. http://www.sweetwater.com/expert-center ... 10/03/2007

Yeah, but lots of guys just wire one of the pickups backwards. I actually installed a set this way by mistake and contacted the guy who made them complaining that something was wrong. He's the one that told me about it. Apparently some people even put in a mini-switch or push/pull pot to change it on the fly. It even says so in the link:

Alternatively, you could add a phase switch (either a separate switch, or a potentiometer with a push/pull switch built-in) to achieve a similar sound.

 

[hansmoust]

I have a new-old 69 M-75. It's the complete hollow version.

Hello sugabear,

Could you tell me what's the serial number of your M-75? It's just for my Guild database, which I maintain for my on-going research on Guild guitars.
If you don't mind, I might have a couple additional questions.

Thanks!

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[sugabear2133]

Hey Hans!

Great to meet you! I have heard great things! Yes, as soon as I get the guitar back from the shop I will let you know the serial. I would love to answer any questions and/or get schooled on the knowledge of the guitar I have haha. I'm open to anything

 

[sugabear2133]

OKay Hans,
the serial number is DD 313. Hipe this helps. Let me know any insight you may have about it.

For everyone:
AS far as the verdict goes...Apparently the Gibson pickups are really weak. they are measuring around 3.9k on the multimeter...

I think its time for new pickups yes? lol.

Quite the conundrum on what to put in there now though. Im a player not a collector, I definitely want a kick ass lead guitar sound.
any advice?
Time to research pickups...

 

[matsickma]

With the larger pickup cutout now may be a perfect time to add a pair of Guild HB-1's.

Also to help suppress feedback you can also put in a "sound post" under the bridge to keep the sound board from vibrating as much. I often stick a carefully cut piece of a 1 inch diameter dowl under the bridge to help with feedback.

M

 

[sugabear2133]

Yea, I have considered the HB-1's...

It would obviously be original to the guitar.

I am also considering some Phat Cat or P92's...not for a p90 sound per say, but just for a spankier sound to combat the hollow sound, as well as both of those pickups are wax potted so it will help with feedback.

Still thinking...

There is some foam inside the guitar, but putting a block in there is not a bad idea at all. Thanks!

 

[matsickma]

When I look at the late model HB-1 that Guild made it sure looks like they started to wax pot them. That may have been a Fender addition to the design. I have been thinking about potting an older set of HB-1 to see how they perform against feedback.

M

 

[sugabear2133]

That would be interesting to hear! let me know if you do!

 

[GAD]

When I look at the late model HB-1 that Guild made it sure looks like they started to wax pot them. That may have been a Fender addition to the design. I have been thinking about potting an older set of HB-1 to see how they perform against feedback.

M

Late model "HB1s" have very little in common with vintage HB1s other than looks.

Get a set of vintage HB1s for the thing.

 

[adorshki]

The pickups may be wired backwards. Come Les Paul guys like them that way and call it the Peter Green mod. Easy fix if that's the case.

That's hilarious! I LOVE Peter Green!

Well then, here's whatcha need .............. http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/ZH-gblues.html
Bit more to it than merely wiring backwards. http://www.sweetwater.com/expert-center ... 10/03/2007

Thanks Coastie!
Veer alert: Have you heard the live material from the 69-'70 period? Found it on CD a couple years back, EXCELLENT! And you probably know the rumours of his death were greatly exaggerated, but his "End of the Game" (early '70's) album was virtually unknown here in the States, also EXCELLENT!

 

[sugabear2133]

Verdict is in!!!!

I put some Seymour Duncan Phat Cats in there...this guitar sounds incredible. The p90(ish) pups enhance the hollowbody sound alot. The wax potted pickups help a ton with the feedback.

These guitars are unbelievable!

 

[harpinator]

Hey sugabear, glad you worked out your pickup problem. I have a 1968 M75 with the small humbuckers and wondered how it would sound with p90 type PUPs. Did you get the "spankier" sound you were looking for? Not that I would route the PUP cutouts out of this beauty, but sometimes I wish Guild had used standard HBs. Do you have a std TOM bridge?

 

[sugabear2133]

Yes it is spankier than before. It really balances the hollowness out very well and cuts through nicely. I did not have to do any pickups routing or anything. I know that some had oversized, some had mini's etc etc. so, I dont know what you could do different. At least the mini's are brighter than standard pups, but there is something about p90s that I love. Not that the phat cats are a direct p90 clone, but they are in the ballpark.
I was on the fence with this guitar and now it is very fun to play and very inspiring. Hope this helps!

 

[harpinator]

Thanks for the info sugabear. Nice sunburst too.