NGD 1972 M75
- Thread starter BradHK
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BradHK
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My OCD got the best of me this morning. I pulled the strings, polished the frets, oiled the board, cleaned the bridge and lubricated the screws, etc.. While I had everything apart I figured I would find out exactly how these “semi-solid” M75s are constructed.
I pulled the bridge pickup and the mahogany block under the bridge goes right to the edge of the pickup cavity. The ground wire to the harp tailpiece goes through the middle. I put my finger around the edge to see how far back the block went into the body. I could not feel the edge. I got out my scope. This guitar is completely different that the full hollow M75 and not what I expected.
The center block goes all the way to the end. That is why they ran the ground wire through the middle. There are no longitudinal supports like in the hollow body. However, there is a piece of wood around 1/2” thick that runs down the center of the top with channels cut in the bottom. You can see the edge of this piece under the top piece when you look at the pickup route. The “semi-solid” is constructed somewhere between a semi hollow (Starfire IV, ES 335, etc) and a full hollow body.
Here are some photos. My scope is crap to sorry about the poor interior photos but you can see how it is made.
Facing the harp tailpiece. You can see the center block on the right go all the way to the end.
This is looking toward the neck and you can see the bottom of the neck pickup. The 1/2” piece of wood under the top goes forward and is sandwiched between the top and the neck block.
I pulled the bridge pickup and the mahogany block under the bridge goes right to the edge of the pickup cavity. The ground wire to the harp tailpiece goes through the middle. I put my finger around the edge to see how far back the block went into the body. I could not feel the edge. I got out my scope. This guitar is completely different that the full hollow M75 and not what I expected.
The center block goes all the way to the end. That is why they ran the ground wire through the middle. There are no longitudinal supports like in the hollow body. However, there is a piece of wood around 1/2” thick that runs down the center of the top with channels cut in the bottom. You can see the edge of this piece under the top piece when you look at the pickup route. The “semi-solid” is constructed somewhere between a semi hollow (Starfire IV, ES 335, etc) and a full hollow body.
Here are some photos. My scope is crap to sorry about the poor interior photos but you can see how it is made.
Facing the harp tailpiece. You can see the center block on the right go all the way to the end.
This is looking toward the neck and you can see the bottom of the neck pickup. The 1/2” piece of wood under the top goes forward and is sandwiched between the top and the neck block.
Guildedagain
Enlightened Member
That would be too easy.
Wow, that looks great, Brad! Again, congrats!
jp
Enlightened Member
Very interesting. I've always wondered how those are constructed, and I appreciate the pics. Thanks, Brad!
BradHK
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Sorry for the multiple post but I am having fun with this guitar today. I got out my fully hollow 1971 M75 and did some comparisons. Here are some stats:
weight: 1971 5.4lbs - 1972 6.6lbs
1971 HB1 pickup readings: neck 7.09k - bridge 7.02k
1972 HB1 pickup readings: neck 6.88k - bridge 6.84k
Even though they are the same size they feel very different. Other than the 1971 being fully hollow and having a floating Ebony bridge, the rest of the hardware is the same (different tuners but similar style). The 1971 also has an Ebony fretboard. The 1972 is heavier due to the center block and bridge, but it feels more balanced between the neck and body. A little more natural feeling to sit and play. Very well balanced. I like the neck on the 1971 better as it has a full 1 11/16” nut where the 1972 has between a 1 5/8” and 1 11/16”. Both are comfortable but you can tell switching back and forth between the two.
Played acoustic the 1971 is louder with more overtones. I expected this as it is fully hollow. However, the 1972 is thicker sounding unplugged but not as much sparkle. Plugged in they are very different (Same strings on both). The 1971 is more airy and can get more twang, especially on the bridge pickup. The 1972 is thicker sounding on both pickups but the difference is more noticeable on the bridge pickup. The bridge on the 1971 sounds thin in comparison. The neck pickup on the 1971 has more overtones and sounds more complex. However, the treble strings still don’t sound as thick as the 1972. The 1972 sounds somewhere between the airy sounds of a fully hollow M75 and the thick sounds of a 1970’s Starfire IV with HB1 pickups. The 1972 would be great for blues with some overdrive.
Here they are together
weight: 1971 5.4lbs - 1972 6.6lbs
1971 HB1 pickup readings: neck 7.09k - bridge 7.02k
1972 HB1 pickup readings: neck 6.88k - bridge 6.84k
Even though they are the same size they feel very different. Other than the 1971 being fully hollow and having a floating Ebony bridge, the rest of the hardware is the same (different tuners but similar style). The 1971 also has an Ebony fretboard. The 1972 is heavier due to the center block and bridge, but it feels more balanced between the neck and body. A little more natural feeling to sit and play. Very well balanced. I like the neck on the 1971 better as it has a full 1 11/16” nut where the 1972 has between a 1 5/8” and 1 11/16”. Both are comfortable but you can tell switching back and forth between the two.
Played acoustic the 1971 is louder with more overtones. I expected this as it is fully hollow. However, the 1972 is thicker sounding unplugged but not as much sparkle. Plugged in they are very different (Same strings on both). The 1971 is more airy and can get more twang, especially on the bridge pickup. The 1972 is thicker sounding on both pickups but the difference is more noticeable on the bridge pickup. The bridge on the 1971 sounds thin in comparison. The neck pickup on the 1971 has more overtones and sounds more complex. However, the treble strings still don’t sound as thick as the 1972. The 1972 sounds somewhere between the airy sounds of a fully hollow M75 and the thick sounds of a 1970’s Starfire IV with HB1 pickups. The 1972 would be great for blues with some overdrive.
Here they are together
Outstanding. I’m not big on black guitars, but that is a beautiful pair. I really like that Guild outfitted the black one with nickel hardware. Really sets the two off from each other. Also, those early Westerly years were the source of some magnificent guitars.Sorry for the multiple post but I am having fun with this guitar today. I got out my fully hollow 1971 M75 and did some comparisons. Here are some stats:
weight: 1971 5.4lbs - 1972 6.6lbs
1971 HB1 pickup readings: neck 7.09k - bridge 7.02k
1972 HB1 pickup readings: neck 6.88k - bridge 6.84k
Even though they are the same size they feel very different. Other than the 1971 being fully hollow and having a floating Ebony bridge, the rest of the hardware is the same (different tuners but similar style). The 1971 also has an Ebony fretboard. The 1972 is heavier due to the center block and bridge, but it feels more balanced between the neck and body. A little more natural feeling to sit and play. Very well balanced. I like the neck on the 1971 better as it has a full 1 11/16” nut where the 1972 has between a 1 5/8” and 1 11/16”. Both are comfortable but you can tell switching back and forth between the two.
Played acoustic the 1971 is louder with more overtones. I expected this as it is fully hollow. However, the 1972 is thicker sounding unplugged but not as much sparkle. Plugged in they are very different (Same strings on both). The 1971 is more airy and can get more twang, especially on the bridge pickup. The 1972 is thicker sounding on both pickups but the difference is more noticeable on the bridge pickup. The bridge on the 1971 sounds thin in comparison. The neck pickup on the 1971 has more overtones and sounds more complex. However, the treble strings still don’t sound as thick as the 1972. The 1972 sounds somewhere between the airy sounds of a fully hollow M75 and the thick sounds of a 1970’s Starfire IV with HB1 pickups. The 1972 would be great for blues with some overdrive.
Here they are together
Brad, my only question regarding the comparison is are you using the same type of strings? Just curious.
BradHK
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Yes, but the set on the 1971 has a few hours on them and the black 1972 only had an hour or so.
HeyMikey
Enlightened Member
Great comparison Brad. Cool opportunity to be able to do something like that. Everything you observed makes logical sense and confirms the differences in fully hollow vs. neck block construction.
Even the finish choices on these seem to fit as the black to me screams blues and rock, whereas that magnificent natural maple says country and jazz.
Even the finish choices on these seem to fit as the black to me screams blues and rock, whereas that magnificent natural maple says country and jazz.
hansmoust
Enlightened Member
Haven't seen that one up close, but I would expect an M-75 from this particular period to have a laminated maple top!
Sincerely,
Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl
BradHK
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That is indeed what it looks like to me. Thanks
