NGD S-100

[GGJaguar]

Guild has been my archtop of choice pretty much since I had in interest in archtops. Likewise, I settled on G&L guitars as my solid body of choice a long time ago. Recently I had a “what the heck” moment and decided to try a Guild solid body when a Westerly era S-100 reissue fell into my lap. This guitar absolutely floored me. Rather than discuss the details, I’ll defer to GAD’s excellent review of his 1994 reissue and 1997 reissue. The two main things about this guitar are the wide neck and the Duncan SD-1 pickups. The SD-1s sound great in my Starfire II, III, IV and V, but they are amazing in this slab of mahogany.

And the 1976 ad slick was right – this guitar changed my mind about Guild solidbody electrics. I couldn’t be happier and may have to try another model (or two)!

 

[chazmo]

Looks great, GG. Enjoy!

 

[geoguy]

That's a very clean-looking guitar . . . and the rug is positively shagadelic!

 

[HeyMikey]

Congrats GG she is a beauty! What year? What is the neck width and weight? Those are always an issue for me with electrics.

 

[chazmo]

GG, I've always wondered how the S-100 stacks up against a Gibson SG. Have you ever played any of similar era to your new S-100?

 

[GAD]

GG, I've always wondered how the S-100 stacks up against a Gibson SG. Have you ever played any of similar era to your new S-100?

I’ve owned a Gibson SG and it was so freaking neck heavy that I wondered why people liked them so much. Mine had P90s and sounded amazing so my guess was that was why.

 

[matsickma]

Having been raised on Guild guitars I find many Gibson's to be a "stretch" when playing with the position of the neck and frets being extended off of the body. The SG, 335 and most notably the reverse Firebird "Johnny Winters" type model have that feature.

I don't remember the neck heavy aspect but it was likely present as I was young and muscular so probably ignored it. But the "stretch" or maybe better description being "arm extension" feeling didn't work for me. The Les Paul neck position was more Guildish but the body density and $ kept me a Guild "guy".
M

 

[walrus]

Beautiful guitar, GG! Congratulations!

walrus

 

[GGJaguar]

GG, I've always wondered how the S-100 stacks up against a Gibson SG. Have you ever played any of similar era to your new S-100?

I haven't played an SG in probably 20 years. I think they sound fine, but my issue with the ones I've played is that the necks seemed kind of "flexy" if that makes sense. Maybe that's partially because of the double cutaway (I had the same feeling about a reissue double cut LP Special I owned). I always felt that one wrong move and the neck was going to snap in half. No such flexy feeling with this S-100.

 

[GAD]

I haven't played an SG in probably 20 years. I think they sound fine, but my issue with the ones I've played is that the necks seemed kind of "flexy" if that makes sense. Maybe that's partially because of the double cutaway (I had the same feeling about a reissue double cut LP Special I owned). I always felt that one wrong move and the neck was going to snap in half. No such flexy feeling with this S-100.

I think it depends on the year. Some of them have thin necks and some have huge fat necks. Mine had a huge fat neck.

 

[F312]

My issue with that style of guitar is the position of the strap button on the back.

Ralph

 

[lungimsam]

Congrats!! Can’t wait til they put em out in natural or walnut.

 

[Guildedagain]

Anyone take the PG off their S-100?

 

[SFIV1967]

Anyone take the PG off their S-100?

The problem are the visible screw holes. On a nature boy version the clear pickguard fits best.
Ralf

 

[Default]

I think it depends on the year. Some of them have thin necks and some have huge fat necks. Mine had a huge fat neck.

I have a LP Special from 2015, and the neck is kinda thing. Not sure if it's a one piece neck, that might make a difference, but it needs a truss rod tweak if you change string gauges.