NS M75 Aristocrat?

[AndiJ]

I've not really done anything to the pickups, but I did take a tiny little bit of material off the bracing the neck pickup sits on, and I shimmed up the bridge pickup (with mouse-pad foam) as high as it will go without interfering with the strings.
That probably mostly personal taste : I like a lead pickup that's a hair louder than the neck pickup, and the way these guitars come stock is the other way around.
I do plan to wax pot the underside of the pickup assemblies again (not the coil, doesn't need it) so they're a little bit of a tighter package. the magnets can get loose and rattle on these NS Franz pickups.

I haven't changed out the wiring harness yet because I'm
1) Lazy
2)admittedly, not really looking forward to it
3)I haven't really had to - it still works, even though the pots are scratchy, and there's more wire in the guitar than there needs to be - you can hear it rattling around in there sometimes. But on stage, I play the big archtops, and the M75 gets drop D duty for a few tunes, or it's the backup guitar in case I break a string. I do play it quite a bit at home, but there obviously the scratchy pots don't really bother me.

My experience with archtop harnesses has been that it's a good idea to use Gibson style wire with the braided shield around it, because that allows you to "build" a pretty stiff harness that sits how it's supposed to by itself - then it's just a matter of slowly and carefully loading it into the guitar. On a stiff harness like that, get one pot in place, and the others usually don't need much help.

when making the harness, I make a cardboard template with the pot locations like they are on the guitar, and I don't allow too much slack for wires going to jack and switch. I use a bit of twine to get the switch in the hole, and large medical style tweezers to manipulate the pot shafts or move the harness around in the guitar to where it's supposed to go.
I've gotten semi-handy with it, but I go very slow, and it'll never be a fun job I look forward to.

Interesting tip on the wire slack. Makes sense. Thanks. I will most likely take the plunge if I buy a M75. So all tips are useful.

 

[LesB3]

Nice collection.

Have you taken any measurements of the neck on your AB M75? I'm trying to compare them to see if they are kind of on the same ball park throughout the years of vary a lot. Specially sting spacing at the nut and bridge and neck depth. At the moment this is all that is standing in my way. I have to buy online.

I have not, but have the tools to do so, so here is what I measured with a pair of calipers:

Nut width = 1.67" / 42.09mm
String spacing @ Nut: 1.32" / 33.40mm
String Spacing @ Bridge: 2.03" / 51.48mm
Radius = 12

All of those were as I expected... I used the 2023 model (sunburst) for all measurements.
Hope that helps!

 

[AndiJ]

I have not, but have the tools to do so, so here is what I measured with a pair of calipers:

Nut width = 1.67" / 42.09mm
String spacing @ Nut: 1.32" / 33.40mm
String Spacing @ Bridge: 2.03" / 51.48mm
Radius = 12

All of those were as I expected... I used the 2023 model (sunburst) for all measurements.
Hope that helps!

Thanks a bunch! Very interesting. I have collected neck data on a few NS M75 of different years and there is quite a variation. Indeed, as GAD and I discussed once, most sellers probably can't measure accurately enough. But I trust that you and @GAD can. Interesting also is that on the Guild website, the M75 and NS Stafires are all conveniently listed with the exact same neck specs. But given your measurements as well as GAD's are different than what they give, plus my own 2015 NS Starfire too, as measured by me, I guess it's safe to say the info on the Guild site is not to be trusted. I'm surprised with the variation though, as in this day and age, I would have thought the necks would be all CNC'ed. Maybe the basic shape is and the finishing is by hand. Who knows...

One thing is most places like Chicago Music Exchange and others which measure their used guitars for sale, list the nut at 1 11/16 or 43mm and the radius as 9.5".

Anyways, here is the neck data I have collected so far. Sorry for the values in millimeters. It's just a screenshot of my excel sheet. I got the idea and format for the sheet from an old post here in the forums :



To totally flip the conversation on its head, yesterday I played the Casino again and I'm really convinced that what makes me really love it is its acoustic properties. I guess the M75 will have some of that. But hanging out with a fellow guitar player and friend, we were pondering if something like a 17" thinline wouldn't be a better replacement for the Casino. Plus get me more of what I like about the Casino compared to the M75. I have no hopes of finding or spending the money on a Guild Duane eddy. But there are other more easy available options. I guess fret access will probably be the same as a M75. We are talking a 14 fret guitars for either I guess. Advantage over the Casino being the cut is deeper even if the Casino is a 16 fret guitar. Just thinking. Anybody with a Duane Eddy or any other 17" thinline could say if fret access is as limited as in a 175 type? Or similar to the M75? I guess since it's 17" and hollow it will be at least as loud unplugged as a Casino. Probably louder. I know. That would be going in the total opposite direction of a M75...

 

[Smiert Spionam]

The DeArmond T-400 from the '90s is their stab at a bargain import Duane Eddy, and most of us consider them the best guitar of the short-lived DeArmond line. They're good guitars, but they definitely won't have better upper fret access than a Casino/330, and even though they're a thinline, a 17" archtop is only a couch guitar for a pretty large person. They also don't have P90s, though the DeArmond pickups they used lean more in that direction than a more vintage-accurate reissue.

Basically everything about that guitar is worse than a Casino for the criteria you've laid out. They're cool guitars for the money, though.

 

[AndiJ]

The DeArmond T-400 from the '90s is their stab at a bargain import Duane Eddy, and most of us consider them the best guitar of the short-lived DeArmond line. They're good guitars, but they definitely won't have better upper fret access than a Casino/330, and even though they're a thinline, a 17" archtop is only a couch guitar for a pretty large person. They also don't have P90s, though the DeArmond pickups they used lean more in that direction than a more vintage-accurate reissue.

Basically everything about that guitar is worse than a Casino for the criteria you've laid out. They're cool guitars for the money, though.

Ah yes, there is the Dearmond. I wasn't thinking of that though, as they are quite unusual to find. I was more thinking of this:




The fret access seems to be easier than in a Casino, because of the deeper cut. Even though it's a single cut. I know it has nothing to do with P90 though. But I'm pretty flexible with pickups and don't mind mod'ing guitars if they are keepers. Might be able to slip in a soapbar. Or maybe I fall in love with the mini hums in the hollow body. Obviously not a Guild. But no chances for a Duane Eddy and looking at the Dearmond, I'm not sure. But I might, probably just get a M75.

 

[steveintampa]

This just came up on e-bay

Guild DeArmond Semi Hollow Body Electric Guitar Beautiful Natural Starfire NICE | eBay

See photos and video for the best description Video https://youtube.com/shorts/P9SDgHFgDVQ?si=_CnWnF1QYE4oG3El The Guild DeArmond Semi Hollow Body Electric Guitar is a beautifully crafted 6-string acoustic guitar known for its natural sound quality. This guitar, made by the renowned brand Guild...

www.ebay.com

 

[AndiJ]

This just came up on e-bay

Guild DeArmond Semi Hollow Body Electric Guitar Beautiful Natural Starfire NICE | eBay

See photos and video for the best description Video https://youtube.com/shorts/P9SDgHFgDVQ?si=_CnWnF1QYE4oG3El The Guild DeArmond Semi Hollow Body Electric Guitar is a beautifully crafted 6-string acoustic guitar known for its natural sound quality. This guitar, made by the renowned brand Guild...

www.ebay.com

Thanks. But I already have 2 Guild Starfires.

 

[Smiert Spionam]

Ah yes, there is the Dearmond. I wasn't thinking of that though, as they are quite unusual to find. I was more thinking of this:




The fret access seems to be easier than in a Casino, because of the deeper cut. Even though it's a single cut. I know it has nothing to do with P90 though. But I'm pretty flexible with pickups and don't mind mod'ing guitars if they are keepers. Might be able to slip in a soapbar. Or maybe I fall in love with the mini hums in the hollow body. Obviously not a Guild. But no chances for a Duane Eddy and looking at the Dearmond, I'm not sure. But I might, probably just get a M75.

It sounds like you just want a new guitar project. I can relate! As long as you recognize it gets you no closer to your stated goals, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

 

[AndiJ]

It sounds like you just want a new guitar project. I can relate! As long as you recognize it gets you no closer to your stated goals, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

Might sound like it. But actually not at all.

If the M75 gives me enough of the unplugged resonance I enjoy with the Casino, it will be it. The idea of the 17" really only came about because the f hole-less M75 might not and the 17" probably will and more, while seemly not being any worse for fret access. Or so I thought, by looking at it and never having tried it.

By the way, please take the term couch guitar very loosely to mean just an electric guitar which sounds nice also unplugged. I barely play sitting down actually.

 

[Walter Broes]

17" thinlines are pretty rare actually. There's that very short-lived Epiphone (like the one John Lee Hooker played), Guild T-500's and DE's, early 60's Gretsch Country Clubs (with the giant hole in the back and the useless mute), and Gibson Byrdlands and ES350T's with the 23 1/2" scale.
I might have missed something, but still...not exactly a very common format.

 

[AndiJ]

17" thinlines are pretty rare actually. There's that very short-lived Epiphone (like the one John Lee Hooker played), Guild T-500's and DE's, early 60's Gretsch Country Clubs (with the giant hole in the back and the useless mute), and Gibson Byrdlands and ES350T's with the 23 1/2" scale.
I might have missed something, but still...not exactly a very common format.

Indeed. And even though the Epiphone is rare, it is still easier to find and specially more affordable than all others. Even the Dearmond T-400 if you find, seems to sell for about the same as the Epiphone. But I'm not sure it's as good or nice. That Epi was a higher end limited edition which is nicer than your average Epi.

 

[Walter Broes]

I was actually talking about the original (vintage) version being rare and short-lived, but yeah, I guess that John Lee Hooker limited edition is kinda rare too.

 

[AndiJ]

I was actually talking about the original (vintage) version being rare and short-lived, but yeah, I guess that John Lee Hooker limited edition is kinda rare too.

Oh the original I guess is unobtainium almost. . Specially the natural one, like Hooker's 1961 example. They only made 13 of the blondes in 61. I have never seen one for sale but I would imagine it's pricier than a Duane Eddy.

The 2018 reissue limited edition run was 1000 units.

 

[swiveltung]

Hi, AndiJ -

I don't have a Casino for comparison, but I can say this. My NS M-75 is easily loud and resonant enough unplugged for a couch guitar. It's just a tad softer than my T-100D unplugged.

As for the neck profile, it's just as GAD describes, since I now own that very gold top. It's super comfortable and feels like a classic medium Guild neck profile. I can see how it can be thin for those who tend to favor the thicker, classic Gibson and 50s Fender neck profiles, but for me, it's totally playable.

If you're curious about the authenticity of their tone, here's LTG member Billy Dlight A/Bing the new Franz PUs vs a vintage '59 set. I think they're very close. Like Billy experience, my M-75 Franzes are a touch hotter and less sparkly than the '59 Franz set on my T-100D.

One thing I noticed from this video is these guitars are only top bound. My '69 Deluxe was bound front and back. "M75 Bluesbird" IIRC. ?

 

[Default]

Fwiw, there are some fairly cheap Aristocrats on ebay from Sweatwater, iirc. It looks like they are mostly cracks and chips with the poly finish, so if anyone had the idea of refinishing one of these, there's at least one or two for around $550.

 

[Walter Broes]

One thing I noticed from this video is these guitars are only top bound. My '69 Deluxe was bound front and back. "M75 Bluesbird" IIRC. ?

The recent ones are inspired by 1950's M75's, and those were top bound. The model kept evolving and eventually got back binding,so yes, that makes sense.

 

[swiveltung]

The recent ones are inspired by 1950's M75's, and those were top bound. The model kept evolving and eventually got back binding,so yes, that makes sense.

But the non back bound ones are milled out of a big chunk of wood right? While the double bound are actually built like an acoustic guitar or an ES330 etc...?

 

[AndiJ]

17" thinlines are pretty rare actually. There's that very short-lived Epiphone (like the one John Lee Hooker played), Guild T-500's and DE's, early 60's Gretsch Country Clubs (with the giant hole in the back and the useless mute), and Gibson Byrdlands and ES350T's with the 23 1/2" scale.
I might have missed something, but still...not exactly a very common format.

Well, after some deeper considerations, a 17" is out. I will get the M75. Still collecting info on the neck and trying to nail down variations and if they are somehow related to the year. Then I will decide which year, if any in particular to hunt down. 42mm nut definitely won't work. So hoping most of them will be 43mm.

 

[AndiJ]

But the non back bound ones are milled out of a big chunk of wood right? While the double bound are actually built like an acoustic guitar or an ES330 etc...?

As far as I could gather, the current NS M75 Aristocrat is built like an acoustic. The cheaper ones labeled Aristocrat only, seem to be chambered rather than hollow, like the M75.

 

[Default]

But the non back bound ones are milled out of a big chunk of wood right? While the double bound are actually built like an acoustic guitar or an ES330 etc...?

The gold top that JP now has is hollow, and has an unbound back.