Rescued Detonator Lives Again

[tonepoet]

My impression was that Detonators were a way to try and get into the Super Strat thing that was so big at the time. They're great US-made guitars that often fly under the radar, but they were pretty much on the lower-end of the spectrum of Guild electrics at the time. They are one of the most traditional looking of that period's Guild but they often fly under the radar.

They didn't really break into the Super Strat thing because most of them didn't come with double-locking trems and Strat purists wouldn't touch them.

I've never known anyone who had one and didn't like it. I have one but I don't play it much because I have so many others that I like more. I would dearly love to find a Detonator II, though, because they had double locking trems.

Yeah, I think they were probably just seen as wanna-be Strats, when they were seen. With only about 600 or so being made, there weren't many to go around and I recall the price tag being higher than a Strat. So, I can see why they didn't get any attention.

I had two Fender Strats at the time I got my first Detonator around 20 years ago and was blown away by how well it was built, how well it sounded, how much better the trem bridge was and how much better it stayed in tune, compared to the two Fender Strats I had. I was sold immediately. But like you, I do have other guitars and Guilds that I play more.

 

[Stratoguild]

My Detonator is was originally a pearl white colour but the years have turned it gold. Mine has the EMG's which I don't like. Seymour Duncan SSL6's, flat poles and straight sided bobbins would be an option but decided to keep it like it left the factory.

 

[tonepoet]

My Detonator is was originally a pearl white colour but the years have turned it gold. Mine has the EMG's which I don't like. Seymour Duncan SSL6's, flat poles and straight sided bobbins would be an option but decided to keep it like it left the factory.

Stratoguild,
My white Detonator that turned a mellow custard color was the model that left the factory with passives DiMarzios but did not come to me all original. I do have the original DiMarzio VS-1 single coil for the neck. Since that model is long out of production, I called DiMarzio and they said it was replaced by their "Class of '55" model, which was in production at the time. So, I ordered a flangeless one from them for the middle pickup. For the bridge HB, I put in a Bill Lawrence L-500C, which was at a time when Bill was still alive producing them in Pennsylvania.

I have other stock Detonators and since this one was not original when I got it, I did that configuration to it.

 

[GuildGirl]

I'm stoked you chose the Bartolini pickups, I have looked at them, but not tried. they should be pretty great.
Great rebuild. I think members should do more of these kinds of remodels. Congrats!!

 

[tonepoet]

I'm stoked you chose the Bartolini pickups, I have looked at them, but not tried. they should be pretty great.
Great rebuild. I think members should do more of these kinds of remodels. Congrats!!

Thanks GuildGirl,

I think the Bartolinis sound great. Apparently, there's a wait trying to get them but I found out that Sweetwater will special order them and can get them to you in a couple weeks. Sweetwater only advertised offering the middle ACE65 middle pickup, but when I contacted them that I also wanted the ACE60 neck pickup, they said they would special order it at the same price.

I like projects, which is why almost all my guitars I have bought used from eBay or Reverb. But, alas, I don't really need another guitar! However, that parted out Detonator was haunting me for about 3 weeks as it sat there on eBay. So, I finally broke down, contacted the seller with some questions and hit the Buy It Now button and a new project was commenced.