Vintage HB-1s on a Newark Street S-100?

Norrissey

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I have a pair of '72 HB-1s. I had originally planned to put them on my X-170 but have decided not to - I've come to really like the SD-1s that are already on it.
I would like to get an S-100 and I'm considering purchasing a used Newark Street model and putting the '72 HB-1s on it. Does this seem like a good plan or would I be better to save up a little longer and buy a vintage S-100? Thanks in advance for your thoughts and suggestions.
 
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GAD

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The pickups will end up being worth more than the guitar.
 

Norrissey

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So not worth the trouble in your view Gary? I recall from your review of the Newark S-100 you were pretty impressed with the new Korean HB-1s. I was thinking I would end up a pretty new guitar with vintage HB-1s for quite a lot less $$ than the cost of a '70s S-100 but maybe it's not worth it. I'm approaching this more as a player than a collector obviously.
 
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GAD

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So not worth the trouble in your view Gary? I recall from your review of the Newark S-100 you were pretty impressed with the new Korean HB-1s. I was thinking I would end up a pretty new guitar with vintage HB-1s for quite a lot less $$ than the cost of a '70s S-100. I'm approaching this more as a player than a collector obviously.

I've certainly been guilty of putting parts worth more than the guitar into a guitar, and I would be eager to see it in action - especially with HB2/HB1 recordings since many people have asked for that, but HB1s are kind of like the PAFs of the Guild world, and to me that would be like putting genuine PAFs into an Epiphone.

The NS S100s aren't bad guitars at all, especially when compared with similarly priced current guitars from other brands, but the US-made examples are just better. Of course they cost more, too.

Having said all that, if my only guitar was a NS S100 and I had a set of HB1s I'd absolutely put them in there. :cool:
 

jp

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I think it's a good idea if you're a player. The craftsmanship is solid with most of the NS series. I'd also upgrade the harness, too for reliability.
 

S100

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I have a pair of '72 HB-1s. I had originally planned to put them on my X-170 but have decided not to - I've come to really like the SD-1s that are already on it.
I would like to get an S-100 and I'm considering purchasing a used Newark Street model and putting the '72 HB-1s on it. Does this seem like a good plan or would I be better to save up a little longer and buy a vintage S-100? Thanks in advance for your thoughts and suggestions.
So not worth the trouble in your view Gary? I recall from your review of the Newark S-100 you were pretty impressed with the new Korean HB-1s. I was thinking I would end up a pretty new guitar with vintage HB-1s for quite a lot less $$ than the cost of a '70s S-100 but maybe it's not worth it. I'm approaching this more as a player than a collector obviously.
If I were you, I’d look for a 90s S-100. They’re great players and somebody here will correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think you would have to do any routing to fit HB-1s in a 90s S-100. Plus, you get the phase switch.
 

Norrissey

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Thanks for that suggestion S100! Are the '90s S-100s like some of the other '90s electric models (like my X-170) where the early '90s ones had HB-1s, the mid-'90s ones had SD-1s and the late '90s ones had Fender humbuckers?
 

GAD

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Thanks for that suggestion S100! Are the '90s S-100s like some of the other '90s electric models (like my X-170) where the early '90s ones had HB-1s, the mid-'90s ones had SD-1s and the late '90s ones had Fender humbuckers?

The very early reissues (like the first ten or something) had HB1s, then they moved to regular flat-top SD SH1/JB pickups. I think there’s another short period with SDs stuffed into HB1 covers, but they’re rarely seen. See here for a ‘94:


Here’s my ‘97:



I love the ‘90s S100s.
 

Norrissey

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Thanks Gary! I'll check out that review. I think I may have already but I need to refresh. The only catch with going this route is '90s S-100s are a little scarce.
 

Hammer

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The very early reissues (like the first ten or something) had HB1s, then they moved to regular flat-top SD SH1/JB pickups. I think there’s another short period with SDs stuffed into HB1 covers, but they’re rarely seen. See here for a ‘94:


Here’s my ‘97:



I love the ‘90s S100s.
You are correct. My green '94 has SDs under the HB-1 covers.
 

mellowgerman

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I would also vote for a 90's S-100 if you're patient and not jonesing too hard to get this project off the ground. About 10 years ago I picked up a well-worn, player's grade 90's S-100 for $600 if I recall correctly. Amazing guitar for the money. Loved the chunky neck on it. A friend of mine fell in love with it, so I passed it along to him. It's still one of his main players.
 

Norrissey

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Thanks so much to everyone for the info, suggestions, and recommendations! Gonna take my time with this and hopefully find a really nice S-100 of some kind. Hopefully a 90's model.
 
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