So now it's the "Battle of the S-50's" ;]
The Cherry burst '66 is heavier, the Mahogany guitar is substantially heavier at 7lb 1oz to the '65 Sunburst featherweight 6lb 6oz. It's instantly noticeable when you pick it up. Why a half pound makes so much difference, I don't know, but it does.
666 LOL ;]
The neck on the '66 is chunkier. I can't get an exact measurement with strings on, but there is a difference, the Sunburst is a flat C shape, The Cherry burst is slightly more round C shape. Putting an old slide caliper over the strings down on the 7th fret on the Cherry, the caliper floats on the Sunburst, about a 32nd difference. Slight, but it's there.
The neck angle on the Cherry is more pronounced, the volute thicker.
It's just chunkier.
The pickup readings are almost identical, again, the Cherry a touch higher reading than the Burst.
Cherry slightly hotter than Burst. The vintage BOSS Japan pedal patchcord measures an impressively low .01Ω.
Tonally, there's quite a difference, identical strings on both guitars -
Unplugged;
The Sunburst is super resonant and bright, this is the Alder. The Cherry - Mahogany - is darker, not quite as bright or as resonant but has that typical Mahogany midrangy growl.
Plugged in, the same. The Sunburst is livelier, the Mahogany a little darker, more muted on the high end.
I did a couple recorded tone tests, probably not worth uploading/posting, but I like to listen to these later when I'm more objective.
This is the Sunburst the other night after a couple Martinis ;] It's got some zing to the tone.
I like this one pickup guitar thing, less fooling [around with knobs] and more playing.
'65 Guild S-50 played through a '66 Ampeg Reverberocket made in Linden NJ. The S-50 was made in Hoboken NJ - only 30 minutes from each other - and other recent acquisition '64 Silvertone "Amp in Case" 1448 was made in Neptune NJ, 44 minutes from Linden and 1hr from Hoboken. Was it something in the water?
Jersey seems to be the Holy Ground for some of my favorite things ;]