Why no love for 70s S-50?

[dogzstar]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum, just acquired a X-180 GSR (no.2/5) and I'm in love! Please welcome me.

I want to get also a Guild solid body, I was looking for vintage or reissue S100s, but found a S-50 from 1974 for 600EUR. That's a good deal, right?

There is quite a lot of info on the S100 and S300, but can't find much about 70s S-50s, why is that?
I understand that they "recycled" the Jetstar "S-50" designation and offered the S-50 as a cut down version of S-100 in 70s, with the SGish shape.
Apart from having 1 pickup instead of 2, are there any differences between the two models? I mean, the stoptail and the bridge looks like the same as in S-100, are they truly same? And it has the same famous HB1 pickup right? The wood seems to be the same as well.

I suppose it was not a "student" version like the Musicmaster/Mustang family, but can I expect a good quality instrument if I go 70s S-50? I don't care having 1 pickup only, actually the simplicity of the S-50 attracts me. Actually more than the Bluesbird for example. 60s Thunderbirds are cool though!

I hope some Guild lovers can share their experience and reviews of 70s S-50 under this threat.

Cheers from Barcelona,
Onur

 

[GAD]

Welcome!

I think the reason they weren't more popular is that, at least in my opinion, they're goofy looking. If that pickup had been more in the bridge position it would have been a rock monster, but putting it in the middle just made me sort of -meh-.

 

[dogzstar]

On the other hand, the middle positioned humbucker is what makes the guitar unique. I have neither tried a 3 pickup SG, anybody can reflect how does the middle pickup sound on a mahogany body? best of both worlds or truly meh?

 

[richardp69]

I play mostly acoustic but do have a 1964 S 50/jet Star I think is way cool. The simpler the better for me.

 

[Quantum Strummer]

I like the sound of pickups placed "in the middle." The single pickup ES-330 is this way and sounds killer. IMO Strat middle pickups sound great too…you get more bite than the neck p'up and more warmth than the bridge. I do have a 3-pickup SG Custom, original "tarback" pickups replaced with Mojotone PAF-alikes, wired up with 3 volumes and a single master tone. The middle pickup is always active. By itself it has the brighter-than-neck, warmer-than-bridge sound. It's not the classic rock & roll driving-the-amp thing, but that's not my thing anyway (most of the time).

-Dave-

 

[walrus]

Middle pickup (P90) only on my '58 ES-225T, and I love it. Like Richard said, the simpler the better.

And, welcome to LTG! How about some pix of the X-180?

walrus

 

[AcornHouse]

I also have a ‘64 Jetstar and love the sound of the P90 (-ish) pup when pushed hard. What throws me is not the sound of that middle position, but the feel; I have trouble figuring out where to put my right hand so I don’t keep on pressing the strings onto the pup, or raking my pick on it.

 

[Zelja]

I'm with GAD, not a fan of the pickup position. YMMV.

 

[walrus]

I also have a ‘64 Jetstar and love the sound of the P90 (-ish) pup when pushed hard. What throws me is not the sound of that middle position, but the feel; I have trouble figuring out where to put my right hand so I don’t keep on pressing the strings onto the pup, or raking my pick on it.

I am pretty tall and have a relatively big hand. I find it fits perfect in the classic "palm mute" postion with the pick right in front of the pup, as if the pup was a bridge pup (so to speak). Weirdly, I had a middle pup Epiphone Casino where I definitely did not feel that comfortable with the pup there. Of course, if you play around with the hand positon, you can definitley get a few different sounds. I am not against 2 pickups! I miss my Bluesbird - but could not handle the weight. But the feel of the neck on this Gibson ES-225T ('58 Les Paul neck), the vintage sound, and it's sound unplugged as well, is keeping me happy. Oh, and it's my age, too.

walrus

 

[Hammer]

Love mine. Lighter than air. Has a weird pickup in it. Don't think I ever figured out what it was. I'll have to dig it out and snap pics.

 

[mushroom]

I had one of these for a short while once. As AcornHouse mentioned, I just kept banging my pick on it.
It sounded OK though.