New Beater: 2015 Guild M-75 Aristocrat

[Sam Sherry]

The goal for this outing was a small, affordable, weather-proof hollow guitar with two pickups. The Guild M-75 Aristocrat appeared likely to check all the boxes; the full specs are here. Guitar Denter swapped a pedal toward the deal and there you go.





Somebody really played this guitar. On the one hand, it shows its share of scratches (which some people gloss as "relicing"). On the other hand, the OEM "Franz Reissue" pickups were replaced with Lollar low-wind P90s.
That required a nifty little mod. "Franz" pickups are slightly smaller than P90s and they mount with screws under the cover in the four corners. P90s mount with screws in the center, and the M-75 is hollow so there's no 'center.'
Check this out:





I expected it would need something under the hood; the 'Crat ships with glued-in shims under the bridge pickup which impede an optimal string-height. This work was pretty nicely done and included all that.
But there was one thing: Johnny Lutherer had installed the P90s out of phase. That's probably why the guitar went to GC -- it sounded fluish in the middle position.
It's an easy fix. A compass, a Radio Shack meter, two solder joints and now it's set up RWRP to humbuck in the middle.
The low-wind Lollars sound very tasty. P-90s + 12s = peace in the homestead.

In short, this guitar has slid nicely into the number five slot and should come in handy this summer.
Mission accomplished. Now back to the music!

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Cool beans, Sam! But “weatherproof”? I assume you mean that the poly and laminated build are less sensitive to climate than nitro on solid wood. But I wouldn’t carry it through a snow storm sans case like Bloomfield or play it in the rain

[Sam Sherry]

But “weatherproof”? I assume you mean that the poly and laminated build are less sensitive to climate than nitro on solid wood.

Yep. I've got a few outdoor jazz quartet dates this summer and there are usually a few singer-songwriter outdoor shows too.

But I wouldn’t carry it through a snow storm sans case like Bloomfield or play it in the rain

Bloomfield was a hero of my youth but not for the things he put his instruments through!

It's a tool. It has to sound ok and it has to feel ok. But there's also a positive value for "not worried about roasting the tool."

[EllenGtrGrl]

VERY Noice! Congrats!

[DawgBone]

That's a beautiful guitar. I have wanted to try one of those for a long time. Very nice mods, bet it sounds righteous. Congrats! I love a good poly finish in a gigging instrument. My main player has gotten wet a few times at outdoor gigs. Toss it in the case and let it dry out when I get home. No worries. Thanks for sharing you sweet axe!

[Max405]

Hey Sam,
That’s hardly a beater, it’s a really nice guitar bud.
And nice going on the polarity re alignment on the pickups. That must have a made a night and day difference in the sound. Very cool. Lots luck!
Joe D