fronobulax
Bassist, GAD and the Hot Mess Mods
- Joined
- May 3, 2007
- Messages
- 24,732
- Reaction score
- 8,863
- Location
- Central Virginia, USA
- Guild Total
- 5
This is a recapitulation of the discussion started over here. Some information should be in The Guild Guitar Book although I don't have my copy at hand to confirm or verify.
The discussion ends with the oft maligned Guild Humbucker which was standard on all Guild basses by 1972.
There were four distinct pickups. The first is is called the "Mickey Mouse". It was allegedly named that because of the similarity to a guitar pickup, also referred to as "Mickey Mouse". The guitar pickup supposedly got its name because of its small size. It was NOT made by Hagstrom. It was used in the earliest JetStar basses but apparently on no other basses.
Below is what is presumed to be a Mickey Mouse PU in a JetStar.
Next was what might be called the small single-coil Hagstrom. It was used on early Starfires. It may, or may not, have been used on JetStars as well. Anyone know? I have seen it on three Starfires with serial BA-329 and lower.
Below is an example. Note that I have mistakenly called this the Mickey Mouse pickup in the past.
Next is the Hagstrom Bisonic. It was used in JetStars, Starfire I's, Starfire II's, M-85 I's, M-85 II's and JS II's. Someone on LTG claimed that the PU was not made by Hagstrom but they never replied to a request for more information.
Example below.
Finally, there is what might best be called the Hagstrom humbucker. As far as I know it was never used on a Guild bass outside of the bridge position. It has been seen on Starfire II's, JS II's and M-85 II's. It has been paired with both the Bisonic and the Guild humbucker.
Han's picture below.
So...
JetStars had one pickup. Mickey Mouse and Bisonics have been observed. Someone needs to tell me whether the small Hagstrom single coil was used or not.
Starfire I's had the small Hagstrom and the Bisonic. Was the Mickey Mouse ever used on a Starfire? I think not, but...
Starfire II's had a pair of Bisonics, a Bisonic and a Hagstrom humbucker and a Guild humbucker and a Hagstrom humbucker. Can anyone confirm my memory on this last combination? The Hagstrom single coil was never paired with anything and used on a Starfire II, correct?
Hollow M-85 I's had the Bisonic.
Hollow M-85 II's had a pair of Bisonics or a Bisonic and a Hagstrom humbucker.
Solid M-85 II's had a Guild humbucker and a Hagstrom humbucker or a pair of Guild humbuckers. I'm real fuzzy here so I'm hoping for confirmation corrections concerning all flavors of M-85.
JS I's had a Guild humbucker.
JS II's had a pair of Bisonics, or a Bisonic and a Hagstrom humbucker or a pair of Guild humbuckers.
Did I forget anything? What did I get wrong?
The discussion ends with the oft maligned Guild Humbucker which was standard on all Guild basses by 1972.
There were four distinct pickups. The first is is called the "Mickey Mouse". It was allegedly named that because of the similarity to a guitar pickup, also referred to as "Mickey Mouse". The guitar pickup supposedly got its name because of its small size. It was NOT made by Hagstrom. It was used in the earliest JetStar basses but apparently on no other basses.
Below is what is presumed to be a Mickey Mouse PU in a JetStar.
Next was what might be called the small single-coil Hagstrom. It was used on early Starfires. It may, or may not, have been used on JetStars as well. Anyone know? I have seen it on three Starfires with serial BA-329 and lower.
Below is an example. Note that I have mistakenly called this the Mickey Mouse pickup in the past.
Next is the Hagstrom Bisonic. It was used in JetStars, Starfire I's, Starfire II's, M-85 I's, M-85 II's and JS II's. Someone on LTG claimed that the PU was not made by Hagstrom but they never replied to a request for more information.
Example below.
Finally, there is what might best be called the Hagstrom humbucker. As far as I know it was never used on a Guild bass outside of the bridge position. It has been seen on Starfire II's, JS II's and M-85 II's. It has been paired with both the Bisonic and the Guild humbucker.
Han's picture below.
So...
JetStars had one pickup. Mickey Mouse and Bisonics have been observed. Someone needs to tell me whether the small Hagstrom single coil was used or not.
Starfire I's had the small Hagstrom and the Bisonic. Was the Mickey Mouse ever used on a Starfire? I think not, but...
Starfire II's had a pair of Bisonics, a Bisonic and a Hagstrom humbucker and a Guild humbucker and a Hagstrom humbucker. Can anyone confirm my memory on this last combination? The Hagstrom single coil was never paired with anything and used on a Starfire II, correct?
Hollow M-85 I's had the Bisonic.
Hollow M-85 II's had a pair of Bisonics or a Bisonic and a Hagstrom humbucker.
Solid M-85 II's had a Guild humbucker and a Hagstrom humbucker or a pair of Guild humbuckers. I'm real fuzzy here so I'm hoping for confirmation corrections concerning all flavors of M-85.
JS I's had a Guild humbucker.
JS II's had a pair of Bisonics, or a Bisonic and a Hagstrom humbucker or a pair of Guild humbuckers.
Did I forget anything? What did I get wrong?