Differences and specifications on T-100 models

[Blues&BebopFan]

Dear Guild's friends

I hope everyone is doing fine and living the best Guild's life.

I caught myself reading and checking the different versions of the Guild T-100 and I was wondering what are the differences and speficications between all the models. If I'm not mistaken, there are some models (from mid 60s) that have one or two Mickey Mouse pickup while those from the 1950's and early 60's have Franz P90 ones. The MM pickups, from what I read on other threads, have a woodier sound and the Franz pickup is close to a regular P90 but with a brighter sound.

I see some model are called T-100D and some other T-100DP but I don't see a difference, they look exactly the same ?

Can someone kindly highlight me on the specifications and differences of this model ?

Thank you for your help,
I wish you all a beautiful day,

 

[GGJaguar]

The D and DP suffixes are equivalent. The DP was used for a time in the late 50s and early 60s interchangeably with D. There was a short time from 1964 and 1965 when the Todd "frequency tested" single coil pickups were used. There are some T-100s in the late 60s that used Anti-hum small humbucker pickups and some T-100s in the early 70s that used HB-1 full-size humbuckers. Also, single pickup T-100 got "downgraded" around 1966 when it no longer had a bound fingerboard or chesterfield inlay. It only had a silk screened Guild logo. Here's my '65 T-100D with the Todd pickups - https://ggjaguar.com/t-100d.htm

 

[Blues&BebopFan]

Thank you so much GG for your clear and complete answer. Also, very interesting website you made here !!
I'm SO happy to be able to read valuable informations on each models! It make my day ! Are all the guitars on the website from your collection ?

 

[Minnesota Flats]

I used to have one with a single Franz (neck) pickup and an "open book" headstock. Fingerboard and top of the body was bound. Open-back tuners. No idea when it was made.

Strange thing was, the pickup cover was black and every other Franz pickup cover I've ever seen has been off white/cream. I suppose maybe some previous owner of my guitar may have painted it because he thought it looked better that way, but that seems unlikely.

 

[Blues&BebopFan]

I used to have one with a single Franz (neck) pickup and an "open book" headstock. Fingerboard and top of the body was bound. Open-back tuners. No idea when it was made.

Strange thing was, the pickup cover was black and every other Franz pickup cover I've ever seen has been off white/cream. I suppose maybe some previous owner of my guitar may have painted it because he thought it looked better that way, but that seems unlikely.

Thanks for your reply! Can you explain your experience with it ? What kind of music were you playing on it ?

 

[BradHK]

Strange thing was, the pickup cover was black and every other Franz pickup cover I've ever seen has been off white/cream. I suppose maybe some previous owner of my guitar may have painted it because he thought it looked better that way, but that seems unlikely.

Very early Guilds had both cream and black Franz covers. Black was primarily used on sunburst guitars. Here is a 1954 Guild with black covers

 

[Minnesota Flats]

What kind of music were you playing on it ?

Mostly just playing blues with friends at pretty low volume through a 1959 Fender 5F1 tweed Champ. Still have the amp...wish I still had the guitar.

Black was primarily used on sunburst guitars.

Thanks. Good to know, even if I've never seen another black one "in the flesh". Mine was a sunburst.

 

[GGJaguar]

Are all the guitars on the website from your collection ?

Yes, but I sold off a lot of them.

 

[Blues&BebopFan]

Yes, but I sold off a lot of them.

well thanks for sharing, yesterday I read a lot of description you wrote and I've learnt a lot!

 

[Default]

FWIW, the MM pups frequently have a capacitor from the the hot to ground. Take that off, and the pickup is much brighter. The cap makes the guitar more of a jazzbox, which was intentional.

 

[jp]

Hi B&B fan! Here are a few other things maybe worth noting:

As you may know, the T-100 and T-100D was a budget model, and the same superstructure was used with more deluxe appointments to become the Starfire I, II, and III models. T-100s had mostly laminated maple back, sides, and top. They also had binding only on the top. As the SFs were being developed, there were a few T-100s that had mahogany tops, like the SF and with binding on the top and bottom.

T-100s have also had varied hardware over the years.

• They've been seen with Waverly tailpieces, Guild harp tailpieces, Bigsbys, and Guildsbys.
• Chevron rounded pickguards and the classic Guild stairstep pickguards, too.
• They've had Waverly 3-on a plate tuners, Grover Sta-tites, and inexpensive 60s Japanese tuners.
• They've had a multitude of knobs: the awesome clear acrylics, clear ones with Guild logo, black with Guild logo, and the ivory-yellow blank knobs.
• Headstock logos have been script Guild to Chesterfields as well.

The variation should offer no surprise, since the model was in production from the late-50s to the mid-70s.

 

[GGJaguar]

They've had Waverly 3-on a plate tuners, Grover Sta-tites, and inexpensive 60s Japanese tuners.

Some even had 3-on-a-plate Van Gent tuners.

 

[Blues&BebopFan]

Hi B&B fan! Here are a few other things maybe worth noting:

As you may know, the T-100 and T-100D was a budget model, and the same superstructure was used with more deluxe appointments to become the Starfire I, II, and III models. T-100s had mostly laminated maple back, sides, and top. They also had binding only on the top. As the SFs were being developed, there were a few T-100s that had mahogany tops, like the SF and with binding on the top and bottom.

T-100s have also had varied hardware over the years.

• They've been seen with Waverly tailpieces, Guild harp tailpieces, Bigsbys, and Guildsbys.
• Chevron rounded pickguards and the classic Guild stairstep pickguards, too.
• They've had Waverly 3-on a plate tuners, Grover Sta-tites, and inexpensive 60s Japanese tuners.
• They've had a multitude of knobs: the awesome clear acrylics, clear ones with Guild logo, black with Guild logo, and the ivory-yellow blank knobs.
• Headstock logos have been script Guild to Chesterfields as well.

The variation should offer no surprise, since the model was in production from the late-50s to the mid-70s.

thanks for your reply! interesting!

 

[Mapleman54]

Here's a 53 x330 with white, a 54 x150 with black, and a 1960 T100D with white. I had it in my head that the white was used with blonde, and the black with sunburst, but the T100 minces that argument-maybe by 1960 things had changed!

 

[Blues&BebopFan]

WAOUW ! Nice collection ! The T-100 looks in perfect condition !!!

 

[Mapleman54]

Thanks! yes the T100 is really clean...there is a bit of laqueur flaked off on one of the back edges, but aside from that it is spot on - And the case is too! Previously I had a blonde '61 T100D which had to be sold in a moment to skint-ness, and I was desperate to replace it a couple of years later. This one came along and I was lucky to get it. Heres a couple of shots of the '61 which was a fine sounding guitar, now living in Germany. Incidentally the bass player is my venerable colleague Jack Monck who was in the Canterbury scene back in the '70's and did some work in the Syd Barret band at the time .

 

[Blues&BebopFan]

Thanks for sharing this other gorgeous T100 and your cool story!
I'm thinking of buying a T-100 as they seems to be easy to play, versatile and not too expensive. I would like a blond one exactly like yours with Franz pickups... If you see one for sale in the UK, please warn me.

Wish you a beautiful day,
alexis

 

[Mapleman54]

Ok I will.. they do come up although harder to find in good condition now. Very best. Tim

 

[Blues&BebopFan]

Ok I will.. they do come up although harder to find in good condition now. Very best. Tim

thanks Tim! Do you have some recording to share with yours ? I'm curious to hear how it sound!

 

[Shakeylee]

Don’t forget, some T-100s had dearmonds,too