BradHK
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Since I just finished that restoration on that hollow M-75 with DeArmond pickups, I decided I would get out my hollow body M-75s and M-65s for a fun shootout this morning. Other than size and being hollow, you can’t really compare them as they are all slightly different. But I thought it would be fun anyway (and I had no real plans this morning)! They all have different pickups and only two are the same construction (spruce top, mahogany sides and back with the neck joining the body at the 16th fret). The guitars I compared were a 1954 Aristocrat with franz pickups, 1965 M-65 with a frequency tested pickup, a 1967 M-75 with Anti-hums, and a 1970 with DeArmonds. My 1969 M-65 with a Mickey Mouse is not at home right now so unfortunately I could not throw that one into the mix (Next time!).
I played each back to back many times through the same amp (1961 Gibson GA-5T). I thought I would come out with one that I liked better. Feel, sound, vibe, etc.. The interesting thing is that given the similar construction and same size they all sounded and felt similar but at the same time very different. I would pick one up and think that one sounded “best” to my ears and style but then pick up another and change my mind. Some I leaned toward the bridge pickup but others I leaned toward the neck or both pickups. Really fun morning. The only thing I learned today is that now I want one with HB-1s!
family shot while I had them out:
I played each back to back many times through the same amp (1961 Gibson GA-5T). I thought I would come out with one that I liked better. Feel, sound, vibe, etc.. The interesting thing is that given the similar construction and same size they all sounded and felt similar but at the same time very different. I would pick one up and think that one sounded “best” to my ears and style but then pick up another and change my mind. Some I leaned toward the bridge pickup but others I leaned toward the neck or both pickups. Really fun morning. The only thing I learned today is that now I want one with HB-1s!
family shot while I had them out: