Pickups toggle switches question (S-100, M-75)

[Russian Guy]

Hey, guys! Is a Gibby-looking pickup toggle switch a clear indicator that the stock chrome one has been replaced?

To illustrate my point here's a couple of examples:

1) 1973 S-100 from Elderly Instruments with a black switch

2) M-75 from guitarsandeffects.com with a white one

3) S-100 SC from rumbleseatmusic with a white switch

4) Black M-75 with a white switch from eBay listing (also had dot inlays instead of block ones).

5) M-80 in Ukraine (pups along with the pickup rings are definitely replaced but look at that switch!!!) It's like a Ferrari on the North Pole. An eye-catcher and not in a good way. This one is most definitely had it replaced.

I've noticed it quite a bit and only on two models of solidbody electrics from the 70s period, particularly on S-100s and M-75s. Or did Guild occasionally use whatever pickup selectors they had in stock? Just curious.

Vadim

 

[fronobulax]

Well the factory PU selector switch from a 1971 JS II bass has a chrome tip

Looking at Starfire II basses from the late 60's I see some variety. My hunch is that Guild used whatever was available and so you can't really date or assess originality based on the PU selector.

 

[SFIV1967]

Hi Vadim,
I am not an expert with the 2 mentioned models, only picture number 2 switch looks strange, number 1,3,4,5 look at least like the original switch (Switchcraft I think) to me except: The original metal switch tip was replaced on all of them. But if the switch was replaced is impossible to tell from the pictures.
And I am not sure if Guild ever used plastic switch tips on those 2 models, I doubt.
In a lot of cases the metal switch tips just get lost over time, and people replaced them with whatever was available in shops, which is more the Gibson stuff, I have not seen metal switch tips from Guild as replacement parts so far. The metal switch tip is getting lose very easy. The plastic switch tips seem to stay longer on.
That's what I think happened.
Those switch tips are a science for Gibson fanboys, see:
http://home.provide.net/~cfh/tips.html

Ralf

 

[matsickma]

To my knowledge Guild began using a specially shaped metal tip on their pickup selector switch in the early 1960's and kept it until around the late 1990's when they they began using a conventionally shaped metal tip on the switches. Once they changed from the style used in the 1950's they basically used a metal tip for all the standard two pickup switches.

M

 

[SFIV1967]

To my knowledge Guild began using a specially shaped metal tip on their pickup selector switch in the early 1960's and kept it until around the late 1990's when they they began using a conventionally shaped metal tip on the switches. Once they changed from the style used in the 1950's they basically used a metal tip for all the standard two pickup switches.
M

Yes, that is also what Hans wrote in his book on page 35: "Around 1961 the plastic tips on the Switchcraft switches were changed to metal ones."
Ralf

 

[GAD]

Hey, guys! Is a Gibby-looking pickup toggle switch a clear indicator that the stock chrome one has been replaced?

I would say yes, at least on a 70s and later Guild.

 

[Russian Guy]

I appreciate the input fro mall of you, guys. Thanks! It's just this little question has been bugging me and IMHO those non-stock plastic tips don't look good on Guilds.

But out of those 5 the pale orange (or whatever the heck color it is) switch is the worst. Black one would be at least not so conspicuous. Natural S-100 with a white pickup I think is a close second in terms of it looking out of place.

 

[matsickma]

I also suspect that the Guild metal toggle switch caps may be coveted by many people who have access to them so it may not always be true that if the cap has been changed the switch was also changed. I remember hearing or reading somewhere that many early Aristocrats with amber caps were often removed by people looking for a vintag cap for early Les Pauls.

M

 

[SFIV1967]

I also suspect that the Guild metal toggle switch caps may be coveted by many people who have access to them so it may not always be true that if the cap has been changed the switch was also changed. I remember hearing or reading somewhere that many early Aristocrats with amber caps were often removed by people looking for a vintag cap for early Les Pauls.
M

Even today in a lot of shops the shop owners unscrew the switch caps on more expensive instruments because people just steal them as placements.
Ralf

 

[GAD]

FWIW, I bought a few metal switch tips on Ebay a while back to put on my improperly outfitted Guilds. They're not 100% accurate, but man, they look SO much better than plastic. Just do a search for "metal switch tip" on ebay and you'll find some.

Oh, and try finding the original metal switch tips for a US-made Jackson! Oy. Here's what they look like:

 

[Treem]

I bought this for (use to have) 70 S-100 (formerly known as: Blacknight!) Done. :mrgreen: