I originally asked this question in the S-100 owners roster, but as Qvart rghtly suggested, the topic should have its own thread. Here's my original question:
And Thunderface's reply:
Thanks Thunderface for the "long-winded" and detailed reply. I had seen that youtube video of the Polara, but not bluespicky's one... some tasty licks there.
I am going to poke around for a Polara at the right price. THe oddball nature of it appeals to me, as do the single coils. If anyone else wants to chime in with comparisons between the Polara and later S-100s, I'd be interested to hear anything further.
calvin006 said:Hey S-100 lovers... I recently started thinking about finding a Polara. I really dig the unique body shape and from what I've read about the P-90ish pickups, they sound like they are up my alley (I'm a single coil guy).
A lot of you seem to prefer the 70s version of the S-100. I was wondering what the reasons are... Is it the humbuckers? More traditional body shape?
And Thunderface's reply:
Thunderface said:They're entirely different animals, and I can say that with some degree of certainty since I own both, as do a few others here. The 70s S-100s rule because of the HB-1s. The body shape is great, but it's the HB-1s perfectly married to that mahogany body and the sound they produce that makes it our solidbody of choice. Sixty-three of us, and counting, can't all be wrong, can we?
We've all sang the praises of the 70s S-100s many times, but I think newbie astav might have summed it up best when he stumbled upon a '73 S-100 Deluxe recently:
"So I'm at the local mom and pop hunting for strings when my eye catches an old beater hanging on the wall behind the register - kind of SG like in shape and color. Since I haven't had much luck with SG's in the past, and I need another guitar like I need another mother-in-law, I maintain discipline and go about my string buying business. As I'm checking out though, I can't help myself. The clerk pulls it off the wall, I plug in, and holy crap! The thing sings. Fits me perfectly, plays like a dream. Minutes later, I'm walking out with it - a Guild S100 Deluxe. Haven't really played much else in the last couple of weeks. It likes loud and clean, loud and raunch, fuzz, distortion, delay, trem - whatever I throw at it."
But getting back to the Polara. I wanted one because I fell hard for the body shape and the fact that they are as vintage as I am. Since owning one, I love the sound of the single coils in comparison with the HB-1s of my "Class of '73" S-100s. However, if I had to pick one over the other, I'd still chose one of the '73s because of the HB-1s. Luckily, I don't have to chose, since I'm keeping both -- the Polara and the "Class of '73"! :wink:
The other thing is, if recently buying history is any indication, you can find a 70s S-100 for much less than you can a 60s Polara. Since you're a single coil guy, if you can find a Polara that's within your budget, however big or small that is, I'd definitely say GO FOR IT!
Have you seen this Youtube video? It's kind of long-winded, much like this reply, but you do get a taste of what he Polara sounds like. Now compare that to bluesypicky's tour de force on a '73 S-100.
Thanks Thunderface for the "long-winded" and detailed reply. I had seen that youtube video of the Polara, but not bluespicky's one... some tasty licks there.
I am going to poke around for a Polara at the right price. THe oddball nature of it appeals to me, as do the single coils. If anyone else wants to chime in with comparisons between the Polara and later S-100s, I'd be interested to hear anything further.