S-100 changes: '73/'74 vs '75-'77

[Qvart]

Notice on the '74 the strings are pretty much parallel to the body and angled much more on the '77.

On the '73 there is much more of the fingerboard above the body at the joint.

The heel is longer after '75.

I don't have any way to check the weight, but I can say for sure that the '75 and '77 are heavier than the '73 and '74. Fret wire is a little wider too.

I'm thinking the reason two of the '77's bridge pickup screws were missing is because someone tried to get the pickup lower than the springs and screws would allow. I replaced the two missing screws and sure enough I can't get the pickup any lower without the screws coming completely out. Now that I've done some comparing I think it might be possible to put two thicker pickup rings on the '73 and '74 and two thinner rings on the '75 and '77. Looking at the pictures it seems the string height at the neck pickup on the earlier models might clear a higher-mounted p'up.

 

[chazmo]

Pretty significant differences there, qvart!

 

[GAD]

Those are some very cool pics and some great observations!

Why do you suppose they changed the neck angle so severely?

Now for the photographer's lesson. Always dust your item before you take pics.

 

[Qvart]

Why do you suppose they changed the neck angle so severely?

Hans says the tailpiece was moved closer to the bridge to increase string tension (if you've played one with the tailpiece further back you may have noticed it's not too difficult to knock a string clear off a saddle). I don't know if the neck angle change was a necessary part of that or not, but it seems to have happened along with the tailpiece move. Also, the models that came after have that kind of angle as well (check out an S300).

Now for the photographer's lesson. Always dust your item before you take pics.

Eh, shuddup! :lol:

 

[Thunderface]

He's just jealous, Qvart.

Say, how about the Grovers ('73/'74) vs. the Schallers ('75/'77)? Does the '75 have Grovers or Schallers?

 

[Csquare4]

Fret wire is a little wider too.

? talking about the '77 vs. the '73

That is the one aspect I don't really like about my '73 S100, the frets are super thin and low. I much prefer the fat juicy frets on my M75CS, S60D and my Gibsons. The Polara is somewhere in between. For some reason, I keep coming back to the S100 though. I am thinking of doing a refret when/if I decide to refinish it.

Craig

 

[danerectal]

Fret wire is a little wider too.

? talking about the '77 vs. the '73

That is the one aspect I don't really like about my '73 S100, the frets are super thin and low. I much prefer the fat juicy frets on my M75CS, S60D and my Gibsons. The Polara is somewhere in between. For some reason, I keep coming back to the S100 though. I am thinking of doing a refret when/if I decide to refinish it.

Craig

That's actually my favorite part about the old ones. Small vintage fret wire is my go to. I don't mind it much on my '77, but I think that's because they've almost been ground off. They all play fine, but man have they been dressed.

 

[Qvart]

TF - all my Guilds have Schallers except the '73 with Grovers. I wish they all had Grovers. The '77 stays in tune pretty well with a little touchiness in the G-tuner (as is often the case).