Something old (S-100), something BLUE!?!

[fearless]

Here are some pics of my newly acquired '73 S-100. Currently in hands of Jeff the Enabler having a full health check and some time off for a vacation before its big journey Down Under.

All good with one very unusual feature – blue pick-up rings! And no, it is not just the light, they really are BLUE :shock:

Does anyone know anything about these? They look the right shape. It seems highly unlikely that a 3rd party manufacturer would have tooled up to produce an aftermarket item.
It doesn’t appear that they have been re-painted although I could be wrong. Would Guild have produced funky pick-up rings in different colours?

Looking good:

Some scratches on the pickguard, one odd pick-up screw

Some rash on rear of the neck

Rear upper bout through to wood

and some light buckle rash

Bridge height - low-ish but OK

Frets quite low (no big surprise)

'73 serial number

I’m one happy Antipodean. But very curious about the pick-up rings!

 

[Maxer]

Nice guitar! Looks like a refret is just down the road. Otherwise it's a great score. Congrats!

Weird about those blue rings. Can't believe that would have been standard that year. More likely they were of a generic size and were thus swapped out from another humbucker guitar of a different brand? That's my best guess.

 

[fab467]

That's a real beauty fearless. Best of luck with her!

 

[fearless]

Thanks Fab!

Maxer - yes, I wondered the same, but I recall reading here somewhere that the S-100 rings are a unique size. They have the 2 screws for tilt adjustment and look exactly right except for colour. I'm starting to think maybe they have been painted after all. I guess I won't know until it arrives and I can check it out more closely.
The re-fret will sting a bit but I console myself with the thought that it will then be right for many, many more years of playing.

 

[coastie99]

Those p/u rings look like they might have been anodised. ( ? )

If they are, then wouldn't they have to be metal ?

Verry interestink !

 

[Jeff]

That's a real beauty fearless. Best of luck with her!

Actually it is nice, I've enjoyed having it here the last couple days.

Judging by the pick wear & other various nicks on the pu rings I'd guess they're plastic & unpainted.

The previous owner must have had a soft touch, the action is set about as low as anyone would ever want, with little fretwear since the frets were last dressed. Comes with a set of super slynkys installed,, measuring the strings with a caliper indicates low E = 42, high E = 9. Plays great, quite slick actually, but easy to hit too hard & rattle strings, someone here once said that's the reason electric guitars come with volume knobs.

I suspect Fearless is going to be happy.

 

[fearless]

Grinning already, Jeff! Take your time to enjoy it.

Another good thing about electric guitars (apart from the volume knob) is the ease of adjusting the set-up. I usually play with 11-49s, which will vibrate at the same pitch with less string movement. I also play with quite heavy attack, so raising the bridge will be necessary and easily done with the thumb screws. A slight adjustment to the truss rod and re-set the intonation at the bridge for the different string gauge and Bob's your auntie's live-in lover. All without visiting a repair shop.

I wonder if Hans will happen along and have a comment on the pick-up rings.

 

[Treem]

Congratulations Fearless! She looks like a winner to me! :mrgreen:

Jeff - You're priceless! 8)

Treem 8)

 

[hagmeat]

Hi Fearless,nice score mate. I reckon you`ll have many hours of enjoyment with that one. cheers.

 

[fearless]

Those p/u rings look like they might have been anodised. ( ? )

If they are, then wouldn't they have to be metal ?

Verry interestink !

For anodising, yes. There are plating processes that work on top of plastic, and maybe something like that would produce the deep colour. But I can't imagine someone going to the trouble. I would have said paint with clear coating, but Jeff says they don't look like that.
Some short run of custom colours from Guild seems possible, but I would have expected to see them before on the pointy '80s X-79s etc, not a natural S-100 from '73 It is all very bewildering!

 

[fearless]

Hi Fearless,nice score mate. I reckon you`ll have many hours of enjoyment with that one. cheers.

Thanks! Did you manage to snaffle those two S-100 knobs on ebay?

 

[hansmoust]

I wonder if Hans will happen along and have a comment on the pick-up rings.

Hello folks,

Don't think the pickup rings are blue. It's probably the indoor lighting conditions that make 'm look blue.

If I'm wrong, I don't have the answer. I've only seen these rings in 'black' and 'creme'.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[fearless]

Thanks for contributing Hans. I asked Jeff about this as I also thought it must have been a lighting effect. He says they are definitely blue!

 

[Jeff]

http://www.guitarsgalore.nl[/url]

Thanks Hans,

Pics were shot outdoors, rings are blue, no mistake. They look right, but blue.

Rings are far from new, lots of pickwear, condition of the heads on the screws screws holding the rings is such it's obvious the rings have been removed more than once or twice.

 

[hansmoust]

Pics were shot outdoors, rings are blue, no mistake. They look right, but blue.

Thanks Jeff,

Well, that means I don't have the answer. They definitely look right to me and the only explanation I can think of is that it might be a pigment-issue. I'm curious what they look like on the bottom side, where they were not exposed to direct sunlight. Get your screwdriver out Jeff!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[fearless]

Get your screwdriver out Jeff!

CAREFULLY now! :wink:

 

[Jeff]

I did take one screw out just for a quick peek, & put it right back where it belongs. Further disassembly & inspection will have to take place down under.

I've changed my mind, looks like the rings are black painted over with blue.

Phil, I'm sending you a macro pic.

 

[fearless]

Thanks Jeff. Mystery solved it, it would appear. Painted.
I was just a young teenager in the 70s. What were the adults thinking of? :lol:

 

[hansmoust]

Yup! That solves it!

Silcerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[fearless]

While you are here Hans, what would be the best way to remove the paint without damaging the pickup ring underneath?