Guild S100 new PUPs wanted...ideas?

[joerocker]

I have a mid 70s Guild S100, it's an SG copy made from mahogany.

I'm disappointed in my "tone" and I'm thinking that maybe some new pickups will do the trick. I play mostly rock, Joe S, Gary Hoey, and anything else I want to play along to.

I want it all...great cleans, great distortion, sustain forever, harmonics, etc. Best "all around" pickups.

So, were the stock Guild PUPs crap? Were they good and my problem is somewhere else? Do PUPs "wear out"? Do you have any suggestions? Looking around I was thinking maybe a "jazz" for the neck and a "custom" or "CC" for the bridge.

I'm assuming that a "regular" would fit?

Obviously, I'm VERY new to this "pickup" thing...

 

[jeremy]

Re: Guild S100 new PUPs wanted...ideas?

welcome to the forum!!

the s100 is a cool guitar for sure, im a big fan of the older guilds.

the stock pups arent crap but they arent the best either. the biggest reason to change pups is to tailor the sound of the guitar to your style. pups dont wear out, alnico magnets do age but it takes a long time. many people like the sound of aged pups, but they are not for every one.

a regular spaced pup will work fine. as for what pups to choose the jazz is a great very clear neck pup and the custom is a great rock bridge pup

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Guild S100 new PUPs wanted...ideas?

It sounds like you might really like a 59 (or maybe a Jazz) in the neck and a Custom in the bridge.

Im gonna throw this out there...if you do change pickups in the S100 and happen to want to unload the stock pickups, assuming they are original drop me a PM I am interested in buying them.

Heck, I might be intrested in the whole guitar if you're game for that!

 

[Reckless Abandon]

Re: Guild S100 new PUPs wanted...ideas?

Custom in the bridge and jazz neck. The custom is the closest "Do it all" pup there is.

 

[joerocker]

Re: Guild S100 new PUPs wanted...ideas?

Im gonna throw this out there...if you do change pickups in the S100 and happen to want to unload the stock pickups, assuming they are original drop me a PM I am interested in buying them.

Heck, I might be interested in the whole guitar if you're game for that!

So I guess you're telling me...my stock pickups aren't THAT bad...why else would you want them? Hmmm...I'll have to rethink changing them...

As for the guitar...thanks but no thanks...it's plays beautifully! It REALLY deserves someone who can play better, but I'm all its got!

Thank you all for your time and replies. I'll have to think about this a while.

If I do swap them, I guess it's a jazz/custom, and I'll let you know if I decide to sell the stock ones.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Guild S100 new PUPs wanted...ideas?

Pickups really are a preference. It's not a better or worse thing...it's all about what makes the sound you wanna hear. FWIW, Im not a huge fan of the Guild pickups, they are nice and sound just fine but I prefer others...my dad however LOVES them. If you were to let your original pickups go I would get them for him. He has one mid 70's S-100 and one more recent one that has the wrong pickup in it...You can find them on ebay from time to time for a very reasonable price but to this point I haven't really spent too much time looking.

Got any pics of yours???