That Ol' Familiar (Neck) Feeling

[Willie G. Moseley]

Back in 1999 I wrote a freelance piece for Guild Gallery about that company's new version of the S-100 Polara, considered by many folks (then and now) to be a copy of a Gibson SG. When I wrote the article, Fender owned Guild.

And the S-100 was the first guitar I gigged with regularly (post college), so I got to know the feel of the neck, and got comfortable with it. The text of the article ain't no hype about a neck feeling familiar on the other two S-100s I've owned, and one wonders if it holds up for other players and other brands and models. With me, it was about a quarter century between the cherry one and the pawn shop natural guitar, and the brand new white one was pleasure to play as well. 

Here's the article; enjoy. Also posting a couple of 1973 pics. The primeval collection pic has been posted here before but it includes the '70 S-100 with the Hagstrom vibrato. Those were kinda rare.

And that color performance photo was taken just before Christmas in '73....Jeezus, that was 50 years ago!

 

[crunchee]

The latest version of Guild just announced a Kim Thayil model S-100...only at least 20 years too late, unless they're going for the Grunge niche market, or for the 'nostalgia' customers:

Guild Polara Kim Thayil Signature Demo | First Look - Premier Guitar

[topekatj]

Hey @Willie G. Moseley

I wanna hear about the Jazzmaster

[Willie G. Moseley]

^^^Got it from  a cousin's husband when I graduated from college, along with a tan tolex Concert amp and matching tan tolex reverb unit. Was a novice at the time, including how to get optimum performance and tone, and I couldn't get used to the back and forth switching of the Jazzmaster so I didn't keep it long. I should have made a point of forcing myself to woodshed (and that term probably didn't exist 50 years ago) to force myself to learn how to use that feature because I needed it back then.

The electronics of the amp had been damaged, and the speaker had been replaced by the previous owner. It would crackle and pop , so I didn't keep it too long either. Never played the Jazzmaster or used the amp and reverb unit in a pro environment.

I consider my decision to turn my first pro-grade outfit to have been attributable to simple inexperience and naivete, but I became a fast learner soon afterwards. Atnd that was over half a century ago ago.

But to say that I now wish I had a time machine is an understatement.  Note the date the photo was taken, stamped on the left edge. I started playing in a club band that fall. 

[topekatj]

Willie:

kind of a sad story. nice socks. (JK)

ETA: I also let an early Jazzmaster slip away — a ‘61. The neck on that one was fantastic: beefy, perfect for the guitar.

Lastly: The amp in the photo looks like a Super. 

[Willie G. Moseley]

^^^Methinks we're both wrong. Methinks it's an early '60s Pro.

[topekatj]

49 minutes ago, Willie G. Moseley said:

^^^Methinks we're both wrong. Methinks it's an early '60s Pro.

Yup, I think you’re correct as I see the reflection off the single speaker cone in your photo.

“Time Machine, return our Jazzmasters!”

[Willie G. Moseley]

As for the socks, er, what if I averred that I'm actually wearing pajammies?