ask Chank

[sylnau]

Chank... what is that Guild model?

[Chankgeez]

Not sure exactly, Syl, some variation in the Bluesbird/Aristocrat vein.

[Chankgeez]

It might be a Freshman as well, forgot about that model.

[Nelson Instruments]

It is a freshman m-65. Looks to be late 60s.
Guild guys call that pickup the "micky mouse" pickup for some reason.
I had a t-100d with those pickups and liked them.
For a short time the freshman m-65 was put into the guild "studio" line which was their lower priced instruments.
I think the freshman was dropped by '71.

[Chankgeez]

Thanks for saving my ass, Bobby, I used to be more up on my Guild knowledge. I've let it lapse a bit.

I generally like lower priced guitars. You get dots instead of blocks. Usually less binding. "Cheaper" pickups too. Yeah, the Freshman was shorter scale as well. I tend to like models like that. Forever unpopular.

[sylnau]

Thanks guys!!
It look great, but they seems so small (maybe because of the scale).

[Chankgeez]

Yeah, Syl, they're like 3/4 scale.

You probably want a Bluesbird or an Aristocrat, but those aren't cheap.

[sylnau]

I wish I had purchased a Bluesbird 12 years ago when they were in store.
But I got a used PRS instead (I was a silly Young man).

[MEC]

Dear Chank,
Do guitars with only one pickup in the middle position sound similar to a guitar
with two pickups and the switch in the middle position?

I really like my Tele in the middle position and was thinking about picking up a Bobkat H-14.

[Chankgeez]

Good question, MEC. I think there're too many factors to consider to answer that question generally.

Probably depends on what type of pickup(s), placement(s), how everything's wired, separate vol/tone, blah, blah, blah.

I used to have a Bobkat, it was a two pickup model though.

I usually like one pickup or the other, not both at once. (Unless they're out of phase.) That said, I do have a guitar with a single pickup in the middle position that I love the sound of. If a guitar only has one pickup, I'd rather it be in the middle position.

I think you should get the Bobkat. That's the only way you'll know for sure if you like it.

[sylnau]

[MEC]

I think you should get the Bobkat.

[Nelson Instruments]

Back to the guild for a moment.
The M-65 Freshman was available in full scale as well as 3/4 scale.
While the pickups weren't the same as the high end models they were still awesome.
First (and maybe second) year examples featured a cool DeArmond similar to that used on Harmony guitars.
Then they got the "Franz" pickup like on the Aristocrat. From there they got the "Mickey Mouse" pickup which also sounded great!

When it comes to vintage stuff I got the info for ya, when it comes to cool slightly obscure vintage (ESPECIALLY Guild and pre-gibson Epiphone, also danelectro, kay, and harmony) then you've come to the right place! ;-)

[Iommic Pope]

Dear Chank,
I have this weirdthing going on that makes everything taste like starch. It's been going on for days now and happens periodically every now and again. What the fuck, dude?
I have no idea what brings it on or what to do to get rid of it.
Do you think it could be some kind of gustatory hallucination caused by a neurological condition? Should I just kill myself before shit gets worse, or ride it out and use my degrading condition to let shit slide and generally get loose?
Also, do you think some South American girls could go for a skinny, bald, white dude with tattoos who is generally going insane and is clearly reckless with terminal abandon? I think if I'm gonna go down this road I'll want some comfort along the way.

[Chankgeez]

Pope, although I've been reading some Oliver Sacks lately, it does not make me qualified to answer medical questions. Because, for lack of a better word, they're "medical". (There's been some debate as to whether Oliver Sacks is well qualified to answer medical questions, but that's another matter entirely.)

And though I've had more than my fair share of medical difficulties and should probably have the qualifications to answer this, I have no idea what's wrong with you. DO NOT KILL YOURSELF (it's unbecoming of a Pope). So, you should consult a real doctor.

To answer your second question, yeah, I definitely think South American chicks could dig a dude like that.

Also, please enjoy this recipe I found for injera: