70s D40 didn't work out...so I bought another 70s D40

[SFIV1967]

I remember that shop. Bought a Strat from them. Can't recall the name but there was only one on El Camino.

That was "Guitars Unlimited", famous as both Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir got jobs there as guitar instructors in 1965 and took all of their equipment from there.

The store closed sometime around 1980. So that D-40 seems to be just from the end of the time of Guitars Unlimited!

Photo from 1968:



Ralf

 

[MartyG]

I'm a fan of keeping those extra stickers where they are, if only as one chapter in the story of the guitar. Unless it's totally horrible and distracting, I think it adds character. You never know, but someone famous or at least recognized may have bought a guitar from that shop - maybe this guitar. Show us a better pic of that full label - I'm curious now.

Marty

 

[MartyG]

And this:

Guitars Unlimited, El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA

Since Dana Morgan Jr. had been fired from the Warlocks, the band was not welcome to use equipment from the store, nor were Garcia and Weir...

jerrygarciasbrokendownpalaces.blogspot.com

Guitars Unlimited, Menlo Park

Jerry Garcia, JGB, Legion of Mary, Old And In The Way, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Reconstruction, David Grisman, Merl Saunders, Grateful Dead

jgmf.blogspot.com

"It must have been around 1968. I would have been 18 or 19. It seems like most of the people I hung out with back then were either in bands or at varying stages of learning a rock and roll instrument. I was attempting to play drums. My family hated the drums as did our neighbors. One day I decided I would sell my Ludwig drum set and use the money to buy an acoustic guitar. It seemed like a more reasonable instrument to take to the beach parties. I placed an ad in the San Jose Mercury. The first day the ad was out I got a call from a guy who wanted to know if I would be interested in trading the drums for an electric guitar. I told him I wanted a guitar but not an electric guitar. He said I had to see the guitar he had and that might change my mind. I told him to bring it over and I would check it out. The next day, two guys arrive at my door, one carrying the guitar they came in and after checking out the drums, opened the guitar case. It was the most beautiful guitar I had ever seen. It was a white Gibson SG Custom with all gold hardware and three humbuckers. I didn’t know a lot about guitars but I knew this one had to be worth a lot of money. I agreed to the trade and figured I could sell or trade this guitar for the acoustic guitar of my dreams. The next day, with guitar in hand, I went to the store that I thought would have the best selection of acoustic guitars, Guitars Unlimited on El Camino in Menlo Park. It wasn’t a very big store. It had a store front display window and row of guitars along each side wall that you walked between to get back to the sale counter at the back of the store. After a brief perusal of the inventory I proceeded back to the sales counter to see what sort of great deal I could negotiate. I asked the guy at the counter if he would be interested in a trade. He asked to see what I was trading in and I put the case on the counter and opened it up. He just about blew a gasket. He asked me where I got the guitar and I told him about the trade. He called his partner form the back room and they both agreed upon what they were looking at. They insinuated that I was lying and that they were going to call the police. It turns out that the guitar belonged to Jerry Garcia and Guitars Unlimited was doing some setup work on it. When they completed the setup they put the guitar in their show window. Earlier in the week someone had run in, snatched the guitar from the window and run off with it. They insisted that I was that someone. I said if I had taken the guitar I certainly wouldn’t have brought it back to the same store. They insisted I was the thief and were going to call the cops. I figured, not only was I not going to get my dream guitar, I was going to end up in the slammer. Finally one of them suggest that they ought to call Jerry to see what he wants to do. One of them picks up the phone, dials a number and when someone at the other end answers says “Jerry” and proceeds to tell the person their whole story and my whole story. After several minutes of conversation the guy hangs up. He looks at me and says “it’s your lucky day”. Turns out Jerry felt sorry for me and he tells these guys that he will pay up to $250.00 towards any guitar in the store, excluding his of course. I found a Guild D-25, price $250.00. They put it in a case, handed it to me and I walked out the door. I never met Jerry but I would have liked to have thanked him. That day marked the beginning of a hobby that has taken me through countless guitars and a twenty year stint in a rock and roll band. I still play almost every day."
-Gary Ridley

 

[SFIV1967]

Not sure why the other sticker is there above, but hopefully it can be removed carefully.

Part of the history, I would not try removing it! That sticker alone has some value.
Ralf

 

[bobouz]

Love the curvy grain lines on the bridge….. and that sticker must stay!

 

[schoolie]

Was that shop Guitars Unlimited?

 

[fronobulax]

Was that shop Guitars Unlimited?

Yes.

See:

70s D40 didn't work out...so I bought another 70s D40

I remember that shop. Bought a Strat from them. Can't recall the name but there was only one on El Camino. That was "Guitars Unlimited", famous as both Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir got jobs there as guitar instructors in 1965 and took all of their equipment from there. The store closed sometime...

letstalkguild.com

70s D40 didn't work out...so I bought another 70s D40

I remember that shop. Bought a Strat from them. Can't recall the name but there was only one on El Camino. That was "Guitars Unlimited", famous as both Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir got jobs there as guitar instructors in 1965 and took all of their equipment from there. The store closed sometime...

letstalkguild.com

 

[Bill Ashton]

This thread had been Ralf'd and MartyG'd...wow!

 

[SFIV1967]

This thread had been Ralf'd and MartyG'd...wow!

No, it was @Br1ck who said he remembered the store in Menlo Park, all else was just adding 1 and 1... But it looks like two threads were combined?

Ralf

 

[Br1ck]

That shop closed, and maybe didn't last to the 90s. I bought my Strat 50 years ago.

 

[zulu]

That's the shop where my dad bought his first guitar and amp. Jerry was there and my Grandmother remembered him as having pungent body odor.

 

[MartyG]

No intent to MartyG anything here, just a simple web search that turned up some interesting stuff. Love that a D25 was part of the story! If I ever MartyG something or someone, you'll know it, but I think I need several thousand more posts to earn that privilege.

 

[FNG]

That was "Guitars Unlimited", famous as both Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir got jobs there as guitar instructors in 1965 and took all of their equipment from there.

The store closed sometime around 1980. So that D-40 seems to be just from the end of the time of Guitars Unlimited!

Photo from 1968:



Ralf

Man....I'd like to motor down to Lowes in that truck!

 

[mavuser]

That was "Guitars Unlimited", famous as both Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir got jobs there as guitar instructors in 1965 and took all of their equipment from there.

Jerry was Bobby's guitar teacher at Guitars Unlimited! (possibly thereafter Bobby taught there, that I do not know) Bobby was still in high school, and could get "lids" of weed- really easilly; and for this reason, he was invited to join the Grateful Dead. Some years later they tried to boot him out. Bobby thought they were joking around. Then Garcia said something that triggered Bobby to say "wow you guys are serious." And it was back to taking lessons from Garcia haa

Anyway, do not touch the Guitars Unlimted sticker! You may ruin both the Guitars Unlimted sticker and the Guild label. just leave it, don't touch any of that. That GU sticker may significantly increase the value of a 79/80 Guild D-40, as Dead heads will happily overpay, big time, for a bucket list find like this (it just takes one buyer from millions of Dead heads). GD is widely acknowledged for being associated with both Guilds, and that particular guitar shop. The shop closed 44 years ago, and you have one of the very last guitars, and stickers, that went out the door! Super cool find, especially if you are into the Grateful Dead. If you are not, I would enjoy the guitar but preserve its condition and association with that shop, and with GD. Even a casual GD fan looking, for a Guild D-40, would pay at the high end of the D-40 spectrum, for that one. I happen to really like that late 70's early 80's era. Very different than Hoboken, not better or worse. probably the peak period of all sunbursts though, overall, at least pre Fender (debateable, i know...just my take)

There is a chance Guitars Unlimited is also where @mgod's (RIP) brother aquired Phil's hollow M-85 with F-holes for him, and met Jorma who was stunned to learned 1) The bass was leaving the shop, and 2) some kid from New Jersey was winding up with it. But, i'm not sure if it was the same place.

And hey great news about your mother getting thru the chemo. As long as you are there for her, you can buy as many Guild D-40's as you like- seems to be working out so far

 

[mavuser]

No intent to MartyG anything here, just a simple web search that turned up some interesting stuff. Love that a D25 was part of the story! If I ever MartyG something or someone, you'll know it, but I think I need several thousand more posts to earn that privilege.

no worries, you are good- have at it!!

also wild story above!!! walk out with a broken face or a free Guild, definitely not both haaa

 

[E-Type]

That the phone number on the extra sticker doesn't have an area code is a sign of a bygone era!

 

[adorshki]

Pretty sure that is a 1980 serial number (based on the online chart) but Hans could confirm.

Yep, it falls in the '80 numbers ending at"1105".

I remember that shop. Bought a Strat from them. Can't recall the name but there was only one on El Camino.

I think Guild like with a lot of things, doesn't get credit for their bursts.

I was thinking of Gryphon at first but a history check shows they were never at that address. Like you I seem to recognize it though. (Ah, posted b-4 reading all, I see it's been ID'd now)

Not sure why someone would put a sticker inside over the label of a vintage guitar.
But there it is. Didn't distract me from buying it though.

As others mentioned, likely put there by selling dealer. Not only for "advertising" but service. I'd leave it on as a historical reference, especially after what @mavuser said..

 

[adorshki]

That was "Guitars Unlimited", famous as both Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir got jobs there as guitar instructors in 1965 and took all of their equipment from there.

The store closed sometime around 1980. So that D-40 seems to be just from the end of the time of Guitars Unlimited!

Photo from 1968:



Ralf

WHERE DO YOU FIND THIS STUFF?!?!?!