Checking My Guilds History

[nanccinut]

My D-35 which Ibought new in 1988 has sound hole sticker which has # 02891 on it just past Westerly. The records on the internet seem to tell me that with the serial number DB104697 it was in fact made in 1982 and not 1986 like I always thought. Guess older is better out of that plant which I read somewhere produced the best ones in that time era? Can someone break down that serial number and tell me the year/month and number produced that year. It took a coke spray by my young son once that left about twenty tiny dimples in the laquer finish mostly near the sound hole. My guess the only fix is a complete sanding and re-spray which Iwould guess would cost me at least $150.00. Can any one tell me if I am right there? Also anyone know its value in todays market even though Iwould never sell it? thanks -nanccinut

 

[hansmoust]

My D-35 which Ibought new in 1988 has sound hole sticker which has # 02891 on it just past Westerly. The records on the internet seem to tell me that with the serial number DB104697 it was in fact made in 1982 and not 1986 like Ialways thought.

Hello nanccinut,

If your D-35 has ser. # DB104697, then it was serial number stamped towards the very end of 1986 and most likely completed during the first months of 1987.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[dreadnut]

OK - get a flashlight and look inside the soundhole up by the neck, it should have a date stamped on the neck block. This should be something close to the final assembly date.

I would highly recommend not sanding/refinishing, the sound would be negatively affected by doing this. You might want to have your local trustworthy luthier just buff out the top finish, it may make the dimpling less noticable.

I can attest to the fact that older is not necessarily better when it comes to Westerly built Guilds. I have a '76 and a '99, both outstanding instruments!

 

[evenkeel]

I would highly recommend not sanding/refinishing, the sound would be negatively affected by doing this. You might want to have your local trustworthy luthier just buff out the top finish, it may make the dimpling less noticable.

Let me second this notion. I've dropped filled dings and scratches. Not difficult on a lacquer finish, just time consuming. Hard to say for sure w/o looking at the guitar, but my guess is a good luthier should be able to drop fill the worst, then buff it out so the damge is near invisible.

 

[nanccinut]

Thank you gang for the dating info so far. Will inquire with my local luither to see if he has ever come accross a guitar partly made by coke! :lol: -nanccinut

 

[Mr. P ~]

Coke can be nasty stuff!!

The list
1. Remove grease stains from clothing and fabric (I had to start there)
2. Remove rust; methods include using fabric dipped in Coke, a sponge or even aluminum foil.
3. Remove blood stains from clothing and fabric.
4. Make gooey Coke funnel cakes .
5. Clean oil stains from a garage floor; let the stain soak, hose off.
6. Loosen a rusty bolt; pour on some Coke and wait for the magic to happen.
7. Kill slugs and snails; a small bowl of Coke will attract them, the acid will kill them.
8. Help a lawn become lush and green (see my lawn tonic article here )
9. Prevent an asthma attack! Apparently, the caffeine in two 12oz cans can prevent the onset of an attack.
10. Defrost a frozen windshield. Apply liberally and wait (I’ll see if this works in winter)
11. Clean burnt pans; let the pan soak in the Coke, then rinse.
12. Descale a kettle using the same method in 11.
13. Neutralize a jellyfish sting.
14. Clean car battery terminals by pouring a small amount of Coke over each one.
15. Cure nausea; let a can of Coke go flat then take a teaspoon of Coke every hour.
16. Also, flat coke can help relieve an upset stomach (aka “the runs”)
17. Make a Mentos & Coke exploding fountain. This one takes a 2-liter bottle of Coke.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_79ufqZ5H9M&feature=player_embedded


There are many more......maybe removing Nitro Celulose Lacquer should be added!!!

 

[fronobulax]

Coke is pretty acidic. When I worked in a properly equipped lab, I think we measured the PH at something near 2 which explains why it is good at so many of the tasks that involve dissolving something :wink: