Guild Custom 7:The Guitar never existed. Now there are 3 !

[funkcity]

Guild Custom 7: The Guitar that never existed. Now there are 3 !

Hi All

I got an email from Larry in Massachusetts.
He saw my Amber Custom 7 and said he had a blond or natural Custom 7.
And it is a beauty!
Along with Hans C7 in The Netherlands this makes 3.

There are some differences however.
Jay's (mine) left (In Los Angeles)
and Larry's (center) are both circa 1972 and 1 serial number apart!... How cool is that?
Hans' (right) seems to be the prototype but I think he doesn't agree with that. Hmmm...?

Hans' has the smaller humbuckers, absence of vertical inlay on the fretboard, non single-string adj. bridge, and relocated master volume and pickup switch.

They all incorporate a longer than usual Artist Award neck and thicker (3.5") Starfire type body.

Carlo Greco told Larry he built 3. Hans believes there are 6.

So if any of you are holding another one, or know of the existence of one ?
Ill bet there is at least 1 other 1972 vintage C7 around.
We'd like to know where it is!

From Hans Moust:
Jay
<<< The Custom 7 is featured in the book however the Custom 7 is one of the models of which some of the info is not entirely correct.
When I was doing the research for the book during the early '90s, I spoke to the person who was a foreman in one of the departments at Guild and he told me that the Custom 7 that I showed him was the prototype for the model and that no further production models were ever done. Since he was in a position to know, that information ended up in the book.
However, shortly after the book was published, I came across the 'real' prototype for the Custom 7. It turned out that the foreman was mistaken and that several other Custom 7s were done during the early '70s. So far I've seen 6 different ones, which includes the one that I own myself. That's also the one that's pictured in the book, of which the foreman thought that it was the prototype. It has serial # 101. >>>

Fun eh?
More links:
http://letstalkguild.com/phpBB2/viewtop ... =3&t=20492
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/guitar-owner ... ost2680349

Again, if any of you are holding another one, or know of the existence of one ?
Ill bet there is at least 1 other 1972 vintage C7 around.
We'd like to know where it is!

Thanks,
Jay and Larry
the co-founders of the new Guild Custom 7 Club

 

[funkcity]

I used insert img.... maybe insert url would get it done?
How did you do it?

I spoke to Hans a few months back.

He may have more pics in his analog database.

 

[matsickma]

On two occasions on ebay in the last 7+ years a Custom 7 showed up for sale.The first time was around 7 years ago. I think it sold for around $3500. The second time was around 3 years ago. Both were the orange color. I can't remember the pickup types but kind of remember mini humbuckers.

M

 

[funkcity]

On two occasions on ebay in the last 7+ years a Custom 7 showed up for sale.The first time was around 7 years ago. I think it sold for around $3500. The second time was around 3 years ago. Both were the orange color. I can't remember the pickup types but kind of remember mini humbuckers.M

Interesting.
It might be the one that Hans has?

Thanks Mat!

 

[hansmoust]

Hans' seems to be the prototype but I think he doesn't agree with that. Hmmm...?

The Custom 7 is featured in the book however the Custom 7 is one of the models of which some of the info is not entirely correct.
When I was doing the research for the book during the early '90s, I spoke to the person who was a foreman in one of the departments at Guild and he told me that the Custom 7 that I showed him was the prototype for the model and that no further production models were ever done. Since he was in a position to know, that information ended up in the book.
However, shortly after the book was published, I came across the 'real' prototype for the Custom 7. It turned out that the foreman was mistaken and that several other Custom 7s were done during the early '70s. So far I've seen 6 different ones, which includes the one that I own myself. That's also the one that's pictured in the book, of which the foreman thought that it was the prototype. It has serial # 101.

Hello Jay and Larry,

Well, Carlo Greco was the foreman I mentioned in my earlier correspondence. At the time when we did the interviews I showed him a promotional photo of the Custom 7 that I had gotten from the files of the Guild sales representative for the New York area. The sales rep didn't remember ever seeing one of these guitars, so I decided to ask Carlo Greco. Carlo looked at the photo and told me that it was the prototype for a model called the Custom 7 that never went into production.
He also said that he had made the prototype himself. The date that he gave me didn't really fit in with price list information that I had gotten for that particular period but since I never had seen one of these guitars myself, I assumed it was the correct information and that's how the info ended up in 'The Guild Guitar Book'.

Some time before the book came out I did get a call from a friend who said he knew of a weird Guild guitar that had been for sale at a local guitar store for quite some time and which he had never seen before. He tried to describe it and from what he told me I wondered if it could be the Custom 7. He did send me some Polaroids ( yes .......... do you remember Polaroids? ) and it turned out to be the exact guitar that was pictured in the Guild Promo photo. That's how I got the guitar, which I thought was the prototype for and the only example ever produced of the Guild Custom 7. That was still during the early '90s; the book came out at the end of '95.

Some time after the book had come out I came across 2 more Custom 7s and it turned out that Carlo Greco had been mistaken when he told me that the Custom 7 was never put into production. The two Custom 7s that you both own are number 5 and 6 that I got to know of.

On two occasions on ebay in the last 7+ years a Custom 7 showed up for sale. The first time was around 7 years ago. I think it sold for around $3500. The second time was around 3 years ago. Both were the orange color. I can't remember the pickup types but kind of remember mini humbuckers.M

Interesting.
It might be the one that Hans has?

The two Custom 7s that Mike is referring to, were actually one and the same guitar. It was for sale on eBay in 2004.
(Sorry, I initially wrote 1984 here by mistake!) Obviously I was interested in the guitar and it was even more interesting when I found out that the guitar pre-dated the Custom 7 that I already had. I was in a position to check out the guitar and it turned out that this guitar was the prototype that Carlo had been talking about when we had our interviews during the early '90s. I did not bid on the guitar though because I already had one and it was in better condition than the 'real prototype'. I believe the guitar sold for somewhat less than the $ 3500.00 that Mike remembered but I might be mistaken about that.

The same Custom 7 appeared on eBay again in 2008 and this time it went for well over $ 6500.00 to a dealer/collector in Philadelphia, who never responded to my offer, to give him additional information about the guitar that he had in his possession.

Carlo Greco told Larry he built 3. Hans believes there are 6.

Obviously in this case we cannot rely on Carlo's memory. I don't think there are 6 though; so far I know of 6, but there could be more. Time will tell!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[GAD]

Damn those are so sexy.

 

[MojoTooth]

I love those d55 style inlays! if i could custom build a starfire iv it would have those in it.

 

[funkcity]

Hans, Thanks for chiming in here!!

But eBay in 1984? It didn't even exist until 1995!
<<<<The two Custom 7s that Mike is referring to, were actually one and the same guitar. It was for sale on eBay in 1984. >>>> ???

<<<<<Some time after the book had come out I came across 2 more Custom 7s and it turned out that Carlo Greco had been mistaken when he told me that the Custom 7 was never put into production. The two Custom 7s that you both own are number 5 and 6 that I got to know of.>>>>>>>

Larry' Blond C7 is SN# 66060
Jay's Amber (mine) is SN# 66061
These fall into the 1972 Guild serial numbering scheme

Hans,
Where do the others fit chronologically?
Can you scan and post the Polaroid pics?

But it, The Custom 7 was never listed or advertised as a product.
I have to find Terry Bradley who sold me mine in Royal Oak Michigan at Anderson Music in 1972.
I know he's around as I saw a picture of him playing bass with a band in Michigan.

Maybe Larry will jump in here.

 

[krysh]

I love those d55 style inlays! if i could custom build a starfire iv it would have those in it.

well, these are standard on the SF-6:

 

[Brad Little]

The same Custom 7 appeared on eBay again in 2008 and this time it went for well over $ 6500.00 to a dealer/collector in Philadelphia, who never responded to my offer, to give him additional information about the guitar that he had in his possession.

I remember seeing a listing for an Artist Award Starfire, I believe it called, something along those lines. Would that be the same one?
Brad

 

[hansmoust]

Hans, Thanks for chiming in here!!

But eBay in 1984? It didn't even exist until 1995!
<<<<The two Custom 7s that Mike is referring to, were actually one and the same guitar. It was for sale on eBay in 1984. >>>> ???

Sorry! That shouldn't read 1984, but 2004. I was answering another question on the net at the same time! I've already changed it in my posting.

Where do the others fit chronologically?

They are probably from the same batch but they are about 150 numbers away from your guitars, which means they were not all finished at the same time.

Can you scan and post the Polaroid pics?

The guitar in the Polaroids is the one that I bought meaning ......... it's the one in The Guild Guitar Book.

The Custom 7 was never listed or advertised as a product.

The Custom 7 was listed in the Guild price list between late 1969 and mid-1972. That's why I said I had a problem with the date that Carlo initially quoted for the building date of the 'prototype' Custom 7, which I bought and that turned out NOT to be the prototype.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[hansmoust]

I remember seeing a listing for an Artist Award Starfire, I believe it called, something along those lines. Would that be the same one?
Brad

Hello Brad,

Yes, that was the same guitar. It had Artist Award engraved into the headstock, whereas the later ones had Custom 7 engraved in that spot.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[funkcity]

Thanks again Hans!
Great info.
The puzzle continues as the saga expands.

From Larry (He is not yet on these boards)
<<<<Jay,
If another one does pop up, according to Carlo it should have a white binding. He told me he made one with black binding (mine) one with tortoise binding (yours) and one with white. I just looked up some old papers, I met with him 1/7/06.
Larry >>>>>

<<<< I also have a email to Mark Dronge. He is Al Dronge's (the owner of guild) son and was working at Guild in that era.
He now owns DR strings in New Jersey.
Larry >>>>

<<<<I remember seeing a listing for an Artist Award Starfire, I believe it called, something along those lines. Would that be the same one?
Brad>>>>
<<<Hello Brad,
Yes, that was the same guitar. It had Artist Award engraved into the headstock, whereas the later ones had Custom 7 engraved in that spot.
Sincerely,
Hans Moust>>>

Artist Award Starfire! When was that built?

 

[funkcity]

I love those d55 style inlays! if i could custom build a starfire iv it would have those in it.

well, these are standard on the SF-6:

Very nice guitar !!

 

[krysh]

I love those d55 style inlays! if i could custom build a starfire iv it would have those in it.

well, these are standard on the SF-6:

Very nice guitar !!

yeah! but pickups and knobs not original and unfortunately not mine.

 

[hansmoust]

Larry' Blond C7 is SN# 66060
Jay's Amber (mine) is SN# 66061

Hello again Jay,

Shouldn't that be # 66160 and # 66161 ?

I also have a email to Mark Dronge. He is Al Dronge's (the owner of guild) son and was working at Guild in that era.

I don't think Mark would be a good source for information re. the Custom 7. By the time that the prototype was made, Mark had already left the company.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[MojoTooth]

the neck on that SF6 is just simply wicked! Not a bigsby guy myself but if that was a hardtail or harptail i would have to have one!

 

[funkcity]

Larry' Blond C7 is SN# 66060
Jay's Amber (mine) is SN# 66061

Hello again Jay,

Shouldn't that be # 66160 and # 66161 ?

Yes you are correct I just looked inside the guitar and the headstock.
My mistake!

Hey Hans,
I get the feeling you may know where a few more of these Custom 7s live.
Or at least where they had lived.
Can you shed some more light?
Thanks
Jay

 

[kakerlak]

How 'bout this:

Have you spoken to Hans, recently? He is a member here.

~nw

These two (on the left) have an interesting bridge arrangement. I'm not sure I've seen the Muller bridges mounted to wooden bases before. Knowing that the adjustment screws normally seat at a depth greater than a standard archtop base, I wonder if these bridges are "pinned" by way of cups being mounted through the base and into the top. If not, then I wonder if the bases are extra tall or adjustment screws cut off shorter than normal.

 

[matsickma]

Is the Custom 7 is full hollowbody guitar? Does it have a sound post?

M