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

[funkcity]

<<<<< Lets put the serial numbers to funkcity's great picture, starting left to right: >>>>>

Thanks SFIV1967 !

I wonder where Hans' (center pic) SN and build date fits here?

I've been getting some interesting emails about this thread and if any more C7s are around, I believe we should be getting more info.

 

[funkcity]

Kind of quiet on this thread now but got a lot of hits.

I'll be going to NAMM this coming week.
I'll have to look up the Guild folks and bring some info from this thread.

I know there has been lots of folks requesting that Guild jump back into the Archtop business.
But given their track record I'm not going to hold my breath.

And I still....<<< wonder where Hans' (center pic) SN and build date fits here? >>>

 

[Erhardt Bell]

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

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

Hello everyone!

Larry and I (Erhardt Bell) are talking now. I was able to purchase what looks like the 1969 prototype Guild Starfire 7, from the private collection in Paris. It’s in Cleveland now.

I need Funkycity to help us out! Can you please contact Hans Moust or myself? I’m available at Cyberopbug@aol.com or 440.465.3392.

Please contact me!

Kind regards,

Erhardt Bell

 

[GAD]

You just bumped a 12 year old thread. I'm a bit confused here. If you're looking for Funkcity, he hasn't been seen here since 2019.

There are I think seven Starfire 7s known these days. I've handled one owned by a friend of mine and there are others. If you can be a bit more specific as to what you're looking for maybe we can help you out.

 

[Erhardt Bell]

You just bumped a 12 year old thread. I'm a bit confused here. If you're looking for Funkcity, he hasn't been seen here since 2019.

There are I think seven Starfire 7s known these days. I've handled one owned by a friend of mine and there are others. If you can be a bit more specific as to what you're looking for maybe we can help you out.

Thank you for your reply. Larry and I are trying to validate each of the known prototypes. Larry conversed with the original luthier, who claimed 4 were made.

As of this moment, we know of 4. Mine is #66323, just as Hans Moust thought.

We are looking for help in hunting each prototype down.

Cheers,

Erhardt

 

[SFIV1967]

I was able to purchase what looks like the 1969 prototype Guild Starfire 7, from the private collection in Paris.

As of this moment, we know of 4. Mine is #66323, just as Hans Moust thought.

Hi Erhardt,

welcome to LTG and congratulations to your new special guitar!
Your one is not from 1969 but from 1972 by the way and so far the youngest S/N of all known! (The store in UK had no idea about the history of that guitar.)

We know at least 6 of them with pictures, there seem to be at least 7 however. The below thread shows all we know so far, including your one: (Hans might know more but did not disclose more yet).

Have we seen this Custom 7 before?

The truss rod cover and pickguard are unique. The butter bean button Grover Imperials are unusual, too (normal for a Gretsch, though).

letstalkguild.com

Ralf

 

[Erhardt Bell]

Hi Erhardt,

welcome to LTG and congratulations to your new special guitar!
Your one is not from 1969 but from 1972 by the way and so far the youngest S/N of all known! (The store in UK had no idea about the history of that guitar.)

We know at least 6 of them with pictures, there seem to be at least 7 however. The below thread shows all we know so far, including your one: (Hans might know more but did not disclose more yet).

Have we seen this Custom 7 before?

The truss rod cover and pickguard are unique. The butter bean button Grover Imperials are unusual, too (normal for a Gretsch, though).

letstalkguild.com

Ralf

Dear Ralf,

NOW things are making sense. The number on Larry's Guild is 66161, and was made in 1972. The number on mine is 66323, indicating a later-made model (numbers going in ascending order). Good communication is essential, and starting to add clarity to an otherwise confusing situation. I will let Larry know about this as well.

I want to THANK YOU for adding this critical piece. I would agree, albeit well-meaning, that the folks at London Vintage Guitars really didn't know the history on this piece. So my "66323" is actually a 1972 model.

Ralf, can we get all this documented for posterity sake? These pieces are an essential part of Guild history, as you well know, and records kept.

Kind regards,

Erhardt Bell
Founding Member, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Cleveland, Ohio

 

[chazmo]

Welcome aboard, Erhardt! Do you have any new pictures of your Custom 7? Would love to see more detail on this beastie.

Indeed, we don't see many of those. Very cool!

 

[SFIV1967]

The number on Larry's Guild is 66161, and was made in 1972.
Ralf, can we get all this documented for posterity sake?

Hi Erhardt, yes, you can use whatever I wrote, but I only added "1+1" so to say from public available info. I didn't mention Larry's name in the other thread as you might have noticed but the guitar picture is there. Hans might know more serial numbers but didn't tell yet. You can always reach Hans via his e-mail address given on his webpage (don't use the contact form there):

Guitars Galore - Contact

Ralf

 

[Erhardt Bell]

Good evening !

Please find attached the Guild Prototype “1973” Starfire 7, number “66323”, the one from the private collection in Paris, sold through The Lindon Vintage guitar store

Please note: Pictured is Mark Reis, the personal guitar tech to Joe Walsh and The Eagles. Mark had the honor of unboxing the guitar, and running it through its courses.

I hope everyone finds this helpful.

Kind Rehards,

Erhardt Bell

 

[Erhardt Bell]

Hi Erhardt,

welcome to LTG and congratulations to your new special guitar!
Your one is not from 1969 but from 1972 by the way and so far the youngest S/N of all known! (The store in UK had no idea about the history of that guitar.)

We know at least 6 of them with pictures, there seem to be at least 7 however. The below thread shows all we know so far, including your one: (Hans might know more but did not disclose more yet).

Have we seen this Custom 7 before?

The truss rod cover and pickguard are unique. The butter bean button Grover Imperials are unusual, too (normal for a Gretsch, though).

letstalkguild.com

Ralf

Your one is not from 1969 but from 1972 by the way and so far the youngest S/N of all known! (The store in UK had no idea about the history of that guitar.)

Dear Ralf,

Does this mean "66323" may be the first? I'm struggling to understand this, as "66323" is a higher number then say, "66160". Can you please explain this? Thank you very much!!

 

[GAD]

Your one is not from 1969 but from 1972 by the way and so far the youngest S/N of all known! (The store in UK had no idea about the history of that guitar.)

Dear Ralf,

Does this mean "66323" may be the first? I'm struggling to understand this, as "66323" is a higher number then say, "66160". Can you please explain this? Thank you very much!!

By youngest he means newest as perhaps the last, though “first” and “last” have historically been tough to prove.

 

[SFIV1967]

By youngest he means newest as perhaps the last, though “first” and “last” have historically been tough to prove.

Correct, it is the newest or last of the 6 we know so far. Made in 1972. Not the first (the first, means the real prototype, was the 1969 one currently in Russia as explained in the other thread).

To say it otherwise, if somebody was born in 1972 he is younger than somebody born in 1969...

Ralf

 

[funkcity]

You just bumped a 12 year old thread. I'm a bit confused here. If you're looking for Funkcity, he hasn't been seen here since 2019.

There are I think seven Starfire 7s known these days. I've handled one owned by a friend of mine and there are others. If you can be a bit more specific as to what you're looking for maybe we can help you out.

"I'm Back"!! In my closet is my pristine Guild Custom 7. Hi Gad and Erhardt! Been a few years. And I am officially retiring from the Motion Picture Academy Jan 1 2024! And dammit the Guild is coming out of the closet as I will have more time! I have not done any sleuthing regarding this instrument for....yes a few tears. I went to buy this Guitar in 72. from Anderson Music in Royal Oak Michigan. And when I was ready, it was gone!! I was heart-broken. But I later found out that my brother had bought it for me behind my back! Wow,! At the time I actually made money playing music in the local pubs, restaurants, auto-shows etc... You guys can contact me at Funkymusic2k@gmail.com if you wish?
Take care,
Jay

 

[Fender1980]

"I'm Back"!! In my closet is my pristine Guild Custom 7. Hi Gad and Erhardt! Been a few years. And I am officially retiring from the Motion Picture Academy Jan 1 2024! And dammit the Guild is coming out of the closet as I will have more time! I have not done any sleuthing regarding this instrument for....yes a few tears. I went to buy this Guitar in 72. from Anderson Music in Royal Oak Michigan. And when I was ready, it was gone!! I was heart-broken. But I later found out that my brother had bought it for me behind my back! Wow,! At the time I actually made money playing music in the local pubs, restaurants, auto-shows etc... You guys can contact me at Funkymusic2k@gmail.com if you wish?
Take care,
Jay

That's a good brother!

 

[chazmo]

"I'm Back"!! In my closet is my pristine Guild Custom 7. Hi Gad and Erhardt! Been a few years. And I am officially retiring from the Motion Picture Academy Jan 1 2024! And dammit the Guild is coming out of the closet as I will have more time! I have not done any sleuthing regarding this instrument for....yes a few tears. I went to buy this Guitar in 72. from Anderson Music in Royal Oak Michigan. And when I was ready, it was gone!! I was heart-broken. But I later found out that my brother had bought it for me behind my back! Wow,! At the time I actually made money playing music in the local pubs, restaurants, auto-shows etc... You guys can contact me at Funkymusic2k@gmail.com if you wish?
Take care,
Jay

Congrats on your retirement, Jay, and best wishes getting back behind the guitar to have some fun. When you do, get us some new pictures of the Custom 7 to ogle.

 

[funkcity]

Congrats on your retirement, Jay, and best wishes getting back behind the guitar to have some fun. When you do, get us some new pictures of the Custom 7 to ogle.

Will do Chaz...Stay Tuned!