Guild D25 help

[GGJaguar]

it's outlined in whiteish stuff.

I believe that's the correct technical term.

 

[davismanLV]

I believe that's the correct technical term.

Sorry, sometimes my technical and analytical mind takes over and .... It's a failing I have.

 

[adorshki]

The heart of the valley.

Y'see that little splash of green about 90 degrees up from the left edge of the "saucer", with a straight row of trees and some buildings to the right? Then an overpass over the freeway a bit farther right?

That was my elementary school from second to fifth grade. It's a park now. The overpass wasn't even there until the mid '70's but the roadbed was excavated and the berm for the overpass was put up in '65 I think it was. So of course we used to play on it.

The big water tanks (round objects next to the park) were there but surrounded by plum (prune) orchards where those buildings are to the left. There was a decrepit old barn in the middle of the orchard but it was kinda spooky. We liked the cherry orchards other side where there was also a creek. (Largely culverted and tunneled now)

The treeline running straight down from the park was the street I lived on. On the other side of the houses along that treeline were mainly cherry orchards with some plums and apricots. From that edge across the entire expanse of that campus, and those industrial developments in the upper center and lower left.

The mustard grew 6 feet tall in the spring rains. So thick you couldn't see somebody 3 feet away. We'd make tunnels and nests to play war and "James Bond" which was just an excuse to play "seduction", hahah! Swingin' '60's and all.

Viet Nam still wasn't "real" yet. We still played with GI Joes and slot cars. Didn't know about sniffing glue until I went to the Grand-p's in LA one summer and they wouldn't sell me modeling glue. Grampa had to 'splain it to me. Somehow he managed to avoid arousing my curiosity.

The Syndicate of Sound, The Count Five , the Chocolate Watchband and Smashmouth were born here. (Yeah, and the Doobies.)

In 1000 years maybe it'll recover.

 

[Guildedagain]

It could take 1000 years.

Carbona, not glue ;[]

 

[chazmo]

Welcome aboard, Bob! What a beautiful, all mahogany version of the D-25 that is! I love that natural finish (rather than the funky colors that Corona offered at the time.

Anyway, hope you like it. Can't help you on the date (and didn't see if anyone else did), but likely somewhere from 2002 - 2004ish.

 

[Br1ck]

I don't think any of the manufacturers thought we'd be obsessing like we do about the guitars thirty years on.

 

[Curlington]

Welcome aboard. Nice score.

Soon after the move to Tacoma, I purchased new a D40 and a D50 both Corona built. They were fine wondeeful gits and perhaps the best bang for my buck ever. The D40 is with a cousin and still gigging after all these years. I played the D50 every day for several years before impulsively selling it.

I have a D25 1970 hog top. I love it even though dreads are not comfortable for me anymore. Hog top gives a whole different tonal palet.

 

[plaidseason]

I happened to be in my local shop when the Fender rep was there with a very early Corona D25 sample, hoping to get them to carry Guild. It was quite literally my first glimpse (3D or 2D) of anything out of Corona. The guitar sounded wonderful.

It was the same shop where I found my used F44 a couple years earlier, so I was strongly invested in the idea of new Guilds there. I tried to tell the rep about my F44, but that prompted a rant about a bad experience with George Gruhn. LOL.

 

[Boneman]

Just read through to see if there was a decoder made for the Corona era, like the other factories have, where you could glean the year, and production number of the day just from the s/n. It doesn’t seems so since there is a lot of I think, should, and I’d guess, and while I didn’t want to start a new thread on the same topic, I am curious how do you all date a Corona Guild? Little clues based on design, appearance, or is there a secret chart? Lol.

 

[adorshki]

Just read through to see if there was a decoder made for the Corona era, like the other factories have, where you could glean the year, and production number of the day just from the s/n. It doesn’t seems so since there is a lot of I think, should, and I’d guess, and while I didn’t want to start a new thread on the same topic, I am curious how do you all date a Corona Guild? Little clues based on design, appearance, or is there a secret chart? Lol.

Nope, never seen an s/n decoder for Corona. We always ask Hans Moust for that if you really want to nail down the year, but in your case, it really is a very narrow window.

Hans is actually very sympathetic towards owners and helped me date my D40 as I mentioned. He didn't have all the records "organized" at the time but he may have had time to do that by now. He can be reached at his website (his preference IIRC) via the "contact" button.

https://www.guitarchives.nl/

All he'll need is the s/n. Give him a few days, he may be taking some vacation over in the Netherlands.

 

[chazmo]

Hey, @Boneman, can you post a picture of the label and back of headstock in your JF-30-12 NGD thread and we'll help you date it. Almost certain that the 2006 date from the craigslist ad was wrong (that would've been a Tacoma-built guitar).

 

[fronobulax]

Little clues based on design, appearance, or is there a secret chart? Lol.

Yes. Hans knows a lot but he has not published a chart. For certain models that he has identified on LTG there have been some very good educated guesses based on the identified serial numbers. For example if an "unknown" serial is lower than one that has been publicly dated to a year then it is a good guess that the unknown dates to that year or earlier. In come cases there are other clues but spec and construction changes are also not well documented publicly.

 

[Boneman]

Ahh, ok that all makes sense, and I’d venture perhaps part of volume 2 . My s/n is CTT000629, so I was supposing CTT means something about the model, the 000629 is maybe the reason why the seller said 06, but maybe it’s an ’02 and the 69th unit made? Or there is no rhyme or reasoning behind the numbering system? I don’t need to bother Hans with it, its not imperative, just a curiosity more than anything. Thanks guys

 

[chazmo]

Ahh, ok that all makes sense, and I’d venture perhaps part of volume 2 . My s/n is CTT000629, so I was supposing CTT means something about the model, the 000629 is maybe the reason why the seller said 06, but maybe it’s an ’02 and the 69th unit made? Or there is no rhyme or reasoning behind the numbering system? I don’t need to bother Hans with it, its not imperative, just a curiosity more than anything. Thanks guys

Well that confirms that it is a Corona build and thus prior to 2006 as that would be during Tacoma. Without a decoder I can’t tell you more. 2002 or 2003 are very likely bets for a Corona instrument but could be a bit earlier or later.

 

[adorshki]

Ahh, ok that all makes sense, and I’d venture perhaps part of volume 2 . My s/n is CTT000629, so I was supposing CTT means something about the model, the 000629 is maybe the reason why the seller said 06, but maybe it’s an ’02 and the 69th unit made? Or there is no rhyme or reasoning behind the numbering system? I don’t need to bother Hans with it, its not imperative, just a curiosity more than anything. Thanks guys

Yes "CTT" would be the model type, but the numbers were simply issued sequentially (per model) without any year or date code. Suspect #629 would be a late '02 possibly early '03. That would be pretty good volume for the first year in Corona, but it was their entry-level 12 at the time.

 

[Boneman]

Thanks for the replies, if so that would make it‘s 20th anniversary about now, heh.

 

[adorshki]

Thanks for the replies, if so that would make it‘s 20th anniversary about now, heh.

Just about guaranteed if not even 21. I know the feeling. My D25's neckblock stamp is "Oct 31 96", so hit 25 last year at least. (Neckblock stamp occurred anywhere from a couple of weeks to months prior to actual shipment, so probably a '96. IIRC it's just outside the s/n records)

F65ce is an '01 but no date stamp (they stopped doing it ca '99-'00).

Corona D40's probably 20 this year or next at the latest. **

Bought 'em all new. I love growing old with good friends.

**(Corona production was halted in July '04 btw as they began to prep for the move to Tacoma. Several models were discontinued in '04, but don't recall if JF30-12 was one of 'em. It was discontinued in Tacoma, though.)
And every Corona JF301-12 I've seen had great tops, spec'd as AA but could easily be AAA by some graders. Think they had a lot of Westerly wood stock to use during the first couple of years at least.

 

[Boneman]

Just about guaranteed if not even 21. I know the feeling. My D25's neckblock stamp is "Oct 31 96", so hit 25 last year at least. (Neckblock stamp occurred anywhere from a couple of weeks to months prior to actual shipment, so probably a '96. IIRC it's just outside the s/n records)

F65ce is an '01 but no date stamp (they stopped doing it ca '99-'00).

Corona D40's probably 20 this year or next at the latest. **

Bought 'em all new. I love growing old with good friends.

**(Corona production was halted in July '04 btw as they began to prep for the move to Tacoma. Several models were discontinued in '04, but don't recall if JF30-12 was one of 'em. It was discontinued in Tacoma, though.)
And every Corona JF301-12 I've seen had great tops, spec'd as AA but could easily be AAA by some graders. Think they had a lot of Westerly wood stock to use during the first couple of years at least.

Perhaps I’ve uncovered the Corona secret!. In all these years, did no one else realize this? Inside the body next to the end pin block is another small block with a date stamp! See attached, went poking around with an inspection mirror and light and saw something, went in with my colonoscopy type camera and screen grabbed this, so exciting! Turns out I didn’t miss it’s anniversary, my JF30-12’s 20th birthday is coming up in 3 weeks on the 21st! Check inside your Corona models, see if they have the extra block and date stamp there at your end pin.

And yes, @adorshki, it is a gorgeous piece(s) of wood they used on the top

 

[adorshki]

Perhaps I’ve uncovered the Corona secret!. In all these years, did no one else realize this?

I believe that's correct, or if they did, they didn't say anything. Chances I missed it during a break are pretty small since Corona doesn't get much discussion as it is. Very poor documentation of its history. And in all the times somebody's asked about a Corona it's ALWAYS been based on info from Hans, even if it's only by comparison of s/n dates given by Hans.

I'm wondering if they started that in Westerly when they stopped putting it on the heelblock? BTW, that date, if they followed Westerly's method (and given it needed to be done before the top was put on, that's a good possibility) preceded actual completion of guitar by anywhere from a couple of weeks to more than a month. Depended mainly on model demand.

But you know it can't be any older than that.

Inside the body next to the end pin block is another small block with a date stamp! See attached, went poking around with an inspection mirror and light and saw something, went in with my colonoscopy type camera and screen grabbed this, so exciting! Turns out I didn’t miss it’s anniversary, my JF30-12’s 20th birthday is coming up in 3 weeks on the 21st!

I suspect it's not, as explained above. Had to be done before top was put on. But it's petty common to call it the "Born On Date"and I use it that way.

Check inside your Corona models, see if they have the extra block and date stamp there at your end pin.

I also have a factory-installed jack there. This might get interesting. If it gets tricky, could I borrow the camera?

And yes, @adorshki, it is a gorgeous piece(s) of wood they used on the top

Would I lie to you?

 

[Boneman]

Makes sense on the completion date, logically would come afterwards. But since the final date would be hard to pinpoint, like you I’ll go with that as it’s born on date.

If it gets tricky, could I borrow the camera?

Of course! it’s real easy to use but I don’t use it often, so I’m sure I can manage if it’s on loan for a bit.