Help IDing Guild Mark Classical?

[goldevan]

Hi all, longtime lurker first time poster. I am looking at a Guild Mark currently for sale near me that has a distinct allure and need some help identifying it!

The post says it's a Mk II, but the wood on the back and the gold tuners (if original) don't seem consistent with the Mk IIs that I've seen. It looks more like the Mk IVs that I've been able to find photos of, mostly due to the binding on the back and the flame of the wood on the back. There's no serial number on the headstock and it appears that the label is gone, so it's possible that this seller searched "vintage Guild classical" and went with the first thing. Also, the headstock is lighter than many Mk IIs, and the wood on the back looks much lighter and redder than seems typical of Mk IIs. Edit: the serial number as it appears inside is "CD 795"

The guitar obviously has been played for decades and might need some work, but I'm no expert, so I could use some help trying to figure out if this is worth going for, or if it's just a beat-up Mk II with bad lighting and wishful thinking. Thank you for your help!

 

[GardMan]

Welcome to LTG! The back looks like pear wood to me... but I am not well-versed in Mark identification, so I'll leave that to others. I am sure someone with more knowledge will be along shortly!

 

[silverfox103]

Hi goldevan

That looks like a Mark IV pearwood as Gardman says, made somewhere in the 60's. I've owned 3 of them. The serial # that you list, doesn't quite jive with the identification list that I'm looking at.

Definitely it has been rode hard and put away wet. It's probably going to need a good going over. As for price, I wouldn't pay more than $250, but might go as high as $300 if I liked it. Looks like the owner just keeps it laying around in his garage, along with that other guitar. It's awful close to being a campfire guitar, but it definitely can be saved. Looking at your pictures, obviously it's been played a lot, which is good. Bridge has been replaced. Don't see any cracks or other issues. A good cleaning up will go a long way.

I wouldn't tip the guy off it's a Mark IV, as the Mark II's are a "student" model, the IV's are an intermediate guitar. The pearwood guitars are somewhat sought after.

Go for it, but don't overpay.

Good Luck

Tom

 

[goldevan]

Hi goldevan

That looks like a Mark IV pearwood as Gardman says, made somewhere in the 60's. I've owned 3 of them. The serial # that you list, doesn't quite jive with the identification list that I'm looking at.

Definitely it has been rode hard and put away wet. It's probably going to need a good going over. As for price, I wouldn't pay more than $250, but might go as high as $300 if I liked it. Looks like the owner just keeps it laying around in his garage, along with that other guitar. It's awful close to being a campfire guitar, but it definitely can be saved.

I wouldn't tip the guy off it's a Mark IV, as the Mark II's are a "student" model, the IV's are an intermediate guitar. The pearwood guitars are somewhat sought after.

Go for it, but don't overpay.

Good Luck

Tom

Hi Tom,
Thank you so much for your help! I was wondering about that serial number too, since on the lists I found it only gets to ~500. Luckily I just found a decent and affordable luthier too, so I'll be able to have it gone over by a pro. It's listed for $350, so right at the top end of your suggested range. I'll try to get him to come down given the possibility of work, and I can usually identify cracks and loos braces / neck issues. He says it comes with a case, and from his selling history it looks like he's an antiques guy--said he doesn't know anything about the previous owner. Definitely won't tip him off about the Mark IV. Checking it out tonight, so I'll let you all know what happens! Also attached a photo of the interior with the serial number.

 

[SFIV1967]

Welcome to LTG! Your "CD 795" would be from either year 1969 or year 1970 (the serial number list is not complete for those two years) and as the other said is a Mark IV model.
@hansmoust can most probably tell you the exact year.

June 15, 1969 price list:



Nov 1, 1969 price list:



Apr 15, 1970 price list:



Ralf

 

[goldevan]

Welcome to LTG! Your "CD 795" would be from either year 1969 or year 1970 (the serial number list is not complete for those two years) and as the other said is a Mark IV model.
@hansmoust can most probably tell you the exact year.

June 15, 1969 price list:



Nov 1, 1969 price list:



Apr 15, 1970 price list:



Ralf

Thanks Ralf! I love seeing these price lists--$350 was nothing to balk at in 1969 /1970. Good to know that the serial numbers are incomplete for those years.

 

[silverfox103]

Checking it out tonight, so I'll let you all know what happens!

And the answer is?

Tom

 

[goldevan]

And the answer is?

Tom

The answer is, say hello to my 1969/70 Guild Mark IV! It is one of the most resonant guitars I’ve ever played—the frets are perfect, it intonates well and holds its tuning, action is just a bit high, and the bridge glue job is not pretty but it functions fine. Having my luthier look at it in the next couple days, but seeing my photos she said it looks to be a gem.

The previous owner cared for it well, and maybe played flamenco—there is still a nail file and set of clippers in the case. I bought it from a nice man who runs a shop called World of Treasures, in Ludlow, Mass, and I paid the asking price of $350. He wouldn’t go lower—and this is where I start to wonder about the full story—because the previous owner said he would return and buy it back for $350, but the owner never came back, and after six months of holding it and waiting, the seller finally put it up last week on FB marketplace. I suspect the previous owner was the original owner, since as an earlier post pointed out, the guitar sold for $350 in 1969, and he offered to buy it back for that amount.

I gave the seller my contact info and told him to call me if the guy returns, because I would happily sell it back to him. I’m thrilled to own it and have already written with it, but I can only imagine that this was the guitar he spent much of his life with, and that’s a special thing. So if anyone knows a flamenco player from Ludlow Massachusetts who would have bought a Mark IV in the 70s, please let me know…

 

[silverfox103]

That's great!! What's 50 bucks. Really, $350 is still cheap and a deal. Oh, and the guitar looks a lot better on your oriental rug, as opposed to the sellers garage.

Where's Ludlow? I'm guessing by Worcester. I grew up on the South Shore.

Tom