Inquiring help for D35 Serial Number Verification

[N8Brams]

Looking to purchase a “1969 Guild D35 NT. The serial number of this guitar is OJ 2253.

I referenced the guild website which lists 1969 D35s as having a range of OJ1004-OJ1592 so am confused as to this serial number falling out of range. Then in 1970 they switched to 5 digit numerical serial numbers, then in 1979 switch to DB for start of serial numbers.

If anyone knows more on this I would be greatly appreciative of any help or info. Thank you much.

 

[SFIV1967]

Welcome to LTG! Your guitar was manufactured in year 1970. The switch to the 5 digit serial number system happened only later in 1970, so many guitars in 1970 still got the old serial numbers. So that is where your guitar falls in. As you can see more than 600 such D-35 were produced in 1970 before your serial number. I also have seen pictures of OJ 2314. It was a popular model at that time.

And since this question comes up often: The guitar was built in Westerly, RI. even if Hoboken is on the label! The Westerly factory re-used the old labels until they were gone.



And one more, our member @Bonneville88 owned this OJ 2253 before. So any questions you have you might ask him!

April 15, 1970 price list:



1969 catalog:



Ralf

 

[chazmo]

Your best source for this kind of information is Hans Moust's "bible". It is out of range for 1969, but they kept using the system into 1970. The switch to 5 digit numbering did not occur immediately in 1970 (i.e., there's overlap). Your guitar is (probably) 1970 then. Hans will likely chime in to give you all the details.

 

[N8Brams]

Welcome to LTG! Your guitar was manufactured in year 1970. The switch to the 5 digit serial number system happened only later in 1970, so many guitars in 1970 still got the old serial numbers. So that is where your guitar falls in. As you can see more than 600 such D-35 were produced in 1970 before your serial number. I also have seen pictures of OJ 2314. It was a popular model at that time.

And since this question comes up often: The guitar was built in Westerly, RI. even if Hoboken is on the label! The Westerly factory re-used the old labels until they were gone.



And one more, our member @Bonneville88 owned this OJ 2253 before. So any questions you have you might ask him!

April 15, 1970 price list:



1969 catalog:



Ralf

Wow Ralf. Thank you for all that info, clears up a lot for me. Crazy that guitar made it from St. Luis where @boniville88 lives all the way out to Santa Cruz California. I’ve always wanted a guild and heard about the quality of the older ones. Thanks again!

 

[Guildedagain]

Pics?

 

[Br1ck]

The movement of guitars around the country is certainly enhanced by the advent of the internet. A while back someone had bought a 70 D 35 with the serial number consecutive to mine. Coincidence abounds. When I bought mine from Gryphon many years ago it was unplayable. There have never been many Guilds for sale around here, much less older ones. Yes, I must admit it was a letdown when my Hoboken labeled Guild was found to be built in Westerly, but I got over it. Mine now resides in San Jose.

I've found a very good luthier who was a long time Guild warranty guy who won't bat an eye at doing a neck reset should you need one. PM me for info if you need it. I had my guitar fixed about ten years ago and it has been a guitar that has continued to grow on me since. I think that is rare. Suffice to say I haven't bought a D 18 and maybe never will. I still want one, but keep getting sidetracked.

My new love is a Santa Cruz which has likely lived it's whole life within 50 miles of where it was born.

 

[SFIV1967]

Pics?

Link to pictures from 2018 in that thread you started:

Is there a D35 registry?

Is this one genius, or just another crackpot idea? Just talking to a local guy who supposedly knew about some vintage guitars a while back, gone now, I waited way too long to follow up on this lead, which was some weird divorce thing anyway, the dust finally settled, and this dude actually got...

letstalkguild.com

Ralf