Newbie needs help finding first vintage Guild guitar

[mwhitlock6069]

Help!, I have been playing my Yamaha FG -345 now for about five years. I needed something to get back in practice with. Back in 1977 I was in college and my roomate had a Guild guitar he left with me while he went back home for a while.

I can't remember what model it was but I can sure remember how much better it was then my first Yamaha FG-110 (?).

Anyway its time I go out and get a real guitar and I want a guild and I want it to be blonde, I am hoping to get some thing for around $500 to start out with.

What I need to know is what would be the best Guild for me to go after and what would be the best years they were made.

Also where is the best place to locate one.

Thanks

Mark

 

[twocorgis]

Help!, I have been playing my Yamaha FG -345 now for about five years. I needed something to get back in practice with. Back in 1977 I was in college and my roomate had a Guild guitar he left with me while he went back home for a while.

I can't remember what model it was but I can sure remember how much better it was then my first Yamaha FG-110 (?).

Anyway its time I go out and get a real guitar and I want a guild and I want it to be blonde, I am hoping to get some thing for around $500 to start out with.

What I need to know is what would be the best Guild for me to go after and what would be the best years they were made.

Also where is the best place to locate one.

Thanks

Mark

Mark,

First of all, welcome aboard! Stick around, you'll like it here.

As for your hunt, is is possible to get a blonde Guild for around $500 (a D or JF30 would be your best chance), but for that price you'll likely end up with a guitar that needs some work. I'd try to put a couple hundred more in the pot to get something nice. For your present budget, you'd have a better chance of finding a D25, or a D or DV4 in good condition. I'd probably recommend something from the Westerly factory, as they are the most plentiful on the market. Neck set would be critical on any of these guitars, as guilds aren't the easiest guitars to do neck resets on. Look for plenty of sddle height, and nice low action at the 12th fret. You can use this Craigslist/eBay mash-up, and also consider searching Guitar Center's used inventory. choose keyword "Guild" (without quotes), catergory "guitars", and check "National search". You can sort by low to high price by clicking on the "price" hyperlink once you perform the initial search.

Best of luck in the hunt, and don't be afraid to ask question here if there's anything you're not sure of.

 

[GardMan]

Mark,
Welcome to LTG! You'll find a lot of go0d folk here eager to help you find your first Guild...

First, a question... when you refer to wanting a "blonde" Guild, are you just speaking of the top finish, or the whole body of the guitar? Guild uses the term "blonde" to refer to spruce-topped, maple back and sided guitars left in a natural finish. If you are just referring to the top color, but want wood other than maple, it would be "NT" for natural top.

$500 is on the low end for a vintage Guild blonde... but not by much. Probably the most affordable would be a G-37 or D-30 dreadnaught. Spruce top, with maple sides and arched laminated maple back. I found my '74 G-37 blonde on eBay a couple years back for just $565 (w/o case)... a few dings, but structurally in great shape, and very playable. Others have found even better deals (down to ~$500). Typical eBay prices for G-37 blondes and the very similar D-30 these days might range from $650-850, occasionally a bit lower (and higher from a dealer in used instruments). Blonde maple F-40s (orchestra size?) and F-50/JF-65 (jumbo) will likely command higher prices.

So watch eBay, Craigslist, gets lots of advice from folks here (we love to help others spend their money)... with patience you'll find the Guild for you.
Dave

 

[fronobulax]

Welcome.

Knee-jerk reaction is a D-25 although not sure about the blond. Kind of hard to generalize about good and bad years until you pick a model.

 

[dapmdave]

Mark, I would say that if you have your heart set on a blonde Guild, then that is what you should get. The D-25 is a great guitar, but it doesn't sound like a maple guitar.

You can find the D-30, the GF-30, even the mighty JF-30 for $600-$800, depending on condition and your luck. Sure, some of their mahogany brethren can be found for a bit less. But, if after buying that mahogany guitar, you are still lusting for a blonde, you'll end up spending even more when you get your second Guild (that blonde you started out for). :lol:

But two Guilds are better than one, right?

Happy hunting, and welcome to LTG.

Dave

 

[hojo199]

I found my "Blondie" (as I call her), a 1989 D30 on Ebay. She is my most played acoustic guitar. I paid 500.00 -- but I have seen them for much more. Happy hunting!

 

[dreadnut]

Welcome, and I'd concur on the G-37 for a blondie in your price range. My friend has one and it is a lot like a maple D-25.

 

[mwhitlock6069]

Everyone:

Thanks for the feedback. I think I am going to focus on a G37 blonde (meaning maple sides).

I had read some where else that the best models were made before 1976 but that they did not have a blonde neck. What year did they start making blonde necks and are they any better or worse in quality to the pre 1977 models.

Thanks

The quest has begun

 

[fronobulax]

I had read some where else that the best models were made before 1976

You are the second person recently who has made that claim but I cannot for the life of me figure out an event in the corporate history that would make it true. Maybe someone believes a guitar takes 35 years to open up? In any event, if you can recall where you read it, please let us know.

BTW, welcome.

 

[GardMan]

Everyone:

Thanks for the feedback. I think I am going to focus on a G37 blonde (meaning maple sides).

I had read some where else that the best models were made before 1976 but that they did not have a blonde neck. What year did they start making blonde necks and are they any better or worse in quality to the pre 1977 models.

Thanks

The quest has begun

I don't know if there is any magic year for G-37s.... I really like the look, feel, and tone of my '74 (with mahogany neck). I have seen '76 G-37s with mahogany necks on eBay, so I know that they went at least that far. I have seen '78s with multi-piece maple necks. So the transition is somewhere in there.

As I recall, the G-37 was discontinued in ~'86, and re-appeared as the D-30 in '87... very similar (but not identical?) specs. SO that would be another option.

Enjoy the quest!
Dave