NGD - Orpheum Orchestra Prototype

[BradHK]

It arrived today safe and sound. I was so worried as it was dropped off at a UPS store without a case and left to them to fully pack. High risk situation! This might have been the best packing I have ever seen. It took 30 minutes to unwrap it! This is what it looked like after I took it out of the box (and there was padding around this inside the box):



The guitar looks pretty much unplayed. Some lacquer checking on the base side of the nut and the base side of the fretboard above the soundboard but nothing else to note. Given the eBay photos were horrible and it has been without a case since it left the factory I wasn’t sure what to expect. I tuned it up and it has good action and no noticeable immediate issues. I purchased a Guild case and had that waiting so it has a safe home. Initial thoughts are really good but I need more time with it to get a feeling for it‘s sound and such.

As Ralf noted, this is definitely the guitar used in the Guild photos of this model. Here is a photo of the pickguard from the guild website:



here is the photo of this guitar‘s pickguard. It is a match



Here are some photos. All I did was wipe it down and tune it up. Ready to go!













Plenty of saddle left!

 

[Stuball48]

Major major congratulations

 

[schoolie]

Beautiful! Enjoy that masterpiece!

 

[HeyMikey]

Congrats Brad. Glad it all worked out and UPS came through with the packing. She looks very clean! Enjoy.

 

[ReevesRd]

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing. Enjoy!

 

[GGJaguar]

A super guitar! Enjoy!

 

[merlin6666]

Congrats, that was a quick delivery. I assume you will put some fresh strings on to get the sound right. I love d'addario NB on my Orpheums. With less than three months left this gets my vote for score of the year.

 

[BradHK]

Congrats, that was a quick delivery. I assume you will put some fresh strings on to get the sound right. I love d'addario NB on my Orpheums. With less than three months left this gets my vote for score of the year.

Thanks and yes, new strings, a fret polish and fretboard oil are on the plans this weekend. Thanks for the recommendation on strings. I have some John Pearse phosphor bronze strings handy so I was going to start with those. I am sure I will try a few different types until I find my favorite. I have been playing it for the last hour or so and I am really pleased!

 

[mjoecups]

Wow! What a unique and beautiful instrument.

Congrats.

 

[jeffcoop]

Congratulations, Brad! And welcome to the Orpheum prototype club (there are a few members around here).

 

[WaltW]

Very Nice, my envy meter is going up again! I hope you enjoy your great new find. My New Hartford F20 is beautifully built.

 

[HeyMikey]

Congratulations, Brad! And welcome to the Orpheum prototype club (there are a few members around here).

How many Orpheum prototypes were there? Do you know if they differed from each other or the production models in any meaningful ways? Other than the obvious rosette did they have different bracing, materials, dimensions, wood thickness, weight?

 

[twocorgis]

How many Orpheum prototypes were there? Do you know if they differed from each other or the production models in any meaningful ways? Other than the obvious rosette did they have different bracing, materials, dimensions, wood thickness, weight?

I don't think so, if the Orpheums that have gone through here are any indication. And @BradHK, I'm curous where you got the case. My OM won't fit in a standard OM case (it's more of a 0000), but fits pretty well in a dreadnought sized case.

 

[BradHK]

I don't think so, if the Orpheums that have gone through here are any indication. And @BradHK, I'm curous where you got the case. My OM won't fit in a standard OM case (it's more of a 0000), but fits pretty well in a dreadnought sized case.

The case is the brown people finish Guild TKL case with green interior. Not sure what guitar in which it was originally used. i bought one a year or so ago for a 1979 F30 and liked the quality. The specs the seller listed for it was 15.75” lower bought so I figured I would give it a try as I don’t have my F30 here to test the case. As you can tell from the photos, it fits well. Here is the link to the one I purchased (same seller I bought the first one for my F30):

Guild TKL OM Size Acoustic Guitar Hard Shell Case Canadian Made Orchestra Model | eBay

TKL B2228/BR. Built by TKL. Guild "OM" Size Acoustic Guitar Hard Shell Case. Fits Guild "OM" Model Guitars. Guild Factory Case. Gold Guild Logo Plate. 44" Length (Interior). 5" Deep (Including space under top).

www.ebay.com

 

[chazmo]

Congrats, Brad. Super neat guitar.

Hey, is the body satin finished or gloss?

Have a close look at the middle of the back at the tail block. I think I might see a crack at the seam.

 

[BradHK]

Congrats, Brad. Super neat guitar.

Hey, is the body satin finished or gloss?

Have a close look at the middle of the back at the tail block. I think I might see a crack at the seam.

You are correct that the back and sides are satin. I believe that is unique and all other Orpheums are all gloss. I would prefer gloss but I am not complaining. I like a satin neck but I prefer a gloss body back and sides. You are also correct in that there is a laquer crack along the center seam. No actual separation but a crack in the finish. There are a couple finish cracks like this where it transitions from one material to the next. Not sure if they were caused by not being stored in a case or something else.

 

[SFIV1967]

You are correct that the back and sides are satin. I believe that is unique and all other Orpheums are all gloss.

Ah, now we know the reason why your one was not shown at NAMM 2013! So you have a true Prototype! The mahogany burst one they were showing had all gloss and also had a serial number already, it was just finished a few days before NAMM started (Jan 16th):



Ralf

 

[BradHK]

Ah, now we know the reason why your one was not shown at NAMM 2013! The mahogany burst one they were showing had all gloss and also had a serial number already, it was just finished a few days before NAMM started (Jan 16th):



Ralf

Any insight into why this one has no serial number? Thanks

 

[SFIV1967]

Any insight into why this one has no serial number? Thanks

Because you got a real experimental prototype which was not intended for sale due to the features which didn't make it for mass production. All the NAMM prototypes with serial numbers were sold officially by Guild, I bought my one in a shop for instance which bought her at the trade show.

Ralf

 

[HeyMikey]

We know about the blue rosette also on other prototypes, and the satin b/s on this first prototype. Are there other differences?’