Ok, talk to me about classicals...

[Hammer]

What am I looking for in a Guild classical. What's the diff between all the Marks? Any years better than others? Known inherent problems I should watch for? Edumacate me! I wanna pluck some cat gut! :lol:

 

[Brad Little]

What's the diff between all the Marks?

Mark V, VI and VII were built in the Spanish style, with what's known as a Spanish foot. This has to do with the way the neck joins the body. There's a section on it here:
http://chantus.com/journal/index.php?/a ... 05/05.html
The others were made with a non-Spanish style neck join, probably a dovetail.
No idea what years are better, but probably before '77 or so when Carlo Greco left the company.
Brad

 

[alpep]

I have a mark III I have owned for a long time.
it's a nice guitar

 

[silverfox103]

Guild made the Mark Series from 1960 to 1988, Mark I to Mark VII. I believe Mark VII was a custom special order for the early to mid 60's. I know in the late 60's the VI was the top of the line. From 69 to 88 the Mark V was the top of the line.

Mark III's were mahogany, some of the IV's were pearwood and the V's and VI's were rosewood. The prices may vary, but you should be able to get a III for $300, IV for $450ish, V and VI maybe $1200 to $2K. You may pay a little more or less depending on condition and luck. There seems to be a lot of III's around, IV's are less available, V's are rare and VI's are extremely rare. There are plenty of I's and II's around, but you can get a III for the same price.

I have a V and a VI, someday if the condition and price are right, I may get a III and a IV.

I see you're an electric guitar guy, I would start at a III and see how you like it.

Tom C.

 

[Brad Little]

Guild made the Mark Series from 1960 to 1988, Mark I to Mark VII. I believe Mark VII was a custom special order for the early to mid 60's. I know in the late 60's the VI was the top of the line. From 69 to 88 the Mark V was the top of the line.
Tom C.

Yes, the VII was special order and I believe I read someplace that there were only around 40 made. According to a sales rep I talked to in the mid-seventies, the main difference between the V and VI was the ebony bridge on the VI and they had some problems with it splitting because it was too brittle-I guess during manufacturing.

Brad

 

[Hammer]

Thanks for the replies guys. Looks like I'm going to aim for a III (I see these quite often on fleaBay), IV or, if I am extremely lucky and find one at a decent price, a V. The hunt begins!

 

[silverfox103]

Brad spotted a IV on ebay, it sold for $282, the beginning of the week.

Actually, there is a 68 Mark V on ebay now, but it is in Germany. That would be a real good one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

Tom