Prince Guild Guitar

[GuildGuitar8096]

Hello Everyone! Thanks for letting me join. I was told to share some photos and the story of my uncles guitar. I’m wondering if people can provide any insight to a guitar that my recently passed uncle had. Here is what I knew from him….

My uncle was a wonderful musician and loved his guitars. One of his guitars was this Guild. What I know from him is that he purchased this guitar back in 1984 from a French guitar shop in Minneapolis. At this shop, he often visited with another upcoming musician, Prince Nelson…aka Prince. One day when he was in the store, Prince had custom ordered 20 different colors. This color he did not want and gave it to my uncle. My uncle has owned this guitar ever since then! I’m not sure if this was a production color that year for this model or not….

Unfortunately, my uncle played it for years back in the 80’s and it took quite a beating. However, I’m not sure if it’s worth trying to restore or just keep all original!

Any insight or info you may have on this guitar would be appreciated! I also know the case is not correct, but I have a few others. Would the case day Guild?

 

[GAD]

Already commented on FB. I look forward to the conversation here. Thanks for joining!

 

[GAD]

Also I moved this to the Acoustics section.

 

[Boneman]

Welcome to LTG!, and wow, that is an outstanding story to introduce yoursef with, such very cool history in that Guild. I like that custom color, but afraid I can't offer any insight to it. With the soundhole sticker photo should get you some insightful information from some folks here soon, but you may know more about it than even Guild does Condolences for your uncle.

 

[GGJaguar]

Welcome to LTG and thanks for sharing such a cool guitar and its back story! I suggest keeping it as original as possible and only do the work necessary to keep it in good playing condition.

 

[Brick]

One of his guitars was this Guild. What I know from him is that he purchased this guitar back in 1984 from a French guitar shop in Minneapolis.

Quite possibly Knut Koupée in Uptown Minneapolis. Prince was known to be a regular there. They've been gone almost 30 years now?? (yikes).

e.

 

[GuildGuitar8096]

Quite possibly Knut Koupée in Uptown Minneapolis. Prince was known to be a regular there. They've been gone almost 30 years now?? (yikes).

e.

That was it! He had told me the name of the store, but I couldnt remember it and have been looking for it! Thanks for knowing that information....

 

[geoguy]

Based on the body color I assumed it was a D-25.

But the sticker says it is a G-37 !

So it has maple back & sides, and a spruce top. That's a really fine Guild model, and in a unique color.

 

[Brick]

No worries. They were the "it" store for a long time, but ended up getting crushed by Guitar Center when they tried to go big with their buisness.

 

[geoguy]

Also, if the serial number chart is to be believed, your uncle's guitar may have been built in late 1985.

The original case may have had the word "Guild" and a G-shield logo stenciled in gold, on the lid, based on my similar-vintage G-37.

But any case that fits is a good case, imo.

 

[richardp69]

I wouldn't change a thing to that guitar unless something like a neck reset or refret is in order. So very cool!!! I was never a huge Prince fan but I saw a special once where he played only acoustically and he was superb. I never really knew how good he was.

If you are a player I'd suggest you hold onto it, not because of the Prince connection necessarily but just because it's a great color. I'm not sure I've ever seen a G 37 in that color before.

This would be one I'd like to own personally.

Good luck whatever you do and keep us posted for sure.

 

[Brick]

Hmmm......might be worth visiting Paisley Park again to see if they have Prince's on display.......

 

[richardp69]

I grew up in NW Wisconsin, not far from The Twin Cities. I'm sure I was in that shop on several occasions. I remember it and a store called B Sharp (was on Central Avenue I believe) very well. B Sharp is where my folks bought me a 60's Vibrolux Reverb, Fender Strat, a Fuzz Wah pedal and a Fender PA System all of which I sold for beer money in college. Never was a good decision maker I guess.

 

[adorshki]

Hello Everyone! Thanks for letting me join. I was told to share some photos and the story of my uncles guitar. I’m wondering if people can provide any insight to a guitar that my recently passed uncle had. Here is what I knew from him….

My uncle was a wonderful musician and loved his guitars. One of his guitars was this Guild. What I know from him is that he purchased this guitar back in 1984 from a French guitar shop in Minneapolis. At this shop, he often visited with another upcoming musician, Prince Nelson…aka Prince. One day when he was in the store, Prince had custom ordered 20 different colors. This color he did not want and gave it to my uncle. My uncle has owned this guitar ever since then! I’m not sure if this was a production color that year for this model or not….

Unfortunately, my uncle played it for years back in the 80’s and it took quite a beating. However, I’m not sure if it’s worth trying to restore or just keep all original!

Any insight or info you may have on this guitar would be appreciated! I also know the case is not correct, but I have a few others. Would the case day Guild?

Hi, welcome aboard, "GG",
Have seen that color before, but only very rarely from that era, on a D25 and an F20.
From 1985:
https://reverb.com/item/17547316-gu...-westerly-ri-light-blue-finish-very-rare-1985
From 1981:
https://reverb.com/item/11825612-su...made-this-one-is-a-pure-cannon-light-playwear

So it was "factory", but I suspect it was a "special order color" for that G37 model.

It has a spruce top and maple body, with the back being "arched", a Guild specialty.

 

[crank]

Supercool!

Now I can say I have the same guitar as Prince! I wonder if any of them G37's were used on records produced at Paisley Park?

 

[SFIV1967]

Quite possibly Knut Koupée in Uptown Minneapolis. Prince was known to be a regular there.

That was it! He had told me the name of the store,....

Source with Prince info:

The Origin of Prince’s Cloud Guitar - Fretboard Journal

Julien's Auctions has announced that, on June 19, 2020, Prince's "Blue Angel" Cloud guitar (pictured above, courtesy Julien's) will be auctioned with an estimate is $400,000-600,000. Though many Cloud copies exist, this particular guitar was Prince's primary performance instrument from 1984...

www.fretboardjournal.com

Ralf

 

[Wilmywood]

WOW! 20 G-37s. I thought I was doing great at two Welcome to LTG!

 

[adorshki]

WOW! 20 G-37s. I thought I was doing great at two Welcome to LTG!

I think he meant 20 guitars in custom colors from various makers. I don't Guild even had 20 colors at the time, judging from the price list options, lol!

 

[mavuser]

great thread, and very cool story. just want to add for the OP that the G-37 was later re-named the D-30...should that ever come up in the future.

have heard a couple stories about Prince giving some of his new Schecter guitars away, to employees at Paisley Park. not the custom ones but the "signature model." still they were brand new (like the aqua Guild).

 

[adorshki]

great thread, and very cool story. just want to add for the OP that the G-37 was later re-named the D-30...should that ever come up in the future.

Funny you should mention that, saw a D30 in Woodgrain Blue while I was searching those first two:

https://www.buya.com/Item/Details/G...0Y0urkO5zF9tAI2_tIUTkpFhTzL_a3T4aAoimEALw_wcB

Another pretty rare color for those, used for some "Limted Editions", like the JF30-12. That D30 appears to have the "Limited Edition" TRC, too.

BTW Tom those normally had 1-11/16 nuts but we've seen some with 1-5/8 so you need to hold it in your hand first.