Rareest Guild ? Which is it?

[Tunes]

This is probably a question that Hans is best qualified to answer, but throwing it out there for general interest. We all see those posts that talk about this or that Guild being "rare", so it got me thinking what really is the rareest (is that a word?) Guild.

I would think rarity would be based on, among other things, the smallest production run of a particular guitar, or is there something else that would made a particular Guild rarer than others? Don't know - looking for opinions and / or facts.

1 Acoustic and 1 Electric candidate?

 

[killdeer43]

Tunes,

This will prove to be an interesting thread, so we can all wait for Hans to chime in. In the meantime, I wonder if the "Josh White Guild" that we've heard/read about lately could be in the running. :?: Hmmmm....

Pondering,
Joe

 

[chazmo]

This is probably a question that Hans is best qualified to answer, but throwing it out there for general interest. We all see those posts that talk about this or that Guild being "rare", so it got me thinking what really is the rareest (is that a word?) Guild.

I would think rarity would be based on, among other things, the smallest production run of a particular guitar, or is there something else that would made a particular Guild rarer than others? Don't know - looking for opinions and / or facts.

1 Acoustic and 1 Electric candidate?

Tunes,

Well, you can't get any rarer than one made, right? The Josh White Guild we were looking at (with Hans) recently is a one-off, at least as far as anyone knows. There are probably several other one-offs, though I don't know how many are truly uniquely built (like Josh White's) vs. just small customizations of some existing model. In more recent years, Westerly and Nashville custom shop put out a few very limited-edition models... e.g., there was a JF-100-12 that someone offered up here recently that was, I think, one of three made.

F-612s seem to be rare as hen's teeth. Don't know how many were made though. Keep hoping to grab one or at least see/try it.

Don't know the electrics too well. Hopefully someone will chime in on that.

[edit: Joe, you were right on track there. ]

 

[fronobulax]

Interesting question, but I suspect it will not have a satisfactory answer. For example, the JS II bass could not be considered rare by any definition that does not include comparing production numbers to contemporary Fender Precisions. However there are variations that could be considered rare. Two variations would be the earliest models that don't have the Guild humbuckers. One has two Hagstrom bisonics. The other has one bisonic and a different Hagstrom PU at the bridge. At the end of the JS run there were a few with a B-301 style bridge rather than the usual harp. Again very small numbers of these transitional models so they are rare by most definitions. But does their rarity matter in terms of price or performance? I doubt it.

So while waiting for Hans I would suggest that the rarest Guild would be something that was effectively a custom build. I seem to recall an acoustic that people claim had a production run of 10 or less. If true, that would be rare I'm also thinking that a one of a kind guitar which is by definition rare, is not especially interesting. Indeed if I know it was one of a kind I would call it that and not "rare".

 

[jazzmang]

Yeah wasn't there like a DV-82 or something? Also, the DK-70 (All Koa D-70, IIRC) is also fairly rare.

I think Guild has done too many one-offs and short production runs to get a definitive answer, but it'd be interesting to make a list of the top 10 most rare acoustics, electrics, basses, 12-stringers, etc...

 

[dreadnut]

They only made 3 of the Disney "Firebird Flattops".

 

[krysh]

merle travis model?

 

[Paddlefoot]

Hans may be a bit reserved about posting an opinion on this right now as he has his Guild bible II on the way. I posted a question re the X-180 a while back and Hans most graciously replied via pm. Somewhere in the area of 100 units for that one. Hans is an impressive data collector.
It would seem that rarity could also be based on documented numbers remaining. For example, Jaguar planned production of the XKSS ( a street legal D-Type racer) to be something on the order of 200 cars but most were destroyed in a fire at the factory and production was never restarted. Only a handful are traceable around the world. Rare.
Something like the D-100 crv might fit that bill. We had a recent post about someone buying one and there was a number given for production but I wonder how many are still around.

 

[dane]

I think you need to make this question into two different categories. One for production runs that could be found at a music shop, and the other the guitars that Guild built for only the select few, (the JF-100-12 or the F-612 are good examples). Just my opinion. Good thread though!

Dane

 

[Ian]

What about one's that were owned by somebody famous ? I'm thinking of the D60 owned by Johnny Cash or Missisippi John Hurts F30 ? Can't get more rarer than that !!

 

[Paddlefoot]

Might be subsets of the rare ones too. Say a JF-100-12 sunburst. As an example, I have a Martin D-28 Marquis LSH (sunburst) where there were 130 built but only 34 in sunburst. Not "rare" maybe but certainly uncommon. I'm sure Guild must have similar situations.

 

[adorshki]

l

It would seem that rarity could also be based on documented numbers remaining.

Paddlefoot I'm with you here. It also helps distinguish between "rare" and "one-off" and "limited" as a couple of others pointed out. In collecting circles "rare" normally implies small numbers made or surviving of a standard production model, ala your Jaguar example.
I nominate my D25 as the only D25 ever owned only by me....also my D40 and my F65 for the same reason... :lol:

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Acoustic:

Josh White F-30;

Electric Guitar:

S-200;

Electric Bass:

FS-46 Bass-4

Other:

Mandolin;

There are a lot more "one-off" prototypes out there. Hans showed my a few pictures of some cool stuff on his laptop when we were in Arlington. Can't talk about any of it though or I might wake up with a Guild headstock in my bed! :shock:

 

[chazmo]

Outstanding, Grot.

Lovin' the Guild-olin. I'm afraid that thing could put an eye out! OUCH!

 

[GardMan]

Don't forget the Guild banjo... thnik there's a pic in Hans' book.

 

[Paddlefoot]

And the uke.

 

[West R Lee]

I think there were like 20 D130's built. Very few D80's, as with the DV74, DV76 and maybe a prototype DV82. On those, only Hans knows for sure. There is also a model, one that Got has that I can't think of the name. It's a sort of pointy acoustic, double cutaway, built by Kim Walker that was billed as allowing the most access to the upper fretboard. Very few of them built....like 20 I think. Grot?

West

 

[evenkeel]

merle travis model?

I just read about this Guild in Guitar Aficiando Magazine. Rick Nielsen, Cheap Trick has one of these and wrote a small bit about it. The magazine pic is wild. Could not find that pic, but here is another rock star playin one.

 

[6L6]

F-612 has to be right up there. I've never even seen one.

6

 

[killdeer43]

Don't forget the Guild banjo... thnik there's a pic in Hans' book.

Along the lines of Chazmo's "Guildolin," would this be a Guildo. Thin ice here, so tread lightly, lest we veer!

Joe