Serial numbers and dating/ID

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Greetings, newbie to the forum. My dad left me a couple of guitars and I'm trying to nail down some dates and other info. One is a late 60s D25, I'm pretty sure I've got info on that. The other is an M75, originally owned by my dad's uncle (at least in my family line). Sadly he altered it and it's not in original condition, but I've heard everything from 1950s to the 1970s on this one. I think the serial number stamped on it is DD 388 (maybe 00?). My dad's uncle cut the F holes, replaced the pickups, lost the original tailpiece... I have the pick guard. I'd like to ballpark a value for it. Thanks for any help!

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AcornHouse

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It looks like you tried to attach photos. Pics need to hosted elsewhere and then linked to here. We no longer recommend Photobucket, but imgur may work for you.
 

adorshki

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First to ask for photos!

Seriously. Photos needed. Many and good quality. Otherwise I predict this thread will remain quiet.

"DT", I see 3 links in his post that do open up in a Google page for me, but still your point is well-made.


Hi Sean, welcome aboard!
I can assure you that M75 can't be from the '50's due to the headstock shape.
Guild headstocks in the '50's mimiced Gibson's, sometimes called "lips" or "open book".
A "DD" s/n would fit the '67-'68 M75's according to this chat:
http://guildguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/history_of_your_guild.pdf
Note that that chart is known to be incomplete and contains have errors, but in this case I think the "DDxxx" format is the critical element in getting close to an actual production year for your M75 even though they appear to stop after "DD237" in '68.
Our member Hans Moust could probably nail it down precisely.
Sadly, I do suspect all the modification and missing parts have really knocked down the value of the instrument, because in that market, condition is everything.
That's why Dthomas suggested lots of pictures to get any response to the "value" question.
 

kakerlak

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Here are the pics you included in your post:
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o00rDVqXh47sVYy_9koQK7NtFNCsNrz5waxB0KIl1_kcybXy80PxiEei6XYco_xB2imLw2WZwPF0jPnDvFHuZnHU6gOgyk7y5esPe8dMT27Zguo2EvW5L0vrkqsIJ-ujhttB14HGXtyUPwkxKV8toGpkkbwBk7zzucDA-r2JQDp-ElGYAgzgExckeJbJveOHLnDKUBnz9ZbvbHD6IyaINJeZARDtKUov41looTJz5YhvrgmSuDnT7ZaJJBS3yLgV36QgilEM5nV-3wlgGaw7XdPT7Z2-iErKae13c6E8CAKC-sZuTK2xISCkRPHcKv1pRJGmshAc0hWLbEOGtJ2r__vlWqqbFP9EvNdckHMcrq4wGNpX8ewmL4SiHlIBuQ91acZHUvorZekUfaTUAZEsFeDvFp-9p-ERIHFJoiQOsbJGznVEkjSpErKdXhBDiOOqEiZHqoA9XQNqfitOosJ-3pqOzULzxB8PqbhnOG2PW5Qb5QLdS4vQ_xiI2r-sgomOX_bQoaof6Ecpihd7aD4zD1Ea7WgoGRu8Ixh73LNmdMBRQeEgAPTroNo-mHydSj2wlSmytbS4SVIpCatJj7T3yhSmwWQaKFFZ_kFaAsrLQLjq3_FsfuBDNoD0Vt1gADLqFvnjYrcOYWG1pNyzEKJCnx0eQAEeCsduiWO4LpmtNqxSLfw=w510-h680-no

7AE9u23XrQLAWEMOr5tAh57DZpRDj0uPTz5Ip7frfuqjxRZzrqJIXRIaEAecPsdEkhPqQ5NcWGB0tFelspLdm5DgoHwYRsnmY-dFzVkJXX8KbLDM56111fIaD6YWYxcFyyBXj8XesYy5A2Tq084j9tcVM-MvCcLhkhMI-uwAM8EgY3lVkjDJzYgFny4yCWjMeXouTQeisL5tb0Y5kLCgxcD_JtzCC61Iieok7HChKcFf81MXFUTWdDmer0GRRPx5FS5rwpR-hKwJJfc86Uw6Do6QHbSBiKTSuPcYB5s2C3ANhZc9sQ6V3fjILx6ZiKXSThwI_6shwx2OzLymfbR3N5_rXSrGKrBngT82CQLVGdaaqi6Bq5K2uG3SxXUwJUXTi7Jzz07ljuXz9LFB34jQJwAKihM8q5OLdw17zl8b-fUpAuZLOlHsFVGSAY4ugi04Z-m60w703TZg3WlPakI_hvbj0SASeIOjduwdUrxsSkMccuqBlyLqwdU_cUO91R_F2250KPgiS8KWuQioKkn-ln_6MhYXHnMUgtYREk01xQqqptgLbjiXpDZ9TvyJEcSs1G5E1zDaaI0vp19BGV_vtTF3zDxj4VOkf_FsN2rO37CZD3p3ZLyQf5sfFg8y1W0komRcrtXmlcRxRyKaI0WIhHbpl2C-JkJ2XaJHyiYK1hnZRjM=w510-h680-no


Just on configuration alone, "late '60s" is a pretty safe bet, as that's when these got reintroduced (as adhorski said, the headstock shape eliminates the original, '50s/early-'60s run) and, by the very early '70s, these had transitioned to solidbody models and larger pickups. From what I can see here, it looks like yours has a pair of Gibson Firebird pickups, which is good, b/c they have some parts value and, being smaller than original ones, shouldn't have necessitated enlarging the pickup holes -- that can be returned to stock w/o too much trouble. The biggest value killer is the f-holes cut into the top. Clearer pictures would help there, but how clean the cuts were and how symmetrical they appear will have some importance, ditto the quality of the refin. To my eyes, the f-holes look backwards (facing the wrong direction) and located a little higher up than usual. For reference, here's what Guild's own f-holes looked like on an M-65, which is the same body:
bvtdlvobzf63ol8sh0yp.jpg


If the finish approaches professional quality (or can be wet-sanded to a professional quality) and it's a good player, it's maybe $800-ish to somebody who can live with the f-holes.
 

mavuser

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that case looks to be in nice shape, definitely worth a few bucks!
 
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Thank you so much for your answers, and for fixing my photos. You confirmed my suspicions based on the headstock. The pickups are actually Seymour Duncan mini humbuckers I put in about 15 years ago. I don't even know what was in there before, but they were junk. The F holes are done really well, my dad's uncle was a carpenter and woodworker. I never met the man so I have no clue why he altered the guitar. The finish is also quality and in good shape. The case is original, it's a little beat on the outside and the handle is broken. I am planning to sell it, so I'll be taking more and better photos, but I think your assessment is spot on.
 
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If anyone is interested, it's for sale now. I'll post it over in the sale section.
 
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