JohnW63
Enlightened Member
I was looking at Guild D-55s in the back of music magazines, back then. It was listed at $735 or so. That's why I bought my Ovation for $400 ( used ). I couldn't scrape up the extra $335 at $3 an hour.
$595 was the list price when I bought my new D-55 in 1977.
I'm not sure what I actually paid for the guitar itself because ...
1. I bought it with an expensive flight case, instead of the stock case
2. I ordered it with Barcus Berry "Hot Dots"
3. For some reason instead of getting the factory-installed Hot Dots they gave me a Barcus Berry transducer that was a little walnut bock of wood that you stick onto the bridge with what looked like gray chewing gum.
I wouldn't feel too bad about not getting the Hot Dots, Hans has said they weren't all that hot.
Hi all,
Iv'e been doing a little comparative price research through vintage instrument catalogs that I've come across on line, just because I love the history side of things. Some guitar prices surprised me- for example how inexpensive (taking into account inflation of course) certain Martin models were in the late 30s/ early 40s compared to what they cost now. and vise-versa on other brands and modles- some are cheaper now than they were then.
But I cant seem to find any pricing info on Guild acoustics in the 1970s. I'd be particularly interested to find out what the list OR even the street price of a Guild F50 and F50R were at some point in the 70s, to compare with a 1977 Martin list price list I've come across. Finding Guild prices 1960 and prior is no problem; they listed the list pricing right in the catalog.
Anyone have any insight? Whether you have an old price list or you remember what you paid new for one of those models, Id appreciate hearing more! I was sent here by the Howard Emerson over at acoustic guitar forum, and was told Hans Moust could probably help!
It's an amazing resource to have. They should use it!!Especially because now we have this: https://www.gad.net/Blog/guild-guitar-price-lists/
I'm not above shameless self-promotion.
Especially because now we have this: https://www.gad.net/Blog/guild-guitar-price-lists/
I'm not above shameless self-promotion.
$225 was list price of Guild D25 in 1971.
Here's a handy Inflation Calculator. According to that (the accuracy of which I can't really verify), $225 translates to $1,433 in 2020 dollars.
“Roger Buys a Fridge”Hi I paid £470 in London in late 1975 for a sunburst Guild F50. This was the first guitar I tried when looking for a guitar following an advance on a record deal. It was superb. I thought 'I can't buy the first guitar I tried' so I checked out another 20 or so - different models - in and around Tin Pan Ally (Denmark Street) where all the music shops were. Anyway I came back to that original model as it blew all the others out of the water. I chose this model because it was the same as the one played by Dan Hicks - my idol - whom we went on to support in London when he came over on a short tour. I see that Elvis also used to play one in the 70s - treating his with rather less respect.
I recorded an album on Decca with that guitar. It went all round the world with me and I have it still. Needs some work on it now. Sounds like a grand piano. I love playing it... and the fact that it is now worth around £2750. (!) Brian Bowles
I got this one new just after I got out of the Navy. It cost me a beat up set of drums and a used Rickenbacker.
72 D40