1963 Guild t100-d

[atmarama]

Hey folks, it's been a while since I've been around here, but I have got good reason again!

A local seller has what is apparently a t100-d for sale. I'm not very familiar with the guitar, so before going to view/negotiate I would like to procure the valuable knowledge of the Guild guitar community.

I'm not sure about the originality of the guitar and neither is the seller. What are your thoughts? What price range would you place this particular model, if it plays and sounds sweet of course..

Thanks!
A

 

[Walter Broes]

It seems to have lost its original finish, bridge, and pickups.

 

[AcornHouse]

And tuners, and output jack (possibly the wiring harness too.)

 

[dapmdave]

No collector/vintage value left, I'm afraid. If you like it offer a couple hundred and work it from there with the seller.

 

[walrus]

+1 on the comments above. But to be honest, I'm not minding the way the finish looks at all!

walrus

 

[AcornHouse]

No collector/vintage value left, I'm afraid. If you like it offer a couple hundred and work it from there with the seller.

I wouldn't be quite so low. After all, if you like how it plays and sounds, and everything is functioning, it is a player's grade guitar, not worthless. I would say $600-800 would be fair.

 

[kakerlak]

I wouldn't be quite so low. After all, if you like how it plays and sounds, and everything is functioning, it is a player's grade guitar, not worthless. I would say $600-800 would be fair.

I think that's high, Chris. This has an ugly refin, four(!) filled holes in the control area, almost surely a rim crack (why else the oversized jack plate?), sloppily installed tuners, cutout pickguard... Those LP Deluxe minihums are worth something if you sell them, but, amazingly, even those have been molested, plus you'll need to put some money back into the guitar for whatever replaces them. I don't think this one's worth over $400.

 

[AcornHouse]

We've seen non-functional project guitars go for more than a couple of hundred. This may not be pretty (and the a-string tuner needs to be secured), but if the OP likes how it plays, it's certainly worth more as a player. I wouldn't restore it, there's no money in it for that.

 

[jcwu]

Is it a T100? I wasn't aware they came mahogany-topped.

 

[DThomasC]

Is it a T100? I wasn't aware they came mahogany-topped.

I don't think they did. Must be a Starfire II.

I'd probably pay $500 - $600 for it if I played it and liked it. I wouldn't even try to restore it; it's a player. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Walter Broes]

And tuners, and output jack (possibly the wiring harness too.)

Tuners indeed! Regular Schaller tuners are extremely well made, and probably some of the best tuners out there. But they're also about the ugliest, and these black and chrome ones are even uglier than the regular ones. Wow.

 

[Default]

Throw a set of DeArmonds on there and rock out. You might have to go the WB Autograph route and spray it black to hide those plugged holes.

Schnikes!

 

[sailingshoes72]

I don't think they did. Must be a Starfire II.

I think that it is a T-100. The "Slim Jim" came in both a mahogany veneered body and a body with veneered maple. The mahogany veneer was stained "cherry red" (the Guild bible pp 71). Also, in '62 the Starfire gained binding on the back!

The reason for the "double" surrounds on the mini hums is probably to compensate for the over-sized cutouts made by the Franz P-90's. The "mickey mouse" pickups became standard in '66.

I like the refinish of the top! It brings out the patterns in the grain of the mahogany. One area of concern for me would be the placement of the bridge. At a casual glance, it appears to be too far back for proper intonation. As others have stated, this could be a great players grade guitar. I think that the mini-hums would sound good in a true hollow body guitar.

Bill

 

[taabru45]

I really like it....(no surprise)

 

[SFIV1967]

The "mickey mouse" pickups became standard in '66.

Sorry to say, but those are neither Guild nor Mickey Mouse pickups!
Ralf

 

[JohnW63]

That could be in interesting platform for a Franken-Guitar. You're not going to change the value, no mater WHAT you do to it.

 

[atmarama]

Hey thanks for all the replies folks! I stopped in the other day to check it out, but they didn't have an amp around to plug it in and the strings are old... Thinking about offering $400, but wow so much is no longer original it seems a better question is what still IS original. No case too I'm afraid. I may have to swing by with my own amp, but I'm afraid I'll buy it

 

[mad dog]

I'd be curious to try that one. Looks and provenance aside, it might be a very cool instrument.
MD

 

[jcwu]

For $400, I'd pick that up and make it my #1 player, originality be d*mned!!

 

[atmarama]

Ok, so I finally went past the pawnbrokers again today, made an offer and happily left with the Guild. Beautiful playing and sounding instrument I must say, a full hollow body so it has a sweet warm unplugged tone as well. Other than a re-fret, new tuners and maybe a new bridge, I don't think this guitar needs much. The mini humbuckers sound really sweet and the setup is actually not bad - frets are pretty worn though...

Any thoughts on where I can find a more traditional bridge with the correct radius?

A