Help identifying and dating a Guild purchased in 1987/1988

[grecorican]

My first post here.

This was the first Guild I purchased. I bought it from some dude who was selling acoustics out of a basement in Madison, Wisconsin in either late 1987 or early 1988. Am not 100% if it was new or used at the time. I assumed it was new because it didn't look used when I bought it. But then again, that was almost 35 years ago.

Its been around the world with me and back. I always figured it was a D-15 but it doesn't seem to match up with pics I've seen from that time frame (no pickguard etc.). There is no stamped serial number in the headstock, nothing in the sound hole, no date stamped on the neck block. I'm starting to think it was stolen, fake or a prototype? The one thing I can say is that its been beat to all hell, repaired and still sounds, feels and plays like a Guild.

Is there anything else that would help me a) confirm its actually a Guild and if so, b) date the guitar. I've included pictures of the bracing patterns, neck block, rosette and back stripe. Not sure if that helps or not.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to solve this mystery.

 

[Heath]

My first thought is a fake. The chesterfield inlay looks a little wonky to me. Also, an unusual TRC, but that can be easy enough to explain

 

[twocorgis]

My first thought is a fake. The chesterfield inlay looks a little wonky to me. Also, an unusual TRC, but that can be easy enough to explain

At first, I thought it might be a D17 from the binding and the gloss finish, but those have an arched laminated back. Also, no serial number on the back of the headstock, and no center strip with "Guild" burned into it set off some alarms as well, although the headstock overlay looks legit. Definitely a mahogany top. I wonder if this might be an employee build?

 

[dreadnut]

A true Guild it ain't!

 

[Heath]

The headstock overlay was my first thought towards fake. Looks very sloppy

 

[chazmo]

Welcome aboard, grecorican!

We love little mysteries like this one, but I have to agree with the other folks that this is not a real Guild. I hope that's not too disappointing to you. After all, if you've enjoyed it for 30 years, there's no knocking it on those grounds.

 

[grecorican]

No man. Too many memories with that guitar to be disappointed and its not a guitar I would ever sell. Glad I could confer with some Guild experts though. Thanks all for your time.

 

[Brad Little]

Not the usual Guild heel cap, either, although I don't know if they may have used this style on a few models.

 

[bobouz]

More problems: The Martinish neck heel is scarfed, and the interior neckblock area is not a familiar Guild design.

There is a rather strong probability that this instrument was built in Japan or Korea.

 

[SFIV1967]

I wonder if this might be an employee build?

No, as there are too many things that are not Guild. The headstock shape is a bit different, the truss rod cover is a 3 screw one which is typical for Asian builts. The neck heel shape is totally different. The inner construction of the neckblock is very different. So definitely no Guild and no employee built, but either built in Asia or built by a good hobby luthier. The lacquer looks like poly, not nitro, which again would point to Asia.

Nevertheless it seems to be a well built guitar and the owner is happy with her, that is all that is important! Think about the many Guild copies from Japan in the 70ies, they were good guitars in general. This one seems to be not from Japan, I'd think maybe Korea or Indonesia, not sure if China was in the game in the 80ies already. Since grecorigan has no plans selling her all is fine! And if he would want selling her I would decribe her as an "Copy of a Guild guitar", which probably describes her best. So grecorigan, welcome to LTG and continue enjoying your guitar!

Ralf

 

[Coop47]

No man. Too many memories with that guitar to be disappointed and its not a guitar I would ever sell. Glad I could confer with some Guild experts though. Thanks all for your time.

In the end, it's memories that make a guitar priceless. Welcome grecorican!