Looking for some Guild Guru Guidance please...

[Crzydyamnd]

Hi all,

First post on here. I hope somebody can help me out with some more info on this 58 Guild I have. I've done some digging online but haven't come up with much. The serial number puts it at 1958, but I can't find anything on the model type and I've never seen another one anywhere. (not even on here yet). I bought this little gem at a yard sale 12 years ago (along with a couple mid 70's red label nippon ghaki yamahas and an epiphone), off a very old man who couldn't play anymore due to arthritis. This was his baby and he played it so much the frets were worn flat. It was literally nearly fretless, but I fell in love with the tone and had to have it. Anyways, I paid 100 bucks for it at the yardsale, and recently I got it re-fretted and put some new tuning pegs on it. It plays amazingly well, and the tone... good god the tone!!!! So.. before I start rambling further here's the model type, serial number and some photos. Any info would be appreciated! And thanks!

Model number - M65 B Park
Serial number - 64896

 

[taabru45]

A hundred bucks...man that thing is so outdated, but we are a welcoming group here so let me be the 1st to offer you $200 plus the cost of the repairs, so that you won't feel so bad.... :roll: :lol: Really, this is going to p. off a lot of people who have been searching and sifting for years for one of these, and I'm no expert so I'll just say welcome, and feel free to join in the serious and irreverent discussions that happen here regularly...and by the way....what an entrance.... :wink: Steffan

 

[kakerlak]

That's cool! I've never seen an M-65 in solid black like that. It's probably a fairly rare configuration.

Here's what I have to offer, but there are lots of more knowledgeable folks on here, including the man who "wrote the book."

Based on the general appointments (pickup, headstock shape, pickguard shape and logo), I'd say this is most likely an early-mid '70s Guild.

Also, bridge and tailpiece are non-original, though they could certainly be replaced with original parts if you happen to pick them up off eBay, etc. in the future.

That aside, it looks in decent shape and is a cool little electric!

I stared at the label designation for a long, long time before it dawned on me. I was thinking "Park?" "Paek?" But neither corresponded to anything guitar-wise or Guild-wise... Then I realized it reads "M65 Black." Whoever wrote it just has extra loopy/flourishy Ls and Cs.

So congrats on a cool guitar (despite the non-original parts and need for a refret $100 is still a total steal) and welcome to the boards!

[EDIT/PS] I figured out what the bridge is!! Somebody screwed the adjustable saddle from a 70s flattop acoustic into the top. That's a little unfortunate, but, if it's in the right spot (intonation) then the original style wooden bridge would probably sit right on top of the holes.

 

[kakerlak]

One more thing. It dawns on me from the f-hole shots that your guitar is maple. I think most of these little guys were mahogany, so there's another point of uniqueness.

 

[killdeer43]

Welcome.
Hans should be along soon to give you the bottom line.
I, too, read M65 Black and I agree that it's a pretty cool little Guild.

Stay in tune, :wink:
Joe

 

[hansmoust]

First post on here. I hope somebody can help me out with some more info on this 58 Guild I have. I've done some digging online but haven't come up with much. The serial number puts it at 1958, but I can't find anything on the model type and I've never seen another one anywhere.

Helo Crzydyamnd,

Welcome! As 'kakerlak' already pointed out, your M-65 is from the early '70s; 1972 to be more precise. Not too long after that the model was discontinued.
It's actually part of a small batch that was done around that time. Here's a body photo of a similar one, with a serial number really close to yours:

It clearly shows the parts that you should be looking for to make your guitar original again.
That's the unfortunate part when you get an instrument cheap; you will probably be spending more than $ 100.00 to get the right parts, but maybe you will be lucky once again.
Anyway, it's all worth it and there's even a chance that I could help you with the correct tailpiece.

One question for you: Can you tell me if at the bottom of the label, it says: Guild Guitars, Inc. or does it say: Guild Musical Instruments, Made in U.S.A. ?
I would think it should be the first variation, but there's always the possibility that it's not!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[walrus]

What a steal!! Welcome, and thanks for the photos!

walrus

 

[Crzydyamnd]

I knew I came to the right place! So I actually smacked myself in the forehead when Kakerlak pointed out that it said "Black" on the label! :roll: I won't even tell you how long I spent looking at that label, and wondering what the hell BPark, or BPaek was. hahaha. :lol:

So it appears that I'm looking for a tailpiece and bridge now! Hans (or maybe I should call you Mr. Guild Guru) any help you can give me with finding the original parts would be greatly appreciated. I had assumed the tailpiece wasn't original because of the screws that are holding it (rusty woodscrews). I might have to do some custom work to get the original to hold correctly if I do find one. I'm going to play it constantly regardless, but I'd love to have the original parts.

I'll check on the bottom of the label tonight to see if it says Guild Guitars Inc. or Guild Musical Instruments, Made in U.S.A. Is the made in U.S.A. tag rare?

Thanks again for the warm welcome to the board, and the great info guys.

Sincerely,

Ben

 

[hansmoust]

I'll check on the bottom of the label tonight to see if it says Guild Guitars Inc. or Guild Musical Instruments, Made in U.S.A. Is the made in U.S.A. tag rare? Ben

Hello Ben,

No, it just came after the other one and it would give me an indication how long it took before the guitar was completed.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[bluesypicky]

Welcome Ben and congrats on a great catch, and a great first post including pics! :wink:
Keep us updated as you bring this beauty back to it's original condition.....

 

[Crzydyamnd]

One question for you: Can you tell me if at the bottom of the label, it says: Guild Guitars, Inc. or does it say: Guild Musical Instruments, Made in U.S.A. ?
I would think it should be the first variation, but there's always the possibility that it's not!

Hans,

Checked out the tag. It does say Guild Guitars Inc.

On another note I found a 1960's CE 100 nickel tail piece for sale. Is that gonna be the right size to fit an M65? It's non hinged and I noticed the tail piece in the picture that you posted of an original M65 looks to have a hinged tail piece. Thanks for the help as always!

 

[hansmoust]

Checked out the tag. It does say Guild Guitars Inc.

OK, that makes sense!

On another note I found a 1960's CE 100 nickel tail piece for sale. Is that gonna be the right size to fit an M65? It's non hinged and I noticed the tail piece in the picture that you posted of an original M65 looks to have a hinged tail piece.

Depending on the size of the part that screws to the bottom of the instrument ( a CE-100 is much deeper than an M-65) it might work but it would not be period correct.
For an early '70s M-65 you need the chrome hinged version. Send me a PM or e-mail and I'll discuss the possibilities with you.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[hansmoust]

OK Ben, this is the tailpiece that you need:

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl