I know it's a stretch but is anyone aware of a source for manufactured quantities of a given model/finish? I have a '62 T-50 in Natural and I'd like to get some idea of the ratio of finishes that year or overall for the model. I see lots of 'bursts but naturals seem pretty scarce.
Manufacturing quantities per model?
- Thread starter Randyland
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fronobulax
Bassist, GAD and the Hot Mess Mods
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Welcome. I'm not aware of any published information, especially to the level of detail you would like. If you are suitably motivated you might infer some production numbers from serial numbers but even that won't be especially accurate.
Hans Moust may have an informed opinion concerning whether naturals are "rare" or not.
Hans Moust may have an informed opinion concerning whether naturals are "rare" or not.
hansmoust
Enlightened Member
Randyland said:
Hello Randyland,
Welcome! The proper model designation for that finish would be Blonde; usually written up on the label as T-50B ( or T-50Bl.)
I could tell you exactly how many they did in that particular year, including the finish but that would be a lot of work.
However, if you give me the serial number, I should be able to locate the batch that your guitar was from and find out how many of that batch were done in the 'blonde' finish.
Sincerely,
Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl
Hans,
Thank you so very much for your generous offer! You're (naturally) quite correct. It's labeled T-50-B and the serial number is 23443. Any info is greatly appreciated. I just wondered how the blondes roughly compared to the number of other finishes and I imagine that a sample batch would be indicative. Thanx again.
Randy
Thank you so very much for your generous offer! You're (naturally) quite correct. It's labeled T-50-B and the serial number is 23443. Any info is greatly appreciated. I just wondered how the blondes roughly compared to the number of other finishes and I imagine that a sample batch would be indicative. Thanx again.
Randy
hansmoust
Enlightened Member
Randyland said:
Hello Randy,
First of all serial # 23443 makes it a T-50 from 1963, not 1962. Doesn't make that much difference since your guitar probably still has the 'old style' Gibsonesque headstock, right?
Looked in my database and I found some of the T-50s from that same batch but not all of them, so they might have left 'final assembly' over a longer period of time. I did take a quick look at some of the other batches that were complete and that were done that same year. In all cases not more than 10% (in some cases it was less) of the batch was done with a blonde finish, so I guess that would be an indication for the amount of 'blonde' ones that were done during that particular period.
Show us some photos!
Hope some of this answers your question.
Sincerely,
Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl
Hi Randy - I think your overall question is quite interesting. My 1984 D-64 is pretty rare, only 193 made, according to serial number information I have. And our esteemed colleague Hans attests to it's relative rarity.
My other guitar, a 1966 Epiphone Casino ES230T (single pickup) is also relatively unique. According to vintageguitars.org, there were only 218 of this model made in 1966. Mine is a "Royal Tan" finish, which like your T-50, seems more unique than the sunburst model, but how unique I don't know. I've never been able to find out the manufacturing numbers for each particular finish.
By the way, I have played a T-50 before - those are great guitars! I love the thin-body electrics! And I agree that the blonde finish certainly appears harder to find...
walrus
My other guitar, a 1966 Epiphone Casino ES230T (single pickup) is also relatively unique. According to vintageguitars.org, there were only 218 of this model made in 1966. Mine is a "Royal Tan" finish, which like your T-50, seems more unique than the sunburst model, but how unique I don't know. I've never been able to find out the manufacturing numbers for each particular finish.
By the way, I have played a T-50 before - those are great guitars! I love the thin-body electrics! And I agree that the blonde finish certainly appears harder to find...
walrus
Jack FFR1846
Member
Waiting for the pictures 
My very first guitar was a blonde T-50 from probably '66, '67 or '68. We (my parents and me) traded up to my 69 ST302 when I reached some particular level of proficiency at the guitar school. (we were not allowed to buy a guitar until we demonstrated that we could adequately operate it)
My very first guitar was a blonde T-50 from probably '66, '67 or '68. We (my parents and me) traded up to my 69 ST302 when I reached some particular level of proficiency at the guitar school. (we were not allowed to buy a guitar until we demonstrated that we could adequately operate it)
Thanks to all. I promise to shoot and post some photos of my T-50. My first good guitar was an S-100 that I got in the summer of '71. I'd sure love to have it back. And I still remember the lust I had for a Bluesbird I tried out in a Bloomington, Indiana music store in the early '70s. There is indeed something special about Guild guitars.