tjmangum
Senior Member
Very interesting, with comments from Hans http://theunofficialmartinguitarforum.yuku.com/topic/150071
Mark VII Discussion on UMGF
- Thread starter tjmangum
- Start date
Thanks so much for posting this. I used to have a late '60's 1a in BRW. [edit: on reflection it may have been an early '70's 1A and possibly EIR instead of BRW. I apologize for not remembering!] A great guitar, though the scale and action height was too much for me.
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Very interesting thread. Thanks for posting Terry! Hans even learned something with this thread, and I remember well the near flame war that happened over CR-147 when the original poster questioned Hans' knowledge of the Mark line, and obviously didn't know who he was dealing with! I always thought it was kind of a shame that all of the discussion of the better guild Mark series happens on the Martin board and not here. Mike Halloran is a member here, but I don't think that Rudy (newyorkhorseman at UMGF) is.
I've never tried a Mark VII, but like you Harry, I think I'd find the action and the scale to be a bit much.
Mike is a member here? What's his handle, Sandy?
Mike is a member here, but he hasn't posted in a long time. Handle is mikehalloran. I wish he would participate more here as he has a massive amount of knowledge when it comes to classical guitars in general, and Guilds in particular. I'd say only Hans knows more.
Sure does!
bobdcat
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I have a Mark I and a Mark IV. My Mark I doesn't officially exist since its serial number is higher than the "last" 1969 number. Hans said Guild's record keeping was incomplete back then, so mine may have been made in '69 or '70, but there's really no way to tell.
I'm not sure I could handle the extra long scale of the Mark VII they're talking about at UMGF, though.
I'm not sure I could handle the extra long scale of the Mark VII they're talking about at UMGF, though.
So, guys, is a 26-3/8" scale something commonly found on classicals? I mean, that seems really long to me, even for a 12-fret instrument... fascinating.
On professional grade classical guitars the long scale is fairly common, as is what most would consider to be really high action. Really accomplished classical guitarists pretty much demand the extra volume that the longer scale provides, and (just guessing here) the additional "digging in" that's possible with high action. Probably no different than the crazy neck relief that a lot of bluegrassers use.
Ramirez developed the extra-long scale so Segovia could reach the back of concert halls with his axe. If you have large hands, maybe even medium hands and devote your life to it, you can play the extra long scale. Parkening has large hands, too.
I had a really nice Ramirez 1A, but I couldn't play it. The action was way high, though my teacher, an accomplished classical musician and performer,
thought it was a little bit low for his tastes.
If I bought another (expensive) classical, I think I would have one built to a short scale, like 24.75" or 25". At a certain point in life, it's all about taking care of your hands. It's not that I can't do the big stretches for a long or extra long scale classical, it's the condition of my hands if I do that all the time. You have to play smart when you get older. Things wear out in the hand that can't be fixed, you know.
I have two Gibson Chet Atkins CEC chambered nylon string guitars. The both have a 2" width at the fingerboard. They're fun, but if I play them a lot, the base of my thumb starts hurting. That's a no no! That sort of joint problem can't really be fixed. Next time I'll buy a 1 7/8th" width-at-the-nut guitar.
I had a really nice Ramirez 1A, but I couldn't play it. The action was way high, though my teacher, an accomplished classical musician and performer,
thought it was a little bit low for his tastes.
If I bought another (expensive) classical, I think I would have one built to a short scale, like 24.75" or 25". At a certain point in life, it's all about taking care of your hands. It's not that I can't do the big stretches for a long or extra long scale classical, it's the condition of my hands if I do that all the time. You have to play smart when you get older. Things wear out in the hand that can't be fixed, you know.
I have two Gibson Chet Atkins CEC chambered nylon string guitars. The both have a 2" width at the fingerboard. They're fun, but if I play them a lot, the base of my thumb starts hurting. That's a no no! That sort of joint problem can't really be fixed. Next time I'll buy a 1 7/8th" width-at-the-nut guitar.
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bobdcat
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Apparently the Mark VII in question is now available at Ed Goldens Guitar Gallery (http://goldenguitargallery.com) in Nazareth, PA. No price given.
He insinuated a fallout between him and LTG due to Guild misinformation that is prevalent on this site. While I haven't noticed much Guild misinformation here since I have been a member, I do enjoy his knowledge and comments over on UMGF. Some of the senior members there really know their guitar history no matter what make.
I saw Mike's post and thought the same thing Jonathan. I don't really see a whole lot of Guild misinformation here, but I didn't want to pick a fight in his sandbox. It's sad, but obviously he has his reasons for not hanging out here. My impression of Mike is that he's always been a class act, and I value the vast knowledge he has.
bobdcat
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Peter Cree, the guy who started the UMGF thread and who has been working on the guitar posted this yesterday:
Sounds to me like it just got there and the shop hasn't listed it on Gbase yet. Nazfest is the UMGF annual meetup, which is going on this weekend.
Sounds to me like it just got there and the shop hasn't listed it on Gbase yet. Nazfest is the UMGF annual meetup, which is going on this weekend.
my thoughts exactly... especially since he was responding to me. I find his reaction surprising, unless he actually got into a flame war with someone here. Dunno. That wouldn't happen anymore. To me it's a bit of a "cut off your nose to spite your face" situation.
Peter Cree
Junior Member
I've got the Mark VII..
Hi guys.....I'm new here....i know a number of people who post here and I've just become interested in Guild Nylons.
Through a close buddy, i now have a Mark VII thats for sale. Hans verified its no 2 of the ten made and the first with a typed label.
If anyone is interested in an Icon of American guitar making......you can e-mail me at peter@creestudios.com
Cheers,
Peter
Hi guys.....I'm new here....i know a number of people who post here and I've just become interested in Guild Nylons.
Through a close buddy, i now have a Mark VII thats for sale. Hans verified its no 2 of the ten made and the first with a typed label.
If anyone is interested in an Icon of American guitar making......you can e-mail me at peter@creestudios.com
Cheers,
Peter
Peter Cree
Junior Member
Hi guys...new here....I'm peter Cree and have the Mark VII with provenance. Absolutely awesome guitar. If anyone wants specifics on this Iconic instrument you can reach me at peter@creestudios.com
Cheers,
Peter
Cheers,
Peter
Peter Cree
Junior Member
I set up this Mark VII for its first time since 1968.......action at the 12th fret is 3/16's.....I could get it down farther but won't. The long scale really performs well especially in altered tunings.....mine kills in DADGAD.....this thing has the voice of God once you get used to understanding its physics...
I play mostly jaz and my own compositions on nylon stringed guitars and prefer a low action....however, someone who really plays classical should cherish this icon of an instrument.
I play mostly jaz and my own compositions on nylon stringed guitars and prefer a low action....however, someone who really plays classical should cherish this icon of an instrument.
hansmoust
Enlightened Member
Hello Peter,
Welcome! Just wanted to set something straight! You mentioned the possibility of your guitar being number 2. I did not confirm that, nor did I comment on it.
I've been too busy with other things to put together something that would complement what I already posted on the UMGF about the Guild Mark VI Artist Special and the Guild Mark VII Custom Artist . I already commented on the Mark VII Artist Special designation that seems to have been used ( for a very short time) in between, but we're talking about basically the same guitar, albeit with a couple of small cosmetic differences.
Right now I don't have the time to put together another posting but I wanted to make clear now that I do not agree on the guitar being number 2, the amount of 10 being made, your guitar being the first with a typed label and the custom-made machine heads story that formed the basis for the theory that 10 of those guitars were made.
Please, don't get the idea that I'm putting down the guitar. I love these high-end Mark classicals. Be patient! I will post my comments as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl