"My First Guild" -- post your photos here.

[bdeclee]

Well, this is a photo from a newspaper article which ran in 1973. I was the local entertainment for some Ladies Who Lunch. It's the only extant photo of my original Guild F-312 - the one that was stolen in 1985. It's a 1972. You guys have seen the photos before, though. I got more comments about the pants than the instrument. :-o

 

[killdeer43]

You'll have to admit, those pants are real eye-catchers! :wink:
Great, keepsake photo, BTW.

Cheers,
Joe

 

[jcwu]

My first Guild, DV52, bought new from Guitar Center (in 1995 or 1996), on the right:

Here it is, lying on the ground in the middle of a make-shift recording studio:

I abused the poor thing in college, strummed like a possessed madman, wore away some wood around the soundhole:

Here it is, making an appearance at my wedding in 2001 (that's not me playing it):

It spent the majority of its life with a L.R. Baggs LB6 pickup, until about a year ago when I swapped it out for a bone saddle, and put in a K&K and Baggs M1. Now I prefer the JV52 more, but the DV52's no slouch either! If nothing else, it's what brought me here to LTG.

 

[dapmdave]

It's just a blast looking through all these posts. 8) Has to be one of the top 10 threads.

Dave

 

[Just_Guild]

My first Guild, Starfire V (later stolen). This was our first gig. Coincidentally, I sent this photo to the drummer who was a great friend and my best man. Lost touch and after more than 30 years we reconnected last night via phone and whiskey. It was great to talk to him again. Music does bring us together.

 

[killdeer43]

Wow! Wide lapels and an accordion, too! Who could ask for more?!

Those were the days my friend, :wink:
Joe

 

[Just_Guild]

Wow! Wide lapels and an accordion, too! Who could ask for more?!

Those were the days my friend, :wink:
Joe

If you'd only been there......

 

[Brad Little]

Here's my first Guild. I got it new in the summer of 1965, my mother bought it for me, I guess because I showed I was serious about learning to play after four or five years and having spent my own money on lesser instruments:

It's going to Kim and the gang at the Guild Restoration shop this week, after all those years it finally needs a neck reset.
My second Guild was probably my Mark V, although I'm not sure. I had a Brazilian D-50 for a while around the same time. It had a back brace that kept coming loose, and after the second or third regluing, I traded it for an Ibanez 2355 (ES-175 clone) because I needed an electric for a gig with a theater group. Had an archtop for a while in the 70s as well, don't remember the model unless I look in Hans book to remind me. Cutaway, double PUPs, dot inlays.
Brad

 

[Just_Guild]

Same story with my D-25M, Toni - I was headed to the music store intending to buy a Martin. They carried Martins, Gibsons, and Guilds. After test driving hog models of all three brands, I bought the Guild. It beat out the others in terms of intrinsic beauty, sound, and price, what's not to like about that?

The Gibson came in second, and that's when they were still making them here in Kalamazoo, MI.

The Gibson was $500, the Martin D-18 was $600, the Guild was $300, all with hardshell cases.

There was just something intriguing about that Guild...the arched back, the fit and finish, and tone and sustain, I just re-strung it the other night and played 3 gigs with it. The DV-52 has only a slight edge in terms of balanced tone, but the D-25 really sings, especially the low tones. Many guitars are bright on the high end but muddy on the low striings - not the D-25M. I use the lower wound strings to mark the tempo of songs, and it sure is nice when the tone is clear and loud.

Isn't it amazing how the "low priced" Guild consistently beats the higher end Martins and Gibsons?

 

[Just_Guild]

I took this pic of my beloved '74 D-40 last year in Carmel, CA.

She sports new stainless steel frets and plays/sounds/sustains fantastically well! I bought her at a small music store "On the Green" in Taunton, MA. Hard to believe we've been together for 38 yrs.

Bill

'74 D-40
'76 F-50SB
'06 D-55

Was that Charlie Bean music? Thats where I got my Guild SF V & IV.

 

[Just_Guild]

Well, this is a photo from a newspaper article which ran in 1973. I was the local entertainment for some Ladies Who Lunch. It's the only extant photo of my original Guild F-312 - the one that was stolen in 1985. It's a 1972. You guys have seen the photos before, though. I got more comments about the pants than the instrument. :-o

My first couch had that same fabric as your pants. Don't take it too hard; check out me in the Glen Campbell tux. LOL

 

[jeffcoop]

Inspired by the recent pictures of a black GF25, I thought I'd put up some pictures of my first Guild, a black 1990 D25 that I bought in the spring of 1991, at the beginning of my one year of playing regularly in public (and bought specifically for that purpose). I've bought other guitars since, more than my meager talents warrant, but the D25 remains my touchstone, the one that feels best in my hands and often (though not always) sounds best to my ears. Not surprising, I suppose, as this was my only guitar for about 13 years.

 

[SouthernSounds]

A real beauty, man & Nice pic, BTW

All the best,
B.

 

[Christopher Cozad]

Well, this is a photo from a newspaper article which ran in 1973. I was the local entertainment for some Ladies Who Lunch. It's the only extant photo of my original Guild F-312 - the one that was stolen in 1985. It's a 1972. You guys have seen the photos before, though. I got more comments about the pants than the instrument. :-o

The "total package" (guitar, pants, sweater,shoes, hair, glasses, surroundings) is quintessential "late '60's, early '70's"...

There is an acknowledged loss on more than one front (the Guild F-312, of course, but also the era...)

Christopher

 

[davismanLV]

Jeff, I love that black D25!! What a knockout!!

 

[dtw927]

F50 Blonde. Bought new at Guitar Showcase in San Jose CA in 1979. Needs a neck reset, but still plays well and sounds like a Guild is supposed to - chimey.

DaveW

 

[Noun0]

Another Blonde archback......

from a 1996 JF30

 

[killdeer43]

A collective WOW! to the last three "first Guilds." The black one and the two blondes are outstanding!

Thanks,
Joe

 

[smellygoatboy]

First Guild .url not working. see my profile, 1963-64 Starfire 111 B/w photo early 1964 age 16.

 

[davismanLV]

So good to see this thread again. Lots of Guild goodness to scroll through. This has been a perfect Saturday morning scroll through some history. We need some more contributions.... keep it going!! :encouragement: