Question for Hans

[jgmaute]

Hi Hans, I'm looking at a used Guild M-20. I had the owner read me the serial # and I also have a picture that shows the label. The serial# is 44314. I can't find the number listed on the Guild serial # sites. When I told her I thought it was probably a '65 she said she thought she'd had it longer than that (she's the original owner). The guitar looks like the one on page 120 of your book but does not have any letters before the serial #. It has a beige oval label with the G shield at the top and GUILD GUITARS, INC. Hoboken, New Jersey (no USA) at the bottom. What other information should I ask for to try and figure out when it was made?

thanks, Joan

 

[Graham]

When I told her I thought it was probably a '65 she said she thought she'd had it longer than that (she's the original owner).
thanks, Joan

Original owner? That's way kewl! 8)

Good luck Joan

 

[jgmaute]

When I told her I thought it was probably a '65 she said she thought she'd had it longer than that (she's the original owner).
thanks, Joan

Original owner? That's way kewl! 8)
Good luck Joan

yeah, we"re becoming new best friends. She got it new, thinks her folks gave it to her, took a couple of lessons, then never learned to play. It's been ignored all these years. I even suggested she keep it and wait until she retires and then learn but she doesn't want to do that. She's sent pictures (she still has the original owner's manual) and it looks good, I just wish I could play it or have a friend play it but it's in MA and I'm in SC. Anyway we're working on a way to make it happen; worse case scenerio is she'll have it packed then ship it to me (it has the original chip board case, not much protection). Too bad I can't just hop on a motorcycle and take some bungie cords with me! (Like our newbie Bobby McGee.) I'll keep you posted.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

My list (though un-official), says '65 started with 38637 and ended with 46606 therefore making 44314 from '65.

(How close am I Hans?)

 

[Graham]

I just wish I could play it or have a friend play it but it's in MA and I'm in SC.

We do have people in MA you know.....

 

[jgmaute]

I just wish I could play it or have a friend play it but it's in MA and I'm in SC.

We do have people in MA you know.....

I did ask about that in the ebay/craigslist...forum by the original post for the guitar...maybe I'll post it here so more will see...is that OK?

 

[JHCrawLaw]

Joan:

I live in Mass., just south of Boston (and I used to have a '69 M20 purchased from our old mutual friend, Bill Burke).

Where is the M20 located up here? If it is in the area, I might be able to check it out for you.

 

[Jeff]

Joan:

...... If it is in the area, I might be able to check it out for you.

8)

 

[hansmoust]

I'm looking at a used Guild M-20. I had the owner read me the serial # and I also have a picture that shows the label. The serial# is 44314. I can't find the number listed on the Guild serial # sites. When I told her I thought it was probably a '65 she said she thought she'd had it longer than that (she's the original owner). The guitar looks like the one on page 120 of your book but does not have any letters before the serial #. It has a beige oval label with the G shield at the top and GUILD GUITARS, INC. Hoboken, New Jersey (no USA) at the bottom. What other information should I ask for to try and figure out when it was made?

My list (though un-official), says '65 started with 38637 and ended with 46606 therefore making 44314 from '65.

(How close am I Hans?)

Hello Joan & Grot,

You're both correct. That's a guitar from early 1965; that is if the serial number is indeed # 44314. You say you have a picture of the label, so there's no chance that the lady owner mis-read the number. No 'USA' at the bottom would mean it was one of the last ones without it because 'USA' was added at the bottom of the label around that time.

It's not the first time that I hear people saying that they believe their guitar is older than the specs. indicate. A lot of people have a strange way of remembering things and very often they link a guitar to other things that happened in the past. If that's how they remember it, there's no sense in trying to convince them they're mistaken. For me, I usually stick to my own dating abilities and unless they can come up with a dated 'bill of sale' that includes the serial number, I see no reason to change my mind.

But, for argument's sake, if the guitar would have been say .......... 2 years older, then it would have had the 'old' style 'lip top' headstock and a slightly different shape pickguard. But so far I have not seen any photos, so I can't say anything about that.
As far as the selling price or value is concerned, it shouldn't make much of a difference.

Good luck!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[jgmaute]

Joan:

I live in Mass., just south of Boston (and I used to have a '69 M20 purchased from our old mutual friend, Bill Burke).

Where is the M20 located up here? If it is in the area, I might be able to check it out for you.

JHC: The guitar is in or near Marshfield, MA. (She says she's about 45 minutes from Boston depending on the traffic.) The owner is willing to hold it for me until I can get someone to look at it; she's being real helpful. Wouldn't Bill be pleased to know the two of us were working together to find a new home for an old Guild! The pictures look great but since it's been essentially in it's case for 40+ years I'd really like to have someone who knows about guitars check it out before I buy. If this is a possibility pm or email me and we'll work out the details. Since she's holding it for me there isn't a huge rush; basically I've told her I want the guitar and we're just trying to figure out how to make it happen. She also told me she could drive it for someone to see it if it wasn't too far.

Hans: Thanks for your information, I was pretty sure about '65 based on the information in your book (excellent resource!) I had to zoom in on the label in the photo but no USA and the serial # looks like 44314 to me. You're right, a couple of years one way or the other won't impact value, I was just wondering.

This place is great! Thanks for everyone's help...could be a community project to give this ignored Guild a new home.

Joan
Here's the headstock

and the picture that has the label I zoomed in on

 

[killdeer43]

Wow, what a beauty, Joan!
It's a 3,000 mile drive for me (one way) but I'd love to check it out for you. I say grab it now, take it home, and just stare at it for a while. I know that I would be numb if I found one like this and was able to acquire it. And thanks a lot for those great photos.... they're real GAS producers!

Take care,
Joe

 

[6L6]

Hans:

WE NEED YOUR NEW BOOK!!!!!!


6

 

[jp]

Oh Joan,

That's a stunning M-20! I really hope the deal goes through. It's not often I get envious of another's purchase, but lately it sure has been difficult not to be. Lots of nice Guilds are popping up all over, and this is one of them.

Good luck!

 

[JerryR]

I assume that's not the original Guild case - the lining is very thin where with mine it's thick and fits the guitar tightly :?:

 

[jgmaute]

Thanks for the encouragement folks. I've left a message to see if she has a PayPal account. Actually while it would be great for someone to check it out...I'm thinking I should go ahead and seal the deal. I just remembered I've got a Little Martin that I can sell to help pay for this one...taking pictures of it now for the local Craigslist.

Jerry: it's the case she got with it, I agree that it doesn't look as if it was the case made for that guitar. Question...will it help or hinder for her to ship it in that case (I certainly won't use it and don't need it)?

JP and Joe: I honestly can't remember having such a bad case of GAS...even when I was playing that old F-30 I kept going back to, if it had spoken to me like this one has I'd have bought it in a second...which is interesting since I haven't heard this one...(except in my mind and it sound great)

I'm also checking to see if she registered it or has the original sales slip since if it needs anything major it could be covered.

thanks again Joan

 

[Jeff]

I assume that's not the original Guild case - the lining is very thin where with mine it's thick and fits the guitar tightly :?:

Oh yes, that's the original cardboard case, my F20 came with the same. Marginally better than no case, I stored mine for a couple years, tossed it last time we moved. .

 

[kostask]

Thanks for the encouragement folks. I've left a message to see if she has a PayPal account. Actually while it would be great for someone to check it out...I'm thinking I should go ahead and seal the deal. I just remembered I've got a Little Martin that I can sell to help pay for this one...taking pictures of it now for the local Craigslist.

Jerry: it's the case she got with it, I agree that it doesn't look as if it was the case made for that guitar. Question...will it help or hinder for her to ship it in that case (I certainly won't use it and don't need it)?

JP and Joe: I honestly can't remember having such a bad case of GAS...even when I was playing that old F-30 I kept going back to, if it had spoken to me like this one has I'd have bought it in a second...which is interesting since I haven't heard this one...(except in my mind and it sound great)

I'm also checking to see if she registered it or has the original sales slip since if it needs anything major it could be covered.

thanks again Joan

jgmaute:

While from the picture, the strings look new (they're not black or severely corroded), you may want to keep in mind that the guitar may need a neck reset if it has been put away strung up at tension (its been like that for many years). If the owner can confirm that the guitar had the strings removed or if the guitar was tuned down, you should be fine. Another point to keep in mind is whether or not the guitar has been dried out, but being in Mass., the ambient humidity doesn't get really low, depending on the heat used in the winter. From the pictures, it looks fine.

I have only seen one M20, and it was quite a nice sounding guitar, usable for just about any kind of music, but well suited for acoustic country blues/delta blues type music. Nut was narrow though, at about 1 5/8", which may or may not bother you.

Kostas

 

[killdeer43]

Speaking of M20s, check out this one on the Bay. GAS attack!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0363822897

Nowhere near the great shape of yours, Joan, but just to let the rest of us know there's hope.

Joe

 

[JerryR]

I assume that's not the original Guild case - the lining is very thin where with mine it's thick and fits the guitar tightly :?:

Oh yes, that's the original cardboard case, my F20 came with the same. Marginally better than no case, I stored mine for a couple years, tossed it last time we moved. .

So hardly used in original case and still with the manual - must be a real collector's item

 

[jgmaute]

I have talked with the owner and emailed with JHC. JCH will contact her and set up a time to go and check it out for me. This truly is a LTG community effort, Pike posted the original link to the Craigslist ad, information and advice has come from Hans and everyone else on this thread, and now JHC is helping me with the "rescue" mission...we'll keep you posted. Joan