Sourcs for Guild model information over the years?

[kokotele]

Hi, everyone. This is my first post here, though you might recognize me from other forums using kokotele or eryque.

A few years ago I was on a hunt for my first good acoustic, and wound up coming home with an '81 D-40NT, and now I'm starting to take more of an interest in vintage Guilds as I'm starting to look for my next acoustic. This seemed like the place to come.

What I'm really looking for is a history of the various models & features over time in the past. It seems that if I am looking for a specific model I might be successful finding bits and pieces all over, but I can't seem to find large chunks together. And since I don't know all of the models, finding what I'm looking for is tough.

I know of the Moust book, but it appears to be out of print and largely unavailable. And besides that, I'm not even sure if it has what I'm looking for anyway.

Any references or leads would be very much appreciated!

Eric

 

[West R Lee]

No better choice than this.....I've got both hard and soft covers...

http://www.notestomusic.com/Fender-Acce ... U1UEOY.htm

I don't have one, but there is also this.....

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/ ... 0933224780

And occasionally you can find the old "Guild Gallery" magazines, of which I do have some, they look like this....

http://cgi.ebay.com/62-GUILD-GALLERY-MA ... 483d2ef49e

West

 

[fronobulax]

Welcome.

Your question is extremely broad since Guild models had different specs at different points in time and no one has gathered them all together in one single space that spans all models from all factories over time. Even doing that for one model, such as the venerable D-25 will be a lot of work. So you are not the first to ask but you might be the first to get an answer.

You know about Hans Moust's book. He posted that he was negotiating with the publisher for a new printing, so it may be easier to find "soon".

Beesly's book is better than nothing. The publisher still lists it as available at $19.95 so you might consider buying a copy now before your only choice is the eBay and Amazon sellers who want upwards of $75 for it.

A couple of folks at LTG have tried to gather all the useful information posted on a model into a single post. That has been done for a couple of models and might help. Use Search and cross your fingers.

Your best bet might be to post a topic "Which model?" and list what style(s) you like to play, whether you need to overpower a banjo, whether you have a fondness for blonds or a prejudice against non-Brazilian rosewood and whether the size (dreadnought, orchestra, etc.) matters. Then try and keep people on the topic by asking for specific models and the time period they were made and you might get what you are looking for. Expect to hear the opinion that the best bang for the buck will come from the Westerly factory.

 

[West R Lee]

On the link I posted earlier for Hans' book, it says "In stock". Just out of curiosity, I continued to checkout and it did NOT tell me it was unavailable. Sounds to me like he's looking for a "history" of "various" models Frono. No better place than Hans' book to do just that with models through 1977......the sequel will be coming. Beesley will take you beyond that, and I've always thought Gallery magazines were a great source for information on 90's models.

West

 

[kokotele]

West, thanks so much for the link. Their online catalog indicated it was in stock, so I jumped on it and a set of strings to get the free shipping.

I have some specific questions I'll post in other threads, but I can't wait to get my copy of Hans' book and start devouring.

 

[GardMan]

Welcome to LTG! I'd add that there are a lot of good folks in this wonderful forum, and I'd bet we have most of the acoustic models from every period of manufacture "covered." SO, if you want to here about a specific model that intrigues you, we're all glad to help!
Dave

From you avatar, I'd guess you're in the SW somewhere... whereabouts? D

 

[kokotele]

Thanks for the welcome, GardMan. I'm in Albany, NY, though from Chicago originally.

I've always been a Telecaster nut, and one day it just occurred to me that changing one sound in Kokopeli gets me KokoTele. I liked it so much that I decided to use it for my guitar/guitar repair business, though I'm sure at some point Fender is going to find me out and send me a cease and desist. At that point I'll make guitars exclusively with my name on them

 

[West R Lee]

West, thanks so much for the link. Their online catalog indicated it was in stock, so I jumped on it and a set of strings to get the free shipping.

I have some specific questions I'll post in other threads, but I can't wait to get my copy of Hans' book and start devouring.

You're welcome sir.....good to have you here.

West

 

[kokotele]

West, thanks so much for the link. Their online catalog indicated it was in stock, so I jumped on it and a set of strings to get the free shipping.

I have some specific questions I'll post in other threads, but I can't wait to get my copy of Hans' book and start devouring.

Well... looks like that was a bust. They fulfill through Amazon, so I added a set of strings to bring my order total up enough to get free shipping. My strings shipped right away but the book apparently isn't coming.

The UPS shipping fee for that set of strings is certainly more than their margin, so I guess they lost that round

 

[fronobulax]

Well... looks like that was a bust. They fulfill through Amazon, so I added a set of strings to bring my order total up enough to get free shipping. My strings shipped right away but the book apparently isn't coming.

Patience? The signs are that it is back in print and I think at least one member has already received one.

 

[Brad Little]

It's not as complete as Hans's book about Guilds, but the Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars (and I assume its electric counterpart), have info such as when a model changed from Braz to EI, other cosmetic changes, as well as some pricing info. Unfortunately you'll also get info on hundreds of non-Guilds It's also updated pretty regularly.
Brad

 

[adorshki]

Well... looks like that was a bust. They fulfill through Amazon, so I added a set of strings to bring my order total up enough to get free shipping. My strings shipped right away but the book apparently isn't coming.

Patience? The signs are that it is back in print and I think at least one member has already received one.

Hans said it was definitely going into reprint but I can't seem to find the thread just now. Bottom line, yes, just be patient.
Here's another resource I'm surprised no one's cited yet, although the specs are specifically for the year cited by each model. Still, it's a wonderful overview of just how MANY models have been built:
http://westerlyguildguitars.com/links.htm