I have a prototype lefty F45CE from ‘83-84? Can’t remember the exact date. But, I bought it new.
Welcome, I see this is your first post here at LTG.
Second that!
I bought my F65ce new, too.
:smile:
I am in the process of helping my friend evaluate the 27 leftie guitars her husband had, and I'm finding that they are mostly worth the same as their right-handed counterparts, generally speaking.
Actually I'm kind of surprised they're even getting valued at the same as "rightys" because the potential market is so much smaller.
The rarity of the model will contribute more to the value than being a lefty, imho.
Desirability is trumping rarity in this case, and in fact F45ce's aren't even all that rare, although a lefty may be.
There’s a bit of a story behind how there’s only one of these. Suffice to say, there wasn’t even supposed to be one. But, based on a promise and a preorder someone at my local music shop back in the day twisted Guild’s arm in to producing a lefty version of what was supposed to be a limited run of a right-handed guitar.
Dibble why do you even think it's a prototype? Does it have a label with an s/n?
If so then it's most likely a standard production guitar.
Typically Guild would build in minimum batches and increments of 6, it was their first "economy of scale" break.
Yes they
were extremely flexible about accepting orders for "specials" and "one-offs", but that normally just meant a non-standard detail on an otherwise standard guitar that was still easily accomplished without fabricating special tooling or build methods.
I don't think special ordering in the normal sense was necessary here.
Guild frequently had a note that left hand versions of most models were available for a price adder.
See the note at the bottom left hand of this price list for example:
http://www.westerlyguildguitars.com/files/86PL1.jpg
All it really needed for one of those (F45ce) was to reverse the top and back on the rim and brace and build the top with left-hand bracing and bridge and correct orientation of headstock logo and tuners.
No big deal, really, although it wouldn't surprise me if your dealer needed to wait for it to get built at that stage, because it was first year for F45ce.
Also helps explain the extra cost since they required more handling to construct.
I could be all wet but the story smells of dealer fabrication to justify the wait and "sticker shock", to me.
I'd be willing to bet they probably just had to wait until Guild had at least 2 or 3 orders for lefties before building the batch.
I don't think this was supposed to be a "limited run of a right-handed guitar", either.
I think they were ready to build as many as the market wanted and keeping their fingers crossed they'd come up with a winner.
It was a pretty revolutionary design for the times.
I think there are/were 200 rights made.
Granted we know the s/n charts are rife with errors especially during the
late '80's period, but SN chart indicates at least 839 of 'em built between '83 and '89, and leftys would be included there.
If anything I'd expect there to be
more than what's shown there:
http://guildguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/history_of_your_guild.pdf
Not only that, they developed variants and renames of the model so the basic platform (Arched back Maple body Grand Auditorium size Cutaway A/E) shows up as F35, F45 and F65ce from 90-92 and then got longer scale length and more variations including 'hog and rosewood bodies as F47ce's.
F45ce did have a unique 24-fret "shortscale" neck though, and later variations on the platform were not exactly the same, getting long-scale necks in the early-to-mid-90's for example, so it is unique in some details.
But the point is Guild developed a number of variants on the basic outline so even after the F45ce was discontinued an interested buyer could quite likely find an even more desirable substitute in the line.
They did after all develop the variations in response to demand.
I love that platform to death, so I've examined its evolution as much as I can through the available resources which are scarce for that period.
I’ve tried to have this thing appraised for insurance purposes. But, even the appraisers scratch their heads at the notion of a one-of-one.
As well they should.
Appraisal's based on selling price history and condition.
Rarity actually has nothing to do with it.
It has to be worth more than the righty prototypes. But, by how much???
I hate to burst your bubble but I've presented all the factors I'm aware of that make that assumption invalid except for one more:
Prototypes are not intrinsically valuable simply for being prototypes.
In fact as prototypes they could well be built to less than standard production quality standards, since there are many kinds of prototypes:
Feasibility studies and aesthetic studies are 2 that come to mind.
A "first article" prototype, one built using
actual planned production methods would have the most value, but even then normally only if it was of something that later became monstrously popular and iconic, like maybe the first Ford Mustang.
F45ce's just ain't there even if I personally love 'em to death.
My only gripe with 'em is the 1-5/8 nut width, and I actually have a running campaign here to try to encourage new owners Cordoba Music Group to bring the platform back.
Any guild fanatics have a guess?
If it has a label with an s/n on it, use this chart to date it:
http://guildguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/history_of_your_guild.pdf
Then look at listings for the model on the internet and/or the Vintage Guitar Blue Book.
I'm suspecting maybe $1000.00 tops for
immaculate condition to somebody who's been looking for a lefty version for years.
Hope this all came out in the spirit in which it was offered, sincerely, no snark intended, and we LOVE pics around here!
I just might see something that confirms your belief that it's a prototype, and we have a certain grandmaster around here, Hans Moust, who knows a whole lot more than I do, too!