1958 A350

[dlnolet]

I'm new to the site and I think I've successfully added some shots to photobucket.com
See http://s703.photobucket.com/albums/ww31/dlnolet/Guild/

I've had this guitar for a number of years and wondered whether the finish is original. The finish looks close to that of a Johnny Smith pictured in Moust's book. The case is what it came to me in. It does not say Guild. Can someone hazard a guess as to its originality to the guitar?

Thanks,

Dave

 

[Walter Broes]

What makes you think it's not the original finish? (I have no idea whether it is or not, but it looks like it could be original).
Beautiful guitar!!

 

[guildzilla]

Top to bottom, I see nothing to indicate it isn't original. It's in such exceptional condition that I can't imagine why anyone would have ever considered refinishing it. But I could be missing something.

 

[john_kidder]

The finish looks just right, and great. Beautiful guitar, one of the good ones.

 

[BluesDan]

Shoot a pm to Hans with the serial number if you want to verify............sure looks original though.

 

[hansmoust]

Shoot a pm to Hans with the serial number if you want to verify............sure looks original though.

Hello Dave & Dan,

I already looked at the guitar. Beautiful example and it sure looks right to me.
Guild sunburst finishes from the '50s tend to vary a lot which in part is caused by the different amounts of exposure to sunlight. In general the reds will gradually fade and sometimes they will disappear altogether. This A-350 is very similar to most of the sunbursts from that period. The Johnny Smith in The Guild Guitar Book is from 1957 and those have a somewhat lighter shade of sunburst.
Here's another example of a Johnny Smith guitar:

This one is from 1958 as well and even though there is still a little more red left in the sunburst, it's very much like the A-350 in this thread.

Without holding the A-350 in my hands it's hard to say whether it was oversprayed or not, but I see nothing in the photos that would indicate any major work done to the finish.

What I do see is that most of the parts used on the guitar are from a slightly later period and that, combined with the 'Ghost' label, makes me believe that this A-350 probably didn't leave the factory any earlier than 1959 or 1960.

Great guitar though! Wouldn't mind owning it!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[BluesDan]

Thanks Hans,
Very interesting about the disappearing "reds" on the old sunbursts due to sunlight exposure. Very useful to someone like myself that is in the habit of leaving guitars on wall hangers or in stands. Thanks.
Dan

 

[Walter Broes]

The sunburst on my '59/60 X175 (I bought from Hans) has no red (left?) in it and is really beautiful, my '62 has a very distinct band of red in the sunburst, and my other '62 is...well....fairly ugly, haha. It has a very narrow band of black, some faded red, and the middle has an almost greenish tinge to it.

Hans, that Johnny Smith is very pretty!

 

[walrus]

That's a beauty, dlnolet! How does it sound? I'm guessing it has a great acoustic jazz tone...

My 1961 A-50 (since sold) had some red left in it - when I put it in the sunlight, you could really see the red, almost like a different color guitar.

walrus

 

[dlnolet]

Thanks all for the useful information. I have no other Guilds anymore, however, there are some interesting guitars to see on my Photobucket page.
Enjoy. Happy holidays.

Dave

 

[billydlight]

all you gotta do is put a couple of pickups on that guitar and it would be perfect! :twisted:

 

[gilded]

Thanks all for the useful information. I have no other Guilds anymore, however, there are some interesting guitars to see on my Photobucket page.
Enjoy. Happy holidays. Dave

I took a look at your guitars; they are nice! I've never seen a double DeArmond 'pickup on a stick' set before. Wow!
Like the archtops, too. The Kays are cool and, of course, they go with the couch!. Love the Gibsons, too.

I have one of those National art-deco lap steels. My daughter used to drag it around the house when she was about 3.
The little darlin'......

Thanks for the opportunity to look at some cool guitars. Harry

 

[JazzWest]

Nice, reminds me I need to post some pics of my '62 A-350B (blonde finish!).

 

[hansmoust]

Nice, reminds me I need to post some pics of my '62 A-350B (blonde finish!).

Hello JazzWest,

Sure, go ahead. We would love to see them and maybe I can find it back in the factory ledgers.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl