1977 t-50

[DeluxeToneJim]

G'day Folks,

A few months ago I purchased a 1977 Guild T-50. I thought it was unusual when I came across it as it had a factory HB-1 humbucker - not the standard issue single coil that was featured on T-50's from the early 70's. I read a post from Hans Moust on this forum that production of the T-50's stopped in late 1973 and that T-50's sold after that were assembled from bodies and necks made in '73 but never completed. I have seen a couple of examples of these but only from 1974 and 1975 - both with single coil pickups. The only example of a T-50 with HB-1's that I have found is from 1982 - and that's a T-50D with two humbuckers. Does anyone else out there have a post '73 pre '80 T-50 with factory HB-1 instead of the standard issue single coil?

Cheers - Jim

Here are two pics of mine.

 

[AcornHouse]

Nice top! I'm sure Hans will be along eventually; I bet that's going to be one of those "what parts do we have?" Builds.

 

[hansmoust]

G'day Folks,

A few months ago I purchased a 1977 Guild T-50. I thought it was unusual when I came across it as it had a factory HB-1 humbucker - not the standard issue single coil that was featured on T-50's from the early 70's. I read a post from Hans Moust on this forum that production of the T-50's stopped in late 1973 and that T-50's sold after that were assembled from bodies and necks made in '73 but never completed. I have seen a couple of examples of these but only from 1974 and 1975 - both with single coil pickups. The only example of a T-50 with HB-1's that I have found is from 1982 - and that's a T-50D with two humbuckers. Does anyone else out there have a post '73 pre '80 T-50 with factory HB-1 instead of the standard issue single coil?

Hello Jim,

I've seen several with 1977 serial numbers, with both small single coil M.M. pickups and HB-1s. They were all in the # 1608xx/1609xx serial number range and I believe that the ones that were set up with the HB-1s were done later; not necessarily during 1977 and/or in serial number sequence.
That's how things sometimes went at Guild. There's no way to tell when exactly these instruments were assembled and completed other than after the date they were serial number stamped. What may help you is to check the EIA-codes on the pots; that may give you a clue, but not if Guild used an older set of pots. You can also check the back side of the HB-1 for a date, but again that will also tell you when the pickup was assembled and not necessarily the guitar! If you are going to check it, let us know the result!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[matsickma]

I do recall seeing a double pickup T-50 with a pair of HB-1. It was a beauty. Had a mahogany top like the one above but I think it was either Starfire red or natural 'hog... can't remember. The asking price was around $1600.
M

 

[walrus]

+1 on the beautiful top on that!

walrus

 

[Quantum Strummer]

IMO a 'burst finish over mahogany is about as lovely as it gets. Beauty in subtlety.

-Dave-

 

[DeluxeToneJim]

Thanks for your input folks. Thanks Hans for the confirmation of other HB-1 T-50's. Much appreciated. Mine is Serial Number 160952.
Cheers - Jim.