Feeler: Guild Mark

[twocorgis]

.. preferred Spanish heel construction.

My $.02, I would say "traditional" instead of "preferred". I happen to have a classical guitar, made in the traditional manor, built in Spain in 1953. The guitar was designed to fill a concert hall with sound and, as such, has relatively high action by design. I dearly love the sound of this instrument, but would prefer action suitable to my style and performance needs. A neck reset, thanks to tradition, is not possible. One alternative, however, is to shim the fingerboard up towards the strings - remove the fb, install shim between cedar neck and ebony board, replace fb. I'm thinking about that one...

Frosty,

I only said "preferred" because that seems to be the way that almost all the better classical guitars I've seen are made. Personally, I'm a fan of bolt on necks, but that doesn't seem to be the way it's done with classicals (or regular steel string Guilds for that matter). :roll:

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

I'm a fan of bolt on necks

Me too. My favorite movie is Frankenstein.

But seriously, when played in a sitting position, do your Blues 90 and Bluesbird sit on your right leg the same way? Are the bodies the same thickness? Is the 90 a little more headstock heavy and the bird tail heavy? In other words, is the 90 less likely to have the headstock rise up?

 

[Frosty]

True that many makers use Spanish heel construction. But other notable builders, Fleta for example, preferred a dovetail joint. Point is, a Spanish heel does not guarantee a better sounding/playing guitar. But it does guarantee an un-reparable instrument if the body warps in any way! :|

 

[twocorgis]

I'm a fan of bolt on necks

Me too. My favorite movie is Frankenstein.

But seriously, when played in a sitting position, do your Blues 90 and Bluesbird sit on your right leg the same way? Are the bodies the same thickness? Is the 90 a little more headstock heavy and the bird tail heavy? In other words, is the 90 less likely to have the headstock rise up?

They feel about the same to me HF, though I haven't had the BB for too long. Interestingly enough (and like Coastie has said) the necks feel identical, though according to Guild they're not supposed to be.

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

TC/Sandy,

Maybe you and Coastie have identical drinks.

hf

 

[twocorgis]

TC/Sandy,

Maybe you and Coastie have identical drinks.

hf

He likes Dewar's?

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

He likes anything not made in Australia.

 

[ladytexan]

Mt goodness. I MAY have found a Carlo Greco Mark VII with Braz B/S. MINT

Waiting to exhale,

Toni

 

[twocorgis]

Mt goodness. I MAY have found a Carlo Greco Mark VII with Braz B/S. MINT

Waiting to exhale,

Toni

Boy, you're good Toni! They're rarer than hen's teeth.

When I was only quasi-serious about getting a good classical, I let a beautiful Mark VII (that was right near me) get away for $1900 and I'm still kicking myself. That guitar is the pinnacle of Carlo Greco's work. 8)

 

[fab467]

What am I going to do? My gut reaction (which is usually 100% accurate) tells me I should pass on this one. I'm not in any hurry, and I do want a Mark in mint condition.
So, the search continues.

Which led to...

Mt goodness. I MAY have found a Carlo Greco Mark VII with Braz B/S. MINT
Waiting to exhale,

Toni, it usually pays to listen to your gut...continued luck in your pursuit.
BTW, that's probably the best advice I can give you as the technical aspects seem to be covered quite nicely my our knowledgeable LTG brethren... :wink:

 

[twocorgis]

Toni,

It wasn't from a guy over at UMGF that goes by the nick of NewYorkHorseman, is it?

 

[ladytexan]

Toni,

It wasn't from a guy over at UMGF that goes by the nick of NewYorkHorseman, is it?

No, Sandy,

It's a woman who I can barely understand (on the telephone). I left her a message on her answering machine to call me. I'm waiting. The ad was confusing as to whether it is a Guild Mark VII OR Carlo Greco after he left Guild. Make date is 1982, so this adds to the confusion.

This may be my 1962 corvette under a tarp in an old barn in the middle of the field on the farm. Maybe not.....

I'll keep you posted.

Toni

P.S. Should I stay away from the above mentioned NYHorseman?

 

[twocorgis]

Toni,

It wasn't from a guy over at UMGF that goes by the nick of NewYorkHorseman, is it?

No, Sandy,

It's a woman who I can barely understand (on the telephone). I left her a message on her answering machine to call me. I'm waiting. The ad was confusing as to whether it is a Guild Mark VII OR Carlo Greco after he left Guild. Make date is 1982, so this adds to the confusion.

This may be my 1962 corvette under a tarp in an old barn in the middle of the field on the farm. Maybe not.....

I'll keep you posted.

Toni

P.S. Should I stay away from the above mentioned NYHorseman?

No, quite the contrary Toni. Rudy (NewYorkHorseman) is the guy that had the gorgeous Mark VII that I let get away, and he lives about a half hour from me. He also had a Carlo Greco Mark VII knock-off that was equally nice, and I passed on that one as well.

It sounds to me like that's not a Mark VII if the 1982 date is correct. Carlo left Guild in 1977 IIRC, so anything after that would have been mad under his own brand (nothing wrong with that), or by Guild by someone else. As far as I know Carlo personally made all of the at most two dozen Mark VIIs that are out there, though perhaps Hans might correct me there.

Either way it has the potential to be a good one. Have at it!

 

[ladytexan]

Sandy,

I've reread Hans' section on Carlo Greco, and the 1982 date would make it a post Guild Mark VII....so, it's just a plain Carlo Greco. The lady still hasn't called me back. But, at least, I did exhale and breathing normally again.

Should I be interested in a "plain" Carlo Greco 1982?

Toni

 

[twocorgis]

Sandy,

I've reread Hans' section on Carlo Greco, and the 1982 date would make it a post Guild Mark VII....so, it's just a plain Carlo Greco. The lady still hasn't called me back. But, at least, I did exhale and breathing normally again.

Should I be interested in a "plain" Carlo Greco 1982?

Toni

Absolutely; the man is a living legend. He still plies his trade up a steep flight of stairs at a ripe old age.
(pics ©Jahn)

Meeting him was better than any rock star I've ever met, or any other celebrity (well, except maybe Jane Seymour :roll: ) for that matter.

 

[ladytexan]

Wow, Sandy, what great pictures. And, almost as good as Jane Seymour, huh? Ah, you're such a guy!

I do believe, if I know my ies and ys, the word is "plies" his trade. Just had to kid you some.

Gotta run, I'm still trying to find a venue for a jam session I'm coordinating near San Antonio this month. It's time to think steel strings for a while.

Toni

 

[twocorgis]

Wow, Sandy, what get pictures. And, almost as good as Jane Seymour, huh? Ah, you're such a guy!

Thanks Toni, although those pictures belong to fellow member Jahn. And as far as Jane Seymour is concerned; need I say more?

I do believe, if I know my ies and ys, the word is "plies" his trade. Just had to kid you some.

Right you are my literate friend! I'll go fix that... :roll:

Gotta run, I'm still trying to find a venue for a jam session I'm coordinating near San Antonio this month. It's time to think steel strings for a while.

Toni

It's all good. 8)

 

[Fixit]

I got the one in Texas $1150.00 it,s a 1979 nice guitar. I was after a classical and that one called my name cause it was built while I was working there. I'll post it here if I ever decide to sell it.

 

[ladytexan]

I got the one in Texas $1150.00 it,s a 1979 nice guitar. I was after a classical and that one called my name cause it was built while I was working there. I'll post it here if I ever decide to sell it.

Fixit,

When your name is called, you've got to get it, I know. Please let me know if you ever decide to sell it.

Thanks for your post,

Toni

 

[capnjuan]

Hi Toni and welcome to LTG; I read through this thread ... not sure which Marks are in or out but there's a '77/III on Craigslist in Sarasota.

I don't know anything about the guitar but I can confirm that lunch on Sarasota's St Armand's Key can't be beat. Good luck in your search.