Guild A- 500

[lakeeffect]

Hello to all you Guilders!
I am new to the site and have owned a Guild A -500 for about 40 years. My brother actually bought this guitar new when he was in a travelling band. He borrowed my Fender Strat for the tour and when he returned, he showed me the A - 500 he just couldn't pass up. Being a little short on cash, he used my Strat as partial payment on the Guild. So, I told him I was keeping the Guild until he returned with my guitar. He figured that would be OK. Still waiting.

Anyway, this guitar was made in Hoboken according to the label. I have never seen another one for sale or in person. It still plays great but I refinished it a few years ago. (My bother decided to glue a huge black spider right under the strings and the finish peeled away when I removed it.)
Now it has a deep cherry look but nothing as nice as the original sunburst.

Has anyone heard of an A - 500, seen one or played one? I am not an accomplished guitarist - far from it, but I think it is a really nice guitar.
Just wondering if I got the better half of the deal with my brother.

Thanks. I am enjoying reading the other postings! It is an interesting site.

 

[Graham]

Welcome to LTG lake.

This might be one for Hans, but all I can find is less than 20 made during '66 and '68.

Post some pics when you get the chance.

 

[capnjuan]

Hi lakeeffect and welcome; whether you got the good end of the deal might depend on how well the Strat has aged. Pics when you get the chance; if you don't know how, someone will be glad to help.

cj

 

[lakeeffect]

I have put two pictures of my Guild in a word document. Can you tell me how I can post these? Thanks.

 

[hideglue]

Welcome lakeeffect,

So lets get this straight...
Your brother borrowed your Strat and then used it as payment for his Guild?
Gotta love brothers!

 

[capnjuan]

I have put two pictures of my Guild in a word document. Can you tell me how I can post these? Thanks.

Hi lakeeffect, in a Word, no. You need to establish a web-based photo storage account w/ someone like Photobucket; there are others. The upload to the web is easy enough, pasting the IMG data, which your photo host will provide, can be a little clumsy. What can't be done is post directly from your PC into / onto the BB. Give it a shot, if you stumble, someone will help. cj

 

[jp]

Welcome to LTG, lakeeffect!

Does yours look like this one (from Hans Moust's website).
http://www.guitarchives.nl/guitarsgalore/gallery_detail.php?id=98

 

[Graham]

Lovely looking guitar.

 

[lakeeffect]

Yes, the black and white is exactly like mine was originally. Thanks for finding it - and it's a classic photo, too! Here are a couple of pictures I took today. I am missing the pickguard and I refinished it as I said before but it is otherwise in good condition.

Sounds like there aren't many of these around. I'd be interested in hearing what others that have seen or played one think about the A - 500.

Thanks, again!

 

[hansmoust]

Hello to all you Guilders!
I am new to the site and have owned a Guild A -500 for about 40 years. My brother actually bought this guitar new when he was in a travelling band. He borrowed my Fender Strat for the tour and when he returned, he showed me the A - 500 he just couldn't pass up.

Anyway, this guitar was made in Hoboken according to the label. I have never seen another one for sale or in person. It still plays great but I refinished it a few years ago. Now it has a deep cherry look but nothing as nice as the original sunburst.

Has anyone heard of an A - 500, seen one or played one?

Hello lakeeffect,

Welcome! Sorry for my late reaction to your post; have been on the road for a while.
Anyway, nice guitar! These are quite rare although I realize that rare is somewhat relative.
I did a quick search in my database and so far I've seen 16 of these from the 1962-1964 period, which is the same period as your A-500 is from; or at least that's what I think it is going by the specs that I can see in your photos.
I have one from that same period. Here's a photo of it:

Mine was built in 1963 but it probably didn't leave the factory any earlier than 1964, which is the reason why it has the slightly later tailpiece. It is labeled as an A-500 Sb. Special because it was outfitted with the optional DeArmond Model 1000 pickup. The extra tone control was probably added at a later date.

Would love to have the serial number of your guitar for my database. If you would rather not post it on the forum, you could contact me in a private message.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Jeff]

it was outfitted with the optional DeArmond Model 1000 pickup

Is this style pick up readily available??

 

[lakeeffect]

Hans ... The serial number of my Guild is 24054. My brother bought this around 1967 as I recall. I plan to speak with him sometime in the next few days and will see if that's how he remembers it. Thanks for responding.

 

[hansmoust]

Is this style pick up readily available??

Hello Jeff,

No, not really. You will have to look for it on the used/vintage guitar market. Good luck!

Hans ... The serial number of my Guild is 24054. My brother bought this around 1967 as I recall. I plan to speak with him sometime in the next few days and will see if that's how he remembers it. Thanks for responding.

Hello lakeeffect,

OK, that makes it a 1963 guitar, just like mine. Did your's come with a pickup?

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[dklsplace]

In reference to Jeff's question & Hans' response.

Jeff, it's the DeArmonds specifically that aren't available new anymore. You will see a regular stream of floating DeArmond pickups on ebay & they fetch pretty decent prices.

As to the "style" - the floating style pickups are readily available from a number of different manufacturers with several mounting options.

 

[rwmol]

Great to see a thread on this guitar. I have a 1961 A-500 SN: 16857. I purchased it new from what was Leo's Music in Oakland, CA in 1963. It has the DeArmond single knob floating pick up. The guitar has been through a lot. It traveled with me when I was in the army. I was with the 3rd Army Showmobile out of Fort McPherson, CA. We traveled the east coast on a Parisian show. I also used it professionally up and down the west coast in the 60s. It has a lot of nicks and scratches. The pick guard was set too low and caused a large gouge from the pot. At that time, it was just another guitar to me so I didn't give it the loving care it deserved. It has the same tail piece that Han's guitar. Sunburst model. The body is smaller and not as deep as my X-175. I needed something a little larger. I'm 6'7". Hence the X-175.

Everything is original. I did have to repair the cord due to it coming apart. The rubber started splitting and I lost contact at the screw end. I have located a new one but have yet to purchase it. I gave up music for 35 years but started playing again 4 years ago. I'm now in a four piece jazz group in St. George Utah.

Thanks again for the thread.

Randy

 

[hansmoust]

Great to see a thread on this guitar. I have a 1961 A-500 SN: 16857. I purchased it new from what was Leo's Music in Oakland, CA in 1963. It has the DeArmond single knob floating pick up. Randy

Hello Randy,

You might find it interesting to hear that your Guild A-500 with serial # 16857 was finished in 'final assembly' on Wednesday August 23, 1961 together with 5 other A-500s of which one had a 'blonde' finish.

Would love to see a photo of your A-500.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[rwmol]

Thanks Hans. You never know when you might need information like that.

Here's a photo of both guitars. The A-500 on the left and the X-175 Manhattan on the right:



Here's the A-500:



If you would like some closeups, let me know.

Randy

 

[Smiert Spionam]

Great thread. I would love to find an early A-500 like these -- I've never seen one in person.

lakeeffect, your brother made out in terms of dollar value (just take a look at '60s Strat prices...!), but you certainly ended up with the rarer and much more finely crafted instrument.

Just make your brother kick a bit back to you if he ever gives up the strat.

;- )

 

[lakeeffect]

Great to see these beautiful guitars! I am still doing a little research on my A - 500 but I must say, I would not have thought that the Stratocaster would be as valuable today as the Guild (just a guess based on the amount of work that I think went into making each one and what I remember the original price of each one was). I don't know yet if the A - 500 came with a pickup - my memory says that it did not but I will check this out when I talk with my brother and repost.

I recently made a Martin Dreadnought kit and have a better appreciation of the work that goes into an acoustic. Maybe I should try building an electric before I say much more.

I think the thing I like the best about the A - 500 is the shape of the neck - it has such a natural feel and is very fast and easy to play. I have thought about buying a new acoustic and would be interested in any comments and comparisons with new guitars you may have played. It's great to hear from you all!

 

[rwmol]

I agree Lakeeffect. I really like to playability of the A-500 much more. Even over the X-175. I can't put my finger on it (Ha). Maybe Hans or a member might know. Both necks appear to be similar.