I picked this guitar up to save it because I think it might be a Guild. If it is, the serial number dates it as a 1970. Is it a Guild? No label inside. Is it maple? It has several patches inside and a notable electrical tape patch on the back, along with fuzzies from the case liner. The pick guard is wrong too, I think. I seem to have misplaced my Guild book, so I can’t look it up. Help!
Guild? Acoustic With Interesting Repairs
- Thread starter Vermonter
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Guildedagain
Enlightened Member
It's a Guild, pearwood or Maple, G37 or some such thing, probably easy enough to research. The real experts are on the way.
davismanLV
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It's a Guild that someone has messed with. You could save it!! I'm pretty sure at least. Spruce top. Maple or possibly pearwood body and back. This is me guessing. You gonna SAVE HER?? 
What's the serial number stamped into the back of the headstock? Or is it obliterated??
What's the serial number stamped into the back of the headstock? Or is it obliterated??
Hmmmm.... I poked around a little. Could be a D44 that someone refinished, replacing the pick guard in the process so it doesn’t show up. Definitely solid all around. The back has cracks that need repair. The electrical tape won’t quite cut it.
I researched D44 here and found an old thread where an esteemed LTGer mentioned a date stamp on the bracing around the sound hole. I put my handy mirror-light there and presto... Oct 7, 1970. And there is a Guild stamp in there too, although it looks like someone poured a half gallon of urethane in there so it’s hard to read.
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GardMan
Enlightened Member
Looks like a stripped and refinished pearwood D-44 to me. The maple version (D-44M) wasn't introduced until 1971. The B & S of all the pearwood D-44s I have seen have been stained a reddish brown. The dark patches on the back may be remnants of the stain. Not all pearwood D-44s have the marquetry strip down the middle of the back like one you found (my '71 didn't)...
I asked Hans about that once, but don't recall whether there was any rhyme nor reason those that did and those that didn't.
Mine had a sweet, folksy sound... closest in tone to my '72 D-35. Maybe just a wee bit richer in overtones, but very similar. ALso very light in weight, which I think is a function of its birth year...
I asked Hans about that once, but don't recall whether there was any rhyme nor reason those that did and those that didn't.
Mine had a sweet, folksy sound... closest in tone to my '72 D-35. Maybe just a wee bit richer in overtones, but very similar. ALso very light in weight, which I think is a function of its birth year...
GardMan
Enlightened Member
Interesting that your date stamp is preceded by the letter "N." My '71 D-44's date stamp was N Mar 27 1971. I think I asked Hans about the N, but don't recall his response. The date stamp on my '72 D-35 is proceeded by a "P"...
wileypickett
Enlightened Member
Nice rescue!
The replacement pickguard (you can see it doesn't quite line up with the rosette) may be covering up a botched repair, or it may be hiding pick marks that went into the top. Either way, you'll probably want to replace it with something more Guild appropriate.
The D44s are nice guitars! If you can get this one back in good playing order I suspect you'll be pleasantly surprised. The back cracks are an easy enough repair and won't effect the sound. Looks like a pretty major refinishing job however.
Woud love to see how it progresses.
The replacement pickguard (you can see it doesn't quite line up with the rosette) may be covering up a botched repair, or it may be hiding pick marks that went into the top. Either way, you'll probably want to replace it with something more Guild appropriate.
The D44s are nice guitars! If you can get this one back in good playing order I suspect you'll be pleasantly surprised. The back cracks are an easy enough repair and won't effect the sound. Looks like a pretty major refinishing job however.
Woud love to see how it progresses.
Looks like a stripped and refinished pearwood D-44 to me. The maple version (D-44M) wasn't introduced until 1971. The B & S of all the pearwood D-44s I have seen have been stained a reddish brown. The dark patches on the back may be remnants of the stain. Not all pearwood D-44s have the marquetry strip down the middle of the back like one you found (my '71 didn't)...
I asked Hans about that once, but don't recall whether there was any rhyme nor reason those that did and those that didn't.
Mine had a sweet, folksy sound... closest in tone to my '72 D-35. Maybe just a wee bit richer in overtones, but very similar. ALso very light in weight, which I think is a function of its birth year...
Definitely stripped and refinished. The darkness on the back is fuzz from the case. I haven’t cleaned it yet. I have a funny feeling I’m about to spend more money on this guitar than it’s worth (in dollars) because it deserves to be saved. Once we’re hooked on Guilds... there’s no saving us.
wileypickett
Enlightened Member
Possibly, but remember: the time you spend rehabilitating lost causes gets deducted from the time you spend in Purgatory later on. Take your time!
Once I get the repairs started I’ll post pictures.
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
Once the TRC is mounted correctly she will be great again!
Ralf
Ralf