Guild Mark III or Mark II?

[Doc Hanson]

I bought a 1977 Guild Mark last week on eBay. The ad stated is was a Mark II but the guitar is missing the inside label so there is nothing on the guitar that says it's a Mark II. There is a Guild Warranty/User Manual in the case that has MK2 and a serial number written in it, but the serial number is not the same as what's on the back of the headstock so I don't think it came with the guitar. Looking at description between a Mark II & III one difference is the Mark III is supposed to have 3 ply top binding which this has. I think the rosette is also different. I don't know how else to identify what model it is. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've attached some photos. Regardless of what model it is, it's a great sounding guitar.

Thanks - Doc

 

[hansmoust]

Hello Doc,

Welcome! That's a Guild Mark 2.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[adorshki]

I see a first post, Doc, welcome aboard!!
Sweet looking piece, the rosewood on the bridge jumped out at me, as well as the silking in the top.

 

[Rambozo96]

I owned one briefly. It was probably the only classical I ever liked.

 

[Elderguilder]

Your picture looks like my 1977 Mark II. I bought mine new the day before Christmas in 1977 in Ann Arbor, MI for $503 (if I'm reading the receipt correctly). The rosette looks like mine though my flash makes the small squares colors seem darker in the photo. I'm guessing these rosettes are decals and only the real expensive guitars get a real inlaid rosette.
John

 

[westerlyborn]

I bought a 1977 Guild Mark last week on eBay. The ad stated is was a Mark II but the guitar is missing the inside label so there is nothing on the guitar that says it's a Mark II. There is a Guild Warranty/User Manual in the case that has MK2 and a serial number written in it, but the serial number is not the same as what's on the back of the headstock so I don't think it came with the guitar. Looking at description between a Mark II & III one difference is the Mark III is supposed to have 3 ply top binding which this has. I think the rosette is also different. I don't know how else to identify what model it is. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've attached some photos. Regardless of what model it is, it's a great sounding guitar.

Thanks - Doc

I think that's a 2. Mark II is the same as Mark I, except for the spruce top.

 

[chazmo]

Gosh, that looks great, Doc! Welcome aboard!

 

[Mpalmieri47]

Hey everyone hope all is well. I am trying to find info on 2 guild Marks that were left to me by my mom. One is a Mark iii that I believe is from the 65 or 66 that is about when she bought it at Sam Ash in NYC and was made in the Hoboken factory. I know that much because I was there in Hoboken with my parents when we brought guitar in for some minor adjustment. The other is a Mark ii that I have paper work for dated 1970 But I believe it is a 1969 Model. Both have labels with serial # and say Made in Hoboken NJ The serial number on the Mark iii is CC1836 the Mark ii is 36788. it is tough to find any info that matches the serial numbers especially the Mark iii. Any help would be
appreciated.

 

[gjmalcyon]

Welcome! Stick around - nice folks around here. I'm a steel-string player so I can't help you with your question but someone should be around directly who can.

 

[fronobulax]

Welcome. CC1836 could be a Mark III completed in 1969 although that is based a possibly inaccurate online chart and not the research of Hans Moust. 36788 would seem to be a guitar from 1964. The label makes it a Mark II. This doesn't quite match your recollections. Is there a chance that what you recall about the Mark II was actually the Mark III and visa versa? Also from approximately 1965-1970 Guild was moving operations from Hoboken to Westerly Rhode Island and the best way to find out which factory a model was made in is to ask Hans Moust. Note that instruments made in Westerly sometimes had Hoboken labels (because Guild didn't throw them away but used them until they ran out). Note also that some repair work (at least for amps) was done in Hoboken after guitar production moved to Westerly. Finally the concept of "model year" (as used for cars) doesn't apply to Guild guitars.

Poke around at https://www.gad.net/Blog/guild-guitar-catalogs/ and see if there is a catalog or price list with info of interest.

@hansmoust wrote the Guild Guitar Book and sometimes answers questions here. You can also go to his website at http://www.guitarchives.nl/guitarsgalore/ and follow the Contact instructions.

 

[Mpalmieri47]

Welcome. CC1836 could be a Mark III completed in 1969 although that is based a possibly inaccurate online chart and not the research of Hans Moust. 36788 would seem to be a guitar from 1964. The label makes it a Mark II. This doesn't quite match your recollections. Is there a chance that what you recall about the Mark II was actually the Mark III and visa versa? Also from approximately 1965-1970 Guild was moving operations from Hoboken to Westerly Rhode Island and the best way to find out which factory a model was made in is to ask Hans Moust. Note that instruments made in Westerly sometimes had Hoboken labels (because Guild didn't throw them away but used them until they ran out). Note also that some repair work (at least for amps) was done in Hoboken after guitar production moved to Westerly. Finally the concept of "model year" (as used for cars) doesn't apply to Guild guitars.

Poke around at https://www.gad.net/Blog/guild-guitar-catalogs/ and see if there is a catalog or price list with info of interest.

@hansmoust wrote the Guild Guitar Book and sometimes answers questions here. You can also go to his website at http://www.guitarchives.nl/guitarsgalore/ and follow the Contact instructions.

sorry I reversed the serial numbers in my post the Mark ll is the older guitar As you stated nice catch. Thanks for the info and links to help trying to put a value on these for insurance purposes. My search continues.

 

[fronobulax]

If you are looking for values, if I did this right the link is to a Reverb search that gives you some sold prices.

Guild Mark | Reverb

Reverb is a marketplace bringing together a wide-spanning community to buy, sell, and discuss all things music gear.

reverb.com

I think I could easily replace a Mark I, II, II or IV for $1,000 and probably get change. Maybe @silverfox103 has some comments. I respect his opinion concerning the Mark series and it might be more informed than mine

 

[silverfox103]

I think I could easily replace a Mark I, II, II or IV for $1,000 and probably get change. Maybe @silverfox103 has some comments. I respect his opinion concerning the Mark series and it might be more informed than mine

Thanks Frono for the nice compliment! (but don't overestimate my knowledge). I have never owned a I, II or III, but I kind of am drawn towards the Marks. I think Frono hit the nail on the head; for $1000 you could pick up one and get change. If you look hard enough you probably could pick up 2 for $1000 and still get some change. But like everything else, it's condition. For the most part they are 50 to 60 years old, so they probably have had some repair or wear, but that's OK. The Mark IV's you would get less change back, depending on condition you may not get any change back. My 2 cents, whatever that's worth.

Tom

 

[donnylang]

From what I've seen online over the last couple years (including buying and selling some of these models myself), Mark I, II, and III seem to all go for somewhere between $300-$600 typically (haven't noticed a big difference in value between the three, even though they are supposedly of different quality). The differences seem mostly down to availability (i.e., are there 4 Mark Is on Reverb at that moment, or only 1?), condition, playability, and things like original case, etc. Mark IV maybe $700-$800-ish.

 

[kostask]

Best of all, it is very rare for classicals to need neck re-sets.

 

[Mpalmieri47]

Thanks to all! This info has helped immensely .