Hobogen Archtops

[drive-south]

My local Mom & Pop has 2 old Guild Archtops from Hobogen. One is an A50 and the other is a T100 with 2 Dearmond pickups. The A50 has the older Gibson style headstock and other than missing the pickguard is in great shape.

The T100 is mint.

Any thoughts on these old guitars. I'm really tempted on the A50 as the price is RIGHT!
It has a small bright sound but something about it is calling my name. I'm thinking I could attach a floating pickup near the end of the fingerboard.

drive-south

 

[Graham]

I'm really tempted on the A50 as the price is RIGHT!
It has a small bright sound but something about it is calling my name. I'm thinking I could attach a floating pickup near the end of the fingerboard.

drive-south

You know what's calling your name? They are just downright kewl, that's what. 8)

This my '72 A50, but I love the older headstock!

 

[Walter Broes]

Hoboken archtops are wonderful!

 

[walrus]

Yes, go for it! The old archtops are a blast to play!

walrus

 

[guildzilla]

I couldn't be more of a fan of the Hoboken archtops. Just splendid guitars. Initially I had a bias in favor of the Westerly archtops (and I would never knock an RI archtop). But the Hoboken archtops won me over. It's a combination of the sound and feel of the instruments and sheer awe over how well many of them have aged.

 

[drive-south]

Well, I broke down and bought the A50. The serial number is 14861 which appears to be from 1961. It comes with a hard shell case which is black with light blue lining. I'm guessing the case is original and it's in great condition, almost perfect.

The guitar is missing the pickguard. How hard would it be to find a replacement? If I can find one should I bother to attach it or will it rattle?

This thing sounds pretty darn good especially with a pick. Plenty loud and bright.

drive-south

 

[drive-south]

Well, I broke down and bought the A50. The serial number is 14861 which appears to be from 1961. It comes with a hard shell case which is black with light blue lining. I'm guessing the case is original and it's in great condition, almost perfect.

The guitar is missing the pickguard. How hard would it be to find a replacement? If I can find one should I bother to attach it or will it rattle?

This thing sounds pretty darn good especially with a pick. Plenty loud and bright.

drive-south

 

[walrus]

Hi drive-south - My (previously owned) 1961 A-50 was a blast to play. I took the pickguard off of mine, as it seemed to get in my way when playing - I am apparently averse to archtop pickguards, since I always take them off (it's a problem I can live with). I never really had it on long enough to say whether it rattled or not. But if you are going to play it, and don't care about whether it's "original" or not, why worry? I'm guessing if you found one from 1961 it would not be cheap.

Anyway, nice score!

walrus

 

[walrus]

Hi drive-south - My (previously owned) 1961 A-50 was a blast to play. I took the pickguard off of mine, as it seemed to get in my way when playing - I am apparently averse to archtop pickguards, since I always take them off (it's a problem I can live with). I never really had it on long enough to say whether it rattled or not. But if you are going to play it, and don't care about whether it's "original" or not, why worry? I'm guessing if you found one from 1961 it would not be cheap.

Anyway, nice score!

walrus

 

[walrus]

S**t!! I just looked at your address, drive-south - and your serial number rang a bell - that's my (now yours!) A-50, and my T100 on consignment! Union Music, right?

I can't believe I did not notice that before! That A-50 is a great guitar, and there's no pickguard because as I said above, I took it off and never used it, so I sold it (sorry!). The case is to my knowledge, original. I am very happy someone on this board bought it - excellent news!

I must say that the A-50 was one of my favorite guitars, but I needed to give it up to pay for the 1965 X-50 I bought from Guildzilla. I use the X-50 unplugged a lot (very similar in sound to the A-50), but I also use it plugged in with a jazz band I play with. I did not think it possible, but I like the X-50 even more than the A-50!

Same story with the T100 - oldest kid in college, need cash. So I'm down to two guitars, but hey, I can only play one at a time! For what it's worth, I have a ukulele there on consignment too! Union is a great music store. I'm so glad you bought it and you like it - play it often!

walrus

 

[walrus]

S**t!! I just looked at your address, drive-south - and your serial number rang a bell - that's my (now yours!) A-50, and my T100 on consignment! Union Music, right?

I can't believe I did not notice that before! That A-50 is a great guitar, and there's no pickguard because as I said above, I took it off and never used it, so I sold it (sorry!). The case is to my knowledge, original. I am very happy someone on this board bought it - excellent news!

I must say that the A-50 was one of my favorite guitars, but I needed to give it up to pay for the 1965 X-50 I bought from Guildzilla. I use the X-50 unplugged a lot (very similar in sound to the A-50), but I also use it plugged in with a jazz band I play with. I did not think it possible, but I like the X-50 even more than the A-50!

Same story with the T100 - oldest kid in college, need cash. So I'm down to two guitars, but hey, I can only play one at a time! For what it's worth, I have a ukulele there on consignment too! Union is a great music store. I'm so glad you bought it and you like it - play it often!

walrus

 

[drive-south]

Yep, I bought this from Union Music. I've been scoping it out for a few weeks. It wasn't on my "list" but I made an exception to own a piece of Guild history.

I'm thinking the pickguard would be good to have as I could mount a floating pickup to it with jack so I don't have to modify the guitar. I have a DeArmond pickup I'd like to use.

That T100 is sweet. I'd like to grab that one too, but you can't own them all.
Are the pickups DeArmonds? What kind of tuners does it have on it. I've been meaning to check my Guild book to get some more info on it.

drive-south

 

[drive-south]

Yep, I bought this from Union Music. I've been scoping it out for a few weeks. It wasn't on my "list" but I made an exception to own a piece of Guild history.

I'm thinking the pickguard would be good to have as I could mount a floating pickup to it with jack so I don't have to modify the guitar. I have a DeArmond pickup I'd like to use.

That T100 is sweet. I'd like to grab that one too, but you can't own them all.
Are the pickups DeArmonds? What kind of tuners does it have on it. I've been meaning to check my Guild book to get some more info on it.

drive-south

 

[walrus]

Hi drive-south - glad you are enjoying the A-50!

Regarding the tuners, here's a thread about them, including a photo of my (for sale) T100D, where Hans claims the ones on mine are usually not found on a T100D.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6580&p=68252&hilit=walrus+t100#p68252

The pickups are the "mickey mouse" pickups found on several electrics in the 60's - see the page on pickups in the Guild book and you will see them there.

walrus

 

[walrus]

Hi drive-south - glad you are enjoying the A-50!

Regarding the tuners, here's a thread about them, including a photo of my (for sale) T100D, where Hans claims the ones on mine are usually not found on a T100D.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6580&p=68252&hilit=walrus+t100#p68252

The pickups are the "mickey mouse" pickups found on several electrics in the 60's - see the page on pickups in the Guild book and you will see them there.

walrus

 

[walrus]

Drive-south, I sent you a PM!

walrus

 

[walrus]

Drive-south, I sent you a PM!

walrus