I think I have a 1980 Guild G37MNT Acoustic guitar. Could you possibly give me some insight?

[TriCityTradingPost]

Hey whats up guys, My names Mike I just inherited this guitar from my fathers estate. I don't play guitar at all but it was special to him so I guess it's special to me in that sense. I'm wondering ANY Information you could possibly give me on the guitar. Price, what kind of wood its made out of, basically anything important on it. I've tried to google my way through it but I can't find any G37's that look like this one so it has me stumped. I messages Saga Music and they told me and I quote "Its made before 2014 when we acquired the guild brand. I can't tell you anything because I do not know. Theres a forum called....." So here I am. Again, I know this is my first post and I might not be a regular member from here on out, but i'm lost on this thing. Anything is appreciated! CHEERS!!!!



Oh and if you need a picture of a specific spot just let me know and i'd glady take one. thanks again again again

 

[Bonneville88]

Welcome Mike. That is one beautiful G37!

Solid spruce top, maple sides, arched maple back.
Looks like it may be a one-piece mahogany neck (have seen 1, 3, and 5 piece necks on this model)
According to page 4 of the Dating Your Guild pdf, based on the serial # it's an '80.
If you look inside the soundhole up at the neck block, there may be a stamp on the
front of the block with the model #, and there will typically be a date stamp on the
right bevel of the neck block. You'll need to get some light shining directly on that bevelled
surface to discern the date stamp.

Some info from the Westerly Guild Guitars site

Price list from 1980 from GAD's Guilds, according to that the
G37 was available in three finishes, the M = "Mahogany shaded maple sides and back"

Some idea of current asking prices from reverb.com

 

[gjmalcyon]

Welcome. Learn to play that gorgeous guitar and stick around - nice bunch folks around here.

 

[fronobulax]

Welcome. Sorry for your loss. Model is G37, MNT usually describes some aspect (wood, finish) and I'm not going to guess. The usual chart, which can have errors suggests 1980 to me as well. Build in Westerly Rhode Island. Best way to get a price estimate is search Reverb or eBay for sold listings, which will require you to make sure you are comparing apples and oranges. Hopefully it has a hard case. I find I can say almost any Guild will sell for $1,000 to $1,500 and be within $500

 

[GGJaguar]

Welcome to LTG! That's a beautiful guitar. I agree, you could learn to play it to honor your dad. Guitar is a relatively easy instrument for adults to learn to play (I did it so anyone can).

 

[SFIV1967]

Welcome to LTG! That's a guitar in perfect condition and Bonneville88 answered it all.
So the "M" is "Mahogany shaded maple sides and back" and the "NT" means "Natural Top".

Here's some info from the 1980 catalog:

Ralf

 

[dreadnut]

Welcome to LTG and sorry about your Dad. He obviously had good taste in guitars; that one looks to be in near mint condition.

One of my best friend's Dad bought her any guitar she wanted for high school graduation, and she picked an all maple G37.

 

[walrus]

My condolences...

Beautiful guitar!

walrus

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Man you guys are on it!

Well done all!

 

[TriCityTradingPost]

WOW, I figured maybe one or two guys after a few days would answer my post... I can tell that this is a cool group of guys just based on the amount of replies I got. Playing guitar went to the bucket list when I was a kid when I found out I couldn't just sit down and pull off some Hendrix.
I will more than likely be keeping this guitar, but if a few months go by and its just sitting in its case I don't see how I could when someone out there would appreciate it and enjoy actually playing it. The sound is really crazy how big of a sound it has (if that makes sense) I do in fact have a hard case for it that I believe to be its original case.
I know ive said it quite a few times, but THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION!!! SOO SOO MUCH!

(If I do end up selling it i'll surly list it here first)

 

[mavuser]

1980 is an amazing year for Guilds. Sorry for your loss. nice looking tuners on that mahogany-stained beast!

 

[TriCityTradingPost]

Looks like it may be a one-piece mahogany neck (have seen 1, 3, and 5 piece necks on this model)
If you look inside the soundhole up at the neck block, there may be a stamp on the
front of the block with the model #, and there will typically be a date stamp on the
right bevel of the neck block. You'll need to get some light shining directly on that bevelled
surface to discern the date stamp.

As far as the neck, it looks like two pieces of wood. there is a single "line" down the back of the neck in the middle. I will send a picture tomorrow to try and show you guys.

As far as the stamps, it does have them, its stamped G-37 and May 6 1980! I seen the tag inside and figured that was all they would do! again... thanks!!!

 

[Westerly Wood]

I hear these are amazing dreads, very versatile.
i remember seeing a picture of Ry Cooder playing one in Hans' Guild Book.

 

[cupric]

Sorry for your loss.
Very nice guitar. I would consider that a heirloom for sure.

 

[Bill Ashton]

Mike, sorry to hear about your Dad. I agree, you should take some time and learn too play. He would like that

On another note, that no one else has mentioned, "Its made before 2014 when we acquired the Guild brand." Uh, Saga
acquired the brand? How did you happen to write to them Mike? Cordoba in CA acquired the brand from TPG to my
knowledge, after they closed New Hartford. They are now manufactured in Oxnard, CA.

 

[adorshki]

As far as the neck, it looks like two pieces of wood. there is a single "line" down the back of the neck in the middle. I will send a picture tomorrow to try and show you guys.

That's the 3-piece version neck, the "line" is a center strip of wood. That construction method helps keep neck from twisting.

I think that catalog reference to a 5-piece neck is an error (they weren't uncommon), in fact surprised me when I heard it because I thought those only wound up o the highest-end Guilds. Only remember ever hearing of one or 3-pc necks on G37's. Looks like this on an unstained neck:

From this Reverb listing:

Guild G-37 1973 - 1986 | Reverb

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

reverb.com

That Mahogany body stain is fairly rare, I'd give it at least a $50.00 value adder although it may not be everybody's cup of tea. After seeing so many Blondes, I like it.

Good luck whatever you wind up doing!

 

[Bonneville88]

Posted previously in May of this year

https://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/g37-unusual-sb-appears-in-good-shape.202745/#post-1882450

Will see if I can excavate the thread from several years ago, where I posted photo
comparisons of all three G37 necks.

Seems like when I looked into this previously, the earliest G37s had one-piece necks, then
the 5 piece necks appeared, followed by the 3 piece necks, which were used until the end of the model line,
when the D30 replaced the G37.

'78 with a 5-piece neck and my '80 with a 3-piece neck (tuners not original on my '80)

Another G37 with a 5-piece neck, can't make out the serial # though

Here's an '84 on Reverb now, 3 piece neck

Another '78 sold on Reverb, with a 5-piece neck

and a '75 with a one-piece neck sold on Reverb

 

[TriCityTradingPost]

Mike, sorry to hear about your Dad. I agree, you should take some time and learn too play. He would like that

On another note, that no one else has mentioned, "Its made before 2014 when we acquired the Guild brand." Uh, Saga
acquired the brand? How did you happen to write to them Mike? Cordoba in CA acquired the brand from TPG to my
knowledge, after they closed New Hartford. They are now manufactured in Oxnard, CA.

I got confused I also got a Regal Resonator guitar from him and i mixed up the brands. It was Cordoba that I emailed on this guitar and he said that.

But yeah its a 3 piece neck then if that line is another piece of wood. So I guess I could comfortably say the guitar is worth $1,000.00? Into the case she goes! I appreciate all the condolences too. They didn't go unnoticed.

 

[Bill Ashton]

Mike, THAT makes much more sense.

 

[johnnyw5]

Hey whats up guys, My names Mike I just inherited this guitar from my fathers estate. I don't play guitar at all but it was special to him so I guess it's special to me in that sense. I'm wondering ANY Information you could possibly give me on the guitar. Price, what kind of wood its made out of, basically anything important on it. I've tried to google my way through it but I can't find any G37's that look like this one so it has me stumped. I messages Saga Music and they told me and I quote "Its made before 2014 when we acquired the guild brand. I can't tell you anything because I do not know. Theres a forum called....." So here I am. Again, I know this is my first post and I might not be a regular member from here on out, but i'm lost on this thing. Anything is appreciated! CHEERS!!!!



Oh and if you need a picture of a specific spot just let me know and i'd glady take one. thanks again again again

Hey Mike, my name is John W. I've had a G37 for some time now, and just started reaching out on the internet. Your post caught my eye immediately, because my G37 looks identical to yours - albeit - in no where near the shape yours is. I regret this in retrospect - but it is what it is. Anyway, I am wondering if anyone out there can tell me the subtle differences of mine, vs. this one. Interestingly, the inside tag that says G37MNT on it - is written by the same person that wrote my G37. Model is a tad different though, not sure what that means. Mine is a G37NT (no M) although the neck/body does appear to be mahogany.....so can anyone tell me what G37NT means? I did look on the inside right of the opening - and it says G37, and the date is stamped Mar 3 1980. The Serial Number is DF1000246, not too far off yours DF1000480. Wondering if you sold this guy/guitar or not?

2nd Reason for my post - one of my tuning heads is stripped. I have a temporary Gotoh on there, but it doesn't look like the originals. I did not have to drill any new holes in the guitar, this replacement fits perfectly in the holes already. Does anyone know where I can get either a single new machine tuning head? or even if I can purchase a whole set. I do believe that these are Gotoh tuning machine heads. Correct me if I am wrong, I am not even close to an expert on this guitar.

What I can say is - the sound is outstanding, and always has been. I purchased it in the fall of 1980 from Medley Music outside Phila Pa.

Would appreciate any insight anyone can offer me. Thanks in advance!

John W