Identification help?

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Hello All! I am trying to help a neighbor Identify her fathers Guild. I have checked local resources, but there seems to be some questions on if it is or isnt a Guild. Would anyone be able to point me to resources or be able to help Identify this Guitar? I have checked Gruhns and looked through the the book of Guild guitars but am still unable to find a complete match.

The sticker inside the Guitar came off and there is no Serial number stamped on the headstock or inside the guitar that I can find.

Thank you n advance for any help.
 

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Not a Guild. It does have a Bigsby, or Guildsby. My guess would be 1960s Japanese made.
Thank you Cupric. Is there anything that specifically screams NOT guild? the headstock and lack of a serial on the headstock seem like indicators, anything else in your mind?
 

fronobulax

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Not a Guild unless something was highly modified. Given the (semi?-) hollow body and the bolt on neck it is more likely that the Guildsby was added to something else than this started out as a Guild and retained the Guildsby. No idea what the something else could be, however. But there are a couple of folks with a track record of educated guesses that turn out to be correct so I will defer to them.
 

fronobulax

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Thank you Cupric. Is there anything that specifically screams NOT guild? the headstock and lack of a serial on the headstock seem like indicators, anything else in your mind?

Headstock was the first thing that screamed at me with bolt on neck on a hollow body making a lot of noise as well. The f-holes seem disproportionally large and the absence of Guild knobs is noted. The cutaway contours seem "wrong" and I've never seen a Guild with carving on the sides like that. My ignorance is boundless but if someone tried to argue that it was a Guild. I'd probably disengage and walk slowly away.
 
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Not a Guild unless something was highly modified. Given the (semi?-) hollow body and the bolt on neck it is more likely that the Guildsby was added to something else than this started out as a Guild and retained the Guildsby. No idea what the something else could be, however. But there are a couple of folks with a track record of educated guesses that turn out to be correct so I will defer to them.
Thank you all. I just like to go back to the owner with specifics if possible. All opinions are greatly appreciated.
 

cupric

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Thank you Cupric. Is there anything that specifically screams NOT guild? the headstock and lack of a serial on the headstock seem like indicators, anything else in your mind?
The bolt on neck is one. The headstock is another. Actually, almost everything. This one could be a home build even. The headstock is vaguely 60s Japan Univoxish. But not quite.
I bet it would be fun to play!
Is the top and back completely flat? No arch? The top/back looks like it could be solid (Not plywood/layered )?
I think the confusion of whether it's a Guild is due to the added Guild labeled Bigsby. Nothing else points that way.
There are others in this forum with more knowledge. I am sure they will chime in.
 
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The bolt on neck is one. The headstock is another. Actually, almost everything. This one could be a home build even. The headstock is vaguely 60s Japan Univoxish. But not quite.
I bet it would be fun to play!
Is the top and back completely flat? No arch? The top/back looks like it could be solid (Not plywood/layered )?
I think the confusion of whether it's a Guild is due to the added Guild labeled Bigsby. Nothing else points that way.
There are others in this forum with more knowledge. I am sure they will chime in.
I want to say there was a slight arch on the top and back. The top looked solid to me. not sure if you can zoom in on the pic and see anything or not.
 

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cupric

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No, I cannot tell. I use a small tablet which does not help.
See what other info comes along....
 

nmiller

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The whole body and neck are definitely homemade. Not Japanese and certainly not a Guild, as others have said. The pickups look like the Pix units that Hofner called the style 513, though the rings and the black screws suggest that they might be Schaller-made copies.
 

BradHK

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I agree with others that it looks like some parts are hand made (like the body) and other parts could have been repurposed from other guitars. If you look at the heel of the neck where it bolts to the body on the back it looks like it came off another guitar and appears not finished where a heel cap would have been on the original guitar. The fretboard looks much older than other parts and looks very much like the ones used on 1950’s Gibson SJ-200 and some other models. Picture below of a 1953 Gibson SJ-200 for comparison.

1656102432904.jpeg
 

Nuuska

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Are the pups backwards ?
There is a notch under A-string - it does not make sense - under B-string it would.
 
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Are the pups backwards ?
There is a notch under A-string - it does not make sense - under B-string it would.
As far as I know, he [played it as it is. I didnt plug it in.
 

Boneman

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Its certainly unique if anything. How did it sound unplugged?
 
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Its certainly unique if anything. How did it sound unplugged?
It seemed comparable to other semi hollow bodies that I have played. It had a nice setup on it and the action seemed low with minimal fret buzz.
 

nmiller

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The pickups are definitely backwards from intended, but I'm not sure how much of a difference it makes with adjustable poles.
 

fronobulax

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The pickups are definitely backwards from intended, but I'm not sure how much of a difference it makes with adjustable poles.

There are players and bass pickups where the PUs are deliberately backwards from what was intended. Moving the pole pieces by maybe 1/2 in. can make a difference in sound/tone.

If you think the Gibson Grabber bass, with its sliding pickup was a good idea then you probably have flipped your bass pickups and if no one knows that it is because you prefer the intended orientation.

Pole pieces that adjust vertically are not really going to effect the tone as much as sliding pole pieces along the speaking length and thus "sampling" different overtones.

I'm comfortable extrapolating from bass to guitar but I also note that there are many cases where someone will make a change that they claim has an audible effect but I can't hear it.
 
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Looks pretty cool for a home made guitar. Looks like leather belting around the outside of the body like Gretsch used on their Roundups.
I would definitely play it.
Thanks John
 
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