M-20 3/4 size parlour guitar??

[jsmed]

I'm looking for information on Guild 3/4 sized parlour guitars - specifically when they were made and what they might be worth in good playing condition.

I think it may be called an M-20. Does anyone have a good photograph of an M 20 they could include so at least I know what model I'm talking about?

A friend of mine had one many years ago that was stolen. I remember it as being a beautifu little guitar with incredible sound. I recently saw one in a guitar store. A lovely guitar but they want $900 for it and they claim it was made in the 1950's.

Can anyone help me with some general information on these guitars. I don't have the serial number but I could likely get it if more research on this guitar is warranted.

Thanks
James

 

[Russell Letson]

M-20

The regular M-20 is not 3/4-size--it's about the same size as a Martin 0. Hans Moust's book mentions a 3/4 size (2.25" shorter scale but only slightly smaller body) as "available" in 1969, but I've never seen one in nearly 30 years of Guild-watching.

Here's a '50s M-20:

[img:798:955]http://www.geocities.jp/chinapops_yan_zi/59_Guild_M-20.jpg[/img]

 

[jsmed]

Hi Russell:

The store lists this guitar as 3/4 size but then they don't even know what model it is.

Im still trying to determine if indeed it is an M-20. The photo you sent does not show up and when I click on it it takes me to Yahoo Japan. Really.

Am I doing something wrong? Or can you send the photo in another format.

I did get the serial number today, stamped on the head stock is 30719 and hand written on a label inside is 181315.

James

 

[Jeff]

[img:338:450]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid222/pb90ed137b0a60484c6e024f7f5c2a767/eb20872b.jpg[/img] [img:450:338]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid223/pe05b1456fa213337efb3779434c04e05/eaf92342.jpg[/img] Here's my F 20 next to a Guild D 25 & in a case designed for a Martin 00.

F 20's & M 20's are basically the same guitar, & except for a very few early years both have Mahogany bodies, F 20's have Spruce Tops & M 20's have Mahogany tops. Mine is a 57 & it has a laminated Maple back & sides.

Really cool little guitars, should times ever get tough, I'd hang on to my F 20 till the end.

[img:338:450]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid224/p693658c60b8fda45be5c4a86448c4bdc/ea948259.jpg[/img]

 

[plaidseason]

One thing . . .

The M20 is most similar to a Martin 00 size guitar (around 14" at the lower bout).

-Chris

 

[capnjuan]

Burn that guitar up and you'll be in trouble with its owner....

 

[Russell Letson]

M-20 photos

James--The photo (from a Japanese site) shows up in the message body on my browser (Firefox), but you can find any number of M-20 pics by Googling "Guild M-20" and going to the Images (which is how I found this pic).

Since you're able to examine the guitar in person, the model ID should be on the inside label along with the serial number--has the label been damaged so that the model is unreadable? In any case, Hans Moust's serial-number list (from Gruhn, not the Guild Guitar Book) says that 30719 would be a 1964 instrument and 181315 a 1978. It's a little odd for the headstock and label serial numbers not to match, and I wonder whether a mismatch happened at the factory or in a repair shop. (Assuming we do have a Guild here. . . .) BTW, the label itself offers clues to the guitar's age--for the date range suggested by the serial numbers, it should be oval, but the details of company name and city mentioned (if any) vary a bit.

Welcome to the wonderful world of the guitar detective.

 

[hansmoust]

Guild M-20

Hi Folks,

Here's what I mailed to jsmed earlier but I haven't heard back from him yet:

Hello James,

Thanks for your e-mail.

The serial number from the headstock (#30719) is a legitimate M-20 serial number from 1964. It was part of a batch of 34 guitars.
The other number on the inside, would that be a Guild label or just some sort of sticker. The number that's on that sticker (#181315) has probably nothing to do with a serial number. If it was it would be from about 1978.

Here's a photo of an M-20 from 1963: (photo Elderly)

[img:307:605]http://www.guitarchives.nl/fotos/M20front.jpg[/img]

This one still has the 'old style' headstock. Since the guitar you're looking at might be from 1964, it might have a different headstock shape, but the body shape and the materials will be exactly the same as the guitar in the photo.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[jsmed]

Thanks Jeff

I think I've got the M20 I'm looking at pegged as a 1964.

That's one nice looking F20.

James