Newbie introduction

[Sarah93003]

Hello,

my name is Sarah and I live in SoCal. I've been playing guitar since I was 17. One of my first guitars was a 1962 Guild solid body electric that was stolen many years ago. I still miss that guitar! Recently I was very lucky while visiting my roommates parents. I was playing my Guild JF30 and her dad was really getting into the music. Then he told me that he had a Guild that he bought in 1962 when he decided to take lessons. He gave up on the lessons and put the guitar in a closet. It's been there since 1962. He said he wanted to sell it and asked if I would be interested. Well, duh! He brought it out and it turned out to be a 1961 Guild X-50 and still looks brand new. There is not a scratch on this thing and everything is still shiny! He had it in the original hardshell case which also looks brand new. In the little compartment is the original chord he bought to plug it into an amp. I'm definately going to buy it from him as soon as I figure out what it is worth. Any feedback on that will be greatly appreciated. I would post some pictures but I don't see how that is done.

On another note. These days I am very interested in finding a great guitar with a Rockabilly sound. Everything I've read leads me to think I am looking for a hollow body electric with two DeArmond pickups and a Bigsby type tail piece. I am not sure but I think maybe the Starfire might fit that bill. Does anyone have an opinion on this? Also, if the Starfire is not what I am looking for, then any suggestions?

thank you,
Sarah

Oh yay! I figured out the photo thing.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Hello Sarah and welcome to the forum.

You came to the right place to seek an opinion about Guilds!

I'd say the market value for the X-50 in mint condition would be around $800 to $1400 depending on the pick-up. If it has the plastic covered black or white Franz it might go for up to $2000 on ebay.

Depending on exactly what kind of Rockabilly you plan on playing, the X-50 might fit the bill.

Next...

 

[Sarah93003]

Thank you Grot. The pick up is covered with a white plastic with six visible screws. I don't see any names or markings on it however, so I don't have a clue. Maybe you can tell by one of the photos.

Also, I've been reading a lot of the threads in this forum and keeping running across references to "Hans" Bible or something like that. Where can I find out more about this book?

thank you,
Sarah

 

[krysh]

welcome to ltg, sarah,
regarding the rockabilly guitar, I would say, the earlier sf-3 would be the right way.
a newer model would be the x-160 rockabilly.
and as walter uses, an old x-175T or x-500T if I remember right.

 

[Walter Broes]

Welcome to the forum Sarah.

For Rockabilly - the only thing I'd recommed is to stay away from humbuckers. A twin single coil pickup guitar, solid, or hollow, should work.

Grot - $2000 for a T-50?!? It would have to be very old, and 100% mint to fetch that kind of money!

 

[fronobulax]

Thank you Grot. The pick up is covered with a white plastic with six visible screws. I don't see any names or markings on it however, so I don't have a clue. Maybe you can tell by one of the photos.

Also, I've been reading a lot of the threads in this forum and keeping running across references to "Hans" Bible or something like that. Where can I find out more about this book?

thank you,
Sarah

Welcome. And let me apologize in advance for those moments when we at LTG revert to geezerhood and treat you like one of the guys. :wink:

Hans Moust, who is a frequent poster here, is the author of The Guild Guitar Book. He is working on Volume II which will cover the 1980's and beyond. Depending on context "volume I" is "the bible" or "the old testament" with the forthcoming volume being "the new testament". In the opinion of most of the posters here, it is the only reliable source for Guild information. The other works that touch on the subject don't go into as much depth and seem to rely upon catalog listings a bit more than is safe.

And since you've met Grot, I'm sure he'd like to invite you over here to check out his Guilds.

 

[hansmoust]

Hello,

my name is Sarah and I live in SoCal. I've been playing guitar since I was 17. One of my first guitars was a 1962 Guild solid body electric that was stolen many years ago. I still miss that guitar! Recently I was very lucky while visiting my roommates parents. I was playing my Guild JF30 and her dad was really getting into the music. Then he told me that he had a Guild that he bought in 1962 when he decided to take lessons. He gave up on the lessons and put the guitar in a closet. It's been there since 1962. He said he wanted to sell it and asked if I would be interested. Well, duh! He brought it out and it turned out to be a 1961 Guild X-50 and still looks brand new. There is not a scratch on this thing and everything is still shiny! He had it in the original hardshell case which also looks brand new. In the little compartment is the original chord he bought to plug it into an amp. I'm definately going to buy it from him as soon as I figure out what it is worth. Any feedback on that will be greatly appreciated.

Hello Sarah,

Welcome! Not sure what would be the best way to go about buying that Guild X-50, so that both the current owner and you come out fine, but maybe you can try this:
Tell him that you're willing to pay him double what he payed for it in 1962. Just see what his reaction is. If he agrees I will make sure that you get a scan of the 1962 catalog that will show the price.

Good luck!

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Default]

<waves>

Pretty guitar!
What price range are you looking in for a guitar?

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Grot - $2000 for a T-50?!? It would have to be very old, and 100% mint to fetch that kind of money!

Well maybe I did get a little carried away but it's an X-50, not a T-50 and have you seen the pictures Sarah posted? Mint!

 

[capnjuan]

Hi Sarah and welcome to LTG! CJ

 

[Sarah93003]

Thank you Michael for the information. That is exactly the sort of feed back I am looking for. I will research the guitars that you mentioned.

Thank you Walter. The guitar that I have is a 1961 X-50 and it is absolutely in mint condition. Even the white plastic cover on the pickup still looks snow white as this thing has not seen daylight in many years.

Hi fronobulax, thank you for the information on the book. I will look for it right away. I don’t mind being treated like one of the guys. Even though I’m certainly a girly-girl, I play pretty rough. You should see me on my motorcycle! I ride a 1983 Suzuki GR650 Tempter, which is a bit of a rarity in the U.S. I can keep up with the guys through the mountain passes, here in California, and when I go through Santa Monica I always stand up on the pegs to check out the surfer boys. Believe me, I got lots of woot-woots when I do that. Anyway, I totally get the guitar porn, which is why I posted a full frontal nude shot of my X-50. :lol: I am really glad I found this forum and I think I will learn so much about these wonderful guitars.

By the way, being originally from Arkansas I am totally bilingual, I speak English and Southern!


Hans, thank you very much. I went to your link and now I know what book everyone talks about. I will definitely put that on my shopping list. The guitar that I have is a 1961 Guild X-50, serial number 17176. It is the shiniest guitar I’ve ever seen, which is amazing considering it’s age. I will also be buying it for it’s sentimental value as the man who owns it is a friend in his late seventies. Since he was the original owner and I know the story behind the guitar I just feel like I would like to have it and keep it in it’s pristine condition. So far, it looks to me like they sell for $650-$750 on eBay. He said he paid about $150 for it brand new. I’ll show him what I found and see what he would like for it. I would love any scans of original literature that you have for this guitar. I would put them in plastic sleeves and keep with the guitar.

Hi Default and thank you. I think I’ll offer $700 and see what he says. Ultimately, I’ll give him what he asks for because he could really use the money and I want to add the X-50 to my collection.

Thank you “capnjuan”. I love your movie by the way. We watch it often. Do you look anything like Kurt Russell? :wink:

 

[capnjuan]

Thank you “capnjuan”. I love your movie by the way. We watch it often. Do you look anything like Kurt Russell? :wink:

Thanks Sarah; still waiting for my next script ... of course in Florida the rank of Captain is pretty informal ... earned by piloting this Chris Craft

and then this Tiara ...

and finally this North Coast...

recent pic ... some people say I look like hideglue ... one of our BBers

Welcome and best wishes! CJ

 

[jp]

Hi Sarah,
Hope you have luck with the X-50. A beautiful example. Last year I sold a 1959 T-100D in similar condition. It looked like it was picked up about 20 times. It made me so nervous that I had to sell it. A Starfire III from 1961-64 is a good choice for rockabilly. They most often came with white-topped Dearmond Dynasonic single coils and a Bigsby. Other great choices are the fuller bodied archtops that came with the single coil Franz pickups, just like the one on the X-50. CE-100s, X-150s, or X-175s all fit the bill, though many came without Bigsbys. The T-100 which shares the same body dimensions as the Starfire (laminated maple top and body) were also available with Franz as well as a host of other pickups. Hans's book will definitely give you some guidance.

BTW: Does the case for the X-50 happen to be arched top, brown faux alligator, and pressed chipboard? It looks very similar to the original case I had with my first T-100. No one has ever been able to verify if it was an original Guild case or not. Just wonderin'. . .

An Arkansas gal, huh? Ever been to the King Biscuit Blues Festival (not the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival)?

Wow, a Tempter, Suzuki's hi-tech answer to the Brit Twin. Those are pretty rare. The last bike I had was a classic '73 CB750, but I sold it in the post-kid years. My wife just got here endorsement last year, so I'm eyeballin' bikes again.

Glad to have you here, and welcome to LTG.

 

[AlohaJoe]

Welcome to the forum. That X50 is a total beauty :shock: ... I'm so drooling!

 

[Default]

By the way, being originally from Arkansas I am totally bilingual, I speak English and Yankee!

Fixed that for you.

 

[danerectal]

Welcome. I have no input as I've only played a couple semi-hollow SFIVs and an SFIII. What a great reason to buy a Guild, though.

 

[Dr. Spivey]

Howdy Sarah, welcome to LTG. The electroshock therapy is optional. Nice guitars. Later, tater. 8)

 

[Guilderagain]

Hi Sarah and welcome.

Boy, that's a really nice closet queen! Go for it and have fun playing!

Alex

 

[Sarah93003]

CJ, those are very nice pictures! I don’t know what hideglue is but your workout is definitely doing the trick!


JP, thank you. I’m beginning to think the Starfire III just might be the next one. I need to figure out how to identify pickups when I see them. They all look alike to me except for color. They case that came with the X-50 is chipboard I guess. It is brown but very simple and thin. It is in great condition however with no loose stitches or anything. I’m not familiar with King Biscuit. Although, biscuits and gravy are still my favorite! I do love riding my Tempter. It is quick and very nimble which makes it easy to impress the guys.

Joe, thank you very much. I am really enjoying playing this old Guild although it isn’t the quality that I’m used to. I still like it and think it’s a keeper.

Dane, Dr. Spivey, and Guilderagain thank you. I am very much enjoying this forum already. Everyone has been so friendly!

 

[coastie99]

Welcome to the maelstrom Sarah, from Newsyland.

There's lots of great company to enjoy here, and a wealth of knowledge to tap in to. And a fair bit of silliness ........ I'm surprised Graham and JerryR haven't stopped by already !!

Enjoy.