Opinions on the A-150?

[nmiller]

I'm interested in a 1960 A-150B with a factory DeArmond. I'm looking for a reasonably loud guitar for use with strumming and soloing; unfortunately this one's across the country and I can't try it out in person.

Does anyone have experience with this model? Is $2500 a reasonable price for one in excellent condition?

I'm also looking at a 1961 CA-100 (sunburst no pickup) at $1850. Is there any difference between these models aside from the cutaway?

Thanks!

 

[Steve Hoffman]

Those seem to be very high prices. You have your heart set on an A-150?

 

[nmiller]

I'm not set on any particular model, Guild or otherwise. I'm just looking for a new acoustic, and I really liked the neck on a 1959 T-100D I had, so I thought I'd see what the word was on these two guitars. The prices are in line with blue books, which are usually well below market value (though not always, I realize). There are so few of either model out there that pricing them is difficult, but if these are priced too high then I'd like to know.

 

[Steve Hoffman]

I liked your website, by the way.

When you say you want a new acoustic, you mean an ARCHTOP acoustic, correct? 'Cause (as I'm sure you know) the Savoy won't strum like a flat-top..

So, the Guild world is a small one and I know exactly which A-150 you are talking about. It's in California, up by San Francisco. It's a nice guitar, but it's problematic. First of all, look at the neck, by the heel. See, it's all rubbed away, big time bad. Not right for a guitar called "NEAR MINT", is it?

Secondly, would you want to buy a guitar from a guy who leans probably a one of a kind guitar up against a tree to take pictures? Really, use a blanket, dude!

The neck issue is probably what has stopped countless Guild fans from buying this guitar. However, if you still want it, I bet you could shave five hundred bucks off the price.

Pretty front though, isn't it?

 

[Smiert Spionam]

I'd be surprised if a CA-100 is a very satisfying acoustic instrument. Just not enough air in that small box to satisfy my ears -- likely doubly so if you're looking for something loud for strumming (which wouldn't lead me to an archtop, anyway). Admittedly, I've never played a CA-100, though I've played lots of CE-100s (and owned a couple). I'd bet a nickel that an A-150 will be a much more satisfying acoustic.

The one in question looks awfully pretty, though I too would be curious about the heel. Not sure what to make of that. Hans may have an opinion.

The biggest question, though, is whether you really want an archtop.

 

[AlohaJoe]

I've seen this one too: http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/msg/1826707210.html

He's had it for sale for a while and just dropped the price. the top has been re-finned. I would expect the A150 (in Tiburon) to be a bit louder than the CA, but the few Guild acoustic archtops I've played were not among the loudest acoustic archtops out there. If loud is a major consideration, I think the prize would go to older full-size Gibsons and (pre-Guild) Epiphone's. By the time Guild came along (and absorbed a number of the Epiphone craftsmen) the Big Band Era was already over and volume was no longer as big an issue as it was when acoustic archtops were trying to be heard in the rhythm section of a big band.

The Guilds are very cool and plenty loud enough for sitting around or campfire jams etc. and have a pleasant tone IMO. They're a nice volume for singing over. The A150s were fully carved-top guitars and the one you're looking at is very clean... the pickup on that one is the bees knees. Of the two, I like the A150 and I wish it lived at my house. But an old 17" Epi Triumph will be a little louder.

First of all, look at the neck, by the heel. See, it's all rubbed away, big time bad. Not right for a guitar called "NEAR MINT", is it? Secondly, would you want to buy a guitar from a guy who leans probably a one of a kind guitar up against a tree to take pictures? Really, use a blanket, dude! The neck issue is probably what has stopped countless Guild fans from buying this guitar.

I think the area on the neck is a reflection, but call Eric and ask him for better pictures of that area. If anything has slowed potential buyers it's the price. It's high, but IMO if the guitar is as nice as it looks, not unreasonable. Most people who play and/or collect acoustic archtops (a fairly small club already) are looking for old Gibsons and Epis, so the vintage acoustic archtop Guild market is small. The fact that he's had that guitar there for a while should be no surprise.
- jw
ps - You wouldn't buy a guitar that had been leaned against a tree? :shock:

 

[Steve Hoffman]

Leaning a guitar against a tree...

Well, leaning a 50 year old lacquered guitar neck up against a tree is something I wouldn't ever do if I wanted to sell a guitar. Why scratch or scuff such a vulnerable point? I mean, if you were going to take a picture of your rare first pressing Sgt. Pepper Beatles' Parlophone UK album would you lean the vinyl record up against a tree if you wanted to sell it? Or lay it down on grass or something?

Guy just wasn't thinking. Collectors get pissed off at that sort of thing and who else is going to buy this SAVOY? :shock:

I just bought a NOS 1958 A-350 STRATFORD from a guitar store in NJ and if the guy had taken pictures with it propped up against a tree without any cushion in-between I would have passed. If anyone is going to mess it up, it's gonna be me, darn it..

Anyway, that's not a reflection on the neck, it's scuffed, big time there.

 

[nmiller]

Thanks for the input, everyone. If they're not so loud, maybe I'll look elsewhere.

I think leaning guitars against trees is a fad these days; I've seen in on a number of dealers' sites. I don't really care about the scenery one way or another, but I can't fathom why leaning it against a tree should damage it any more than leaving it in a guitar stand. If the finish is that fragile, the guitar was never worth buying to begin with.

 

[Smiert Spionam]

I don't see anything on that A150B that looks like a major scuff. It's gorgeous. I thought you were talking about the lop-sided heel. I doubt that's anything to be concerned about, but it's the first Guild archtop heel I've seen like that. There may be lots of them, though.

Eric Schoenberg has probably forgotten more than most of us will ever know about caring for vintage guitars. I have no problems with him leaning a guitar against a tree for a photograph.