TWO Vintage Guild guitar aluminium BRIDGES 1960's? Starfire? Duane Eddy?

[Rockednrolled]

I really don't know much about these old Guild aluminium metal bridges but I found two of them in a box FULL of old guitar parts. I don't know what models they are for or even exactly which years they appeared on Guild guitars but I'm certain that folks looking at this posting will know. That said, I believe these date back to the 1960's and may have been for Bigsby equipped Guild guitars from that era but I welcome any informed corrections.

The two metal bridges look identical but there are VERY slight differences as evidenced in the pictures below. Bridge #1 is fractionally smaller and on the underside of the saddle is stamped Guild Spec. I've seen these listed on the Bay for $200 so I'm hoping my more reasonable prices for these two bridges will appeal to the good folks on this Forum?

Bridge #1...$125 + shipping.

Bridge #2...$100 + shipping.

 

[Rockednrolled]

Since no one has chimed in to buy these old aluminium bridges as yet, I'd like to know if I'm on track identifying these two bridges by decade (1960's) and by models they were used on? Any help would be appreciated including whether they are priced right and reasonable since I've seen them listed for twice my asking price (which doesn't always mean much!)?

 

[bobouz]

I don't know the overall history of these bridges, but the late '90s Starfire III came stock with an aluminum bridge and a Bigsby.

I've got a '97 Starfire III, converted to a harp tailpiece, with the aluminum bridge.

 

[Rockednrolled]

I don't know the overall history of these bridges, but the late '90s Starfire III came stock with an aluminum bridge and a Bigsby.

I've got a '97 Starfire III, converted to a harp tailpiece, with the aluminum bridge.

Thanks for weighing in but I'm fairly certain that these date back to the 1960's as they came in a box with 1950's and 1960's tuners.

 

[adorshki]

Thanks for weighing in but I'm fairly certain that these date back to the 1960's as they came in a box with 1950's and 1960's tuners.

Best person to ask is Hans Moust who wrote the Guild Guitar Book.
http://www.guitarchives.nl/guitarsgalore/
I'd put very little stock in the fact they came in a box with other pieces from that era unless you were certain the box itself had been in storage for that long.

 

[Nuuska]

Hello

My ex 1963 DE400 had a bridge like that - so probably they are made for decades.
What extra value - if any - is in the year of making, if it is exactly the same product?
And if they had come along in a box dated 1910 with Martin or Gibson parts . . .
Do they include proven DNA of some known guitar players like Chet Atkins or ???

WHAT - am I mean???

 

[adorshki]

Hello

My ex 1963 DE400 had a bridge like that - so probably they are made for decades.
What extra value - if any - is in the year of making, if it is exactly the same product?

GOOD question!

And if they had come along in a box dated 1910 with Martin or Gibson parts . . .
Do they include proven DNA of some known guitar players like Chet Atkins or ???

WHAT - am I mean???

Well at least a little more expressive than Hans at his best:
OP: "Are these genuine Guild parts from the '60's?"
Hans: "No" (or "Yes", as the case may be)
:glee:

 

[Walter Broes]

They're what guild used on Bigsby equipped guitars. My '61 SFIII came with one, marked "Guild Spec" too. I don't like the sound of them all that much, they thin out the low end of a guitar a little, and the unwound strings can get a little "plinky". Also, they're compensated for a wound G string. I don't know what these tend to go for when they sell, but except maybe someone wanting all the parts a vintage Guild with a Bigsby came with, they're not all that popular.

 

[GAD]

This was my '97 Starfire III. Bridge is very similar, wound 3rd and all:

 

[Nuuska]

https://www.amazon.com/Bigsby-BIG-BR-CHR-BIGSBY-BRIDGE-STAINLESS/dp/B0006ZRMX2 - under 40USD

And more on topic here - http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/showthread.php?164849-What-s-a-quot-Guild-Spec-quot-Bigsby-bridge

 

[Walter Broes]

GAD, Nuuska, the 60's Bigsby bridges àre different than later/current ones - the base and the saddle are "chunkier", thicker.

 

[Rockednrolled]

https://www.amazon.com/Bigsby-BIG-BR-CHR-BIGSBY-BRIDGE-STAINLESS/dp/B0006ZRMX2 - under 40USD

And more on topic here - http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/showthread.php?164849-What-s-a-quot-Guild-Spec-quot-Bigsby-bridge

Thanks Nuuska for posting that link to answers previously posted by Hans on this topic. Based on his responses it now seems abundantly clear that the "Guild Spec" bridge is certainly from the 1960's and was made especially for Guild for Bigsby equipped models. It was intended for a wound 3rd string. It is NOT to be confused with the modern (late '90's) "Guild Special" bridge which was designed for a unwound/plain 3rd.

The other parts in the box that these came from were all from the 1950's & '60's and included several old Guild tuners...the Kolb tuners with the engraved gear covers...which I still have.

 

[Rockednrolled]

I wanted to give this post a final bump for the good folks on this Forum to consider buying before moving on and posting it on the Bay where they will surely sell quickly. Also if someone sees this and is interested in the old engraved Kolb tuners, PM me!

 

[Rockednrolled]

Let's give this one a bump before trying for a wider audience on the Bay. Just thought Guild enthusiasts would appreciate the first shot?