Vintage Guild acoustic bass

[Ginridge]

Hi Folks,

My first time on the forum. I have been asked to help sell the instruments of a friend of mine who recently passed away. Among his collections is an early Guild Acoustic Bass, SR # BA100039. According to Gruhn's book, the serial number dates to 1981. If I am interpreting the number correctly (and it's difficult to locate info on Guild Acoustic Basses online) that would make it the 39th acoustic bass Guild made, but it is unclear if I've got that right. It is in excellent condition with only minor lacquer checking and an couple small finish dings.

I'd love to track down any info about these instruments, particularly production dates and SR #s. The Gruhn'sbook I have is relatively early and only lists serial numbers for Guild, not any information at all about models and production runs. I don't recall seeing a label with a model number, but I'm emailing the owner to see if she can find anything. Does anybody know where I might find a model number on one of these?

Thanks very much!

 

[Minnesota Flats]

Model B50?

Looks to be in great shape (judging by the PICs) and the split bridge is a bonus, I should think.

 

[hansmoust]

My first time on the forum. I have been asked to helop sell the instruments of a friend of mine who recently passed away. Among his collections is an early Guild Acoustic Bass, SR # BA100039. According to Gruhn's book, the serial number dates to 1981. If I am interpreting the number correctly (and it's difficult to locate info on Guild Acoustic Basses online) that would make it the 39th acoustic bass Guild made, but it is unclear if I've got that right.

Hello Ginridge,

Welcome! Sorry to hear about your friend. That particular B-50 with serial # BA100039 was completed during the year 1980 and it was the 39th B-50 since the introduction of the then 'new' serial number system during 1979. However the model B-50 was already introduced during the year 1975 and between that year and 1979 no totals for individual models were kept; actually, that was the reason for the introduction of the 'new' serial number system.

Good luck with the selling.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[Ginridge]

Thanks very much for the info. The new numbering system explains the confusion on the internet about these. Any thoughts on potential value?

 

[fronobulax]

Welcome.

Model number is often on the label in the soundhole, along with the serial number, which should match the one stamped on the back of the headstock.

Value is always an interesting question.

https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=Guild B50&show_only_sold=true shows some of the sold listings on Reverb. They range from $899 to $2299.99. I never remember whether Reverb lists the actual sale price or merely the price that was listed when the seller reported the instrument sold. I think the latter, if only because that would justify my sense that $2,300 is high.

My gut says $1,000-$1,500 but if a buyer does the same Reverb query $1,800 shouldn't scare them off.

On a practical basis a B50 will compete with a Guild B30. They are very similar and some people would be happy with either. So you might want to check B30 prices as well.

Shipping can be expensive. People with connections and access to corporate discounts have reported the best they can do for something as big as a cased B50 is $100 and shippers who don't work to get a good price have been quoted twice as much.

The fear some buyers have of a B50 is that it needs a neck reset. That can be $400 if you know someone local but $1,000 including round trip shipping would not be completely outrageous. Most serious buyers will ask you to take some measurements and adjust their offer if they think they will have to get a neck reset done. Hopefully, since you cited "Gruhn" you are enough of a player to "understand" neck resets, but if not we can help.

 

[Ginridge]

Thanks very much for the info fronobulax! I sell on Reverb myself, and sadly, they only report the listed price, not the actual sold price... something I find disappointing. I've inspected the instrument and played it a bit and I can say it does not need a neck re-set (I restore vintage instruments as a sideline and do a lot of those so I'm confident in my assessment). My gut feeling is that you are in the right ball park with your 1k-1500 price. The seller isn't focused on getting the highest price possible, but I do want her to get a reasonable street value.

 

[mellowgerman]

Yup, I think Frono is spot on with the $1000-1500 range. I've debated adding one of these to the collection on a few occasions, so I've done quite a bit of B-50 watching, aside from my usual Guild bass market monitoring. They're amazing instruments. One of the few that can actually hold its own in a straight acoustic mix. I'm sure if you can get it in the hands of a local player interested in an acoustic bass, they will fall in love with it. Good luck with the sale and my sympathies to you and the widow in light of the loss!

 

[fronobulax]

If you need to be pure acoustic and are not going to mic or amplify the bass the B50 is about as loud as you are going to get. The next step is a double bass or a boutique instrument. Hopefully you will find a buyer who knows that and has been looking.

 

[Ginridge]

Thanks very much, Mellowgerman!