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Warren;
That is one great guitar. I love Guilds - they have an Epiphone play/
feel. Guild started in NY ('52/'53) and the workforce included many of
Epiphones finest craftsman who didn't want to relocate when Epiphone
moved operations to Phila.(?). The body shapes/ designs and neck
profile matches those of the Epi's from the same period. The guitar
you have is their top of the line archtop and is from their New
Hampshire production period - small operation = more care/ hands on
construction. Vintage "market price" on your guitar is around $5000,
probably more. I would advise not selling it unless, of course, you
just don't like it - it would be one of those "kick yourself in the
butt" memories you'd look back on.
You are correct on the plywood guitar observation. (I'd highly
recommend the Epiphone Elitist series Broadway if you're looking for a
professional quality gigging electric archtop that is every bit
comparable to a Gibson L5 but for 1/4 the price - I AB'd them.)
If interested: I've got a couple pics of some of my guitars at <<
http://homepage.mac.com/pmimlitsch/PhotoAlbum12.html >>
The '30's Epiphone Emperor (gibson/epi reissue - 1992) is my main
gigging guitar for solo/ small ensemble gigs. (I did put an Armstrong
floating pickup on the pickguard since the photo was taken.)
Thanks for chatting. Take care. - Paul
On May 4, 2006, at 7:59 AM, Warren Sirota wrote:
> Thanks for asking about the guitar.
>
> It's not "super"-vintage, but it's a 1978 tobacco sunburst Guild Artist
> Award that I picked up about 10 years ago - gorgeous guitar, carved
> top,
> etc. If I have my history right, it's a "pre-Fender Guild", for
> whatever
> that's worth. Someone told me they thought it might be a "New Hampshire
> Guild", which apparently is some special thing that I can't seem to
> track
> down, but I don't know. I didn't include a picture here because of the
> chronic bandwidth complaints, but there's one on the home page at
> www.warrensirota.com. That's me playing it when I still had (some)
> hair.
>
>
> It's a great guitar, but, when I'm totally unsentimental about it, I'm
> not
> convinced that you couldn't get a plywood-top guitar that sounds just
> as
> good amplified (acoustic is another story) for half the price. OTOH,
> plywood-top archtops seem to be rather overpriced themselves these
> days (I
> had a Gibson ES 175 that I got used in '76 or so for $600 and sold in
> about
> 1988 or 90 to a music store for about the same amt - I can't believe
> what
> those decent-but-hardly-stellar guitars are going for now. Mine only
> had one
> pickup and hardly any "bite", so I'm sure the 2-pickup models have a
> better
> sound and are worth more. Still.... over $3K new? Seems over the top
> to me).
>
>
> Every time I mentally try on the idea of selling the Guild, something
> inside
> rebels (especially since I'm doing regular jazz gigs once again). But,
> I
> could probably pick up a good used plywood-top archtop (like maybe a
> Gretsch
> Bryan Setzer?) *and* a Selmer clone, *and* a Tele and still have money
> left
> over from what this guitar would fetch, so I think about that
> possibility.
> And, actually, I would like to get a better soldbody MIDI controller
> than my
> current one (an excellent guitar made from Warmouth and other parts,
> but not
> a great controller).
>
> Of course, getting all these guitars doesn't do anything for the real
> issue,
> which is having the time to master the styles that they're made for
> and a
> context in which to use them!
>
> There's just so much money that I can keep in equipment stock at any
> time -
> sometimes tough choices must be made. (Although, vintage guitars are a
> better investment vehicle than many others, so maybe I should just try
> and
> persuade my wife that guitars are important retirement investments,
> and we
> should put as much money as we can into the best instruments possible.
> Yeah,
> that's the ticket...)
>
> Right now, since I'm gigging, I'll probably just put some gig money
> into
> giving the Guild a top-notch fret job (it's ready), and then maybe I'll
> start saving for the next instrument. Given where I'm going with
> looping
> right now, that instrument will probably be a solidbody MIDI
> controller to
> complement my nylon-string controller. I'm predisposed toward getting
> one of
> the Godins, since I really like my nylon-string, but I'm going to have
> to
> research Tele-style MIDI controllers too (don't think I've seen one
> yet, but
> I'm sure they must be available. Maybe even from Fender). Given the
> gig rate
> at present, it'll probably be close to the end of the year before I
> actually
> spring for one, unless an unforseen windfall occurs.
>
> Best wishes,
> Warren Sirota
>