Vintage Guitars
GUILD | ACOUSTIC

Guild Acoustic Guitar List

Flat top jumbo, dreadnaught and classic guitars manufactured by Guild

Guild flat-top acoustic guitars

Guild D-25 Bluegrass
Guild D-35 Bluegrass
Guild D-40 Bluegrass Jubilee
Guild D-44 Bluegrass Jubilee
Guild D-50 Bluegrass Special
Guild D-55 TV Model
Guild F-20 Troubadour
Guild F-30 Aragon
Guild F-40 Valencia
Guild F-47 Bluegrass
Guild F-50 Navarre
Guild F-112 12 string
Guild F-212 12 string
Guild F-312 12 string
Guild F-412 12 string
Guild F-512 12 string
Guild M-20 Economy

Arch top acoustics

Guild A-50 Cordoba
Guild CA-100 Capri
Guild A-150 Savoy
Guild A-350 Stratford
Guild A-500 Stuart

Classic acoustics

Classic Mark I
Classic Mark II
Classic Mark III
Classic Mark IV
Classic Mark V
Classic Mark VI
Classic Mark VI Artist Special


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Guild Acoustic guitars for sale

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Vintage 1974 Guild D25 M Arch Back Acoustic Guitar Mahogany w /  Org. Hard Case

Vintage 1974 Guild D25 M Arch Back Acoustic Guitar Mahogany w / Org. Hard Case

Adamstown, Pennsylvania, 195**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1099

Estate find! This is a beautiful Vintage 1974 Guild D25 M Arch Back Mahogany Acoustic Guitar with its Original Hard Case. This is a right-handed 6-string guitar. It is in just beautiful, fantastic condition, the action is great and sounds even better. The only thing I could find wrong with this guitar is that there are a couple of light surface scratches on the right side, upper front, almost directly across from the sound hole. They were very hard to photograph and hardly noticeable (see last ... more
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Guild D-40 NT Special Dreadnought Westerly RI w / OHSC & Docs - 1980

Guild D-40 NT Special Dreadnought Westerly RI w / OHSC & Docs - 1980

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, 838**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2000

Northwest Vintage Guitars presents a super clean Guild D-40 NT Special Dreadnought in the original hard case and a ton of documents   This one has a great neck set and plays great with excellent action and great saddle height   These feature a premium solid Sitka Spruce top, solid Mahogany back and sides, and scalloped Adirondack Spruce bracing   Known as the "Bluegrass Jubilee, " this one has a bold voice that projects very well with a defined low end and great balance   One of the best ... more
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1972 guild d44 maple bodied dreadnought

1972 guild d44 maple bodied dreadnought

Fallon, Nevada, 894**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1500

See condition... more
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1978 Guild D-55 Vintage Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Near-Mint w /  Case,

1978 Guild D-55 Vintage Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Near-Mint w / Case,

Stamford, Connecticut, 069**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4500

I bought this new with the original excellent Guild case. Over the years this top of the line guitar was not used very much. I played it mostly when my son was a baby and young child. He liked when he was in his room and I sat and played a few songs for him. But given my busy schedule I didn't get to play this guitar very much over the years. For me this is a sad thing. Therefore this guitar is in excellent condition. So today I'm thinking that this great vintage guitar should go to someone that... more
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Guitarra Madeira By Guild

Guitarra Madeira By Guild

New York, 100**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$550

Esta guitarra esta en excelente condición para la persona que andan buscando una guitarra clásica que suene bien, tremendo sonido acústico, nunca se has reparado
... more
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1972 Guild acoustic guitar used vintage

1972 Guild acoustic guitar used vintage

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3000

One owner vintage acoustic guitar, big body, frets and neck in excellent condition, minor dings on top, professionally repaired crack on body but otherwise in very good condition. Incredible tone as expected for a guitar of this vintage.... more
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Guild F212 NT 1975 Vintage 12 String Electric Guitar w / Hard Case

Guild F212 NT 1975 Vintage 12 String Electric Guitar w / Hard Case

Bronx, New York, 104**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1400

Vintage Guild F-212 NT 12-string acoustic guitar, made in the USA during the Westerly, Rhode Island era (late 1970s)
This is a classic jumbo 12-string known for its rich tone, strong projection, and full sound. Guild 12-strings from this period are highly regarded for their build quality and presence
Condition:
* Structurally solid and plays well
* Neck appears straight and stable
* Normal cosmetic wear consistent with age
* Visible finish wear on the top near the pickguard ... more
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1978 Guild G-37 Blonde USA Westerly Acoustic Guitar w /  Fishman Pickup + OHSC

1978 Guild G-37 Blonde USA Westerly Acoustic Guitar w / Fishman Pickup + OHSC

Agoura Hills, California, 913**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1495

Up for sale is a beautiful vintage Guild G-37 Blonde from 1978, built in Westerly, Rhode Island??widely regarded as one of Guild??s best eras for quality and consistency

This is a fantastic player??s vintage dreadnought, featuring maple back and sides which give it a more focused, clear tone compared to the typical rosewood boom. It records extremely well and sits nicely in a mix??great for songwriting, studio work, or live use

?? Features:

* Solid spruce ... more
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VINTAGE 1976 Madeira / Guild A-2 Acoustic Dreadnought 000 Size!

VINTAGE 1976 Madeira / Guild A-2 Acoustic Dreadnought 000 Size!

Marysville, Washington, 982**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$250

Vintage 1976 Guild Madeira Model A-2 Acoustic Guitar 000 Martin Copy Made in Japan. This beautiful guitar has a 000 Martin sized and styled body and appears to be mahogany laminate with a solid spruce top. It has a 1 3 / 4" nut, 14 frets to the body. Unusual adjustable bridge
The tuners are open backed. The neck appears to be Mahogany. The head stock has the old Martin round cornered shape with Madeira in mother of pearl along the top of the face plate. The face plate is black lacquer so ... more
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1988 Guild D-60 NT Vintage Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar w /  Case, Westerly

1988 Guild D-60 NT Vintage Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar w / Case, Westerly

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4700

Up for sale, a 1988 Guild D-60 in near-mint condition, complete with the original hardshell case. The premiere Guild dreadnought model during its short production window (1987-90) at the Westerly, RI factory, the D-60 was also manufactured in limited quantities, with just over 300 made across its production run. Most prominently associated with Johnny Cash, a Sunburst-finished D-60 was used extensively by Cash towards the end of his career. The D-60 is also notable for being one of the last ... more
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Guild F-40 1975 - Blonde

Guild F-40 1975 - Blonde

Longmont, Colorado, 805**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2300

A fantastic sounding Guild F-40 from 1975. There is a bit of body wear that can be seen in the pictures, and a crack that is running along the pickguard however that doesn't diminish the guitars great sound. Not pictured, but it does have a hard shell case. The blonde finish is gorgeous, and the instrument has only gotten better with age.... more
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1978 Guild D-55 Vintage Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Near-Mint w /  Case,

1978 Guild D-55 Vintage Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Near-Mint w / Case,

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4500

Up for sale, a 1978 Guild D-55 NT in near-mint condition, complete with the original hardshell case. Crafted at the Westerly, RI factory, this iteration of Guild??s flagship acoustic boasts all the classic features of this premiere dreadnought. This D-55 benefits from the work due an instrument of its vintage including a professional neck reset complete with compensated bone saddle.
Tonewoods include an X-braced Sitka spruce top, Indian rosewood back / sides, two-piece mahogany neck, and ... more
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1979 Guild D-35NT Natural Dreadnought Acoustic w / OHSC

1979 Guild D-35NT Natural Dreadnought Acoustic w / OHSC

San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1795

1979 Guild D-35NT Natural Dreadnought Acoustic w / OHSC
This Guitar Is In Very Good Condition With Some Play Wear Visible Throughout, Mostly Some Small Aesthetic Dings In The Body (See Photos)
Located At Imperial Vintage Guitars Orange
Solid Sitka Spruce Top With Solid Mahogany Back And Sides
Mahogany Neck With Rosewood Fingerboard
Rosewood Bridge With Plenty Of Room Left On The Saddle To Lower If Desired
Original Frets Are In Very Good Condition With Plenty Of Life ... more
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Guild D35NT Acoustic Guitar Dreadnought 1972

Guild D35NT Acoustic Guitar Dreadnought 1972

Utica, New York, 135**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$800

Great playing and sounding vintage guild. Could use some tlc but plays nicely and sounds great. Has a few open humidity cracks on the top and one open crack on back. Tuners were changed to kluson style grover deluxes. Truss rod works well. Frets are in decent shape but first few show wear. Pickguard was changed to a wooden of the same shape. Bridge has what looks to be a repaired crack. Nice action. Slight hump on neck at high frets causes some slight fretting out around 13th and upward. I have ... more
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1975 Guild USA G-41 JUMBO Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar w Original Case HUGE

1975 Guild USA G-41 JUMBO Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar w Original Case HUGE

Lee's Summit, Missouri, 640**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1499

1975 Guild USA G-41 JUMBO Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar w Original Case HUGE SOUND!

Here is a really unique and hard-to-find 1975 Guild G-41 in Natural finish, built at the fabled Westerly, Rhode Island factory during one of Guild's most respected eras.
The G-41 is a somewhat overlooked model today, but those who ... more
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Guild D50 Dreadnought Acoustic Solid Spruce Westerly RI - 1973

Guild D50 Dreadnought Acoustic Solid Spruce Westerly RI - 1973

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, 838**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2700

Northwest Vintage Guitars presents a cannon of a 1973 Guild D-50 built in Westerly Rhode Island and in great playing condition   Our Luthier has crafted a new bridge, a new saddle, leveled, crowned, and dressed the frets to a high polish, reglued the neck block and gave it his blessings   It has been re-fretted before and there's a ton of life left   The crown inlay on the headstock has been replaced   It's a great playing cannon of a dreadnought that has that great sturdy and venerable ... more
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Vintage Guild Mark II Classical Guitar (Serial: CB2718) with Guild HS Case

Vintage Guild Mark II Classical Guitar (Serial: CB2718) with Guild HS Case

Harrisonville, Missouri, 647**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$595

Vintage Guild Mark II Classical Guitar (Serial: CB2718) with Guild HS Case






Description
For sale is a vintage, Hoboken-made Guild Mark II classical guitar (Serial Number: CB2718), complete with its original, fully functional Guild hardshell case
Crafted in Guild??s legendary Hoboken, New Jersey facility, this vintage Guild Mark II (Serial #CB2718) blends rich nylon-string tone with timeless American craftsmanship. It is in highly playable condition, ... more
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1965 Guild X-50 Cordoba

1965 Guild X-50 Cordoba

Bayville, New Jersey, 087**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1750

1965 Guild X-50 Cordoba
The full body (2 7 / 8" deep) Guild X-50 and it's thinner body (2 " ) companion model T-50 were both given the name Guild Cordoba - with the only difference being this body depth (The T-50 was referred to as Cordoba "slim " ). Actually the X-50 started life in 1954 as the Guild Granada, changing to Cordoba around about the time the thinline T-50 was introduced. The X-50 could also be considered a non-cutaway version of the Guild Capri CE-100
The Guild Cordoba X-50 ... more
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1980 Guild D35 NT 6 String Acoustic Guitar USA

1980 Guild D35 NT 6 String Acoustic Guitar USA

Norwalk, California, 906**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$783

1980 Guild D35 NT 6 String Acoustic Guitar USAUsed with minor visible scuffs and scratches. The bridge is slightly detaching (pictured) No case Please view pictures for details of condition Fast Shipping(You will be shipped exact item pictured)... more
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1972 GUILD D-40 BLUEGRASS JUBILEE DREADNOUGHT ACOUSTIC needs love

1972 GUILD D-40 BLUEGRASS JUBILEE DREADNOUGHT ACOUSTIC needs love

Hopewell, New Jersey, 085**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1375

1972 GUILD D-40 BLUEGRASS JUBILEE DREADNOUGHT ACOUSTIC IN NATURAL

This guitar deserves a second chance and will sound beautiful once setup.
This guitar needs a neck reset and the truss rod works great. The neck slopes down a bit where it meets the body and the Brazilian rosewood? fingerboard separates slightly as it needs a neck reset. There are 2 hairline cracks on the top by the pickguard and they do not go thru the wood. No strap pins and the end hole for the strap pin has a ... more
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Find more Guild Acoustic guitars for sale at vintageguitarsforsale.co

There are 2 comments on this article so far. Add your comment

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Robert Faust Comment left 31st January 2015 07:07:25 reply
I have a a 38 yr old Guild F 512NT that is in superb condition. How much is it worth and how much could i expect to sell it for? Your reply would be greatly appriciated.
Don Comment left 10th January 2013 08:08:15 reply
Trying to find the current value of my Guild D25M acoustic guitar. Purchased new in the '70's. Ser. # is 190960. Any assistance offered would be sincerely appreciated.

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1973 Hagstrom Swede Bass

1973 Hagstrom Swede Bass The Hagstrom Swede bass, or model HB 903, was only built in small numbers: just 1479 basses shipped between 1971 and 1976. Unlike the current range of Hagstrom guitars, the 1950s-1980s Hagstroms were built in Sweden. This example comes from 1973 and is pretty typical: translucent cherry finish, mahogany body, mahogany neck with an ebony fretboard. It's a really nice bass, beautifully appointed with a very wide tonal range, and a great playing feel. It is relatively heavy though for a mahogany instrument, mostly due to its thick solid body. Very cool bass, and certainly one of the very best basses produced by Hagstrom.

1973 Shaftesbury 3400

1973 Shaftesbury 3400 This example of the Shaftesbury 3400 was produced by Japanese manufacturer Matsumoku who made some great quality guitars in the 1970s and 1980s. This is a slightly later example, and has some features not seen on earlier 3400s. Although nice guitars, these are not in the same league as the Gibson Les Paul it was emulating (no set neck, no carved maple top); but they are far better than many of the entry-level Les Paul copies available in the mid-1970s - for example the Shaftesbury 3400 has gold plated hardware, a solid body bound front and back, Maxon brand humbuckers and nice inlaid neck and headstock.

1971 Epiphone 1802T

1971 Epiphone 1802T The Epiphone 1802T was the early name given to the Epiphone ET-270 and derived from an existing Aria guitar, also the 1802T. This was the first of the 1970s Epiphone solid bodies made in Japan by Matsumoku.The model evolved somewhat over its short production run: the very earliest examples were very similar to the Aria, sharing the same body shape, hardware, and clear-coated neck with Fender-style headstock with decal logo. By the time it was designated the Epiphone ET-270 it had been upgraded with the classic Epiphone-style headstock, with nice inlaid logo, and Epiphone 'E' motifs on the truss rod cover and scratchplate. This example from 1971 is somewhere in between with the Epiphone-style headstock, but with silk-screened logo, and no 'E's.

1971 Shaftesbury 3400

1971 Shaftesbury 3400Shaftesbury was a brand distributed by Rose-Morris in the UK - generally imported guitars from Italy or Japan. This guitar, model 3400 was produced by Matsumoku in Japan, and was one of the earliest Les Paul copy guitars, debuting in the UK in 1969, although the same guitar was also sold as the Univox U1982 'Rhythm and Blues' by Merson in the USA as early as 1968. It was also available in different territories under different marques, most obviously the Aria 5522 (Japan), Jedson Jet 4444 (UK, Dallas Arbiter), with no doubt many more examples worldwide.

1981 Gibson Victory MVX

1981 Gibson Victory MV-XThe Gibson Victory MV-X, or Victory 'Multi-Voice' 10, was so-named because of the 10 distinct switch settings: although on first glance this guitar is very much a 'super-strat', with its three-pickup 5-way switch wiring configuration, the original advertising, sounds like... all of 'em underlines that this isn't just a Stratocaster copy, having the sounds of both Gibson humbuckers and Fender single coils available with a flick of a switch. The model was short-lived, with the first instruments shipping from Kalamazoo in Summer of 1981, and the last (excluding any stragglers) leaving Nashville by early 1982. This one was stamped on August 3rd 1981 in Kalamazoo.

1970 Rosetti Epiphone guitar catalogue

1970 Rosetti Epiphone guitar catalogScan of 1970 Epiphone guitar catalogue produced by Rosetti for the UK market. Undated but most likely from mid-late 1970, this was the first UK catalogue to show the new range of Japanese (Matsumoku) Epiphone guitars. Interestingly, these pages show the Epiphone solid bodies with a single-sided Fender-style headstock layout - a feature quickly replaced with a typical two-sided Epiphone headstock almost immediately. Epiphone electric guitars: 9520, 9525; bass guitars: 9521, 9526; acoustic guitars: 6730, 6830, 6834

A World of Guitars by Rosetti - 1971

1971 A World of Guitars by Rosetti catalogueScan of 1971 Rosetti catalogue (UK) featuring guitars from from numerous manufacturers worldwide: guitars by Epiphone, Hagstrom, Levin, Hoyer, Egmond, Eros, Moridaira, Kiso-Suzuki, Schaller, and Tatra.

1971 Selmer guitar catalogue

1971 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1971 Selmer guitar catalogue showing the range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Gibson, Yamaha, Selmer, Hofner and Suzuki. 1960s Selmer had always placed Hofner at the front end of their catalogues, no doubt these were the better sellers - but into the 1970s Hofner were slipping somewhat and only appear at the tail end of this publication, pride of place going to Gibson, and to a lesser extent Yamaha. In fact this is the last Selmer catalogue to include the many Hofner hollow bodies (Committee, President, Senator etc) that had defined the companies output for so many years - to be replaced in the 1972 catalogue by generic solid body 'copies' of Gibson and Fender models. A number of new Gibson models are included for the first time: the SG-100 and SG-200 six string guitars and the SB-300 and SB-400 basses.

1968 Selmer guitar catalogue

1968 Selmer guitar catalogueScan of 1968/1969 Selmer guitar catalogue (printed July 1968), showing the entire range of electric and acoustic guitars distributed by the company: guitars by Hofner, Gibson, Selmer and Giannini. Selmer were the exclusive United Kingdom distributors of Hofner and Gibson at the time, and this catalogue contains a total of 18 electric guitars, 7 bass guitars, 37 acoustics, and 2 Hawaiian guitars - all produced outside the UK and imported by Selmer, with UK prices included in guineas. This catalogue saw the (re-)introduction of the late sixties Gibson Les Paul Custom and Les Paul Standard (see page 69) and the short-lived Hofner Club 70. Other electric models include: HOFNER ELECTRICS: Committee, Verithin 66, Ambassador, President, Senator, Galaxie, HOFNER BASSES: Violin bass, Verithin bass, Senator bass, Professional bass GIBSON ELECTRICS: Barney Kessel, ES-330TD, ES-335TD, ES-345TD, ES-175D, ES-125CD, SG Standard, SG Junior, SG Special GIBSON BASSES: EB-0, EB-2, EB-3 - plus a LOT of acoustics branded Gibson, Hofner, Selmer and Giannini

1961 Hofner Colorama I

1961 Hofner Colorama IHofner Colorama was the name UK distributor Selmer gave to a series of solid and semi-solid guitars built by Hofner for distribution in the UK. The construction and specifications of the guitars varied over the period of production, but by 1961 it was a totally solid, double cutaway instrument, with a set neck, translucent cherry finish, six-in-a-row headstock, and Hofner Diamond logo pickups. Available as a single or dual pickup guitar, this sngle pickup version would have been sold in mainland Europe as the Hofner 161.

1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)

1971 Commodore N25 (Matsumoku)Commodore was a brand applied to a series of guitars produced in Japan at the well-respected Matsumoku plant from the late 1960s to the mid 1970s - and sold primarily (perhaps exclusively?) in the United Kingdom. The models bearing the Commodore name were all guitars available from different distributors with different branding. Although there may have been some minor changes in appointments (specifically headstock branding) most had the same basic bodies, hardware and construction. Equivalent models to the Commodore N25 (and this is by no means an exhaustive list) include the Aria 5102T, Conrad 5102T(?), Electra 2221, Lyle 5102T, Ventura V-1001, Univox Coily - and most famously the Epiphone 5102T / Epiphone EA-250.

1960 Hofner Colorama II

1960 Hofner Colorama IIThe Hofner Colorama was the name given by Selmer to a series of solid (and semi-solid) body Hofner guitars distributed in the United Kingdom between 1958 and 1965. The Colorama name actually applied to some quite different guitars over the period, but in 1960 it was a very light, semi-solid, set necked guitar with one (Colorama I) or two (Colorama II, as seen here) Toaster pickups. Although an entry-level guitar, it was very well-built, and a fine playing guitar; certainly a step up (at least in terms of craftsmanship) from many of the Colorama guitars that would follow, and a good deal of the guitars available in Britain circa 1960.

1971 Epiphone 1820 bass (ET-280)

1971 Epiphone 1820 (ET-280) bassBy the end of the 1960s, a decision had been made to move Epiphone guitar production from the USA (at the Kalamazoo plant where Gibson guitars were made), to Matsumoto in Japan, creating a line of guitars and basses significantly less expensive than the USA-built models (actually less than half the price). The Matsumoku factory had been producing guitars for export for some time, but the 1820 bass (alongside a number of guitar models and the 5120 electric acoustic bass) were the first Epiphone models to be made there. These new Epiphones were based on existing Matsumoku guitars, sharing body shapes, and hardware, but the Epiphone line was somewhat upgraded, with inlaid logos and a 2x2 peghead configuration. Over the course of the 70s, the Japanese output improved dramatically, and in many ways these early 70s models are a low point for the brand. Having said this, there are a lot worse guitars out there, and as well as being historically important, the 1820 bass can certainly provide the goods when required.

1981 Gibson Marauder

1981 Gibson MarauderProduction of Bill Lawrence's Gibson Marauder began in 1974, with production peaking in 1978. But by 1980 the model was officially discontinued, though very small numbers slipped out as late as spring 1981. Over 7000 examples shipped between 1974 and 1979, and although no totals are available for 1980 and 1981, it is unlikely production reached three figures in either of these years. These final Marauders were all assembled at the Gibson Nashville plant, and had some nice features not available through the later years of production, such as a rosewood fretboard, and in this case, an opaque 'Devil Red' finish. It's a great looking and fine playing guitar!

1971 'Pick Epiphone' Catalog

1971 Pick Epiphone catalogWhen Epiphone production moved from Kalamazoo to the Matsumoku plant in Japan, a whole new range of electric, flattop and classic acoustic guitars was launched. Between late 1970 and 1972 the new models were launched and refined. This 'folder' catalog contains various inserts released over these years detailing four electric six-strings (ET-270, ET-275, ET-278, and thinline EA-250), three bass guitars (ET-280, ET-285, and thinline EA-260), three folk/steel acoustics, four jumbo flattop acoustics, two 12-string jumbos, four classic acoustics, and a banjo.

1981 'Gibson Specials' Pre-Owners Manual

1981 Gibson Specials Pre-Owners Manual'Gibson Specials' was part of the June 1981 pre-owners manual series, but unlike the other folders contained a mish-mash of different guitars: limited editions, test marketing and close outs. "You will find the unusual, the brand-new, and the bargain within this folder". End of line 70s guitars like the Marauder, S-1, and L-6S Custom mixed in with brand new models the The V, The Explorer and the Flying V Bass.
It was the largest folder in the series, with 24 inserts, (19 guitars and 5 basses): Guitars: 335-S Standard, Melody Maker Double, Marauder, L-6S Custom, S-1, RD Artist, Firebird, Firebird II, Flying V, Flying V-II, The V, Explorer, Explorer II, The Explorer, The "SG" Standard, Les Paul Artist, Les Paul Artisan, ES-335 Heritage, ES-175/CC Basses: Grabber, G-3, L-9S, RD Artist Bass, Flying V Bass

1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bass

1970s Shaftesbury 3263 bass Rose-Morris were selling Shaftesbury-branded Rickenbacker copy instruments from the late 1960s right through the 1970s. The 3263 bass was one of the first models, (alongside the 3261 six string and 3262 twelve string) available from late 1968 until about 1974. The earliest incarnation was a set neck bass, produced very briefly in Japan. But production quickly moved to Italy. This bolt-on neck example was built by Eko, in Recanati, using the same hardware and pickups as fitted to Eko, and Vox basses built around the same time. It's certainly a fine looking bass, and not a bad player either.

1961 Hohner Zambesi

1961 Hohner Zambesi This very early, and pretty rare British-built guitar is branded Hohner London. Hohner were, of course, a German company, better known for their harmonicas and accordions, but they were keenly expanding into guitars at the birth of the 1960s. This model, along with the Hohner Amazon and (particularly) the Hohner Holborn, bear some similarity with Vox guitars of the same period; furniture manufacturer Stuart Darkins constructed bodies and necks for both brands, with Fenton Weill assembling them using their hardware and pickups. These guitars do have some hardware peculiarities, and they are not the most adjustable of instruments, but they actually play very nicely, being solidly built out of some very nice woods. Check out the video on this page.

1963 Vox Super Ace

1963 Vox Super Ace The Vox Super Ace was a mid-priced British solid body electric guitar, produced by JMI at their factory in Dartford, Kent. It was broadly modelled on the Fender Stratocaster, and a sibling model to the dual-pickup Vox Ace. Both the Ace, and Super Ace (along with several other models), were redesigned in 1963 with a new body shape, headstock style, and pickup layout - only increasing the resemblance to the aforementioned Fender. The Super Ace had a 1963 price tag of £47 5S. It's a pretty nice playing guitar with some lovely sounds - check out the videos on this page, and in the Vintage Guitar and Bass supporting members area

1966 Vox New Escort

1966 Vox New Escort The Vox New Escort was Vox's version of the Fender Telecaster, at a time when American guitars were out of reach for most British musicians. It was made by JMI in England, for the British market, and unlike the majority of other models, didn't have an Italian-made equivalent. But the New Escort wasn't a slavish Fender copy, adding Vox's stylish teardrop headstock to the tele-style body, with a stop tailpiece and two Vox V2 single coil pickups. And it's a pretty substantial, and nice playing guitar, with a very comfortable neck. Check out the images, specifications, and watch a video of it in action. There is also extra content in the vintageguitarandbass supporting members area.

1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin' Care

1969 Fender catalog, Fender Lovin Care Catalog scan. The 1969 Fender Lovin' Care catalog consisted of 48 pages of electric guitars, basses, amplifiers, steel guitars, acoustic guitars, banjos and keyboards. Like the previous catalog, this featured the company's guitars in a variety of interesting settings around California, from the Whiskey-A-Go-Go, to the Hollywood Bowl. Several instruments were making their first appearance amongst it's pages: the Telecaster bass, Montego and LTD jazz guitars, and the Redondo acoustic. It was the final catalog appearance, however, of the Electric XII, Bass V, Duo-Sonic, Coronado I and Coronado Bass I.

1973 Eko Ranger Folk

1973 Eko Ranger Folk The Eko Ranger series of guitars was incredibly popular in the second half of the 1960s and through the 1970s, selling in very large numbers. The Ranger Folk was 1 1/4" smaller, and 1" shallower than the Ranger VI and XII - and with a narrower waist. Not a bad guitar; a little quiet, but pretty playable. These were great value in 1973, and because they sold so many, they are easy to find and excellent value today.

1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitar

1966 Vox Symphonic bass guitar The Symphonic bass was built in the UK, by Vox parent company JMI. It was the Vox equivalent to the Fender Precision bass, and was one of the most expensive Vox guitars produced. It was actually a great playing bass, rather similar to the Precision in feel and sound, but was probably just too expensive compared to an actual Fender and consequently sold poorly. When Vox hit financial problems in 1968, unsold guitars and basses were passed on to Dallas Arbiter, who briefly sold the excess Symphonic bass stock as model 4537. This bass, although with a neck date of February 1966, was most likely one of the unsold Vox guitars sold on by Dallas Arbiter. Check out the bass, and the two video demos through 1960s Ampeg and WEM amplifiers.

1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog

1968 Shaftesbury catalogThe 1968 Shaftesbury 'Electric Guitars' catalog was just four pages long, and contained four guitar models: the six string Barney Kessel-style 3264; and three Rickenbacker-styled semi-acoustic models: the six-string 3261, the twelve string 3262 and the 3263 bass. Shaftesbury was the house-brand of major UK distributor Rose-Morris, and seems to have been launched as a response to the company's loss of it's distribution deal with Rickenbacker. The guitars were mid-priced, and built in (initially) Japan, and later Italy, by Eko

1970 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns Celebrated Classics' catalog

1970 Rose_Morris catalog1970 Rose-Morris catalog, dated April 1970. It featured 6 electric guitars, 32 acoustic guitars, 3 basses and 1 steel guitar. It contains the following instruments, over 20 pages: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3262, 3264, 3265, 3400; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Colorado, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12; Aria 1674, 1675, 1676, 1679, 1680, 1695, 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk; Rose-Morris 15-11, Kansas, Georgian, Florida; Suzuki 1663, 1664, 1665, 3054, 3055, 3060; Tatay 1713, 1714, 1715; Peerless 3052; Steel guitar: Aria 3425

1971 Rose-Morris 'Exciting Electrics Wonderful Westerns' catalog

1971 Rose_Morris catalogThe sixteen-page 1971 Rose-Morris catalog featured electric guitars by Rose-Morris' own brand, Shaftesbury, and budget brand Top Twenty; aswell as acoustics by Eko, Aria, and for the first time Ovation. The catalog contains the following instruments: Electric guitars: Shaftesbury 3261, 3264, 3265, 3400, 3402; Top Twenty 1970; Bass: Shaftesbury 3263, 3266; Top Twenty 1971; Acoustic guitars: Ovation: Balladeer, 12 String, Glen Campbell, Glen Campbell 12 string; Eko Rio Bravo, Rio Bravo 12, Ranger, Ranger Folk, Ranger 12, Colorado, Ranchero, Ranchero 12, Studio 'L'; Rose-Morris Florida; Aria 'John Pearse' Jumbo, 'John Pearse' Folk

1972 Fender Precision bass

1972 Fender PrecisionA detailed look at an early 1970s Fender Precision bass guitar in custom black finish, with rosewood fretboard. 1972 list price, $307.50. The Fender Precision had been shipping since at least very early 1952 - with just one re-design circa 1957. This example, then, shows a model already two decades old, but barely changed since the '57 revamp. Fender got it right first time around, and although there are numerous minor cosmetic differences, the essence of this bass is effectively the same as it was in '52: a simple, single pickup instrument with a GREAT sound. Check out the demo video through an old Ampeg B15. It's no wonder this is the bass that everybody wants!

1967 Vox Stroller

1967 Vox StrollerThe Vox Stroller was the brand's entry level electric solid body guitar, fitted with just one pickup and a fixed tailpiece. Although aimed at student guitarists, it wasn't a terrible instrument, but did lack somewhat in adjustability, having no accessible truss rod and only a floating rosewood bridge. But this example is actually quite an improvement on earlier versions, with a standard 1/4" jack and a solid mahogany body. 1967 price £18 2s. JMI ceased UK guitar production in late '67, and combined with decreasing demand for the Stroller, this surely must be one of the last examples shipped.

1963 Vox Clubman Bass (left handed)

1963 Vox Clubman Bass left handedA nice example of the Vox Clubman II bass, built by JMI in Dartford, Kent in 1963. This is a lightweight bass, short (30") scale and very easy to play. It is an early example, and as such has a thin black scratchplate and side mounted, coaxial output jack. JMI offered left handed examples of their solid body Vox guitars and basses at 10% premium. Production numbers are unclear, but left-handed examples rarely come up for sale

1977 Gibson ES Artist 'prototype'

1977 Gibson ES Artist prototypeNot to be confused with the Gibson ES Artist launched by Gibson in 1979; this ES Artist was an early model designed by the Gibson research and development team in Kalamazoo in 1977, the instruments themselves constructed by Gibson artist Chuck Burge. It was planned for launch as a high end semi acoustic with 335-style construction (central maple block) and innovative circuitry - but was pulled at the last minute, being deemed too expensive. Apparently, several examples were produced with varying specifications, though exactly how many actually left the Kalamazoo plant is unclear. Certainly two guitars were sold to LaVonne Music by Gibson in around 1980. Read more about the development of this guitar, with details from Chuck Burge and the story of it's sale to LaVonne music