Guild Ser#603, Mod#F47NT: Acoustic/Electric

by Sidney VanWagner
(Tucson, AZ USA)

Std Mfg decal inside, however, Ser# and Mod# are entered by hand on the pre-printed decal...Ser# is also imprinted on top reverse of the head stock...Has sound hole Pick Up...Plays great, sounds great and holds tune...Has cosmetic issues (pix included)...would appreciate knowing: Year, Model and Est. Value as is...!!! Thank You... Also, has orig. Case...!!!

Answer

Hi, Sidney--

This is a curious case. The earliest Guild serial numbers that are organized by year start with 1000 in 1953. Guild was founded in 1952, so any serial number less than 100 would appear to be from 1952.

Guild numbers before 1960 are not able to be matched accurately with years, apparently because of records being destroyed.

There is a problem with the model identification. The F 47 was not manufactured until 1963. (The NT just means natural finish).

There was the F-40, manufactured on 1954. Your pictures do not show the headstock or the neck, so it is difficult to determine whether it is this model. Even if the description matched, the serial number does not.

I think that the pickup was probably not original equipment, but added later.

In conclusion, I can't give you a reliable year or a value because I cannot identify your guitar.

Here is the Guild contact information:

8860 Chaparral Road Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85250-2618
www.guildguitars.com
customerrelations@guildguitars.com
480-596-9690 (phone)
480-596-1384 (fax)

Sorry I could not be of more help. Feel free to provide additional information via the comments section of this page.

Lynne