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 GUILD |
| HISTORY/GUILD IDENTIFYING FEATURES |
| In 2006, Guild stopped all production of electric archtop instruments with the exception of the Benedetto signature models. According to noted authority and Guild enthusiast Jay Pilzer, there are identifying features on Guild instruments that can assist in determining their year of production: Knobs on Electrics: 1953-58 transparent barrel knobs; 1959-63 transparent yellowish top hat knobs with Guild logo in either chrome or gold; 1964-72 black top hat knobs, Guild logo, tone or vol; circa 1990-present black top hat with Guild logo, no numbers or tone/vol. Electric Pickguards: Except for the Johnny Smith/Artist Award (which used the stairstep pickguard), Guild pickguards were rounded, following the shape of the guitar until 1963 when the stairstep became standard on archtop electrics. Headstock Inlays: The earliest were simple Guild inverted V with triangular insert, with G logo below, later the triangular insert disappears, Chesterfield introduced on some models by 1957. In general the more elaborate the headstock, the higher price the instrument. |