Thanks' again, Fred, and also for the link for your client, the vehicle restoration place.


russ

Front Of Russ's Guild Studio ST 403



And from the back



The closest I could find was a listing of the Studio ST 303 that was described as a " double cutaway ( sharp ) semi hollow body 2 pickups ( single pole and humbuckers were available )and Bigsby tremelo. Available in Cherry and Sunburst". Sounds very much like this guitar or at least a series from around the same time. It was manufactured between 1968-1970. It is valued at $1350 for near mint to $950 in good shape.

The numbering of the Studio ST models seem to indicate the various options. With the Studio ST 3xx series were

ST 301 - 1 pickup
ST 302 - 2 pickups
ST 303 - 2 pickups + Bigsby tremelo
ST 304 - Like the ST 301 but with thick body depth

Sounds very much like much of this would apply to the ST 403. Thanks for including the pic of the sticker with "Studio 403 ST" to help identify it.

Thanks so much, Nigel! I haven't played this old baby regularly since about 1985, but it was my main instrument when I played guitar six nights a week for nearly 20 years. This is the one I used when I started playing jazz.

I have many more valuable jazz guitars, but I paid my way through grad school with this one.It was my main instrument. I remember I paid $368.00 including case and tax...a lot of money then for a struggling student. Last night, I put new strings on and am going to use it and a Fender Superchamp
for a while. It is my sentimental favorite. It's not worth much, but we've been around the block together, so, to me, it's priceless!I wish you and Fred could play it.
I forgot how sweet it really sounds.

You guys really helped me bring back some GREAT memories! In 1974 I was playing the Guild at an upscale Italian instrument in a nearby town with my trio. George Benson was there having dinner. No one but me recognized him, at first. I had 3 or four of his albums (Verve, or Blue Note...I don't remenber which). He came up on a break and checked out the Guild. He had been a Guild demonstrator at one time, and used a Guild for most of his jazz instrumental albums. He didn't play on stage that night, but was extremely complimentary and gracious. This was several years before he recorded "Breezin".

Thanks so much to all who contributed to this thread and tolerated the rantings of an old "picker".


Russ

Nigel...Fred: this guitar is not semi-hollow, but hollow. Could that be the difference between the 300 and the 400 series?

Russ

Yes, Russ that's the difference!

I suspect that the SL stand's for the humbuckers, as initially they were also produced with the tiny so called micky mouse pickups.
(I do have a T-100-D with those on)

Nigel,
Looks like the rating between 1300-1500 was pretty accurate for the 303 series.

fred

Yes, Fred you hit the nail on the head with your pricing and comparison to the 303. And I am also sure the "4" in 403 indicates hollow vs semi hollow.


[This message has been edited by Nigel (edited 01-27-2005).]