Here is a very interesting first generation Guild M-80 from 1977. This unique looking, all black mahogany monster from 1977 has design similarities with the Gibson Les Paul, with the fret board accessibility of an SG. The Guild M-80 is very well crafted instrument, with a number of attributes which make it a joy to play and a stand out instrument in a sea of Gibsons and Fenders.
This guitar was allegedly owned for some time by a guitarist for a particularly famous Australian rock group. I cannot confirm or deny this, but it is quite plausible. There are also many videos circulating of Nashville/LA studio legend Tim Pierce playing his 1970s Guild M-80 to glorious effect.
Aside from the similarities of the classic Les Paul, there are certain attributes that make the M-80 a particularly nice instrument. A close look at the bridge and you’ll see a whole lot of engineering. Rolling string saddles with offset spring loaded intonation screws which give near effortless intonation adjustments and make this one of the easiest guitars to put perfectly in tune. Threaded body inserts with large bass and treble side thumb wheels make setting up the action just as easy.
The neck on this guitar is medium/slim C profile with a nut width of 42.1mm tapering out to 50mm at the 12th fret. The action is a super low 1.5mm with minimal fret buzz due to a very straight neck and decent frets. The original frets are smooth with no sharp edges. The binding has some cracks, but is otherwise complete.
The controls are a pickup selector, separate volume and tone for each pickup, a phase switch and a master volume control. Guild's low wind HB-1 humbucking pickups offer more clarity and chime over your traditional humbucker. Their tone lies somewhere between a Gibson humbucker and a Gretsch Filtertron.
At some stage this guitar has landed on its butt, causing the rear strap button to be pushed in a few millimeters (see photo). This guitar has plenty of patina, buckle rash and signs of general rock and roll wear from its near 50 years in the game, none of which effects playability. This is a beautifully constructed instrument which feels and sounds just as good, if not better than the day it left the factory.
Brand: Guild
Model: M-80
Year: 1977
Country: USA
Case: OHSC
Serial: 157XXX
Colour (Body): Black
Colour (Neck): Black
Finish Type: Lacquer
Body Material: Mahogany
Neck Material: Mahogany
Fretboard Material: Ebony
Nut: White
Scale Length: 24 3/4”
Fret Number: 22
Neck Radius: 12”
Action: 1.5mm
Neck Profile: Med C
Nut Width: 42.1mm
12th Fret Width: 50.0mm
1st Fret Depth: 20.1mm
12th Fret Depth: 22.8mm
Pickups: Guild HB-1
Resistance: Neck: 7.92k, Bridge 7.82k
Electronics: Original
Knobs: Guild Top Hat
Pickguard: 5 ply
Hardware: Chrome
Mods, repairs:
Weight: 4.4kg
