Guild M-20 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1966), made in Hoboken, NJ, serial # AH-721, natural mahogany finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, original black chipboard case.
The often very fine sounding Guild flattops of the 1960's can be surprisingly hard to find these days. The M-20 was Guild's least expensive guitar in the 1950's and '60's and while not a rare model per se has become one of the company's most sought-after vintage instruments in recent years. The highly influential English singer/songwriter Nick Drake is thought to have played the M-20 extensively and so the model is linked in the popular imagination to his legend. Even apart from this connection the instrument itself has much to recommend it. A small body all-mahogany guitar, the M-20 has a different tonal character from any other Guild and excels particularly as a fingerpicking instrument. The neck is slim and comfortable, somewhat in between typical Martin and Gibson spec, and arguable is a better guitar of this type than either company was producing in 1966.
This mid-60's model is very lightly built, especially for a Guild! With no binding and only the plainest inlay the M-20 has a very austere look but a typically smooth, expansive sound. The tuners are the original Waverly strips with plastic buttons and the headstock is faced with the typical Guild plastic overlay, with just a bit of the usual shrinkage. This M-20 dates to 1966 and is a lovely little guitar with a very responsive sound-an instrument we receive many requests for.
Overall length is 39 1/4 in. (99.7 cm.), 13 7/8 in. (35.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 1/2 in. (622 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). A nice clean guitar overall; small dings and scuff (mostly to the edges) and an added strap button at the heel. The only notable repair is a very nice repro bridge, with one small top grain crack off the back edge of it just off the low E string. The pickguard and headstock veneer have both shrunken slightly but are not pulling up. Overall a very fine player and a nice example of this favorite model. Excellent - Condition.
