Most production in this period was of guitars under other company names, in particular the Dallas music company with its "Hayman" brand. Many of these models would later evolve into true Shergold models, most obviously the Hayman Modular becoming the Shergold Modulator and the 4040 bass becoming the Marathon. When the Dallas company folded, the Hayman line died with it.

Other notable models of this era are Jim Burns designed guitars under the "Ormston" name, following the Baldwin buyout of Burns, "B&M" brand guitars for UK wholesaler Barnes And Mullins (who were also the UK distributor of Shergolds), and the Rosetti "Triumph".

From later in this period, other branded models appear under the "Ned Callan" name between 1971 and 1975, and in 1974 the Burns UK range featured models built with Shergold provided woodwork.

After the end of the Hayman contract, Shergold shifted focus to producing guitars under its own name. These were used by influential bands such as Joy Division (pictured) and Genesis.

Early models (pre-1979) lack a headstock truss rod adjuster, using a rear body access plate instead, which also displays the serial number. However, this isn’t a fully reliable dating method, as some late 1978 guitars feature the newer neck design. Pre-1977 pickups can be identified by their two-bolt mounting, whereas later ones use three screws for pitch adjustment.

Later models like the Activator and Nu Meteor (introduced in late 1980) adopted a foil transfer headstock badge, replacing the earlier nailed-on perspex version. From 1980, most models also featured a black "MADE IN ENGLAND" sticker on the back of the headstock, though some late 1979 guitars included it as well.

Serial numbers from 1975–1980 are available here, along with information on later, undocumented systems.

Although Shergold officially stopped guitar production during this period, some custom builds were made using leftover parts. These often featured laminate construction (maple, mahogany, ash) and can be hard to distinguish from earlier models. Serial numbers were typically stamped into the truss rod slot or on a metal plate at the back of the headstock—though these often don’t match, as necks were made in batches.

During the downtime, Shergold turned to general woodworking, producing custom furniture like hi-fi units and trading desks. Most 1990s output consisted of Masquerader guitars and Marathon basses assembled from existing stock. Masqueraders from this era are marked "Limited Edition" and usually have serial numbers stamped only in the truss rod slot, with no metal plate.

In 2015, the Shergold Guitar Company was acquired by award-winning UK distributor Barnes & Mullins Ltd — the same British company that distributed the original guitars during the 1970s and 1980s.

In early 2017, the brand was re-launched under the guidance of British guitar luthier Patrick James Eggle. The revitalised 21st-century Shergold range has since received widespread recognition across the musical instrument industry and collected an impressive list of awards.