1969 Guild Starfire II neck cracks

[Ezilybored]

Afternoon all.

New here but looking for answers to a neck issue with my 1969 Guild Starfire II.

My Dad gave me this a year or so ago. I don’t get on with it (I play metal) have tried to find a place for it but with no success.

Took it around a few local shops as I’d rather it go somewhere where it will get played. Three places gave me a price for both cash or commission. The fourth noticed some cracks in the laquer around the back of the neck. This wasn’t flagged by any other shop so not sure if it is actually an issue (particularly as store 4 were asking £££ to fix the issue).

I have attached a few picture to show. There is some splitting around the back and sides of the neck. The guy at the fourth shop said the neck would need resetting. I am suspicious as none of the others flagged this as an issue. Any advice would be great.

Cheers.







There is also a small crack in the fretboard but my searches have lead me to the conclusion that this is an age related issue.

 

[GardMan]

I am not an electric/archtop expert, but I don't think those are "cracks"... they look to me to be saw cuts, as if the neck was cut off to reset and/or convert it to a bolt on. Someone who knows more abut these guitars will likely chime in soon...

 

[Ezilybored]

Thanks for the reply. Much appreciated.

Wow so that sounds more severe than even the guy in the shop thought.

If it has been sawn off is this something that would need addressing? I obviously would need to mention it in any sale details if it is the case.

I’ll also try asking my dad, he didn’t mention anything when I asked him before.

 

[GAD]

Those aren’t saw cuts; that’s the seam where the neck meets the body. It looks like either there has been stress on the joint or the neck was removed and re-attached (a reset).

It’s tough to say without handling the guitar, but there are a few possibilities. It could have been dropped, it could have already had a neck reset, it could be a lot of things.

How does it play? Is the neck tight or does it move (I’ve never heard of that happening). Is the neck straight and the action low? Is the bridge at a good level or is it really low?

If it’s had a reset in the past then the seam wasn’t well repaired. If it hasn’t then it could be stress.

Of course it could be some other thing I haven’t thought about.

 

[twocorgis]

It is hard to say without actually handling the guitar, but it looks it might have had a neck reset, and the finish wasn't touched up after the neck was reattached. Assuming the neck angle is good, and the neck itself is not loose, a good luthier could drop fill the area, and make it look a lot better than it does now.

 

[BradHK]

If you remove the tension on the strings, look at the line between the neck heel and body, then bring the strings up to tension, do you see the gap move or open up more? I have seen the lacquer at this joint crack on a lot of 1960’s Guilds. I have also seen the heel cap shrink over time and crack the lacquer and create a small gap. The binding on the base side looks to have stuck to the heel cap and pulled away from the body. Sometimes it can be a sign of work needed and sometimes not.

 

[Ezilybored]

Thanks for all of help here. I might play guitar but am not the best when it comes to the technical side of things.

@GAD The guitar plays well. I and every person in the shops I took it to thought so (even the guy who thought the neck is a big issue did until he spotted the cracks). The neck doesn’t move at all. The neck looks straight to me (I haven’t measured it yet). The bridge is the lowest it can go though. The action is low.

@BradHK the gap doesn’t open or close when the strings are loose or tight.

To add some more detail to this. There was a guitar tech in the shop of the guy who thinks this is an issue. He had a look at it and his initial assessment was “no problem” then after some verbal nudging from the owner/sales guy decided that maybe a neck reset was needed. However he did also encourage me to take the guitar away with me and not leave it with them. This is the source of my concern. As no one else flagged it as an issue was that one shop owner trying to get me to leave the guitar (and pay for) work it didn’t need?

Happy to provide more pictures if that would help.

 

[chazmo]

@Ezilybored

First, welcome to LTG.

I always advise people to sell as-is if you're not planning to keep the guitar. I.e., disclose the concerns with your ad and the next buyer will decide what to do.

I realize this was a gift from your father, but unless you're planning to keep it for sentimental reasons, my advice remains the same.

If you are planning to keep it, it's best to make a choice among the luthiers that you've spoken to and let them make it right for you.

Best wishes., and again welcome aboard!

 

[Ezilybored]

@chazmo Thanks, and that is some sound advice right there.

I plan on selling as I know the guitar will be loved by someone whose style it suits. Everytime I have played it I’ve been worried I’ll break it. A drop tuned palm muting machine it is not I’ve spoken to my dad and he’s happy for it to be sold as we’re funding a new acoustic drum kit for my son.

I will be making anyone that is interested in it aware of this and let them make a call on themselves. Just trying to figure out for myself if this is a big problem or not first so I can readjust my expectations.

 

[chazmo]

Sounds good, @Ezilybored . Unfortunately, none of us can really give you a strong handle on what's going on there without physically having the instrument in our hands. There are a few true experts here, but they'll tell you the same thing.

Best of luck!

 

[GAD]

Thanks for all of help here. I might play guitar but am not the best when it comes to the technical side of things.

@GAD The guitar plays well. I and every person in the shops I took it to thought so (even the guy who thought the neck is a big issue did until he spotted the cracks). The neck doesn’t move at all. The neck looks straight to me (I haven’t measured it yet). The bridge is the lowest it can go though. The action is low.

@BradHK the gap doesn’t open or close when the strings are loose or tight.

To add some more detail to this. There was a guitar tech in the shop of the guy who thinks this is an issue. He had a look at it and his initial assessment was “no problem” then after some verbal nudging from the owner/sales guy decided that maybe a neck reset was needed. However he did also encourage me to take the guitar away with me and not leave it with them. This is the source of my concern. As no one else flagged it as an issue was that one shop owner trying to get me to leave the guitar (and pay for) work it didn’t need?

Happy to provide more pictures if that would help.

Sounds to me like the shop owner wanted to charge you for a repair you didn’t need and the ethical tech talked you out of it.

A previous reset where the finish wasn’t properly repaired would explain every one of those cracks.

 

[AcornHouse]

My first thought seeing those is "neck reset".

 

[Ezilybored]

Cheers everyone for the comments and suggestions here. My plan is to wait till after Easter and try a couple of other shops but this time highlighting the cracks when I take it in. I will gauge the reactions and see if they align with the one person that thought it was an issue. Then I have a luthier I can take it to for a check and any repairs needed if it comes to it.

Thanks for the warm welcome. Glad to see there is such a positive community around Guild guitars. If I decide to keep it I might pop up here again

 

[GAD]

Cheers everyone for the comments and suggestions here. My plan is to wait till after Easter and try a couple of other shops but this time highlighting the cracks when I take it in. I will gauge the reactions and see if they align with the one person that thought it was an issue. Then I have a luthier I can take it to for a check and any repairs needed if it comes to it.

Thanks for the warm welcome. Glad to see there is such a positive community around Guild guitars. If I decide to keep it I might pop up here again

I would say that taking it to shops is a big gamble. Most shops in my experience have a tech at best and not an actual luthier on staff.

 

[Ezilybored]

I would say that taking it to shops is a big gamble. Most shops in my experience have a tech at best and not an actual luthier on staff.

Cheers for the advice. The luthier I know is not affiliated to any shops. They are independent.

 

[Yoko Oh No]

The guitar fell forward and landed face down on the soundboard and fretboard. The cracks in the finish and along the neck joint are the result of the impact. If the guitar plays fine it’s just mojo