Dadaist
Senior Member
We've all had visions at one time or another of saving a guitar even though common sense dictates otherwise.
The ad read "77 Guild F50 For Parts" and I called to make sure that it was still available. The man who answered said, yes it was and I made arrangements to look at it. Arriving at the address, I noticed that the small, '20s Bungalow was completely obscured by years neglect, as the foliage appeared to be winning the battle to reclaim the lot. You could tell that this had once been a very nice neighborhood in this part of Los Angeles.
A slightly built, older gentleman bearded with his gray hair tied back in a pony tail, answered the door on the second knock. I introduced myself mentioned I was here to see the guitar and He let me in. A badly damaged guitar case, the lower end crushed, was sitting on the dining room table and He opened and pulled out what had been at one time a very nice vintage F50.
I examined the damage and asked Him what happened. He said that his older brother who had just passed away, had purchased it, his first new guitar, from a local music store. A year later He was involved in a serious automobile accident having been rear ended on the freeway, totaling the car. The guitar, sadly, had been in the trunk stored in an inexpensive chipboard case. I asked about his brother and he didn't answer me directly, but I got the impression that He was severely injured.
The guitar seemed damaged beyond repair and maybe was only useful for parts. I made him an offer and He agreed; we shook hands, I paid him, and started packing the guitar into the case. As I walked out onto the porch, He asked me that if I did restore the guitar could I send him a photograph? He said His brother would have liked that. I drove home thinking about what to do with this guitar.
On arriving home, I took some photographs and started emailing luthiers about the feasibility of repairing it and just trying to get some idea of the expense and time involved. Almost all of them agreed that they could probably restore the structure of the guitar, but couldn't guarantee that aesthetically it could be brought back. Guild used the finest materials on these guitars.....ebony on the bridge and fretboard....gold plated Guild tuners, beautiful maple...... and this one looked as if it had not been played.
I left the guitar out on a sofa in the living room, to admire it throughout the day. Even damaged, it is still very attractive, and a maple F50 is on my short list of guitars in my future. I've played several, the one that Treem has for sale most recently ( a very nice playing guitar...) and there is just something about those Big Blondes.
As I was putting the guitar back in its case I checked the case storage compartment and to my surprise, sitting in an envelope was the Guild owner's manual for this very guitar as well as a period Guild Accessories Catalog along with a guitar strap and some picks.
I think I've given up the idea of trying to restore the guitar, but I'm going to request suggestions as to what to do with what remains. Two of the more interesting ideas have been to either strip off all of the usable pieces and have a vintage guitar equivalent of a Viking Funeral or maybe make a sculpture with the guitar.......partially cover the body with a ridged, canvas banner and a stern warning that you should under no circumstances ever lend your guitar to Pete Towneshend or it might suffer the same fate.
Email me or post your ideas. Lets see just how creative this group is.
David
The ad read "77 Guild F50 For Parts" and I called to make sure that it was still available. The man who answered said, yes it was and I made arrangements to look at it. Arriving at the address, I noticed that the small, '20s Bungalow was completely obscured by years neglect, as the foliage appeared to be winning the battle to reclaim the lot. You could tell that this had once been a very nice neighborhood in this part of Los Angeles.
A slightly built, older gentleman bearded with his gray hair tied back in a pony tail, answered the door on the second knock. I introduced myself mentioned I was here to see the guitar and He let me in. A badly damaged guitar case, the lower end crushed, was sitting on the dining room table and He opened and pulled out what had been at one time a very nice vintage F50.
I examined the damage and asked Him what happened. He said that his older brother who had just passed away, had purchased it, his first new guitar, from a local music store. A year later He was involved in a serious automobile accident having been rear ended on the freeway, totaling the car. The guitar, sadly, had been in the trunk stored in an inexpensive chipboard case. I asked about his brother and he didn't answer me directly, but I got the impression that He was severely injured.
The guitar seemed damaged beyond repair and maybe was only useful for parts. I made him an offer and He agreed; we shook hands, I paid him, and started packing the guitar into the case. As I walked out onto the porch, He asked me that if I did restore the guitar could I send him a photograph? He said His brother would have liked that. I drove home thinking about what to do with this guitar.
On arriving home, I took some photographs and started emailing luthiers about the feasibility of repairing it and just trying to get some idea of the expense and time involved. Almost all of them agreed that they could probably restore the structure of the guitar, but couldn't guarantee that aesthetically it could be brought back. Guild used the finest materials on these guitars.....ebony on the bridge and fretboard....gold plated Guild tuners, beautiful maple...... and this one looked as if it had not been played.
I left the guitar out on a sofa in the living room, to admire it throughout the day. Even damaged, it is still very attractive, and a maple F50 is on my short list of guitars in my future. I've played several, the one that Treem has for sale most recently ( a very nice playing guitar...) and there is just something about those Big Blondes.
As I was putting the guitar back in its case I checked the case storage compartment and to my surprise, sitting in an envelope was the Guild owner's manual for this very guitar as well as a period Guild Accessories Catalog along with a guitar strap and some picks.
I think I've given up the idea of trying to restore the guitar, but I'm going to request suggestions as to what to do with what remains. Two of the more interesting ideas have been to either strip off all of the usable pieces and have a vintage guitar equivalent of a Viking Funeral or maybe make a sculpture with the guitar.......partially cover the body with a ridged, canvas banner and a stern warning that you should under no circumstances ever lend your guitar to Pete Towneshend or it might suffer the same fate.
Email me or post your ideas. Lets see just how creative this group is.
David
GREAT STORY.......SAD one TOO! All the best with a decision as to What youre gonna do!
