I have 3 guild acoustics : a D 55, D 46, and a Studio 24. All get plenty of play, and are guitars I really like!
Some time ago, I got the bug to add a burst dread to my acoustics.
Initially I thought a burst USA D 40 or Traditional D 40 would be the way to go. Then I considered a D20 mahogany in antique burst.
As I mentioned in a post a while back, the lack of being able to try Oxnard guitars in hand is daunting, & frustrating..... 2 1/2 hr. minimum ride to nearest dealer stocking at best just few US Guilds ( Wilcutt in KY). Last D 40's I got to play in person were during a visit to Sweetwater some 21/2 years back when they had three D40's in their acoustic room ( I actually preferred the USA D 40 to the Traditional though both models were great). That's a 3+ hour ride if they even have any on hand. Didn't want to get into a "buy and hope for the best" scenario & the hassle of shipping guitars back & forth if I wasn't pleased.
When our local Guitar Center brought in a bunch of "Westerly" ('Designed in California; made in China') dreads, I was able to give them a try.....
Sorry, but the D 140's and 120's did nothing for me. I found the necks clumsy, and the sound mediocre. They struck me as sounding like all the other less-than-average $200- $800 new guitars hanging in the acoustic room. One D120 I played (with whatever wood was passing for Guilds overseas version of all-hog ) had a smear of what looked like white glue on the edges of its bridge, a bridge that had already lifted at least 1/8 of an inch all across the back. Why would GC even put something like that out on the floor as brand-new with a full-price sticker on it????
Got to thinking that even if I found a burst dread that pleased me, it would involve the hassle of getting a passive pickup setup into it to match all the other K&K dual systems the others have.
Then I had another thought: Why not take one of the Guilds I'm satisfied with and check into what refinishing the top as a burst would involve?
Fortunately, We have a terrific luthier in Cincinnati by the name of Chris Sisson. He's pretty much the only one I'll let touch my Guilds, even though there are a few other good people locally.
So one day, I put the D 46 in the car and drove 15 minutes to Chris' shop -"Restoration Guitar," in Cincy's Northside neighborhood. We talked about what would be involved in doing a refinish on the top, and he took me through everything the process would involve. When he gave me a price, I didn't hesitate to leave the guitar with him there and then. I searched the net for the color burst I wanted ( an amber/brown burst I felt went with the ash body ), and sent him pictures. He reproduced what I wanted perfectly. Also added a new tortoise pickguard to replace the original black one, a perfect choice for the burst he did!
He gave me a six -week window on doing the refinish .... it ended up taking seven.
I picked it up earlier today and when he opened the case I was floored. It looks and sounds wonderful! The man is a craftsman as well as an artist!
Best thing is I have a new look to a great Guild at about 1/5 of what I'd have paid for a new Guild dread.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
I am a Happy Man !!
Link to Chris' Website:
http://www.restorationguitar.com/
Some time ago, I got the bug to add a burst dread to my acoustics.
Initially I thought a burst USA D 40 or Traditional D 40 would be the way to go. Then I considered a D20 mahogany in antique burst.
As I mentioned in a post a while back, the lack of being able to try Oxnard guitars in hand is daunting, & frustrating..... 2 1/2 hr. minimum ride to nearest dealer stocking at best just few US Guilds ( Wilcutt in KY). Last D 40's I got to play in person were during a visit to Sweetwater some 21/2 years back when they had three D40's in their acoustic room ( I actually preferred the USA D 40 to the Traditional though both models were great). That's a 3+ hour ride if they even have any on hand. Didn't want to get into a "buy and hope for the best" scenario & the hassle of shipping guitars back & forth if I wasn't pleased.
When our local Guitar Center brought in a bunch of "Westerly" ('Designed in California; made in China') dreads, I was able to give them a try.....
Sorry, but the D 140's and 120's did nothing for me. I found the necks clumsy, and the sound mediocre. They struck me as sounding like all the other less-than-average $200- $800 new guitars hanging in the acoustic room. One D120 I played (with whatever wood was passing for Guilds overseas version of all-hog ) had a smear of what looked like white glue on the edges of its bridge, a bridge that had already lifted at least 1/8 of an inch all across the back. Why would GC even put something like that out on the floor as brand-new with a full-price sticker on it????
Got to thinking that even if I found a burst dread that pleased me, it would involve the hassle of getting a passive pickup setup into it to match all the other K&K dual systems the others have.
Then I had another thought: Why not take one of the Guilds I'm satisfied with and check into what refinishing the top as a burst would involve?
Fortunately, We have a terrific luthier in Cincinnati by the name of Chris Sisson. He's pretty much the only one I'll let touch my Guilds, even though there are a few other good people locally.
So one day, I put the D 46 in the car and drove 15 minutes to Chris' shop -"Restoration Guitar," in Cincy's Northside neighborhood. We talked about what would be involved in doing a refinish on the top, and he took me through everything the process would involve. When he gave me a price, I didn't hesitate to leave the guitar with him there and then. I searched the net for the color burst I wanted ( an amber/brown burst I felt went with the ash body ), and sent him pictures. He reproduced what I wanted perfectly. Also added a new tortoise pickguard to replace the original black one, a perfect choice for the burst he did!
He gave me a six -week window on doing the refinish .... it ended up taking seven.
I picked it up earlier today and when he opened the case I was floored. It looks and sounds wonderful! The man is a craftsman as well as an artist!Best thing is I have a new look to a great Guild at about 1/5 of what I'd have paid for a new Guild dread.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
I am a Happy Man !!
Link to Chris' Website:
http://www.restorationguitar.com/
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