Guild JF 3012 in a Pawn shop $400.

[donboy53]

There is a JF 3012 sn# CTT000236, in a pawn shop near me. The bridge is lifting, and it must have been refretted, because the fret wire sticks outside the neck all the way down and up on both sides and it is sharp feeling. The tag says it has a slightly twisted neck, and there is a stress crack on the the body. It is a Natural and the back looks real good, I didn't see any buckle rash. It's in zip 56303 if anyone is interested in it. I don't have a camera that I can take pictures and load them on my computer. I don't have the card reader that is compatible with Win7. Also, I don't know what to look for inside the guitar, because I am a noob around guitars and their structure.

 

[adorshki]

There is a JF 3012 sn# CTT000236, in a pawn shop near me. The bridge is lifting, and it must have been refretted, because the fret wire sticks outside the neck all the way down and up on both sides and it is sharp feeling. The tag says it has a slightly twisted neck, and there is a stress crack on the the body. It is a Natural and the back looks real good, I didn't see any buckle rash. It's in zip 56303 if anyone is interested in it.

Man around here someone's gonna take pity on that poor abused orphan and snatch it right up! Welcome aboard! Love your sig, it's one of my all time most favorite tunes..I've even adapted it to my D25.

 

[hideglue]

... and it must have been refretted, because the fret wire sticks outside the neck all the way down and up on both sides and it is sharp feeling...

donboy,

That's a classic, tell-tale sign of a dried-out guitar. In particular, the fingerboard shrinks beyond the fret ends.
Who know when it might have happened, but around here in cold, dry New England, pawn shops are notorious for just
hanging up a guitar all winter long in a forced, hot air environment.
I wouldn't doubt if it's top is cracked (separated) from the same reason.

 

[donboy53]

Is it beyond hope then?

 

[chazmo]

don,

No, definitely not. But it might be more work to restore it to perfection than you're willing to do. Still, for $400... you could probably put another 300 into and still sell it for a profit if you weren't happy with it.

I wouldn't buy this guitar unless you are either very good at these things or you know a luthier that's willing to do the work. If it needs a neck reset, it might cost you more than break-even to get it back into shape. If it just needs a fret dress and a few cleats to deal with cracks, you'll make out like a bandit. The good news with the laminated maple back is that it won't be cracked. Just really closely look over the soundboard.

Re-gluing the bridge, by the way, is a repair any tech can do for you at minimal expense.

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

donboy,

I had good luck with a dried out Guild from NYC. In the ebay ad, you could see the bridge was lifted, and the seller said there was string buzz. But in transit, it went through wet weather all the way and arrived in Phoenix and was delivered in wet weather, so when I opened the box the bridge had settled down about half way, and there was no string buzz.

After sitting in my humidity controlled room for a month or so, it had settled down to the point where you could only slide a playing card under it. Since I always detune my guitars when I'm not playing them, I can avoid a bridge reglue for quite a while.

dhboy

 

[CA-35]

donboy,

I had good luck with a dried out Guild from NYC. In the ebay ad, you could see the bridge was lifted, and the seller said there was string buzz. But in transit, it went through wet weather all the way and arrived in Phoenix and was delivered in wet weather, so when I opened the box the bridge had settled down about half way, and there was no string buzz.

After sitting in my humidity controlled room for a month or so, it had settled down to the point where you could only slide a playing card under it. Since I always detune my guitars when I'm not playing them, I can avoid a bridge reglue for quite a while.

dhboy

When you say detune do you also adjust the truss rod? I was always told that the strings keep the neck straight with an equal amount of force as the truss rod, just in the opposite direction. You may be doing yourself a disservice if this is true.
I'm just asking.

 

[NEONMOONY]

Never pay tag price in a pawn shop.

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

CA35,

I should have said that I slacken the strings, but only when I'm not playing. It'd an old method for delaying the day when a set-neck guitar will need a neck reset.

 

[guildman63]

donboy,

Since I always detune my guitars when I'm not playing them, I can avoid a bridge reglue for quite a while.

dhboy

There are people that do this, and depending on the circumstances it may work out. My thoughts (FWIW) have always been to maintain concert pitch on the guitar at all times unless I will not be playing the guitar for several weeks for a few reasons. First, the truss rod counters the pull of the strings, so I don't want that balance to be messed with (I generally adjust the truss rod when I do relax the strings). Second, guitar necks and wood in general like consistency. If balance between the strings and the truss rod are frequently being altered it would seem to me that stability in the neck could be compromised. This could result in a guitar that doesn't stay in tune as well, or could potentially lead to the need for more frequent adjustments to the truss rod, which should be done as infrequently as possible anyway. Just my opinion, of course. As for opinions, they say they are like *ssholes...everybody has one.

 

[CA-35]

donboy,

Since I always detune my guitars when I'm not playing them, I can avoid a bridge reglue for quite a while.

dhboy

There are people that do this, and depending on the circumstances it may work out. My thoughts (FWIW) have always been to maintain concert pitch on the guitar at all times unless I will not be playing the guitar for several weeks for a few reasons. First, the truss rod counters the pull of the strings, so I don't want that balance to be messed with (I generally adjust the truss rod when I do relax the strings). Second, guitar necks and wood in general like consistency. If balance between the strings and the truss rod are frequently being altered it would seem to me that stability in the neck could be compromised. This could result in a guitar that doesn't stay in tune as well, or could potentially lead to the need for more frequent adjustments to the truss rod, which should be done as infrequently as possible anyway. Just my opinion, of course. As for opinions, they say they are like *ssholes...everybody has one.

Right on! Balance baby. Keep those strings tight!
Now I'll start another war.....Case Logic or Stand Amongus? And by that I mean do you case it when not playing or do ya have it in a stage stand or hanging on the wall?
I've heard it all and I say case it!

 

[adorshki]

And by that I mean do you case it when not playing or do ya have it in a stage stand or hanging on the wall?
I've heard it all and I say case it!

Favorite recurring LTG topic number 5, I think it is. :lol:
We've ripped that one to shreds before. I'm with you. :wink:

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

GMan,

I believe you are right. So I should have said that I slacken the strings only on those that will be sitting unplayed for a months.

I keep my guitars in cases just to save space in my guitar room. I keep a room humidifier in there set at 35%.

dh

 

[Jack FFR1846]

I have no idea which way to store is right, but my 69 Studio 302 pretty much stayed in the case, tuned standard with no humidifier or anything special for 30 years. I maybe took it out 5 times. Well, in 08, I started playing again, so it comes out now and then and has been fixed up a bit, but the binding is perfect, the neck and original frets are perfect and with the switch now working and output jack replaced, it's been a joy to play and look at. Come to think of it, it's been in the case since I played it for a Christmas show.

 

[guildman63]

Hey Jack, Guilds are "made to be played", so take that git out already and play the damn thing! :wink:

 

[Podo]

Hey Jack, Guilds are "made to be played", so take that git out already and play the damn thing! :wink:

Hey! That's my thing ... if I leave it out on the stage stand, I'm MUCH more likely to pick it up when I'm chillin'. Same for my sax (ESPECIALLY with my sax). As they say: "Out of sight ...", so, I keep my instruments out to remind me that even 10 minutes can be used to advantage or enjoyment.

 

[taabru45]

.........so you're sayin' you are always ready for sax.......I'm impressed. :lol: Steffan

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

so you're sayin' you are always for sax

He meant Fifth Avenue?