JimbowF212
Member
twocorgis said:Hi all,
That saga of my D50 continues. When we last left off, I sent it to Nashville for what I was fairly sure to be a neck reset that would be covered under warranty. I am the original owner, and even have the original sales receipt from 1976, a copy of which I included in the box that I shipped the guitar down to them in. Today I receive this:
Hi Sandy,
Attached is a quote for repair on your D50. If you approve, please sign
and return the quote via fax at the number below. The limited lifetime
warranty on Guild guitars is for defects in materials and workmanship.
While your guitar has been kept in good condition, a neck reset and
related repairs are considered normal wear on an instrument of this age.
It appears the neck has been reset before, was the previous work done
under warranty? If so, do you have documentation of the work performed?
If this has been an ongoing problem, the neck reset may qualify for
warranty. Please give me a call if you have any questions or concerns or
if you would like to discuss this further.
Along with this estimate
Needless to say, I'm flabbergasted. I was pretty sure when I got off the phone with Bruce Bolen down there that they would cover this. I was prepared to pay for fret work, a new bone nut and saddle, and even the return shipping, but I certainly wasn't prepared to be hit with a bill like this one. And no, the guitar has never had a neck reset before, and also the guitar never had a top crack, at least that I was aware of (and I certainly would have been) If I'd had any inkling that it would have turned out this way. I would have kept my guitar here, and had my local luthier do the work.
So what to do. I don't want to be argumentative, but on the other hand I feel I was misled to a certain extent. Do I talk to Thane (head of the shop, who sent the email) or do I talk to Bruce directly? I don't want Thane thinking that I'm going over his head, but he might not have the authority that Bruce has to cover this. I would respond to the email, but both times I've done that he never got back to me.
You folks are probably more diplomatic that I, and may have even been in a similar situation with Guild/Fender. What would you do? I'm in such a state now I don't want to do anything until I calm down some. I think I'll go play guitar for a while...
A neck reset not covered under warrenty because it is normal wear and tear, this is not Martins policy so maybe I need to stick with them if this is the kind of warrenty service you get with Guild. I have a neck issue with my 25 year old D-35V and both Martin and my repair person assure me it will be Fully covered on my warrenty because I am the original owner. If they won't fix it under warrenty, then Have them send it back to you without doing the repairs and call Kathy Currier @ 859-623-6010 She did a neck reset my dad's 66 Martin D-28, his warrenty expired when he did, and she only charges $350.00 it won't hurt to ask her about the reairs. She is in Tuesday, Wend, Fri & Sat(12-Close), Thurs (4 PM - Close) She does great work and is very reasonable. You could probably read the repair bill to her over the phone and she could give you an estimate. And I don't think She will charge as much on the return shipping. Just something to think about. I think even Taylor covers neck resets under warrenty, someone needs to point this out to Guild as I think this issue will hurt their sales. They have most likely lost one potential customer right here. I don't buy guitars from Companies that won't stand behind them better then this but, it is Fender after all and they are an electric guitar Company and only recently acquired Ovation, Takamine and Guild maybe they'll learn better but, we can only hope!!!