NGD: Blue X3000

adorshki

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From a value perspective, it may give more cred to the repair to have Fixit work his magic, given his Guild pedigree.
Good point, I'd forgotten about that. It could be a bit more valuable in a formal appraisal since there's no actual factory electric repair right now.
Fixit's authorized.
Also, you realize of course, that as soon as you get the repair back, another one will pop up on eBAY, right?
It'll be the second one the seller had stashed away.
:eek-new:
 

mavuser

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gorgeous guitar but the seller should offer a full refund, including initial shipping, plus pay for the return shipping. If the lack of packaging upon arrival is well documented/photographed, this is a no-brainer, and if you paid with Amex you should be pretty well protected.

alternatively Amex could help you negotiate a partial refund to keep the guitar as is, the way you got it. for me personally that number would be a minimum of $1,000. maybe $1,500.

If the seller is pursuing a shipping insurance claim, you will likely need to return the guitar to them, one way or another.

If the packaging is as bad as you say, that shipoing insurance claim could potentially get complicated (also in a different country), so be sure all bases are covered if and when you send it back.

While I admire your spirit and agree that looks more like fretboard separation than a gnarly headstock broken (and yes it is insanely beautiful)...I would hope you contacted your credit card company and froze the charges, started the dispute/investigation process. nothing to lose, u can always drop it.

i am with you on keeping it, at a price you agree to. what you currently have in your possession is not what you paid for.
 

GAD

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I sent a long email to the seller explaining that as far as I was concerned this is not a shipping vendor problem, but rather a poor packing problem. Honestly, if I were to sit in a courtroom as an expert witness I'd testify that the shipping company is not to blame. I told him he needs to propose a solution or I'll open a case with PayPal (damage claims can be started within 20 days of receipt).
 

mavuser

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yeah, its a special one for sure. i hate to be the one to provide the reality check -in this particular instance-(blue also very well documented as my favorite color, Nightingale as my favorite Guild I don't own...), but when everyone is done with their fluffy fairy tales, he is going to have to refund u about 50 percent of the cash, or you will need to return it, i'm afraid.
 

K.O.M.A.

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Greg Platzer, Lemoyne PA. BCRmusic.com. To say that this guy is a master of the "better than new" headstock repair is an understatement. He is VERY well regarded on the Luthier boards I haunt. Google him for pics of some of his incredible saves. Good luck, those pics of your guitar are like a punch to the gut.
 

matsickma

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As damage goes I don't think a loose fret board is going to drop the value of the guitar like a split neck or cracked headstock. Actually it might imply the workmanship at Guild didn't bond the fretboard correctly. Probably a good thing in hindsight to prevent a snapped neck. If the fretboard bond is redone properly and finish touched up professionally the guitar value will remain high for a select group of Nightengale enthusiast regardless of the repair.

Thats how I see it.
I never paid that much for a guitar or should I say I never had too but if I had too I probably would have!

M
 

walrus

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GAD, the only way we can continue to live vicariously through your many guitar purchases and reviews is if you keep it. This momentous guitar in particular will require you to tell us all about it on a continuous basis, so that we may feel happiness and joy through your review and all other posts that follow.

I know this may seem like a lot of pressure, but think of all of your fans here on LTG! :joyous:

walrus
 

GAD

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GAD, the only way we can continue to live vicariously through your many guitar purchases and reviews is if you keep it. This momentous guitar in particular will require you to tell us all about it on a continuous basis, so that we may feel happiness and joy through your review and all other posts that follow.

I know this may seem like a lot of pressure, but think of all of your fans here on LTG! :joyous:

walrus

If you y'all paid for the reviews I'd be a lot more motivated. :emmersed: Kidding, of course.

I actually ordered more equipment because I'm constantly offended that the photos aren't more magnificent. Hey, it keeps me busy. :)
 
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adorshki

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As damage goes I don't think a loose fret board is going to drop the value of the guitar like a split neck or cracked headstock. Actually it might imply the workmanship at Guild didn't bond the fretboard correctly. Probably a good thing in hindsight to prevent a snapped neck. If the fretboard bond is redone properly and finish touched up professionally the guitar value will remain high for a select group of Nightengale enthusiast regardless of the repair. Thats how I see it.
M

I agree as it's actually the same with collector cars. I was trying to figure out how to say that myself, but the thing I was forgetting is that the guitar itself (like some cars) is only going to have that value to a narrow but knowledgable buyer niche.
If that niche grows then it'll probably gain value too.

"Wrecked Jaguar" or "Ultra rare low production wrecked Jaguar"?
40 years ago that would have been a $10,000 car at best, in running condition and ready to race.
Probably not even that because vintage racing wasn't really on the radar yet and the car wasn't even street-legal.

At least that X-3000's streetable.
:glee:
 
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DrumBob

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I can recommend a great luthier, David Petillo, in Ocean Twp. You'll never know it was cracked after David gets done with it.
 

DThomasC

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That crack, though heartbreaking to be sure, should not be difficult to fix. Choose a luthier that is skilled in repairing lacquer and you will never be able to spot the repair. I would not recommend a violin specialist as they use a varnish finish which requires a completely different skill set.
 

GAD

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Took it to the local post office because the seller insisted that I needed to do that for his insurance claim. The Postmaster (who was awesome) told me that she was supposed to confiscate the item. Thankfully she didn't. She also agreed with me that this is a packing problem and not a shipping problem.
 

adorshki

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Took it to the local post office because the seller insisted that I needed to do that for his insurance claim. The Postmaster (who was awesome) told me that she was supposed to confiscate the item. Thankfully she didn't. She also agreed with me that this is a packing problem and not a shipping problem.
WTF?
Sounds like he set you up for that.
How would the Post Office have any "legal" reason to confiscate unless seller somehow represented to them that you had defrauded him on payment?
Even then, why would they have any reason to act as his agent?
Or were they supposed to confiscate because he or his insurance company were making a claim against the USPS for damage in transit and to honor it they needed to regain possession of the instrument?
Sounds like her agreement that it was a packing problem is why she let you keep it? (IE, shipper's damage claim was going to be denied based on her assessment, thus, Post Office had no reason to seize it)
Realizing you may not be in the mood for complicated explanations, I tried to make it easy to just say yes or no.
And take your time.
If that'd happened to me, I'd be somewhere relatively soundproof, venting at the top of my voice right about now.
And consulting with Paypal.
 

GAD

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WTF?
Sounds like he set you up for that.
How would the Post Office have any "legal" reason to confiscate unless seller somehow represented to them that you had defrauded him on payment?
Even then, why would they have any reason to act as his agent?
Or were they supposed to confiscate because he or his insurance company were making a claim against the USPS for damage in transit and to honor it they needed to regain possession of the instrument?
Sounds like her agreement that it was a packing problem is why she let you keep it? (IE, shipper's damage claim was going to be denied based on her assessment, thus, Post Office had no reason to seize it)
Realizing you may not be in the mood for complicated explanations, I tried to make it easy to just say yes or no.
And take your time.
If that'd happened to me, I'd be somewhere relatively soundproof, venting at the top of my voice right about now.
And consulting with Paypal.

Nah - I expected it having read up on the possible outcomes. From what I understand (which is minimal, to be honest) if the item was destroyed then USPS would take it to avoid there being a scam. I'm sure Default could correct me if he's so inclined.

This being international, everything is more complicated. I'm giving the seller a day or two and then I'm just filing a dispute with Paypal. That may result in me having to ship it back for a full refund (at my expense - it's in the T&Cs) if he doesn't agree to my partial refund request, so we'll see what happens.
 

adorshki

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Nah - I expected it having read up on the possible outcomes. From what I understand (which is minimal, to be honest) if the item was destroyed then USPS would take it to avoid there being a scam.
Ah, light goes on! Makes too much sense so must be true.

This being international, everything is more complicated. I'm giving the seller a day or two and then I'm just filing a dispute with Paypal. That may result in me having to ship it back for a full refund (at my expense - it's in the T&Cs) if he doesn't agree to my partial refund request, so we'll see what happens.
OK we're back to keeping our fingers crossed that seller will opt to retain a final sale even at less than ideal return on investment.
 

GAD

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Today's photography experiment:

5D3_7283_1600.jpg
 

Los Angeles

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This is a common and easy repair. Take heart and enjoy this guitar when it’s ready!
 
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