some thoughts and observations.
the seller claimed she purchased both guitars brand new in 1983, and that they have never been set up, repaired, or worked on in any way. she said she purchased the guitars 34 years ago, and that the strings on the guitars right now are from "twenty something years ago, from when my brother changed them." Ultimately, I believe her every word to be true.
had a closer look at the Ovation. It has been played. a little. there is just a hint of some fret dents, and some signs of play on the fretboard itself. I can't tell if the frets have been leveled or not, I suspect that this 1979 guitar sat in a store until 1983 and may have been set up in 1983 at point of retail sale (definitely suspect that with the Guild), if the Ovaiton was set up the frets may have been leveled I just can't tell. The saddle is super high however, so that likely was never touched. the back of the body, back of the neck, and both sides of the headstock look untouched. the tuners have the slightest signs of contact, but might clean up as new. the top is -not- cracked or even creased as far as I can see. there is humidification in it now so I am anxious to see if there will be movement or possible checking/ craking etc. when I look at the top in the right light I can see the slightest community of surface pickmarks, that would be equivalent to weeks or months of play time, not years.
the Guild, as usual, has a little more explaining to do (but no worries, all is cool in the gang). again, keeping with my theory, this 1980 guitar may have been set up at point of retail sale in 1983, at which time the saddle was likely taken down. i would also guess, at this same time, the bridge may have been reglued, I cant say for sure, but that is my guess. the bridge itself was not shaved or sanded. other than the immediate bridge area, the top is clean as a whistle. the slightest surface pickmarks (less than the ovation), tuners look brand new, frets have no denting at all and fretboard is also mint. again could not say if frets were leveled at all or not, possibly a touch with the saddle. overall id say the frets are about as high as id ever seen on a Guild 12-string and to be honest I can basically say the same for the saddle (albeit, that is not saying much since Guild can tend to be a well acknowledged low-rider). remember the guitar is 37/38 years old and overall i am very happy. ill have to get it set up and we will see what the luthier says. i imagine he may lower the saddle, and much of the time he likes to replace the saddle. lower saddles on Guilds do not give me any concern. I have many Guilds like this and they will be fine for a long, long time. you play one and you know, it needs nothing! the Guild has some humidification going but really didnt need anything extreme. the back of the neck is super clean- there is a blemish where it rested in the case neck cradle for its whole life, that aligns with the same shape marr in the case cradle itself. there are some random scratches on the back, not many, and not belt rash- more like just random selection isolated incidents? maybe 2 or 3 surface nitro screatches of this nature...there is a very slight scuff on the front of the headstock and incidental marks from strings (really nit picking here) but none of it goes thru the finish.
my point of retail sale 1983 set up theory could also explain the mix up in user manuals with the 1983 D-46. still could have happened at Westerly either way, this theory just offers a potential alternate guilty party (Guildy as chaaarged!)
also some documentation of correct TRC orientation, compliments of the D46:
case key in envelope, always a good sign: