Thanks!I'd imagine it's also possible that the neck was made in 8/2000 and then attached to the body in early 2001, but without a useful chart to pull, @hansmoust is the only source of factual information. If he doesn't chime in you could try calling Fender (not Guild) and asking them.
Yes we've seen signature notes in truss channels before, kind of hard to make out the initials, though. I agree with GAD that it's most likely mis-dated. An '02 would absolutely have a Corona label for one thing, and in fact there was no X-700 in '02. Westerly was last year under that model name, last appearance in '01 catalog as X700 Stuart.
I reached out to Jeffery on FB. I don't know if he'll reply. Just wanted to let he know, 23 years later the guitar still plays like butter.JT is Jeffrey Tougas, he posts over on Facebook all the time. You can see his initials in many, many, many, Guild truss rod cavities. It means he is the one who fit the neck to the body.
He has posted in the FB group "Guild Guitars Owners and Fans." If you join the group, you should be able to reach out to him there.I reached out to Jeffery on FB. I don't know if he'll reply. Just wanted to let he know, 23 years later the guitar still plays like butter.
I'm absolutely sure he'd love to hear that! The guys who did neck sets over the years were usually very long-term employees who really loved their work. At least that's the impression I've gotten over the years. Now, over a beer on a Friday afternoon at the local pub....I reached out to Jeffery on FB. I don't know if he'll reply. Just wanted to let he know, 23 years later the guitar still plays like butter.