A 1987 Westerly-made GF-40 is my first Guild acquisition

jedzep

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Guess I'm not understanding. Did the luthier actually cause the side split?
 

welshtoast

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Guess I'm not understanding. Did the luthier actually cause the side split?
Yes. He was reaming the hole in the block to enlarge it in preparation for installing a pickup jack... and it just... exploded.
 

Curlington

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I don't know which is worse, trusting a local guy who is just OK, trusting the shipping company to safely ship to a guy I know I can trust, or driving several hours one way to a guy who I know I can trust. I would have thought my local guy could handle something as seemingly routine/rudimentary as enlarging the hole for a pickup jack.

I wouldn't pay a dime to the guy that did that to my acoustic, and I would never trust him again, but that is just me. Accidents do happen, and maybe, maybe, I am misjudging the difficulty of enlarging the hole safely.
 
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chazmo

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welshtoast, I think you have to go with your feelings of fairness here.

The guy owned up to his (big) mistake and is trying to do right by you. In point of fact, a side split like yours will not affect tone at all, so you'll be getting back a guitar that you really loved when you handed it over and it'll play the same.

Anyway, I feel bad for the guy who caused the damage, but you seem like a fairly laid back fellow. He probably won't charge you for anything, but if he does, use your judgement.
 

welshtoast

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I wouldn't pay a dime to the guy that did that to my acoustic

It's funny because I agree with that sentiment... But assuming he finishes the job of fashioning a new nut and saddle, and he does the work of fitting the pickup and jack, then he's still done work that I asked him to do and for which I agreed to pay!

But then again, he's wrecked the value of my guitar to the tune of more than the cost of his work, and I've been without my Guild for 3 months because of his mistake.

Buuuut, it was just a mistake. It has to happen sometime. We're all only human. It's not like he's young, inexperienced, or it's his first reaming job; he's been doing this for years and he's done hundreds of these. I honestly believe it's just bad luck on his part. And like I said: he's doing work I asked him to do.

Hence my internal conflict!!

It may be for naught. I suspect he'll charge me nothing (it's what I'd do). But still, I'd like to be prepared for a... conversation.

Thanks for all the input so far :)
 

welshtoast

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Maybe he charges me nothing and I buy him a bottle of good whisky as thanks for making it right.

Edit: I know there's a chance some folks will think "you're going to buy him good whisky as thanks for breaking your guitar??!?!? Are you mad?!?", but that's not how I see it. The mistake isn't the important part; it's how he responded to the mistake that speaks to his character and intent. He's good people. And in my book, good people need good whisky!
 
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welshtoast

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Day #112 and my Guild is still at the shop. The luthier is going to do yet more buffing and nitro to get it as close to smooth as possible. The glacial speed of nitro curing is now the primary cause of the slow-paced repair job.

In other news (and I won't start another topic here, but I just wanted to dangle it because I'm excited like a kid in a candy store) I just received a package from the folks at Driftwood Guitars (https://www.driftwoodguitars.com/tonewood) that contains some lovely 40-year aged Brazilian Rosewood! There's a back, sides, fretboard, and bridge!

Brazlilan Rosewood.jpeg

It's eventually going to become an OM guitar. But that's another story for another thread...
 

davismanLV

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That wood was maximized for a dread!! Which is fine. But ..... it seems like a waste ordering this wood and then cutting it down on BR. Did I get this wrong? You ordered dread wood, but want OM?? Sorry, I'm a little confused....
 

HeyMikey

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That wood was maximized for a dread!! Which is fine. But ..... it seems like a waste ordering this wood and then cutting it down on BR. Did I get this wrong? You ordered dread wood, but want OM?? Sorry, I'm a little confused....
I’m guessing they didn’t have an OM size set. I’d probably do the same thing or maybe make it as an OM Grand /0000 size with a 16” lower bout but at OM depth of 4 inches. An OM with a little extra umph but still comfortable.
 

davismanLV

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I’m guessing they didn’t have an OM size set. I’d probably do the same thing or maybe make it as an OM Grand /0000 size with a 16” lower bout but at OM depth of 4 inches. An OM with a little extra umph but still comfortable.
I'm looking at the extra pieces around the top thinking "how many bridges could I make of those?" then I realize they're WAY too thin.... so sigh.... Anyone ever laminate a bridge?
 

HeyMikey

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I'm looking at the extra pieces around the top thinking "how many bridges could I make of those?" then I realize they're WAY too thin.... so sigh.... Anyone ever laminate a bridge?
I’m thinking headstock overlay, rosette, maybe on an arm bevel.
 

welshtoast

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Exactly that: I bought an OM set, but they’d already sold the last one. Instead they offered the dreadnaught size.

I already have a design in mind for headstock inlay and you’re damn right I’ll use every last scrap of BR if I can.

The luthier making the guitar has some 70 year aged Sitka spruce that was reclaimed from a church pipe organ that he wants to use for the sound board. I’m thinking if I can get some old reclaimed mahogany for the neck it’ll be a fully re-used wood guitar, something I find very appealing.
 

dpc915

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I play out a bit with my guitars. For me personally the LR Baggs pick ups work best. Fishman also makes good stuff. It’s sort of a matter or taste and maybe getting a little direct box as well. The trick is to have it installed correctly. Cheers and enjoy that beautiful guitar!
 

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Boneman

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Hiya welshtoast! I just followed the saga, how’s the GF40 coming along these days?
 
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