Advice on repairing a 1964 Guild D40?

[chazmo]

A '64 is from Hoboken, NJ, which gives it automatic recognition as an early Guild from one of their most creative periods. And, by the way, if you're right about the year, this is a very early D-40 indeed! Hans Moust says this model bowed in 1963.

Oh, and as regards the Emporium... Has anyone explained GAS to you yet?!

Hoboken? When I was in high school in NY City in the early '60s the worst thing you could call a guitar was a New Jersey cigar box :lol: It really is a '64 -- I looked it up on the Guild website. Hans Moust PMd me and said he'd look up the serial number and give me some more info about it.

No, I don't know what GAS is. Am I in for some fun?

BTW, I have to confess that this is all very new to me. I'm not at all a guitar expert, and am starting to feel a bit guilty about letting my Guild sit in a closet for so long.

Hehehehe.... If you spend any time in Emporium, I think you'll know exactly what GAS means. They have a lot of awfully nice axes there. For me, Union Music in Worcester is highly GAS-inducing. Nowhere near the high-end stuff of Emporium, but there's always something there to fall in love with.

And, as for feeling guilty... YOU SHOULD! Just kidding on that of course. The point is you're now on the sinner's path back to righteousness my friend. I damaged my two guitars from my youth because of humidity (I didn't know anything about that until a few years ago when I started spending time online). I kick myself about that constantly, but I got them repaired and play them frequently. Since then I've learned a lot about proper care and maintenance. To me, I just really enjoy time with the wood and steel. It's a bit addictive.

Anyway, you're among friends here, and I'm sure we'd love to see some pictures of your D-40 if you have any... Hope it all turns out well!

 

[Dr. Spivey]

BTW, I have to confess that this is all very new to me. I'm not at all a guitar expert, and am starting to feel a bit guilty about letting my Guild sit in a closet for so long.

Without Hans, and the collective knowledge of everyone here, most of us would be fumblin' in the dark.

Guilt? Hanging out with us is sufficient penance. :wink:

 

[GardMan]

I just got my guitar back from my friend, whose repair guy in his shop thought that fixing the damage was a little over his head and recommended someone else, who's supposed to be the "best" in this area."

But this is his assessment:
Needs the top crack steamed/patched/glued
Could use a new saddle (My friend disagrees, thinks it's fine and the action is great)
Binding is cracking/shrinking

As for cost/value, he said repair would be around $250-300, and the guitar would be worth around $400. As is, it's worth around $250. From all your comments, these numbers don't make much sense. I will keep looking.

Those numbers don't add up to me... Cleating a couple of cracks and a full setup with bone nut and saddle for my '71 D-44 was less than $200. I don't know if by "patch" he means a cosmetic repair, where the external crack is "patched" with a splinter of wood and re-finished... or if just meant "cleating" the crack on the inside...

Based on what I have seen on eBay, I also think that properly repaired, it would be worth substantially more than $400... depending on the buyer and other intangibles, perhaps $600-1000?

If it was me and I had the cash, I definitely get it repaired to good playing order...
Good luck, Dave

 

[kitniyatran]

Yeah, I don't know much about them or the cost of the repairs, but a newly(properly) repaired Guild D40 should be worth enough to be worth the repair bill. I wonder if this guy's scamming or trying to discourage because he Really doesn't want the job.

 

[dogberry]

I personally would be glad to pay $400 for that guitar after the repairs had been made.

You've heard this a lot already, but that's a guitar that's definitely worth repairing. And it's going to be worth more than $400.

Dogman

 

[atsesta]

You are all awsome. Forums like this and the generosity of people like you remind me that the world is not as crazy and bad as it seems (can I say this without being political or religious?). The love for these guitars is just pouring out of you. I mean it. I can't thank you enough.

When I first posted this message, I knew just about nothing. Now I'm totally convinced and I will definitely take care of the structural part of the repair. I have the bucks and I don't want it to get any worse. And I won't be a total idiot when I talk to the repair guy at the Music Emporium, hopefully some time this week.

 

[taabru45]

We can be plenty Religious, and Political, irreverent, sarcastic, politically incorrect, and any other flavor of life here, we just set all that crap aside when we pick up or discuss Guilds. All in all I appreciate it as a safe place to come to, as well. We may not always agree, but almost always respect. (cept, when we don't) :lol: :lol: Steffan

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

Get a second opinion on the repairs.
You should be able to get the work done for less than you have been quoted and the guitar will be worth more than quoted.
Perhaps they want to buy it from you as is. If they did, they would sell it for double what they have quoted you, after the repairs.

 

[GardMan]

A couple of examples of older D-40s with repaired cracks: this one and this one...

I think, all else equal, a '64 would sell for more than a '68 or '73. My $600-$1000 estimate of value was based on eBay prices. Shop prices tend to be substantially higher (maybe 20-30%), as evident in these two.
Dave