Break in Plastic Ring Around Sound Hole

[Frisco Fred]

Hi,

I,m new to good guitars. I just bought a 1976 Guild D-25M.

After a couple of days of cleaning the grim off of it I noticed that the plastic ring around the sound hole is cracked. There is about a 3/32" gap btween both ends of the break.

How critical is this ring? Can it be fixed?

This guitar sounds sick compaired to my "76 D-35"

Thank You.

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

Hi Frisco! Welcome to LTG

We're glad you could join us.

This ring is called a 'Rosette', in case you didn't know. It's function is purely cosmetic. It may not be worth the trouble to repair. An experienced guitar tech could probably give you some good advice on how to go about repairing the break in that rosette.. Or you could post some pictures here, and we could take a stab at making a few suggestions.

~nw

 

[bluesypicky]

Welcome Frisco. The D25 is an amazing guitar, I don't think anyone here will argue.
What Nigel said about the Rosette: No big deal, and I'm sure any decent luthier can make this crack invisible in no time and very little money.....

 

[killdeer43]

Another Northwest welcome from the other side of the Cascades.

Knowlegeable heads will convene to solve your rosette dilemma, but I'm curious about your D25 sounding "sick" compared to your D35. Do you mean sick in the traditional sense or in the current sense where sick is actually good? :?

Enjoy,
Joe

 

[Dr. Spivey]

Greetings from the frozen north.

 

[bluesypicky]

Greetings from the frozen north.

I see the cold made you grow a beard hmm?

 

[Frisco Fred]

Thank You One and All.

John AKA Frisco Fred

 

[Frisco Fred]

Welcome Frisco. The D25 is an amazing guitar, I don't think anyone here will argue.
What Nigel said about the Rosette: No big deal, and I'm sure any decent luthier can make this crack invisible in no time and very little money.....

Both are mfg. 1976. the 35 is a "boomer" the 25 sounds weak.

 

[killdeer43]

[Both are mfg. 1976. the 35 is a "boomer" the 25 sounds weak.

Interesting.
I once had both of those models at the same time and it was just the opposite. Go figure.

Joe

 

[poser]

Hmm. a weak D-25. I bought a D-25 and was a bit disappointed with the sound too. In my d=case, I think there are two reasons. The biggest reason, I think is that the neck angle is off. In order to keep the strings at a reasonable height, the saddle has been shaved pretty low. So now there may not be a proper break angle of the strings as they cross the saddle. Secondly, (and probably related to the first problem), the previous owner put very light strings (as in electric guitar strings) on the D-25. It's easy to play, but it has ... umm ... let's call it a delicate sound. I play finger style anyway and only for myself, so it's not that big a deal for me but I was disappointed when I first got it.

 

[evenkeel]

Welcome to LTG land. Nothing to add re: the rosette.

Re: the more important subject of tone, or the lack thereof. Poser raises some good points re: the string break angle. It would be very helpful to see some pics of the guitar, in particular a close up of the saddle area. Other things to consider, if you have not already done so. Age, type and guage of the strings? Has the saddle been altered in any way? Is the internal bracing intact/stable? Every guitar maker, on occasion, lets a dog off the assemby line. Martin and Guild are, in my opinion, more consistant than most but they are not immune.

If you can post some pics you'll get a lot more information.

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

Re: the more important subject of tone, or the lack thereof. Poser raises some good points re: the string break angle. It would be very helpful to see some pics of the guitar, in particular a close up of the saddle area. Other things to consider, if you have not already done so. Age, type and guage of the strings? Has the saddle been altered in any way?

If you can post some pics you'll get a lot more information.

+1 Your D25 could benefit from a proper setup and new strings, if it hasn't had them, recently. Might go along ways to sorting the tone problem.

~nw

 

[chazmo]

Re: the more important subject of tone, or the lack thereof. Poser raises some good points re: the string break angle. It would be very helpful to see some pics of the guitar, in particular a close up of the saddle area. Other things to consider, if you have not already done so. Age, type and guage of the strings? Has the saddle been altered in any way?

If you can post some pics you'll get a lot more information.

+1 Your D25 could benefit from a proper setup and new strings, if it hasn't had them, recently. Might go along ways to sorting the tone problem.

~nw

Agreed. This is double the reason (including the rosette, that is) to pay a visit to a luthier to have a look-see. There may be a good reason why that D-25 isn't singing quite as you might expect.

 

[bluesypicky]

Your D25 could benefit from a proper setup and new strings~nw

Ask Dave about it... :wink: (AKA "dapmdave")
His D25 came back from the set up as a completely different guitar than it was on it's way in, and it can probably be considered his most "boomy" guitar now... I heard (and played) it before and after, I am still in shock a couple months later! :shock:
Do it! :evil: Something tells me you won't regret the 50 or so bucks it should cost you, including the rosette repair.

 

[Frisco Fred]

Hi,

I've yet to photograph the bridge / saddle and nut. I appreciate the help I've been given, I just been over my head in lifes duties with family and children to take care of this guitar. Pascal, has given me some direction, Thanks Pascal.

This is to assure, all of you that helped, I intend to bring this D-25 M back to life.

Thank You

 

[adorshki]

This is to assure, all of you that helped, I intend to bring this D-25 M back to life.
Thank You

Boy you're gonna make a lot of friends here talkin' like that !

 

[Frisco Fred]

I took the pictures, but then I discovered that I don't have upload priviledges. I sent a message to the administrator asking for help. I'll have them up as soon as I can, if I can.

Frisco Fred

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

I took the pictures, but then I discovered that I don't have upload priviledges. I sent a message to the administrator asking for help. I'll have them up as soon as I can, if I can.

Frisco Fred

Hi Fred - it's not a matter of privileges, it's a matter of having the images hosted elsewhere. Here is a little tutorial, that may help out:
http://www.letstalkguild.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5522&p=53311&hilit=imageshack#p53311
Good luck!
~nw