D-20 made in California. Disappointing build quality

[scottwalker82]

Here's A a couple of pictures of the D-20 I bought in Jan 2022. Fresh off the California line. The sound board has sunk around the sound hole, and the bridge is now bulging. The action is shot, it sounds awful. Not sure if anyone else has experienced this problem, but the guitar is done. Such a disappointment. Had high hopes for this guitar. The bracing is just so light, I think anything higher than a light gauge string and your risking it.

 

[fronobulax]

Welcome and thank you. Since this is presumably a guitar purchased new with a factory warranty has Guild said anything about it?

 

[scottwalker82]

My warranty is void as I changed the saddle and nut material. But your right to suggest that. might try again. I bought it in the US but am now back in the UK. There is a dealer in the city, so might see what they say.

 

[fronobulax]

My warranty is void as I changed the saddle and nut material. But your right to suggest that. might try again. I bought it in the US but am now back in the UK. There is a dealer in the city, so might see what they say.

Thanks. I have no strong knowledge of guitar design and construction but that does look like "bellying" and folks on LTG have differing opinions about whether a belly is a good thing or a bad thing and whether it is inevitable due to the design or indicative of some other problem. Guild's answers about a four month old instrument would be very interesting.

The comment about the light bracing is also helpful. Some folks have reported it on new American Guilds but it wasn't clear whether it was too light.

 

[scottwalker82]

Aye. It's bulging at the bridge but also sunken at the sound hole. It's also a uneven bulge, you can actually feel the ridge when you run a hand over it. Think I'm firmly in the no bulge on flat top guitar club. I've had two luthier s look at it. Both said the bracing was too light. But like you, I'm not massively knowledgeable on construction.

 

[richardp69]

That's a shame. I've owned two different D 20's. Both were fine guitars with no issues. Sounds like you got a bad one. Hopefully Guild will help out a bit here.

 

[scottwalker82]

You mind if I ask what year D-20 they were?

 

[geoguy]

Welcome . . . and sorry to hear that your first post is re: a problem with a new instrument.

Did Guild tell you the warranty was void due to the nut & saddle replacement? Those alterations would obviously not deform the soundboard.

What gauge strings are on the guitar now? Specs call for light-gauge D'Addario.

My guess is that either the string gauge was too high for the instrument, or braces have become detached.

 

[scottwalker82]

That is interesting string info. the spec card i got with the guitar recommended 0.13 bronze wound. Thats whats on it. but I would agree with you, that they are two heavy and could be part of the reason the sound board is so deformed. I read the warranty which stated that the changes would make it void. But I haven't yet contacted guild, but I will

 

[davismanLV]

I'd love to see a real straight edge vs. what you're using laid across the whole lower bout covering the entire area. And not that I think there's not something wrong with your guitar, but "flattop" is a type of terminology to describe these guitars, however most are built with a slight curve to them. They're rarely perfectly flat and usually have a very slight dome to them. Bellying refers to the lower bout raising up higher than it was built with a corresponding sinking above the bridge between the bridge and the soundhole. I'd like to see it measured with a longer straight edge and also in the other direction from lower bout to upper bout.

As has been stated, it may be eligible for repair or replacement under factory warranty if presented to Guild. Did you not keep the original saddle and nut? That's always a good idea when replacing any original parts, especially of a new or newer guitar. I'll be interested to see how this pans out for you. Keep us posted and good luck!!

 

[scottwalker82]

Aye still have the original nut and saddle, so potentially could return it to original state, hopefully Guild would be ok with this. I'm getting the guitar back from the luthier this week. I will post his diagnosis if that's of any interest. In terms of bellying. I get what you're saying about the straight edge. The bulge is fairly extreme, and like I said above, more pronounced on the high e side. You can feel a ridge from the saddle to the back of the guitar.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Aye still have the original nut and saddle, so potentially could return it to original state, hopefully Guild would be ok with this. I'm getting the guitar back from the luthier this week. I will post his diagnosis if that's of any interest.

yes, please keep us posted. sorry for the disappointment.
in a related tangent, if you will, i have a 1971 D25 flatback, basically the original version of your D20, though I am sure they made changes between build eras. while it can handle mediums, and most likely would have left Westerly RI with medium 80/20s on it, most likely D'Addarios too, it sounds most resonant with light gauge strings. sometimes, mediums choke the top movement.

 

[Neal]

If you can feel a ridge near the bulge (especially if that ridge is right where the bridge wings end on either the bass or treble side), the likely cause is a loose brace. Has a luthier used a mirror to view the interior bracing to confirm that they are properly glued?

 

[scottwalker82]

Not sure what techniques the luthier uses, but when i speak to him later this week I will get him to write down his diagnosis, which I will post.

This will be the second luthier ive spoken to about this guitar. The first one was not very complementary about the bracing on the guitar.

"On this guitar I saw the bracing and was not impressed, but for the price I guess its what Guild gives you".

This was from the email he sent me.

From the conversations ive had with the current luthier hes said the same type of thing.

Going to send Guild a email now, see what they think.

 

[Bonneville88]

I'd love to see a real straight edge vs. what you're using laid across the whole lower bout covering the entire area. And not that I think there's not something wrong with your guitar, but "flattop" is a type of terminology to describe these guitars, however most are built with a slight curve to them. They're rarely perfectly flat and usually have a very slight dome to them. Bellying refers to the lower bout raising up higher than it was built with a corresponding sinking above the bridge between the bridge and the soundhole. I'd like to see it measured with a longer straight edge and also in the other direction from lower bout to upper bout.

As has been stated, it may be eligible for repair or replacement under factory warranty if presented to Guild. Did you not keep the original saddle and nut? That's always a good idea when replacing any original parts, especially of a new or newer guitar. I'll be interested to see how this pans out for you. Keep us posted and good luck!!

Seconding what Tom wrote - a sturdy 24" (or comparable metric) straight edge can reveal much about what the top of
the guitar is doing. A string action gauge is helpful too.

Fwiw, this is a late '60's Guild D35, well worn.
Effortless action, great playing and sounding guitar.
Noticeable neck dive on the fretboard extension, but excellent neck angle and
saddle height.

That said - I would be surprised - and rightfully concerned -
to be seeing anywhere near this much top deviation on a recent D20, but
there would be some - as has been mentioned, the top should not be
dead flat.

 

[davismanLV]

Be careful allowing anyone (good or otherwise) doing anything to this guitar who is not a qualified and approved Guild repair person who is authorized to do warranty work! They may look but if they make any repairs and/or changes the warranty is void. As long as they're just looking and not doing anything, you should be okay.

 

[scottwalker82]

Tbf I've just been reading the warranty. It says once you leave the US. Which I have, that it's also void. Still emailed though, so will wait and see.

 

[davismanLV]

I assume Guild currently distributes and sells guitars internationally? But I could be wrong about that. I had no idea that leaving the US voided the warranty. If they sell outside the US do they have a warranty? Very strange..... Glad you contacted them. Let's see what they say.

 

[scottwalker82]

 

[scottwalker82]

Actually. the way this is written, I have to find the policy for the UK.

Or ship it back to the US for repair?