Ok guys, I unfortunately have not had time to frequent these boards lately, it can be tough to be in school, work, play, and get on these forums while staying sane. Hopefully you guys can forgive my low post count and give me some advice. What is going on is that a local store owner and I both have guitars that hold interest to each other. I have a month old G.E. Smith tele that i picked up second hand for a great price with the plastic still on the pick guard which is nice, but what can I say I am truly a les paul man when it comes to electrics (avoids flying debris from those guild solidbody owners). What he has to offer is a 10-15 year old D 55 but apparently there is a section of binding missing, I think from the shoulder, and the top has a stress fracture along the grain which he says he has glued. What I don't want to happen is to trade away a nice playing tele for a guild that is permanently damaged. Would a crack down the grain (lets say from top to bottom since that's what i believe he meant), but please tell me how it would affect it if its a best case scenario and only a few inches long, be a death sentence to this guitar some time down the line? Its the dark burst which i love but i want to keep a guitar as nice as a d 55 for a lifetime. any input will be gladly appreciated.
D 55 Trade in the works (maybe?)
- Thread starter CajunGoo
- Start date
Frosty
Senior Member
Ask to have the D-55 evaluated by an independent repair person. That is, leave some collateral and get your plan in writing stating that you will have the guitar back in the shop in X days.
The missing binding should be easy to have fixed. A grain-wise crack... also fixable.
My $.02, if you like the sound of the guitar, and it plays well, that is more meaningful than cosmetic details or details regarding the condition. Every one of my favorite guitars - every one - I have purchased used and each one has had some sort of repair done. An they are not necessarily pretty! Including soundboard cracks, which is not uncommon around here do to dry New England winter air.
Good luck!
The missing binding should be easy to have fixed. A grain-wise crack... also fixable.
My $.02, if you like the sound of the guitar, and it plays well, that is more meaningful than cosmetic details or details regarding the condition. Every one of my favorite guitars - every one - I have purchased used and each one has had some sort of repair done. An they are not necessarily pretty! Including soundboard cracks, which is not uncommon around here do to dry New England winter air.
Good luck!
Thanks for the info Frosty (btw, i do love the sound of a d 55 in your hands.... but i digress) I always judge guitars by their sound, as i actually turned down a d 55 for a grand flat today because it just didn't have the sound i was looking for (if anyone is interested it is posted on the detroit craigslist for 1100) One of the problems is that I don't have any experience with any techs or luthiers in the area I can trust to give me an honest opinion of the guitar and if it is in good enough shape to not recommend all sorts of things that it doesn't need. I don't mean to be a money pincher but lets face it, money is tough these days.
FNG
Enlightened Member
CajunGoo said:
I don't think you can go wrong with Elderlys over in Lansing for repair work. That place is always worth a road trip!!
Dreadnut has a favorite repair guy over there...Dread??
What a great idea... ^
I love perusing those guys' web site. Bring a big checkbook in case GAS hits.
I love perusing those guys' web site. Bring a big checkbook in case GAS hits.
Scott Gierman is my man at Elderly Instruments, he'll give you the straight poop.
In my opinion, I'd wait. Lots of nice guitars out there without top cracks.
In my opinion, I'd wait. Lots of nice guitars out there without top cracks.
It doesn't sound like you've played the guitar or seen it, right?
A stress crack from top to bottom sounds like a very bad idea. A somewhat smaller stress crack sounds like a bad idea. A very small stress crack sounds like an issue.
Missing binding sounds like any number of things, from 'the guitar got too hot and the binding went through changes', to 'the guitar took one heck of a big wallop and the binding came off when the 'stress crack' happened'. Gulp!!
G.E. Smith Teles sell for 1599 new. Yours is 'like new', but still isn't, in fact, new. Let's say it's worth 1200. Anybody think a '90's D55 with a crack down the whole top and missing binding is worth $1200?? Not me!
A stress crack from top to bottom sounds like a very bad idea. A somewhat smaller stress crack sounds like a bad idea. A very small stress crack sounds like an issue.
Missing binding sounds like any number of things, from 'the guitar got too hot and the binding went through changes', to 'the guitar took one heck of a big wallop and the binding came off when the 'stress crack' happened'. Gulp!!
G.E. Smith Teles sell for 1599 new. Yours is 'like new', but still isn't, in fact, new. Let's say it's worth 1200. Anybody think a '90's D55 with a crack down the whole top and missing binding is worth $1200?? Not me!
Gilded and others, all that you have said is true. There are other guitars out there, I think I will go over to blue fish guitars to have a play anyway, but who knows how it will turn out. I hope that I misinterpreted him and it is a small crack but I will know Friday morning for sure. I would expect very good things out of a D 55 but the one that I payed today was completely sub-par. the neck buzzed, the bridge was lifting, there was an impact that gouged deeply into the soundboard of the git box. I am hoping to run across one soon for a fair price locally, fingers crossed. Really and truly, thanks for all the input. I will definitely give a report friday about how this goes.
Goo
Goo
Taylor Martin Guild
Senior Member
All of these things are fixable.CajunGoo said:
Even the best of guitars can go downhill, if the owner doesn't keep it in good condition.
I would bet that the D-55 you just played would be a whole different guitar if it was properly taken care of.
As for the guitar that you are going to look at,
Guitars are made form wood and glue.
Most cracks and other problems can be repaired and the guitar will play and sound as good as or better than new.
It's just a question of how much "Mojo" are you willing to put up with on an older, used guitar.
Good luck in your search and I do hope that you find a keeper,
TMG.
Dr Izza Plumber
Senior Member
Watch Your ebay.
I bought a brand new D55 'burst for 1500 bucks on ebay 2 Decembers ago, and no, it's not a Corona model.
I bought a brand new D55 'burst for 1500 bucks on ebay 2 Decembers ago, and no, it's not a Corona model.
Darryl Hattenhauer
Venerated Member
Harry One,
Why? Does it indicate broken braces or some major structural problem?
DH,
To me, it indicates that an event has happened to the guitar. Somebody dropped it, the guitar was banged around in a car accident, etc.
Could the bracing be loose? Sure. Could the basic structure of the guitar be compromised? Sure!
Lots of things are fixable, but afterwards, it may not be as good a guitar as it was. It won't be worth the same as a unrepaired guitar, either.
To me, it indicates that an event has happened to the guitar. Somebody dropped it, the guitar was banged around in a car accident, etc.
Could the bracing be loose? Sure. Could the basic structure of the guitar be compromised? Sure!
Lots of things are fixable, but afterwards, it may not be as good a guitar as it was. It won't be worth the same as a unrepaired guitar, either.
Darryl Hattenhauer
Venerated Member
Gil,
Yes, imperfect repairs on neck resets, peghead cracks, bridge work etc can ruin a guitar.
dh
Yes, imperfect repairs on neck resets, peghead cracks, bridge work etc can ruin a guitar.
dh