D25 1972 reset and repair success

[Curlington]

I found an old D25 on craigslist some time ago, cosmetically excellent but with almost unplayable high action. I had a hunch, and had Tom (Fixit) in Florida do a neck reset, refret, new nut, new saddle, reglue bridge, and some finish work. Tom was great to work with, very reasonable cost, and the results are outstanding. The strings are almost 1/2" off the top, with loads of saddle. It is not overly loud but very growly and balanced. The mahog top is very different from a spruce top, obviously. I have been playing it almost to the exclusion of all others, and have been playing more lately than in a long time. I really love the action, tone and feel of this guitar. My jamming buddy is seriously impressed by it. This is not now nor will it ever be for sale.

Here are Pictures. The first are repairs in progress taken by Tom, then you see the correct straight-edge test after the reset, and then the end result, in the fall sunshine, in my backyard. Thanks, Tom!!

https://picasaweb.google.com/Davean...authkey=Gv1sRgCJX8wqHsgNGD9wE&feat=directlink

BTW, sorry to post a url instead of imbedded pictures. Both Image Shack and Photo Bucket have become unworkable for me. I get so frustrated and impatient with all this technology that is overcomplicated, slow, screwed up, etc.

 

[Just_Guild]

Nice! Enjoy this great guitar.

 

[charliea]

I'll put in another plug for Fixit. I see post after post by guys who can't find somebody to reset their neck, supposedly because it's so hard. Tom seems to manage just fine, does excellent work, and charges a lot less than those prima donnas who don't want to dirty their hands on a Guild. He's also fixed cracks, dings and dents for me pretty much invisibly, and at very reasonable rates. Nice D25, by the way! Amazing condition for its age.

 

[Curlington]

Yep, those prima donnas. Don't get me started! I could not agree with you more.

BTW, the sunlight greatly exaggerates the temporary environmental dust and finger smudges in some of those pictures. Tom's finish work around the neck/body joining and the bridge/top is excellent and makes it look virtually like new, in person under any kind of normal lighting, you would not notice anything there at all.

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

Great looking work. Good to see another happy ending.

 

[southernGuild]

Wow. Beautiful guitar, and great work done there too.
I Love it when an old Guild gets into the right hands. 8) Both owner and repairer. Congrats to you both!
Now you can just sit back and enjoy that beautiful guitar every day...in many ways. That baby is set for a long, long time now.
Enjoy.

 

[RussB]

Beautiful! Tom did a fantastic job repairing the guitar. Kudo's 8)

 

[davismanLV]

Awesome post all around. Love the resurrection of a great Guild and it looks amazing. Thanks for posting the link and the photos. Sounds like a great success story......

 

[dapmdave]

Since Tom is a neighbor and good friend, I watched this guitar go through the "fixit" process. I'd never been in contact with one of the all 'hog, flat-backed D-25 guitars before, and when I got a brief chance to hear and play this one I was blown away. It has the "Guild sound" in spades.

Curlington, that's a great guitar. If you decide to let it go, check with me first.

Dave

 

[GardMan]

Nice guitar, and nice work!

 

[mutantmoose]

Good to see the bridge was reglued too - it seems Guild liked to leave a substantial glue-less margin around their bridge, which reduces contacts and therefore high frequencies. This guitar probably sounds better now than it EVER did at any point in the past! (And, since you actually had it done correctly, you deserve to reap the rewards!)

 

[evenkeel]

Very nice. Love to see these old treasures given a new lease on life. Well done to all :!: :!: