G37 - 1981 - TRUSS ROD UNADJUSTABLE

[ARC87]

Hi guys,

I've been spending a lot of time fantasising about a great big Guild. The dream would be a new D55 but that'll have to be in the years to come.

I've also been debating between a new D20 or going for something a vintage American build with some history in a similar price band.

I'm looking at a Guild G37 (1981). The owner states it is in good playing condition with some minor cosmetic bits and bobs. The most concerning thing for me is that he suggests that it would benefit from a neck reset and that the truss rod appears to be 'unadjustable'. What do you guys make of this? Alarm bells? What should I look out for/avoid? I'm no expert when it comes to the technical side of things, but could this suggest the neck has bowed? could this be easily fixed? How much would one expect to pay for this?

 

[HeyMikey]

Sight unseen it could be an expensive repair maybe $500-800+

Neck reset often requires a new saddle, possibly nut, fret leveling or replacement, maybe finish touch up at the neck joint. Truss rod might be a simple fix or could be a costly replacement.

 

[dreadnut]

All depends on how he defines "adjustable." If he's trying to adjust the neck angle with the truss rod, he's probably right, because that's not how it works. The truss rod actually is to adjust the amount of bow in the neck.

Can you put your hands on this guitar?

 

[GuildFS4612CE]

The owner is warning you the guitar needs work...possibly expensive/extensive...if it is local to you would suggest that, as you are not technically knowledgeable, you arrange to take it to a tech for a once over and estimate of repairs needed if any...if at a distance, perhaps the seller has an estimate from his/her tech for the work...then you have to decide whether the sales price plus the work cost is acceptable to you...most older acoustics either are in need of a reset or have already had one...the truss rod may or may not be a problem...if it's broken or frozen.

 

[ARC87]

Thanks a lot for the advice. I'm based in Liverpool, so I'll have a bit of a drive on my hands.

You seem like nice guys, so I'll share the link. I know the price will rise a bit over the next few days, but how far would you recommend going with it? I don't mind having to spend a couple of hundred of pounds on work, if needs be... Providing its worthwhile.

1981 GUILD G37 ACOUSTIC | eBay

Up for grabs is a 1981 Guild G37 dreadnought acoustic guitar with a (non-original) hard case. Good luck! I have had this for a while and now can no longer justify it hanging around. I am a pro-guitarist and I already have several other guitars.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[GuildFS4612CE]

Ah, you're not in the US and neither is the guitar...prices here have no bearing on prices in the UK...but the guitar does need a lot of work...and the advice to have it checked is still valid...and it's up to you as to what you can afford...good luck.

 

[fronobulax]

Welcome. If you had easy access to the US market I'd consider suggesting you walk away and wait for one with not as many issues. But I don't think that would be helpful so...

The truss rod not being adjustable could have several causes. Perhaps the buyer (as noted above) is using the truss rod to adjust the neck angle and not the neck bow. If the adjustment nut cannot be turned then it could be something that a little WD-40 might address. If turning the nut turns the rod then the truss rod is probably broken and needs to be replaced.

Hopefully someone else will look for and find the usual collection of measurements to check whether the neck needs to be reset or not. Depending upon what is happening with the truss rod the neck might be all right.

It may also be playable in its current condition (at least for the first five frets or so) and that would give you something to keep you busy while you researched and saved for repairs.

I think I would ask the seller why they said what they did about the truss rod. What did they try? What did they expect to happen and what actually happened?

Good luck.

 

[wileypickett]

It's possible that the previous owner cranked the truss rod as far as it can be cranked in an effort to being the action down. I've seen this a number of times over the years. If left that way, it can be hard to uncrank -- maybe the owner is afraid of damaging it by forcing it?

Ask him / her to leave it alone. So long as the truss rod isn't actually broken, a decent luthier should be able to loosen it.

If the owner hasn't also shaved the bridge as a way to further bring the action down, that's a good thing. One less thing to have to correct if you do buy it.

As others have said, it's best to have someone qualified look at it. Maybe the owner would take it to a repair person if you paid for the evaluation? Worth it in my opinion.

The other thing to consider is buying one from the U.S. that doesn't need much work. Price will likely be cheaper than "across the ol' pond," and shipping can be relatively cheap -- cheaper than a major repair anyway.

There may even be people here on LTG that have one to sell. Try WTB section.

Good luck -- these are nice guitars!

 

[bobouz]

If frozen, typically a drop of WD-40 at the base & top of the truss rod’s adjusting nut is all you need to free it up. Keep the WD-40 off the surrounding wood.

Also Fwiw, the saddle appears to have a fair amount of real estate remaining, which is a good sign. This guitar may be an easy fix with a proper setup. No way to know for sure without an in-hand assessment.

 

[fronobulax]

The other thing to consider is buying one from the U.S. that doesn't need much work. Price will likely be cheaper than "across the ol' pond," and shipping can be relatively cheap -- cheaper than a major repair anyway.

I deliberately did not suggest that because I don't think we understand enough about how CITES enforcement is going to work in practice to recommend exporting a guitar.

Once again I miss Al because if there is a procedure or paperwork that allows for or expedites export processing, he'd tell us about it. Several times

 

[SFIV1967]

Welcome to LTG!
I would stay away from that guitar. The truss rod was obviously tightened with a lot of force to the maximum and hence the neck wood is already separating!

Ralf

 

[wileypickett]

Does anyone know:

Is it more of a hassle, or more expensive, having a guitar shipped FROM the U.S. to Europe / UK versus the other way round?

I had two guitars shipped to me in the U.S. (one from Finland, one from Germany) in the last year and both were relatively inexpensive to ship and got to me quickly and without any customs issues; no fees; no tax surcharges, etc. So far as I could tell the boxes hadn't even been opened.

 

[SFIV1967]

The problem is shipping anything made from wood from the US to Europe (and elsewhere overseas)! (customs, tax, CITES).
Ralf

 

[bobouz]

Welcome to LTG!
I would stay away from that guitar! The truss rod was obviously tightened with a lot of force to the maximum and hence the neck wood is already separating!

The saddle looks very low:
View attachment 5898

Guess we have differing standards, as that saddle looks fine to me, but I totally agree with you about the neck! I had not enlarged that picture & didn’t see the neck detail. That would easily be enough for me to pass on this guitar, as there are certainly better examples out there with fewer potential problem areas.

 

[SFIV1967]

Guess we have differing standards, as that saddle looks fine to me...

Agreed on second look, seems to be enough brake angle. Anyway hard to see from those pictures.
Ralf

 

[wileypickett]

The problem is shipping anything made from wood from the US to Europe (and elsewhere overseas)! (customs, tax, CITES). Ralf

Thanks Ralf!

I've followed the CITES issues over the years, but I've not shipped a guitar overseas in more than 20 years. (To Canada, yes.)

I was curious why there's not an issue (at least not that I've experienced) with guitars coming into the U.S., versus going out. Is it just a matter of luck, like if U.S. customs sends the package through without opening it up?

I've never had to pay taxes or fees on any guitar I bought from overseas. I bought two within the last year; one (from Finland) was a 1985 Lowden with a Brazilian rosewood bridge.

 

[fronobulax]

Thanks Ralf!

I've followed the CITES issues over the years, but I've not shipped a guitar overseas in more than 20 years. (To Canada, yes.)

I was curious why there's not an issue (at least not that I've experienced) with guitars coming into the U.S., versus going out. Is it just a matter of luck, like if U.S. customs sends the package through without opening it up?

I've never had to pay taxes or fees on any guitar I bought from overseas. I bought two within the last year; one (from Finland) was a 1985 Lowden with a Brazilian rosewood bridge.

AFAIK there are no import fees or taxes on guitars coming in to the USA. If the exporting country has certified that there are no CITES materials (which they should have done in the export paperwork) it is hard to imagine U S Customs deciding to do an additional inspection.

Basically the shipper has to fill out the paperwork that their country requires and from the stories I have heard that is harder for a US shipper. U S procedures are supposed to change to make things like used and vintage guitars easier but at the moment...

 

[wileypickett]

AFAIK there are no import fees or taxes on guitars coming in to the USA. If the exporting country has certified that there are no CITES materials (which they should have done in the export paperwork) it is hard to imagine U S Customs deciding to do an additional inspection.

Basically the shipper has to fill out the paperwork that their country requires and from the stories I have heard that is harder for a US shipper. U S procedures are supposed to change to make things like used and vintage guitars easier but at the moment...

Thanks again!