Guild Jumbo JF55 Neck Split

[dlevitan10]

Ah, well, so much for the TR adjustment theory! Well, very interesting, dlevitan... Glad you cleared that up for us. Well, no idea then. I would take it to a luthier to have a look at it. If you ever find out why that would happen, I would love to hear it. Is it possible that something was in your case that caused this?

I really believe it’s from dryness. The guitar was kept in my apt in NYC and in the case and was not humidified. My apartment can be very warm in the winter and during the summer the air conditioner is on and off as needed. My gut is the change in temp/dryness caused this

 

[dreadnut]

There was a sign in my shop "Don't try to fix it if it ain't broke."

 

[SFIV1967]

I am the original owner bought it new from Rudy's on 47th Street in the City when they were still located there. I am very comfortable doing trust rod adjustments on my guitars and on this one I never needed to do it. It plays fine. It cracked spontaneously.

That's indeed interesting as I also would have immediately said it is from over-tightening the truss rod...Good to know that this happens without even touching the trussrod. Yes, dry conditions sometimes can have a big influence.
Ralf

 

[Bill Ashton]

Yes! My '07 Tacoma D-55 started to develop that, just a very small bit that looked like the walnut stripe was lifting,
after about 5 years, and she was always humidified. I spoke with Kim about it and I brought it to him at the last LMG, and Guild was to take care of it under warranty. I had thought the lacquer was just giving way and that they would just resand it and then reshoot the neck. As it turned out,
the truss rod had not been put in properly and the walnut was in fact pushing its way out of the neck I was given the choice of having them try to repair it, which would have been real long term as they no longer had the tooling for the Tacoma truss rod system, or they would replace the guitar.
I received a new D-55 around Thanksgiving that year...my dear old Tacoma indeed went under the band saw, as some members will remember my Christmas posting that year (cannot find it now). My checking was not so nearly as long as yours. I would suggest you start a conversation with Guild in Oxnard; I was prepared to just have them put a new neck on mine, but apparently that would not have been cost effective. I wish you the very best of luck.

 

[dlevitan10]

I agree with dreadnut on the if it ain't broke slogan. The guitar is 15 years old and was one of the last one's made in Waverly, RI factory. If would be great if they would give me new one! However I am perfectly fine with what I have. I just believe it happen with the changes in temp and humidity causing the wood to expand and contract with some type of finished fault. I am lucky that there is no issue playing the guitar and it still has its rich jumbo sound.

 

[awagner]

With a large finish crack, the wood is more subject to damage than before (moisture, temperature, etc.). This could cause permanent damage to the neck down the road. I would definitely have it looked at. A minor finish touch up is a lot cheaper than major repair work.

 

[dlevitan10]

Yes! My '07 Tacoma D-55 started to develop that, just a very small bit that looked like the walnut stripe was lifting,
after about 5 years, and she was always humidified. I spoke with Kim about it and I brought it to him at the last LMG, and Guild was to take care of it under warranty. I had thought the lacquer was just giving way and that they would just resand it and then reshoot the neck. As it turned out,
the truss rod had not been put in properly and the walnut was in fact pushing its way out of the neck I was given the choice of having them try to repair it, which would have been real long term as they no longer had the tooling for the Tacoma truss rod system, or they would replace the guitar.
I received a new D-55 around Thanksgiving that year...my dear old Tacoma indeed went under the band saw, as some members will remember my Christmas posting that year (cannot find it now). My checking was not so nearly as long as yours. I would suggest you start a conversation with Guild in Oxnard; I was prepared to just have them put a new neck on mine, but apparently that would not have been cost effective. I wish you the very best of luck.

With a large finish crack, the wood is more subject to damage than before (moisture, temperature, etc.). This could cause permanent damage to the neck down the road. I would definitely have it looked at. A minor finish touch up is a lot cheaper than major repair work.

That makes sense. Good advice, didn’t think of it in that way of moisture getting in. I guess a repairing a finish crack is a lot easier than getting a new neck.

 

[davismanLV]

Seal it up and watch it. It's not a hard touch up with finish if you're not worried about the tint they've put on it. It'll save the wood from exposure!!

 

[GAD]

GAD -
I am the original owner bought it new from Rudy's on 47th Street in the City when they were still located there. I am very comfortable doing trust rod adjustments on my guitars and on this one I never needed to do it. It plays fine. It cracked spontaneously.

Thanks! That's fascinating, then. Also, I miss Rudy's. The one in SoHo is nice, but it's not the same.