Help w/ badly Damaged Guild acoustic

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

This is only a suggestion, but you might try contacting Guild and see if they can replace the neck.
Like others have said, it can be replaced if you can pay the bill.

Guild could get a neck straight from the Chinese factory, and their guys here could install it in the California workshop.

I'm sorry the accident happened. It happens pretty often.
While I have never run over a guitar, I once forgot to load a Strat inside the car, and it rode on the roof 100 miles to the gig- a miracle.

About 4 years later, I accidentally left the same guitar sitting by the side of the road when another band member and I both stopped for a minute and re-arranged the gear we were carrying in our vehicles.
Somehow, I forgot to re-load the Strat. When we got to the gig I had to use a spare guitar we always carried, and I thought the Strat was gone for good.
But on the way back, I spotted it, at least 10 hours later. The case was still sitting upright, announcing 'Fender" to anyone who passed by, but no one stopped to pick it up. Another miracle.

I eventually sold the guitar, but unknowlingly, an old friend in Mississippi bought it, never knowing it had once been mine. He's willing to let me have it for a swap of equals or a buyback, but I think I would be stretching my luck if I got it back a 3rd time. I'm afraid the Strat wants to stay and may convince one of my treasured guitars to take its place the next time I lose a guitar accidentally.

Thanks Mike, I am awaiting input from Cordoba / Guild - talked to a nice guy there named Noah and sent emails for him to share w/ the manufacturing team - he said he's not sure since apparently my model was made when Fender owned them, but no longer... we'll see. And, your Strat story is pretty cool.. sounds like a song needs to be written about your guitar. I hope it find its way back to you - like a loyal dog who wants to be with his owner! Thanks again..

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

Welcome and man, that is a nasty break. I am of the school that you need to grab a new or used one.
There are several GAD30 / F130 used models on reverb, guitar center.com, etc. These are great guitars that were pretty consistently made. @gjmalycon I believe has one of these still for sale and for a really reasonable price if memory serves.

Thanks so much, I appreciate your comment. Thank you

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

Not a chance, see below for why.
@Athens-Nash Guild 33: Welcome aboard, and I have sympathy.

Those GAD guitars were built under Fender ownership. Even though it's the same factory (GREE/ Farida), they're not necessarily the same necks on the new equivalents (OM-150ce, NOT the F250ce mentioned earlier, that model's a 17" lower bout) that are being built under Cordoba ownership.

Also be aware the neck might be padauk like the body, I couldn't find a ref, but that may not be the deal killer. The other GAD-30's had 'hog necks.

The real "roadblock" is that Fender never stocked spares here, and I doubt they did at GREE, either, because:

Fender's warranty policy on these was to repair OR REPLACE at their discretion and we've seen 3 stories here over the years from owners who were offered replacements of an "equivalent" model, for guitars they'd bonded with. I've only ever heard of one repair: a loose brace.

Needless to say it leaves a bad taste, but the point is Fender never intended to do domestic service on those because the cost of repair virtually always exceeded the cost of replacing.

And that's before even addressing the necessary finish repairs which are a gigantic pain in the butt with poly.



Don't believe they're equipped to repair poly finishes in Oxnard since they never applied one there, let alone the new Yamaha ownership complication.

Why should Yamaha even contemplate attempting a repair on a guitar they didn't make and which is guaranteed to be entirely problematic from sourcing parts to repairing the finish?

I think most owners would understand the issues and begin searching for the replacement.

Unless you were Elon Musk in which case you could just buy Yamaha, tell 'em to fix it at any cost including parts and tooling fabrication, and then let someone else take over the company when you got your guitar back.

Not a chance, see below for why.
@Athens-Nash Guild 33: Welcome aboard, and I have sympathy.

Those GAD guitars were built under Fender ownership. Even though it's the same factory (GREE/ Farida), they're not necessarily the same necks on the new equivalents (OM-150ce, NOT the F250ce mentioned earlier, that model's a 17" lower bout) that are being built under Cordoba ownership.

Also be aware the neck might be padauk like the body, I couldn't find a ref, but that may not be the deal killer. The other GAD-30's had 'hog necks.

The real "roadblock" is that Fender never stocked spares here, and I doubt they did at GREE, either, because:

Fender's warranty policy on these was to repair OR REPLACE at their discretion and we've seen 3 stories here over the years from owners who were offered replacements of an "equivalent" model, for guitars they'd bonded with. I've only ever heard of one repair: a loose brace.

Needless to say it leaves a bad taste, but the point is Fender never intended to do domestic service on those because the cost of repair virtually always exceeded the cost of replacing.

And that's before even addressing the necessary finish repairs which are a gigantic pain in the butt with poly.



Don't believe they're equipped to repair poly finishes in Oxnard since they never applied one there, let alone the new Yamaha ownership complication.

Why should Yamaha even contemplate attempting a repair on a guitar they didn't make and which is guaranteed to be entirely problematic from sourcing parts to repairing the finish?

I think most owners would understand the issues and begin searching for the replacement.

Unless you were Elon Musk in which case you could just buy Yamaha, tell 'em to fix it at any cost including parts and tooling fabrication, and then let someone else take over the company when you got your guitar back.

Not a chance, see below for why.
@Athens-Nash Guild 33: Welcome aboard, and I have sympathy.

Those GAD guitars were built under Fender ownership. Even though it's the same factory (GREE/ Farida), they're not necessarily the same necks on the new equivalents (OM-150ce, NOT the F250ce mentioned earlier, that model's a 17" lower bout) that are being built under Cordoba ownership.

Also be aware the neck might be padauk like the body, I couldn't find a ref, but that may not be the deal killer. The other GAD-30's had 'hog necks.

The real "roadblock" is that Fender never stocked spares here, and I doubt they did at GREE, either, because:

Fender's warranty policy on these was to repair OR REPLACE at their discretion and we've seen 3 stories here over the years from owners who were offered replacements of an "equivalent" model, for guitars they'd bonded with. I've only ever heard of one repair: a loose brace.

Needless to say it leaves a bad taste, but the point is Fender never intended to do domestic service on those because the cost of repair virtually always exceeded the cost of replacing.

And that's before even addressing the necessary finish repairs which are a gigantic pain in the butt with poly.



Don't believe they're equipped to repair poly finishes in Oxnard since they never applied one there, let alone the new Yamaha ownership complication.

Why should Yamaha even contemplate attempting a repair on a guitar they didn't make and which is guaranteed to be entirely problematic from sourcing parts to repairing the finish?

I think most owners would understand the issues and begin searching for the replacement.

Unless you were Elon Musk in which case you could just buy Yamaha, tell 'em to fix it at any cost including parts and tooling fabrication, and then let someone else take over the company when you got your guitar back.

Wow, thank you for such a detailed reply... super educational and informative - a guy named Noah at Guild was telling me about the Fender ownership / time frame on the phone too. He said he's checking w/ the team, but no guarantee - will see how it plays out. Thanks so much for your detailed comment/input and suggestions. I appreciate it. I take it you are a seasoned luthier?

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

Sadly, this seems like a situation where I'd replace the one that got destroyed and find a replacement. You could always do wall art with the damaged one to remind you to be more careful, and also give it a new lease on life as the art instead of creating the art.

as the art instead of creating the art... exactly, beautifully said -- all of our guitars are definitely art in and of themselves. Thanks for your comment Heath.

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

i guess I get to play contrarian, again.

I would repair it, or rather more accurately have it repaired, depending on if all of the wood is present. A lot of luthiers have extensive experience with repairing headstock breaks (thank you Gibson), and while this may look really bad, they are clean breaks, with a lot of side grain gluing surface that should work well for long term stability. I can see the major pieces, but the number of small bits is harder to assess from the pictures. If you have a good local luthier, you should at the very least have it assessed by him before deciding. Be sure to try and keep all of the wood pieces with the guitar when you bring it in, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem. This is NOT an impossible repair. There may be cosmetic issues, and even those could be addressed, depending on how much they bother you.

As to value, that is something only you can decide. Take the assessment from the luthier, and think about it. You are the only one who can figure out what they guitar, its memories, and overall how much it means to you vs. the cost of repair or replacement. After that, you still may end up getting another guitar to tide you over while this is undergoing repair, but that has more to do with your own situation regarding gigging and songwriting.

Thanks so much for that... the one break on the back side it sort of jutting out (ie., it wont' push back in and sit flush, but I assume some filer glue could work around that? I am getting another opinion too, in person. Thank you again for your input here...

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

You have an emotional connection to this particular instrument. Only you can put a dollar value on that connection.

A repair is certainly possible even if the repair comes down to cannibalizing a neck from an another guitar. So your question is whether the cost of the repair options available to you are worth it. You could try and fix it yourself in which case the cost is measured in time, not dollars. You could outsource it knowing that you are both paying several times the value and spending enough money that you could have a new to you instrument that could be considered an upgrade.

Can it be repaired? Yes.
Should it be repaired? Only you can answer.
Is a repair the economically rational option? Probably not.

I hear you, and agree... still contemplating and talking with someone this weekend who has experience. I couldn't repair this myself I don't think. Thank you for your thoughts and input here.

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

I actually do know someone who did the same thing you did - The gentleman i sold my D-40 to about 30 years ago in Elmira -
he set it down, got in a hurry and backed over it a few days after he bought it from me -he was hoping Id give him something back to buy his next guitar ( ah ha )- wish i could go back in time and not sell it to him -that was a very decent sounding guitar .

Hi Tony, thanks for your input and relating that story.. that is wild, can't believe he did that so soon to your poor guitar. Thanks for sharing that.

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

I actually do know someone who did the same thing you did - The gentleman i sold my D-40 to about 30 years ago in Elmira -
he set it down, got in a hurry and backed over it a few days after he bought it from me -he was hoping Id give him something back to buy his next guitar ( ah ha )- wish i could go back in time and not sell it to him -that was a very decent sounding guitar .

Well I’m not an expert but not worth the repair. I’d say if the guitar means that much to you replace the neck. If not. Time for a new guild ! Good Luck

thanks, i appreciate the input -- and i'll take some good luck these days!

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

Repair cost, should the OP elect to do it himself:

One bottle of Titebond: $5.00
Three small clamps: $15.00
Fat, strong rubber bands: $3.00
Lacquer pen: $15.00

Patience: Priceless.

I agree that taking it someone with the proper skills to do the job professionally will put the OP upside down on the value/cost equation.

Thanks Neal... good assessment and thanks for breaking out the costs on DIY side. thank you

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

According to his profile info, the OP last checked in on Friday. So I'm guessing he read the consensus enough to get disheartened (or upset that it wasn't the answer that he was looking for) and we may not hear back.

Sorry guys! i've been all over the place and this forum setup is new to me, plus i was on the road last Wed night thru Sat so not really a chance to respond. My "day" job (that pays more bills) has been killing me too. I GREATLY appreciate everyone's feedback here!! Thank you!

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

Athens - Nash Guild 33:
Welcome to a wonderful forum and you have lots of logical advice.
I will offer one more. I would try Carter's Vintage Guitars on 8th Avenue South (same 8th Avenue South as Gruhn's but two or three miles closer to downtown Nashville). As long as Walter Carter is there, I recommend them. I have a Guild Finesse (I bought from a LTG member). I changed strings and somehow managed to disconnect a pickup wire. I called Walter at Carter's and he told me they were 3--4 weeks behind and recommended a shop in a different part of Nashville. I called and they said, "our technician will need to to look at it." So I head on an hour drive and when I walked in, all I saw were electrics and I had an electric problem. The young fellow at the desk wrote down needed information and headed down the steps to the technician. Asked me if I had 45 minutes to an hour that the technician on first glance thought it would be a quick fix. So I sat down on a big Marshall amp (no chairs) and just gazed at electric guitars and customers. In about 45 minutes the young fellow came over and said, "your guitar is ready." Fixed it within the hour and I headed home.
I say all that to say, if Carter's has a place they recommend, they might have the same for your problem. But don't think it will be a quick fix.

Many thanks -- I do need to check out Carter - used to love that place... Might call them up tomorrow too for another opinion on fix. Thank you!

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

I belong to probably a half dozen auto forums. We have the same things: !. Question is asked, more than just a one sentence answer. 2. First posting by poster 3. Coincidentally joined the same day. 4. Multiple pages of indepth answers. 5. Never hear from the poster again. 6. Not even a one word "Thanks".

Not as bad, but close. Is when a poster brings up a 12 to 15 year old post. Usually quite a few members respond, until someone realizes how old the post is. And again, first time poster, joined the same day and never heard from again.

Tom

Sorry guys! i've been all over the place and this forum setup is new to me, plus i was on the road last Wed night thru Sat so not really a chance to respond. Have had a lot going on. I GREATLY appreciate everyone's feedback here!! Thank you ery much!

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

According to his profile info, the OP last checked in on Friday. So I'm guessing he read the consensus enough to get disheartened (or upset that it wasn't the answer that he was looking for) and we may not hear back.

Sorry guys! i've been all over the place and this forum setup is new to me (and how replies thread/read). I was on the road last Wed night thru Sat so have not really a chance to respond to all yet. I GREATLY appreciate everyone's feedback here!! Thank you!

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

Patience my friend! Not everybody is daily on a computer or phone...And you don't know what to expect when you join a new forum. After all he wrote a long message and many pictures, so wait and see...

Ralf

Thanks Ralf... yes, this setup / in-thread is a bit different, and I've yet had a good chacne to really read and process all the posts due to crazy past week plus and being out of town. Thank you.

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

<start grumpy old man rant> Of course drive by posts are to be expected, but they could at least say "Thank you" before moving on. <end grumpy old man rant>

Sorry! I've been all over the place lately, and this forum setup is new to me, plus i was on the road last Wed night thru Sat so have not really a chance to fully process all comments and respond. Had a lot going on lately. I GREATLY appreciate everyone's feedback here!! Thank you

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

It was his baby and his channel to the muse. I'm not being sarcastic. The thing is that it was priced for a working musician, and as close to disposable as modern manufacturing could make it. You have luthiers that won't do neck resets on vintage Guilds. So, now you have a broken neck and a top to do, plus refinish with poly. I can't see anyone bidding on that job unless they want to bleed the op dry.

Unfortunately, until he gets some royalties coming in, it's going to have to rest in the case. Iirc, he posted on the Guild FB group and got an almost identical set of advice.

thanks for the input -- so essentially my Guild (that model / Chinese) wasn't all that great? no worries if that's the reality, candor helps me in the end too.. thanks..

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

I found you on Spotify, I think it was, with pics of you and your Guild before the accident. I listened to your songs and enjoyed them. Were you playing your Guild?

Hi Cynthia, thank you. Yes, that is me on Spotify -- and my baby Guild (in the glory days - no accidents). On the recordings, a good friend of mine who's a really amazing session musician in nashville did all my guitar work on the songs we mixed/mastered and released. He played my Guild in one part (layers) of If I Hadn't Found You, and on the Alabama Girl and the Waffle House tune, different guitars of his were used. I so appreciate you taking time to check out my tunes too... thank you!

 

[adorshki]

Wow, thank you for such a detailed reply... super educational and informative - a guy named Noah at Guild was telling me about the Fender ownership / time frame on the phone too. He said he's checking w/ the team, but no guarantee - will see how it plays out. Thanks so much for your detailed comment/input and suggestions. I appreciate it. I take it you are a seasoned luthier?

You're welcome
No not a luthier, just been readin' and postin' here for a long time. Have 3 US flattops from '96-'03, all bought new, so a pretty big fan.

We found out about the parts thing on the imports when an owner related his experience here many years ago, around '10 or '11 maybe?.

But just solving the mystery of who made 'em was a pretty significant accomplishment which was largely if not entirely due to our resident sleuth @SFIV1967 (Ralf), who simply likes researching stuff like that. Fender wasn't talking, and Cordoba didn't really advertise it either.

Fender did at least admit maintaining control (purchase and shipment) over the woods used, in order to maintain their QC standards. And the blueprints were Fender owned and created intellectual property, not just cookie-cutter guitars with the Guild name slapped on. (And as far as I know Cordoba didn't acquire the GAD intellectual property rights, that's why they had to re-vamp the line as "the Westerly Collection")

By all accounts they were very very good value for the price. But a funny thing happened to a lot of the guys who joined to share and learn about their new Guild GAD instruments: they kept hearing about that something extra the US-builts had, tried some out, and realized by golly it's true!

Time to graduate, grasshopper.

 

[Wilmywood]

Wow, they did a great job with that repair indeed... Glad you know the feeling too. It's tough knowing it's pretty much in retirement mode now, but it is what it is. DOes your DCE-1 and DV-6 have decent warmth / bass to them?

They do. One is an archback and one is not, one has rosewood back and sides and the other mahogany. Both sound great!

PS ... that repaired G37 is my daily player and my favorite guitar no retirement in its present or future. The only change for it is 1) I generally take something else if I'm traveling and 2) not that I would ever sell it for emotional reasons, but I know that that break makes it all but unsellable.

 

[GGJaguar]

I GREATLY appreciate everyone's feedback here!! Thank you

We're looking forward to hearing about your guitar hunting and, hopefully, new Guild!