Athens-Nash Guild 33
Junior Member
- Joined
- May 10, 2023
- Messages
- 49
- Reaction score
- 43
- Guild Total
- 1
Hi Guild forum, I hope everyone is well today. This is my first time posting here…thanks in advance to anyone who can help or has advice. My name is Paul Pelt and I’m a singer/songwriter from Atlanta (and partially Nashville but based in Atlanta currently). I had a freak accident last weekend involving me prized Guild, and wanted to seek any input / advice / thoughts from other Guild players or technicians, or luthiers.
To give some background, I bought my Guild in 2008 from a music store in Atlanta, prior to my first move to Nashville to pursue music/songwriting. I grew up playing drums, keys, and singing, but taught myself guitar while in school and playing in bands in Athens, GA. I befriended some successful songwriters in Nashville and that prompted my first move… but I needed a guitar. After learning enough to write songs on the guitar, using my old roommates hand-me-down, I felt confident to make my first guitar investment — after much research and testing, I landed on my Guild GAD-30-PCE Natural cutaway. I have taken meticulous care of this guitar for 15 years. The only ding I’ve had on it was repaired at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville and they love my Guild’s style, shape and sonic quality & dynamics. Long story short, I loved this guitar and it’s been through a ton with me the past 15 years… now, the accident…
I was scheduled to play and sing at my best friend’s wedding in Atlanta a week ago 4/29. I had rehearsed for months & learned all the songs they wanted me to play, in nice acoustic versions. I was running a little late to sound check, and a bit tired from not sleeping well the night before… I was multi-tasking while loading my car and loaded everything but my Guild. Never before have I done that. I was on my phone and mindlessly put the car into reverse, and backed over my Guild. The back right tire crushed part of the case, and as soon as I heard the pop I threw it into drive and rushed to see what happened. My heart sank into my stomach.
Damage: The top of the headstock fractured in a triangle type shape. I assume the guitar got pinned inside the case and it tilted then broke from the weight. Three of the tuning bolts broke off (left side) when a small piece of the left side of headstock fell, as I frantically inspected it. There is a slight fracture in the first fret on front, and in the backside a splinter type fracture from headstock down about 7-10 inches down on the backside of the neck. Photos are attached. I’ve talked to 5 luthiers in Georgia and only one has time to take it on (willing) to at a reasonable cost…. Others said it would be more expensive than the guitar to fix it to be playable again. I am not sure if I want to fix it to be “fully playable” again due to costs (which I wish I could), or just last resort, fix it aesthetically so I can commemorate it on my wall. This has been killing me and I still can’t believe it happened / my stupid mindless mistake.
QUESTIONS: **I wanted to ask the forum:
1) Has anyone ever broken their guitar like this, and do you have any recommendations?
2) Does anyone own a GAD-30-PCE Natural or similar, and have any recommendation on fixing this headstock, or replacing the neck? I called Cordoba and they are asking at corporate but not sure…
3) (can ignore) Has anyone ever done something as stupid as me? I still can’t believe it and keep replaying it in my mind
Thanks so much Guild family… I truly and greatly appreciate anyone who takes the time to read this and has any thoughts or advice to share. Many, many thanks to all here.
-Paul Pelt
To give some background, I bought my Guild in 2008 from a music store in Atlanta, prior to my first move to Nashville to pursue music/songwriting. I grew up playing drums, keys, and singing, but taught myself guitar while in school and playing in bands in Athens, GA. I befriended some successful songwriters in Nashville and that prompted my first move… but I needed a guitar. After learning enough to write songs on the guitar, using my old roommates hand-me-down, I felt confident to make my first guitar investment — after much research and testing, I landed on my Guild GAD-30-PCE Natural cutaway. I have taken meticulous care of this guitar for 15 years. The only ding I’ve had on it was repaired at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville and they love my Guild’s style, shape and sonic quality & dynamics. Long story short, I loved this guitar and it’s been through a ton with me the past 15 years… now, the accident…
I was scheduled to play and sing at my best friend’s wedding in Atlanta a week ago 4/29. I had rehearsed for months & learned all the songs they wanted me to play, in nice acoustic versions. I was running a little late to sound check, and a bit tired from not sleeping well the night before… I was multi-tasking while loading my car and loaded everything but my Guild. Never before have I done that. I was on my phone and mindlessly put the car into reverse, and backed over my Guild. The back right tire crushed part of the case, and as soon as I heard the pop I threw it into drive and rushed to see what happened. My heart sank into my stomach.
Damage: The top of the headstock fractured in a triangle type shape. I assume the guitar got pinned inside the case and it tilted then broke from the weight. Three of the tuning bolts broke off (left side) when a small piece of the left side of headstock fell, as I frantically inspected it. There is a slight fracture in the first fret on front, and in the backside a splinter type fracture from headstock down about 7-10 inches down on the backside of the neck. Photos are attached. I’ve talked to 5 luthiers in Georgia and only one has time to take it on (willing) to at a reasonable cost…. Others said it would be more expensive than the guitar to fix it to be playable again. I am not sure if I want to fix it to be “fully playable” again due to costs (which I wish I could), or just last resort, fix it aesthetically so I can commemorate it on my wall. This has been killing me and I still can’t believe it happened / my stupid mindless mistake.
QUESTIONS: **I wanted to ask the forum:
1) Has anyone ever broken their guitar like this, and do you have any recommendations?
2) Does anyone own a GAD-30-PCE Natural or similar, and have any recommendation on fixing this headstock, or replacing the neck? I called Cordoba and they are asking at corporate but not sure…
3) (can ignore) Has anyone ever done something as stupid as me? I still can’t believe it and keep replaying it in my mind
Thanks so much Guild family… I truly and greatly appreciate anyone who takes the time to read this and has any thoughts or advice to share. Many, many thanks to all here.
-Paul Pelt
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