Just acquired a Guild guitar--not sure what to do with it.

[teleharmonium]

A pro repair job will not leave you with anything to worry about as far as structural integrity. I can't see the pics right now, but if it's just a crack, the likely fix is injected glue. If it breaks or if it is a pretty deep crack, in certain cases it is necessary to replace wood in the volute area or on the back of the headstock. I have a Starfire with a fairly extensive repair like that, but you'd never know it from playing the guitar and you can't see the repair either unless you look at it in bright sunshine or under a high powered light bulb.

The T100 is a great model IMO, it's versatile (esp. if you have the two pickup version) and comfortable with a classic but not ostentatious look. After repair, your guitar will be what we call a "player"; it's a great thing to have a nice vintage guitar that isn't so valuable that you don't want to keep actually using it with abandon.

 

[jp]

Hi Scott,
Welcome to the LTG and congrats on your acquisition. T-100s are fine guitars. I agree wholeheartedly with my cohorts here on the forum that it's worth it to have it fixed. A headstock crack is part of the standard luthiers repertoire so it should be no problem to repair properly.

As far as the binding is concerned, the shrinkage is pretty common on old Guilds. If it hasn't pulled too far away, a skilled luthier should be able to heat it and stretch it back into shape. The finished repair should be invisible. This was done on one of mine. Also, it isn't too hard or costly to replace a small section of missing binding. It may not be seamless, but it's should be tolerable.

 

[vintageMagnet]

Thanks for the info about the binding and neck work.

I'm waiting to hear back from Bill with an estimate. He saw the pictures and asked a few questions.

I asked him both about the neck by itself, and what it would cost to restore other elements of it (the binding, scratches).

 

[Jack FFR1846]

If you want to get out of the guitar without putting money into it, I might be interested. I'd want the luthier's evaluation and estimate to fix, but I would love to have a playmate to my 69 studio 302. I'm in Hopkinton and work in Waltham, so am not far to come take a look. I don't collect....I just play.

jack

 

[vintageMagnet]

Thanks for letting me know of your interest, Jack.

I got the quote from Bill for the neckwork: $400 to $600, and based on what he said he was going to do that seems appropriate. He would not only fix it, but he would refinish and some other work so that it would look good as new, and be just as strong or stronger.

My guess is that just to fix the headstock so it's playable would cost a lot less, so I may go to someone else and just do that. I'll have to think about whether I want to get into this, or sell it so that someone else can take care of the repair.

 

[chazmo]

Wise thoughts! If you really aren't in this to keep it, I do suggest just selling it with the smallest repair that's reasonable (or even not). $400-$600 is a significant chunk of coin, and I doubt you'll recoup that. OTOH, maybe you can find a buyer that wants you to proceed with this -- baked into his cost. I haven't heard of any LTGer deals going bad, by the way... Pretty good bunch o' folks!

Good luck on your decisions.

 

[AfterDarkMusic]

GORGEOUS instrument. I'm actually in the market for something along those very lines...

 

[mrfjones]

good luck with this one, it should be a great guitar when it is done. I would love to have one like it.

 

[vintageMagnet]

Thanks for the interest in the guitar. I'm trying to get other quotes on the neck repair without refinishing.

At this point I'm leaning toward selling it as is to someone who can repair it themselves or take it to their favorite luthier, but the quotes will be useful to give me a rough sense of an appropriate asking price.

Is there an appropriate location to offer things for sale on this forum? I don't want to break the rules...

 

[capnjuan]

Hi Mr. Magneto: you can list your guitar here: LTG's For Sale or Trade Forum Can't overstate the importance of pics. Good luck! CJ

 

[AfterDarkMusic]

vintageMagnet, dunno if you got it but I sent you a PM about buying this beautiful guitar.

I hope we can work something out

 

[chazmo]

I think I'm hearing dibs.... Good luck guys in working it out.

vintageMagnet, all of the sales within the forum that I've seen have gone very smoothly since I've been around here (about a year). If you can sell it here, you'll likely have a good experience.

Also, if you do end up posting a FS thread, +1 on capnjuan's recommendations for lots of pictures or pointer to a picture album somewhere.