Looking for an American Acoustic Guild in Canada

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Hey there everyone. I'm new around here, recently posted my introduction.

I have two Chinese made Guilds now that I love. Considering looking for an American made, but they are not to common here north of the border.

Anyone in Canada recommend places to look? I try to avoid buying out of the country as I fear the various complications.

I would be ideally looking for a dreadnought size, maybe jumbo, in good shape. A pickup and nice case would be a bonus. Cosmetic flaws I'm fine with, but not looking for a project guitar.
 
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I'm in Ottawa, but would consider buying from any retailer or seller in Canada.

Not only to avoid border complications, but also to get a guitar that is used to our climate.
 

Canard

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@STP33

There are a number of shops in Vancouver, BC which often have quality used guitars .



There was also Bluedog Guitars in North Vancouver, but their website seems to have expired.

West Coast Guitars does not have a great website and it definitely does not list all of what they have. Their store is small. And I believe that they keep a lot of their really good stuff in a storage vault. It would be best to contact them. It is the sort of store you can go to if you want to get depressed about your playing: there are often scary dudes with major chops chatting with the owner while sampling the inventory; not much in the way of Stairway to Heaven, Smoke on the Water, or Blackbird being played here (not that there is anything wrong with those tunes). LOL

Rufu$ ha$ a 60$ F-20 $B in $tock now. They tend to be on the pricey side of things. You could also contact them and tell them what you might be looking for.
 

Ross

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Thanks for the compliment, Chaz, but I'm afraid that I'm not much use. I bought my Guild in 1983, in a small music shop that closed long ago (along with many other shops).

STP33, all I can suggest is to check the usual online person-to-person sites, plus sellers like Long & McQuade and Twelfth Fret. Both are Toronto-based.

I wish you luck in your search - the result will be worth the effort!
 

Ross

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A quick Google search turned up several used & consignment shops in the Toronto area (I didn't search the Ottawa area).
 
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Thoughts on this one? It's definitely close to what I'm looking for? Can anyone chime in on the value?
 

Canard

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Thoughts on this one? It's definitely close to what I'm looking for? Can anyone chime in on the value?

It is in Chilliwack, way too far out the Fraser Valley for me to go and look at it for you, and besides, your taste in guitars may not be mine. And I am definitely not a dred guy.

Also, it is a pick-up in store only item. So short of flying to Abbotsford and then going to Chilliwack .... 30 min by car, the better part of two hours by bus .....

For comparison's sake, L&M's price of $1550 CDN translates roughly to about $1,115.78 US at today's exchange rates.

L&M is a very reputable Canadian vendor BTW (for the interest of anyone not familiar with them).
 

Canard

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Also we don't get any really clear pictures of important things like string height at the 12th fret or bridge saddle height or belly bulge.

It is hard to tell from the angle of the pictures ... but the action looks a little high, and there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of saddle left. And maybe the bridge has been shaved down a bit on the treble side--pictures aren't clear though.

Neck reset land not far away?

I don't think it is a guitar that I would buy without examining it in person, which is a moot point since it is being sold as in store pick up only.

2024-10-27 10.15.20 cdn.long-mcquade.com 869e69ecf7d0.jpg

2024-10-27 10.16.27 cdn.long-mcquade.com 736efe746256.jpg


2024-10-27 10.16.43 cdn.long-mcquade.com 6b3fdbe69802.jpg

2024-10-27 10.17.29 cdn.long-mcquade.com 2570608231f9.jpg
 
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Is it it the case that after a neck reset is done, it won't need another in the future? I mean, is there a limit to how much the top will contort, or do they continue to shift with time?
 

chazmo

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I don’t like the finish crazing that I’m seeing on the treble side of the bridge, STP. This could very possibly be a sign that the guitar will need work. And, while it’s hard to tell (as Canard said), the action looks very high, probably indicating neck reset territory.

There are no guarantees that after a neck is reset that it won’t need it again It depends on whether the neck block (or body belly, or something) continues to occur over time.

If you don’t have access to a good tech/luthier, I wouldn’t even bother with this guitar. But, you could talk to the store about it and mention your concerns. They might make it worth your while. $1550CDN is a lot too high for a D-40 if we’re correct in its condition.
 

Canard

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Is it it the case that after a neck reset is done, it won't need another in the future? I mean, is there a limit to how much the top will contort, or do they continue to shift with time?

I don't know how old you are. But if this guitar does need a neck reset (and assuming no other structural issues) and with the knowledge that it has taken the guitar almost 50 years to get to its current condition, it is unlikely that with a competent neck reset it would need another one in my lifetime. ;) Don't know about yours. ;)
 
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Thanks for all the tips. I would love to find something like this a few hours distance from Ottawa that I could inspect.

I'm 38yrs been playing for 25 years. I'm also a woodworker ("cabinetmaker"we call us up here) and I follow what you both mean about concerns about this guitar. Your eyes are better than mine, good spot on the high action, and what's going on with the bridge.

I've been playing my Chinese GAD50 for 20 years ago.. so far it has only needed the lifted bridge glued down once about 5 years ago. I play it as my regular guitar, and was all I had at times.

I don't need another dread, but if I could find something like the one posted above at a fair deal I would love to try it for awhile and decide for myself.
 

Canard

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If you are patient, have money in pocket, and keep looking, crimes of opportunity will always present themselves, along with other temptations. ;)
 
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