Mexican Built Guilds

[Bonneville88]

Just looked carefully at the AF50 - fwiw, the neck is finished differently than the body.
There's two finish sheens on the AF50 - high gloss top, satin (almost matte) sides, back
and neck. Looking inside at the neck block, there is a thin wood plate with a Guild
logo laser-etched on it - perhaps behind that? But access would require removal
of the logo plate - which sure looks to be glued in place.

 

[richardp69]

Actually, I'm more than ok with a bolt on neck on a guitar like this. Makes any neck adjustments far easier and less costly.
As usual, great info Ralf.

 

[SFIV1967]

Looking inside at the neck block, there is a thin wood plate with a Guild logo laser-etched on it - perhaps behind that? But access would require removal
of the logo plate - which sure looks to be glued in place.

Probably simply fixed with double sided tape.
Ralf

 

[cupric]

Probably simply fixed with double sided tape.
Ralf

Or bubblegum....

 

[Bonneville88]

Ralf, could be. Double-sided mounting tape is unlikely to adhere with optimal strength to unfinished wood (compared to finished wood) - if the plate is fastened with tape, it would have to be very thin mil tape, as the plate appears mounted flush
against the neck block - no gap.

If what appears to be a cover plate is indeed designed to be removeable, using a tape that could
be dislodged without damaging the background it's applied to might make sense.

 

[chazmo]

Probably simply fixed with double sided tape.
Ralf

On my late-model Ibanez acoustics, they use velcro.

 

[Bonneville88]

Loosened the strings and managed to work a couple of fingernails just underneath the
outer bottom corners - it's on there tight - no velcro. Leaving it alone for now.

 

[jfilm]

A little late to this thread, but, I have a DV-4 from Mexico, it's great! I'm also one of the few people I know of that had a Tacoma DV-4 at the same time, so I could compare them. I ended up selling the Tacoma guitar, but only because the neck profile was too chunky for me- that was a big difference between the two guitars. The Tacoma's sound was a little deeper as well, overall just a richer sounding guitar than the Ensenada. But the Ensenada has a nice woody sound, which is very pleasing in its own right.

As for fit/finish, the Tacoma was a bit nicer, and the mahogany a darker color on the sides, back, and neck, and the headstock and bridge also lighter on the Mexican build. But I actually prefer the look of the Ensenda headstock (though that's subjective). And for me, as mentioned, the slim neck profile on the Ensenda is really comfortable. The tops on both were very similar, lots of nice bearclaw. Here are the stats:

DV-4 Tacoma (2008)
First Fret: 21.2 mm (.83 inches)
10th fret: 26.6 mm (1.05 inches)
4 lbs. 11.8 oz.


DV-4 Ensenada (2009)
First Fret: 21.3 mm (.84 inches)
10th fret: 23.0 mm (.90 inches)
4 lbs. 9 oz.

 

[Bonneville88]

Good info jfilm, thanks for posting & pics!

 

[chazmo]

BTW, this thread was my review of the Ensenada DV builds:

https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/ensenada-dv-4-and-dv-6.153844/

 

[richardp69]

The AF-412 arrived recently. Nice looking guitar. I think the strings were back from the 30's maybe. I mean, I never change strings until one of them breaks and then I just replace them all but these strings were pretty nasty. I hate changing strings, especially on a 12er and I typically bring any new/used guitar to my local Luthier for a set up/wellness check anyway, so this one is with him now.

The electronics were changed out from what was there originally to a new set up that looks interesting to me and I'm anxious to see how/if they work. It actually requires two 9V batteries.

When I get it back I'll post a few pics and tell you what I think as far as sound/tone/playability etc. Whatever, it was pretty inexpensive so whatever it turns out to be I'm quite sure I'll be ok.

 

[chazmo]

The AF-412 arrived recently. Nice looking guitar. I think the strings were back from the 30's maybe. I mean, I never change strings until one of them breaks and then I just replace them all but these strings were pretty nasty. I hate changing strings, especially on a 12er and I typically bring any new/used guitar to my local Luthier for a set up/wellness check anyway, so this one is with him now.

The electronics were changed out from what was there originally to a new set up that looks interesting to me and I'm anxious to see how/if they work. It actually requires two 9V batteries.

When I get it back I'll post a few pics and tell you what I think as far as sound/tone/playability etc. Whatever, it was pretty inexpensive so whatever it turns out to be I'm quite sure I'll be ok.

Can't wait to hear more about it, Richard! Two 9V huh? Very interested in what that is...

 

[richardp69]

Can't wait to hear more about it, Richard! Two 9V huh? Very interested in what that is...

Yeah, I don't really understand what's going on there. I'm hoping my local Luthier can enlighten me a bit.

 

[chazmo]

I think there is an 18V system out there (can't remember what it is though)... The two 9V batts are probably connected in series for that. Not sure!

 

[Rocky]

Actually, I'm more than ok with a bolt on neck on a guitar like this. Makes any neck adjustments far easier and less costly.
As usual, great info Ralf.

Nothing wrong with a well-executed bolt-on neck at any price point, really. My Bourgeois has one.

 

[GuildFS4612CE]

Can't wait to hear more about it, Richard! Two 9V huh? Very interested in what that is...

I think there is an 18V system out there (can't remember what it is though)... The two 9V batts are probably connected in series for that. Not sure!

This?

Seymour Duncan Wavelength Duo Steel String Acoustic Guitar Pickup

Under-saddle Pickup with Omni-directional Mic

www.sweetwater.com

 

[chazmo]

Jane, that must be what I was thinking of! Then again, the circuitry must step up the pair of AAs' voltage, so would be incompatible with two 9Vs. Perhaps I was wrong, and the two 9Vs in Richard's guitar are connected in parallel to a 9V system (which is more typical than 18V). I guess we'll find out.

 

[GuildFS4612CE]

here's the other version of it that might be more familiar.

D-TAR Load 'N Lock Wave-Length Guitar Pickup/18V Preamp, External Battery Access - DjangoBooks.com

The D-TAR Multi-Source combines the Wave-Length piezoelectric under-saddle pickup with a miniature condenser microphone that is nestled in a special absorptive visco-elastic polymer shock mount for optimal isolation.

www.djangobooks.com

Now we'll have to wait and see what's actually in the guitar...and how it works.

 

[fronobulax]

(which is more typical than 18V).

You can do the search but wasn't there a discussion postulating that piezo quack was due to overloading an onboard preamp and a solution was to use an amp that ran on 18v instead of 9v?

 

[chazmo]

You can do the search but wasn't there a discussion postulating that piezo quack was due to overloading an onboard preamp and a solution was to use an amp that ran on 18v instead of 9v?

Definitely, Fro! welshtoast was investigating this last... If you folks are interested, read around my post here:

A 1987 Westerly-made GF-40 is my first Guild acquisition

I just had a thought... no need to use a 9V battery. The circuitry will work with whatever I throw at it... 9V, 12V, 18V, etc. So how about using a 12V MN21/23 battery in there instead? That's a whole 3V of extra headroom! One downside is longevity: the average rechargeable 9V rectangular PP3...

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