New 2020 Guild D-55E

blakeb2193

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I find that guild guitars can sound quite different when played right out of the box, verses what the guitar sounds and plays like on day 2 or 3 of receiving it. Once the guitars are tuned up to pitch, and get the proper amount of tension back on the neck and body, they are way better after settling back into position.
 

F312

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Ralf, thanks for the "like" on #19, and the wiggle room.

Ralph
 

bronzeback

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Yea, no way it left the factory like that. A good tech should be able to replace it for not much money, but you shouldn't have to deal with that on a new guitar. You might contact the store and see what they say. It should either go back, or they should compensate you by a lot for having to deal with it. The store had to have known it wasn't right when they sold it. If they didn't notice, that's just plain incompetence. If they did, it's just bad business.
 
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JMK

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I messaged the store and also asked for clarification whether the guitar is B-Ware or how this could have happened. Unfortunately I didn't get an answer to this question, just an excuse and a ticket to send it back and get a brand new replacement - the only bad thing is that now I have to wait till December, because the guitar is not available there right now.
 

SFIV1967

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...just an excuse and a ticket to send it back and get a brand new replacement
You don't have to accept the replacement, you could take the money and get one elsewhere. One of the shops where I bought a few good guitars is this family owned one, I can highly recommend the Hermann brothers (about 2 hours west of Munich), they seem to have both the D-55 and D-55E. Call them and ask for Ralf (not me) or Jörg Hermann, usually you can talk about the price with both of them:


Usually both handpick the guitars from the European distributors, so I have never seen a bad on in their store. Also both are/were frequently at the Fender, Gibson and Martin factories to hand-select guitars for them, so they understand their business. They only sell higher end models and only new guitars, no used or vintage guitars.

Ralf
 
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JMK

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You don't have to accept the replacement, you could take the money and get one elsewhere. One of the shops where I bought a few good guitars is this family owned one, I can highly recommend the Hermann brothers (about 2 hours west of Munich), they seem to have both the D-55 and D-55E. Call them and ask for Ralf (not me) or Jörg Hermann, usually you can talk about the price with both of them:


Usually both handpick the guitars from the European distributors, so I have never seen a bad on in their store. Also both are/were frequently at the Fender, Gibson and Martin factories to hand-select guitars for them, so they understand their business. They only sell higher end models and only new guitars, no used or vintage guitars.

Ralf
Thanks for the great advice,

I talked to Ralf Hermann and he is a really nice guy. They got a great hand-picked D-55 in stock - unfortunately it is around 10% more expensive than at the store where I ordered it. Well, I should rather say: it's 10% cheaper at that particular store than anywhere else. So I still have to decide whether I wait for an exchange of the guitar or I get the refund, bite the bullet and get the one from Hermann.

By the way: I measured the string gauge with a caliper - I was right - looks like they restringed the D-55E with medium strings instead of light strings.
 

davismanLV

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I know 10% seems like a lot but if it's truly a hand picked one by someone super reputable, when you space that 10% over all the years you're gonna own and enjoy that guitar..... it's really not much at all. The first place sent you a defective guitar and their quality is in question. Consider carefully......
 

Bill Ashton

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Just wondering...are D-55's now shipped with light gauge strings? Been a while since I bought a new Guild...my Tacoma-build had mediums,
my "first" New Hartford had mediums, we saw them installing D'Addario mediums on new guitars at LMG 1, 2 and 3...and my warranty replacement D-55 had mediums...but it was set up soooo good that they felt like light gauge.
 

JMK

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Just wondering...are D-55's now shipped with light gauge strings? Been a while since I bought a new Guild...my Tacoma-build had mediums,
my "first" New Hartford had mediums, we saw them installing D'Addario mediums on new guitars at LMG 1, 2 and 3...and my warranty replacement D-55 had mediums...but it was set up soooo good that they felt like light gauge.
Yes, the new D-55s are built for light strings and also shipped with them on.
 

5thumbs

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I know 10% seems like a lot but if it's truly a hand picked one by someone super reputable, when you space that 10% over all the years you're gonna own and enjoy that guitar..... it's really not much at all. The first place sent you a defective guitar and their quality is in question. Consider carefully......

I agree. Look long-term. If it were me I would bite the bullet. The Ralf Hermann deal sounds very reasonable. If his return policy is reasonable what have you got to lose?
 

adorshki

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I messaged the store and also asked for clarification whether the guitar is B-Ware or how this could have happened. Unfortunately I didn't get an answer to this question, just an excuse and a ticket to send it back and get a brand new replacement - the only bad thing is that now I have to wait till December, because the guitar is not available there right now.
Welcome aboard JMK!

I seriously doubt a piece would be labeled B-stock just because of a nut, especially a D55. It's too easy to rework a nut while it's still in process.

Wonder if the guitar was actually previously sold to somebody and came back that way, and escaped their attention? Might explain the discount although one would expect a reputable merchant to disclose that, if not legally required to do so.
 

adorshki

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You got me wrong Ralf, maybe on my part. 1) I did say it should have never left the factory like that. I failed to mention "I wouldn't think it "would have" and Cordoba would know if it did. They should investigate the store owner why has the nut been tampered with. 2) Cordoba "should" hear about this, and ask the store owner why this issue is like it is. Maybe it was returned. Would/should that make it a new purchase?
Ralph
We've seen cases where a guitar was returned to the merchant and yet still eligible for warranty. To me that's the critical issue for a "new" guitar. "Shopworn" would be the way I'd describe a piece that showed some wear but was still technically "new" (comes with manufacturer's warranty) and that typically does get a discount.
 

JMK

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I sent back the guitar now and requested a refund. Still have to make up my mind whether I order the more expensive one from Hermann or just wait for now.
Funny fact: I just realized that the carton of the guitar had a Guild certificate with shipping date 18th of September, 2020 on it. I received the guitar at the 21th of October, so it seems unlikely that it was already returned by another customer.
 
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