New F512 - I don't think this is normal

[fronobulax]

I'm going with the theory that the instrument was not in what we would consider new condition. It was not in packing that was unopened since the instrument left the factory. Someone tried something with the truss rod, didn't like the results and returned it as "new". The Allan wrench probably did not ship with this guitar but the person who tried to return it as "new" included it because it was lying around and there are Guilds (mostly from overseas) that do ship with the tool and it is used to adjust the truss rod from the sound hole.

Guild has not used dual truss rods on 12 strings since sometime before New Hartford.

Prove me wrong.

The advice to stop messing with it and take it back to GC is, sadly, the best course of action.

 

[GAD]

I agree and am planning to take it back to GC. There is a slight wrinkle that I hope won't be a problem since it doesn't involve the truss rod. I installed a Baggs I-Beam pickup (enlarging the endpin hole was the only modification). I wouldn't think Guild would have a problem with that but...

I'm pretty sure that's the end of the warranty, at least so far as returns go.

 

[cpitman]

I'm pretty sure that's the end of the warranty, at least so far as returns go.

That's fine; I'm satisfied with a repair.

 

[cpitman]

UPDATE: Contacted GC where I bought the guitar; the guy who sold it to me said that the truss rod adjustment is done through the soundhole. When asked why there was a truss rod plate in the headstock, his reply was that it was for cosmetics. I asked about why the allen key was included since it obviously could not be used to make the adjustment in the soundhole; he didn't have an answer but recommended I get a wrench from Stewmac .

I then called Guild and explained the situation to one of their techs and sent him the picture I posted above of the headstock truss rod channel. He confirmed that the adjustment should be done in the headstock and with the allen key. He is going to have his crew look at my picture and get back with me. Thanks everyone for all your suggestions and insights. I'll let you know what turns up.

 

[chazmo]

Do you have a picture of the TR cavity before you messed around with it, cpitman? What is your endgame here?

 

[cpitman]

Do you have a picture of the TR cavity before you messed around with it, cpitman? What is your endgame here?

My "endgame", as you put it, is to find out if this is normal for a Guild or not? This is my first Guild. If it isn't normal, what's the fix? i'm getting conflicting info from GC and Guild; of course I would give more weight to Guild's advice.

 

[davismanLV]

GC doesn't even know which end the truss rod adjusts from on a USA made Guild, so.....

 

[mushroom]

We’ll that’s the first time I’ve heard of routing in the headstock for fake truss rod adjustment.

On a high end model of a respected builder? I don’t think so.

 

[cpitman]

We’ll that’s the first time I’ve heard of routing in the headstock for fake truss rod adjustment.

On a high end model of a respected builder? I don’t think so.

Yeah, that didn't pass the smell test for me either.

 

[chazmo]

My "endgame", as you put it, is to find out if this is normal for a Guild or not? This is my first Guild. If it isn't normal, what's the fix? i'm getting conflicting info from GC and Guild; of course I would give more weight to Guild's advice.

cpitman, if Guitar Center sold you this guitar as new with a warranty, then GC owns the responsibility of making this right for you. I believe I advised you to return this immediately when you first posted this thread. I asked about your endgame because I feel you are playing some sort of cat and mouse game with us.

GAD might be right about the installation of the pickup voiding the warranty, but I'd be incensed (if I were you) if I took off my TRC and found what you said you found. Your picture from after removing the locktite (if that's what it is) doesn't look particularly wrong; there's always unpolished lacquer in the cavity along with buffing paste and that may be all that's going on...

GC may be incompetent, but they owe you a new guitar in new condition.

Anyway, I've said my piece. Good luck.

 

[cpitman]

cpitman, if Guitar Center sold you this guitar as new with a warranty, then GC owns the responsibility of making this right for you. I believe I advised you to return this immediately when you first posted this thread. I asked about your endgame because I feel you are playing some sort of cat and mouse game with us.

GAD might be right about the installation of the pickup voiding the warranty, but I'd be incensed (if I were you) if I took off my TRC and found what you said you found. Your picture from after removing the locktite (if that's what it is) doesn't look particularly wrong; there's always unpolished lacquer in the cavity along with buffing paste and that may be all that's going on...

GC may be incompetent, but they owe you a new guitar in new condition.

Anyway, I've said my piece. Good luck.

Thanks.

No, no cat-and-mouse game going on; just looking for advice from experienced people. I'm going to wait to hear back from Guild before I take the instrument back to GC. I want to be armed with Guild's opinion (documented) in case GC pushes back.

Having the Baggs I-Beam installed does present a possible wrinkle, but since the only physical modification is the endpin hopefully that won't be an issue; the F512E with the Baggs Anthem included modifies the endpin and the saddle so I would think it would be possible for them (Guild) to take the guitar back, fix whatever is going on with the truss rod, stick an Anthem inside and sell it as an F512E as long as there are no dings or scratches (there aren't). Like I said, unless there is faulty structural workmanship that cannot be repaired, I'm just as happy with a fix rather than a replacement.

 

[cpitman]

I just bought a new F512 and I took off the truss rod plate on the headstock to adjust the relief and the channel for the truss rod was packed with something that looked like powdered graphite completely surrounding the nut and on top of that was some sort of dark blue rubbery-like substance. It completely covered the nut so that I could not make any adjustment to the truss rod. On top of that, the instrument came with an allen wrench presumably for truss rod adjustments but it is too short to access the truss rod through the sound hole and isn't even the type of wrench needed for the rod at the headstock. What's going on here? I love this guitar but it looks like some shoddy work here. Anyone else experience this? I bought the guitar new at a Guitar Center in Nashville.

UPDATE:

I heard back from Guild today and as many of you suspected, the gray material was polishing compound that wasn't cleaned up. No worries; I carefully scraped enough of it out to clear the channel and adjust the relief. It worked like a charm and now this 12 string beast plays like butter.

Thanks again to you all for your collective insight.

Craig

 

[Cougar]

UPDATE:

I carefully scraped enough of it out to clear the channel and adjust the relief. It worked like a charm and now this 12 string beast plays like butter.

Wow! Love a happy ending! Yeah -- F512 -- it's the best! Major congrats!

 

[GGJaguar]

Glad it wasn't anything serious and I hope the folks at Guild tighten up their QC inspections and raise the bar on quality.

 

[davismanLV]

I mean that whole buffing and polishing thing with all the ... the things that grind it down into a beautiful shine?? But clean it up unless... your bosses are hounding you to DO MORE!! Not sure ....

 

[JohnW63]

I love it when the story turns out good in the end!

 

[davismanLV]

I love it when the story turns out good in the end!

Me too, J. Me too....

 

[mushroom]

cpitman - good stuff.
show us this glorious generously polished beast.

 

[Tiki295]

With GC, there’s always the possibility that the case (and case Candy) came from a different guitar