OLD vs NEW = WWLTGD?

[11earl]

Great additional input, thanks.

Er, yes, I was/am considering the Martin HD-28 as well.

 

[twocorgis]

it might be a bit of an easier sell if I purchase it from someone or somewhere that does not offer return privileges - so I'm leaning in that direction for the time-being

I suggest you lean the other way - especially in your area there are many good Guilds for sale, and the additional cost of return shipping if a git doesn't work for you won't break the bank. It's a serious downer (trust me, been there) when the instrument arrives and it's not what you yearned for, and you're stuck with it. Then your choices, being an honest guy, are to resell it with full disclosure (almost certainly at a discount) or to leave the damn thing in its case because it makes you cross very time you look at it.

BTDT

John speaketh the truth here. NEVER buy a guitar without playing it first without some kind of return policy in place.

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

I had a JF-55 that was a Westerly. I sold it within a year of owning it because the Jumbo size no longer fit my playing style and the sound-volume wasn't what I expected it to be from a big guitar.

I later found pout that a Dred will normally be louder than a Jumbo, so I bought a Tacoma built D-55.
I like the D-55 a lot more for my playing style but now I wish that I would have gone with a D-50 with Adirondack top.
I'm a picker and play Bluegrass/ Folk music. The D-50 though less ornate, would be a better fit fore me.

I may sell the D-55 to fund a D-50.
11earl, let me know if you have any interested in mine.

 

[ladytexan]

Welcome, Earl! Always great to have another Guild lover join the gang.

Now, back to your original query - WWLTGD? The motto, "one is good, more is better".....holds true. Westerly, Tacoma, Corona, or NH.....one or more of each is quite the norm. Enjoy the hunt! And, let us know about your newly-acquired Guild with pictures. We love pictures.

 

[Walking Man]

it might be a bit of an easier sell if I purchase it from someone or somewhere that does not offer return privileges - so I'm leaning in that direction for the time-being

I suggest you lean the other way - especially in your area there are many good Guilds for sale, and the additional cost of return shipping if a git doesn't work for you won't break the bank. It's a serious downer (trust me, been there) when the instrument arrives and it's not what you yearned for, and you're stuck with it. Then your choices, being an honest guy, are to resell it with full disclosure (almost certainly at a discount) or to leave the damn thing in its case because it makes you cross very time you look at it.

BTDT

John speaketh the truth here. NEVER buy a guitar without playing it first without some kind of return policy in place.

11earl,
Treat John and Sandy's words as an axiom. If it's an as-is purchase run the other way as fast as you can.
BTDT too. It wasn't an as-is purchase but no policy was in place - MY Bad.
I re-sold it to a member, for less than 10% of what I had in to it, and had him send the purchase amount to G4V.

The seller simply told me what I could go do with myself. It was the best offer I'd had all week. :wink: :roll:

 

[11earl]

BTDT

Sorry, what does "BTDT" mean? I'm sure it's obvious but I can't solve it, and did check in the abbreviation FAQ...Thanks!

 

[Walking Man]

BTDT

Sorry, what does "BTDT" mean? I'm sure it's obvious but I can't solve it, and did check in the abbreviation FAQ...Thanks!

"Been There, Done That"

 

[11earl]

BTDT

Sorry, what does "BTDT" mean? I'm sure it's obvious but I can't solve it, and did check in the abbreviation FAQ...Thanks!

"Been There, Done That"

Ah, dur. Yeh, I think no return policy, no dice. I have bought a Larrivee and a Heritage on the Bay without one, so I better stop while I'm ahead.

 

[twocorgis]

Ah, dur. Yeh, I think no return policy, no dice. I have bought a Larrivee and a Heritage on the Bay without one, so I better stop while I'm ahead.

I've never bought on eBay without a return policy, and won't. I got stuck with one from a low posting seller here and learned my lesson. Never buy without something ironed out BEFORE the sale.

 

[fronobulax]

BTDT

Sorry, what does "BTDT" mean? I'm sure it's obvious but I can't solve it, and did check in the abbreviation FAQ...Thanks!

"Been There, Done That"

I was thinking "Buy the darn thing" and that wasn't making a whole lot of sense.

 

[Walking Man]

I was thinking "Buy the darn thing" and that wasn't making a whole lot of sense.

Well I certainly thought, "buy the darn thing". It's after I got it that it wasn't making a whole lot of sense. :wink:
(Just seeking out the humor in my missteps. I haven't found it, but it's there...somewhere.)

 

[adorshki]

I was thinking "Buy the darn thing" and that wasn't making a whole lot of sense.

Me too...'cept I didn't think to use "DarN"...and it still didn't seem to be what he meant... :lol:

 

[Dr Izza Plumber]

Back in 2006, I spoke with a very well seasoned guitar dealer and player.
This guy is a Martin dealer and advocate, however, when I presented a similar question about Guild build quality between NYC, Westerly and Tacoma models etc,
He replied to Me as follows: "The best thing that ever happened to Guild IS the Tacoma built models!"

This man (and I heard the same from a few other folks) went on to explain that in his opinion,
Guild build quality from the Tacoma factory brought Guild guitars up to the level of Martin build quality.

Mind you, this is not necessarily my philosophy, however, if guitar dealers held the Tacoma models in high esteem, they must have had their reasons.

I tried to buy several different Westerly, RI built D-55's, unfortunately, I was too slow on the draw, and one of those gits was actually bought by Our good friend West R Lee,
and I've had the privilege of handling that guitar at LTG Arlington numero uno (2007).

I did successfully find a D-55 'burst, and it was a 2006 Tacoma model, which I bought new for about $1500 in Dec '06.
Other than replacing the saddle with a compensated tusk unit, and replacing those plastic pins with bone pins, (plus I added an active I-Beam p/u),
the guitar has been and remains a sweetheart. Everyone who's played it, marvels at the tone, and it's had the good fortune to have been played by Our deceased dear friend and LTG member "Guildmark"!

Guildmark with My '06 Tacoma D-55 image:

 

[11earl]

Very helpful response - thank you.

 

[Scratch]

Nice post doc. and thanks much for the great picture of Mark. That guitar must be even more special just because...

 

[hojo199]

Welcome! I'm so old, I have never played any Guild made after Westerly -- never! I buy what I know: Les Pauls, Gretsch (made by Gretsch in the USA) and Westerly Guilds. So what does that mean? It means that, as others have said, older guitars have their issues. I have done a neck reset on my Martin and had the bridge shaved on my JF30-12. Both guitars are perfect now, but it's money and a little angst that you don't get with the newer guitar. However, my 2006 Gibson J45 is only now "opening up." That is not imagined. It is STARTING to sound really good after almost six years.

Sorry, but newer guitars do NOT sound as good. But they don't need neck resets either. There's my two cents worth....

 

[Frosty]

Back in 2006, I spoke with a very well seasoned guitar dealer and player.
This guy is a Martin dealer and advocate, however, when I presented a similar question about Guild build quality between NYC, Westerly and Tacoma models etc, He replied to Me as follows: "The best thing that ever happened to Guild IS the Tacoma built models!"

(emphasis added by me)


Do consider the source. Yeah, I had a Tacoma D-55 (now in the hands of another LTGer) which was
as fine as the best Westerly D-55s that have crossed my path... but "the best thing"?

Not in my opinion.


Stirring the pot,
Frosty