Opinion Poll....Whadda ya think?

[The Guilds of Grot]

OK, please inspect the photo below;

It would appear to me that only the lower right tuner is original and the other 5 are slightly different and required new mounting holes. It sure looks to me like I can see the old holes above the tuners. Also, notice how crooked the upper left hand tuner is. Are the slotted (vs phillips) screws original?

I e-mailed him and asked him if 5 of the tuners had been replaced and he replied. "I believe that all the tuners are original."

What say the LTG jury?

(Here's the auction link for further inspection)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170179757942&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=007

 

[john_kidder]

I'd say your keen eye and careful observation is spot on. And if so, then the slotted screws cannot be originals.

 

[Carol]

I'm no expert -- and can't say if they are original -- but "one of these is not like the other" is a game I learned a long time ago. The one on the lower right -- the arc of the metal at the top and bottom (above the top screw and below the bottom screw) is much greater than it is on the other five...

 

[Walter Broes]

lower right is original, the other ones look like the current korean or chinese made ones - I think

 

[Carol]

Here's my bigger question -- if you were going to replace 5 of them... Why wouldn't you replace ALL of them?

I had to replace my tuners years ago -- actually 5 of them worked just fine... but I replaced all of them... just seemed like the right thing to do!

 

[Zachary]

Wow...I don't see how he could in good conscience, assure you that they are original. I am certainly no expert, but to my untrained eye the original screw holes seem to be pretty apparent.

A gorgeous guitar, yes. But seeing as how the starting price is so steep, the seller needs to be a little more upfront. Jeez...I mean at least say "I'm not sure if they are original or not".

My 2 cents.

ZW

 

[hansmoust]

OK, please inspect the photo below;

It would appear to me that only the lower right tuner is original and the other 5 are slightly different and required new mounting holes. It sure looks to me like I can see the old holes above the tuners. Also, notice how crooked the upper left hand tuner is. Are the slotted (vs phillips) screws original?

Hello Grot,

First is this a poll or a contest? If it is a contest, can we win this guitar?

OK, first of all, the tuners are definitely not original. Here's what they should look like:

The 5 replaced tuners are somewhat later versions but the tuners are not what really make me wonder. It's the lack of a serial number on the back of the peghead! There are a few other things that bother me but some of these can be explained.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[gilded]

Grot said, in part:

"Also, notice how crooked the upper left hand tuner is..."

I don't know how 'crooked' that tuner is as opposed to all the rest, but if you look at all the 'plugged' tuner screw holes on the left side, they all seem to be further to the left than the tuner screw holes on the right side of the headstock. Look and see how the plugged screw holes line up with the different wood sections between the main neck laminates and the headstock 'ears'.

I don't know if that means that the headstock is a bit asymmetrical, or if the tuner shaft holes were put in a little wide of the mark on one side compared to the other, or even if the tuners were placed a bit carelessly on the headstock in the first place (or none, or all of the above!).

Still, I can see a difference and I invite the opinion of other, more knowledgeable folk than me.

 

[california]

I'd lay five-to-one odds that they didn't all go on at the same time.

 

[Smiert Spionam]

Beware.

This seller, aka Flip-It-Fast, has a terrible reputation. There have been many threads on the Martin pages about them, including this one:

http://p082.ezboard.com/ftheunofficialmartinguitarforumfrm97.showMessage?topicID=4944.topic

I'm MK there -- I'm one of several who inquired about a fraudulent vintage tele that they repeatedly listed, despite being given fairly ironclad evidence it was a fake.

They're crooks, who regularly prey upon ignorant bidders.

 

[lakeeffect]

Are the laminated "ears" significant? Could this have been damaged more than just the tuning pegs? Maybe it's just a different manufacturing method, but my A-500 is not laminated.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

First is this a poll or a contest? If it is a contest, can we win this guitar?

It's a poll, if you want to win the guitar bid the most on their auction. :wink:

OK, first of all, the tuners are definitely not original. Here's what they should look like:

Notice how the tuners are aligned with the curve of the headstock side.

It's the lack of a serial number on the back of the peghead!

I noticed that too but forgot to mention it.

There are a few other things that bother me but some of these can be explained.

Do tell!

 

[dklsplace]

This guitar is out of tune Hans. :?












:mrgreen:

 

[jackb]

Does phillips head vs slotted screws make a difference? Also, you might want to ask if that's a discoloration or a warp on the back of the guitar by the jack.

 

[Smiert Spionam]

Keep in mind that asking these guys doesn't often lead to more honest information.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Wow, talk about arrogant/ingnorant.

They added my question and their answer to the auction post! :shock:

 

[FNG]

Wow, talk about arrogant/ingnorant.

They added my question and their answer to the auction post! :shock:

Hey Grot, that is a feature you can add to any ebay auction. I like auctions that have this activated.

Of course, the guy's answer was a little weak. :shock:

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

I know that you can do it.

I can't believe that they did it. :shock:

 

[fronobulax]

Having read to this point, I agree that the tuners don't pass the smell test. But given all of the stories about Guild not being consistent and using parts on hand as opposed to what the catalog or product literature said, what is the basis for claiming an after-market change as opposed to a kludge done in the factory to use what was available? That could explain the 5 + 1.

Thanks.s

 

[Walter Broes]

hmmm...I sincerely doubt Guild would ship out their top of the line acoustic archtop with mismatched tuners, ànd the extra holes in the headstock tell us there's been at least some monkey business..