Oxnard D-20 neck issues?

[Lowell]

Question: I'd like to hear your opinions of the new Oxnard D-20..Heard anything bad about the neck strength? I love mahogany..and am currently shopping for one...I ask this question because, some guy on one of the sites (ZZounds) gave it one of the worst (and oddest) reviews I've ever seen. Is actually this a guitar worthy of the D-25 mantle?

 

[Westerly Wood]

there are several LTGers who own a D20. I have heard nothing but good news about the model.
I have heard that when Oxnard first got going, they were working thru some build issues, training staff, etc. Not many New Hartford employees went to Oxnard, and Ren was only involved in the very beginning of the move etc before he retired.

so i would not be surprised if there was some B-stock output to start, and the first acoustics they would have started with were the M20 and the D20. so maybe that guy got one of the early ones.

flatback D25s (D20) are not that easy to find, as they were only made from 1968-'71/'72 or so, though they did have a resurrection in either Corona or Tacoma, I forget. Al will know for sure...

I would keep an eye out on reverb for older D25s, like from that '68-'72 timeline. Those are really sweet. and before the '73/'74 when they got an arched back but still all hog, before the complete transformation to spruce topped, arched hog b/s.

still, i am pretty biased towards the Westerly acoustic Guilds. which is ok cause I grew up in RI. Guild acoustics are great across all eras of Guild location.

 

[fronobulax]

Are you referring to https://www.zzounds.com/productreview--GLDD20 ?

The first thing I would ask is what gauge did Guild spec for strings. There are lots of stories about problems with using too heavy or too light strings. I would also ask why, if it was that weird, it was not returned for replacement or inspected by a local Guild Authorized Repair Shop? If I had just shelled out over a grand for a new instrument and it didn't behave as expected I'd be asking someone to fix it or correct my expectations. I'm not sure what the veneer coming off, exposing the seam, really means but again, if it was sold as A stock with a warranty, get it fixed.

So the whole review smells fishy to me because if things were that bad, why did he keep the instrument?

Ignoring the review, mistakes happen and it could be that that particular example was not representative. I seem to recall someone having a neck problem with some Guild and when it finally got to Guild the problem was that that particular neck had somehow failed to complete the drying process before it was used. That's why there are warranties.

The D-20 is fairly new so a review from almost a year ago could be for an instrument that was one of teh first produced and there were teething problems. But no one is reporting systemic issues that would make it safe to completely ignore the model.

 

[Lowell]

Yes, that's the review....Thank you for your insights!

 

[Lowell]

Thanks! I have two, both "off-shore" Guilds and they're amazing in every way I believe I'll do as you suggest, and watch for a older D25