Tone of new vs. vintage (D55)

[kostask]

zeboma:

Have a trusted, experience luthier of your choosing (perhaps on a recommendation of a guitar playing friend) look the guitar over. Do NOT assume that this can be done by yourself. I have some knowledge of how guitars are supposed to work, and what to look for, and I am continually surprised at what my luthier friends find, in areas that I had never even thought to look at. Luthiers, at least good ones, see more guitars with more problems in a month that players will see in a lifetime. As I said before, find a good luthier, let him do his thing, and pay him for his time.

 

[Neal]

By 2011, Guild was clicking on all cylinders at New Hartford, and had been making this model (the first to be built there) for two years. I would doubt that there is anything seriously wrong with it after only five years, but you do have the eBay Guarantee if it was misrepresented.

In the description, the seller sounds like he knows his guitar, and its pickup system, well. I also appreciate the photo of him holding it.

What you don't know, and what you can't know until it is in your hands, is how it sounds. But at the $2000 price point, you are unlikely to lose too much if it doesn't suit your needs and you decide to list it for sale.

 

[merlin6666]

Hey tx--It says it's a 2011, not 2012.

I get a good feel here (sure, I'm biased: crazy about sunburst D55s and really liking the price). The fact that he clearly isn't a price-gouging shark, offering that kind of price; the fact he said he'd pay for the shipping; the fact he looks to be a musician.....all point in a good direction, methinks. He doesn't have much of an eBay history, but neither do I (in the lst year anyways)

And I think I won't even go for the "let's do this outside eBay and I'll pay you less and you can save on fees"--since the price is already darned good. If I stay within eBay, that could conceivably give me some recourse should I discover once I get home there's some catastrophically bad problem (can't even imagine what that could be)

I think you got it all covered. Though if you pick it up in person, get to inspect it, and pay cash then the extra protection of eBay and paypal (which he would be paying for) is not really needed, and he will have no shipping cost but you have gas and time cost. So there are advantages that go both ways, which may warrant some negotiations on the price.

 

[krugjr]

good points Neal and Merlin.......and I'm with you, zeboma, this guy comes across as "the good guy".....I like that he bought it used in 2012 and has had it for the last 3-4 yrs...good sign to me.....wat to go, TX, just as I'm writing this kind of deal is hard to find, you post it.....I'm the "rookie", you're the "vet"! and I'm happy for zeboma! .....merlin was spot on too earlier with the used price advice!

 

[txbumper57]

Hey tx--It says it's a 2011, not 2012.

Was there that big a difference between the older and newer DTAR?

I'm thinking I probably might be needing to just use all the knowledge I've acquired lately to be my own luthier and inspect on the spot. 1) don't think I could get it to a luthier within 3 days, and 2) don't think I could do the round trip again to return it! If that happens, I'm sure I'll be polling the collective here to make sure I do every known check there is for non-luthiers inspecting guitars *EDiT: maybe I could ask about a 7-day luthier-check time rather than 3-day.

This one is a good $760 less than the one in the store....that's a chunk of change. I don't amplify that much, pretty much only so I can use my looper, and get a little reverb, so even if I thought the older DTAR stunk I could have a K&K put in instead for 200.

I get a good feel here (sure, I'm biased: crazy about sunburst D55s and really liking the price). The fact that he clearly isn't a price-gouging shark, offering that kind of price; the fact he said he'd pay for the shipping; the fact he looks to be a musician.....all point in a good direction, methinks. He doesn't have much of an eBay history, but neither do I (in the lst year anyways)

And I think I won't even go for the "let's do this outside eBay and I'll pay you less and you can save on fees"--since the price is already darned good. If I stay within eBay, that could conceivably give me some recourse should I discover once I get home there's some catastrophically bad problem (can't even imagine what that could be)

If cooler heads want to chime in with important perspectives that might cool this head, please do. At the moment, I'm hoping he wakes up and accepts my offer, and I begin the first leg of a drive Friday night, pick it up Saturday morning!

Ugh, just noticed it has Elixirs on it--so much for hearing what the guitar sounds like! (sorry, cheap elixir dig!)

I just looked at the pics pretty close and it does have the Newer DTAR Multi-source system in it. You can see the mic at the bottom of the sound hole in the first picture. Sorry about the year mixup, I was tired and read where he bought it used in 2012. I think you would be smart to keep the deal within Ebay for the protection, I was just giving you another option to save some cash if you were going to meet in person. Best of luck.

TX

 

[chazmo]

Multi-source is da bomb. Hope this works out, zeboma. I think this is your ticket.

 

[zeboma]

He hasn't responded to my full price Offer yet. I'm thinking maybe I just need to Buy It Now so somebody else doesn't get in there and snap it up with a better offer!

 

[krugjr]

yes, thought you already done that....."buy it now" and you get ebay protection....work out details afterwards...

 

[krugjr]

and the Elixers will be OK for initial test (unless they're really old)...and your JP PBs (my fav too) will only make it better....IMHO!

 

[adorshki]

I won't buy an acoustic online if they won't give me that inspection period.
TX

TX I just realized, you spend so much time buying guitars, don't you have any hobbies?

 

[richardp69]

A whole lot of folks feel just like Tx does including one of my best friends who is really a good player. It may be the safe thing to do but seems to me you limit yourself quite a bit. If there's something I'm lusting for on Ebay or Reverb I will usually go for it sight unseen. (CL is a whole different issue) There's enough protection for the buyer to give you some sense of security. I've only felt I got really shafted on one occasion. Can be a bit of a hassle but worth it IMHO. Of the many guitars I've bought online I've probably only returned as half dozen or so because of some undisclosed serious issue. I'll admit, I did get burned once but I kinda look at that as a risk you take to play the game.

I realize I may be in the minority here but whatever works for you, go for it.

 

[Neal]

After initially being attracted to guitars that were pristine, I have developed a risk/reward mentality whenever I see a guitar that has issues.

I have no problem buying someone else's damaged goods for a fraction of their repaired value, if I feel that I can end up with something cool/special. There are five such examples listed in my sig below that I knew going in had a defect (lifting bridges, low saddles, cracks, repaired head stocks, or just cosmetics). Yet they were priced so low by someone who was just wanting to get rid of them, that the reward of buying and repairing was worth the risk that there might be other things wrong with them.

So far, the reward has exceeded the risk every time. I have learned that you can get a good guitar for a few hundred bucks and a world-class one for under a grand, if you are willing to take the chance on repairing a damaged guitar.

It helps to have a good luthier, with reasonable prices for his services!

 

[txbumper57]

TX I just realized, you spend so much time buying guitars, don't you have any hobbies?

AL, I'm from Texas, My hobbies include Guns, Guitars, and the occasional Fruit or nut from California!:highly_amused: My last 2 guitar purchases were in September and November, I think I am doing really good for holding out as long as I have.

 

[adorshki]

I think I am doing really good for holding out as long as I have.

I'm only not talking to you over in that other thread.
How long do you go between...oh waitaminnit we already covered that one too.

 

[zeboma]

OK, to interrupt your conversation guys...... : )

The pain.....the PAIN! That beautiful $2000 one on eBay? The seller screwed up (an eBay newbie) and accepted an offer that wasn't nearly as good as mine. He attempted to contact the dude before payment had come through, and was unsuccessful, and I reckon post-payment, there's not much you can do to reverse the sale. Again, the pain!

OK, I"ve made some hasty decisions, but I've also had some bad luck!

Now I'm back to, maybe, the $2600 similar, mint, DTAR, 2012, where the guy has said he'd take $2500. At this point I'm not sure whether to take a breather and let it pass, or to move on it.....and again, be done with it!

PS--I"m also tempted to contact the buyer of the $2000 directly myself, and offer $200 to him to back out of the deal! Mercy!

 

[Neal]

Patience, Grasshopper.

There are a lot of D-55's out there, so steady as she goes.

You have a damn fine guitar to play already. Enjoy the F-50R and bide your time. Tex will let you know everything you need about the market on a daily basis!

And speaking of txbumper, he does have exquisite taste in top-of-the-line Guilds.

 

[zeboma]

Master Po, I Hear You. I have taken a breath, and I'm not going to go with this $2500 guy. I've seen the light, and there's no rush. And it's good knowing tx is on my side......keep 'em coming tx

Funny, I went by the store again, just for kicks, after all this, to do an A/B with my dear but departing checked, Marlo Thomas F50R, to see what that was like. Truth is, the tone wasn't all that different, and for a split second I was like "Hmmm...I wonder if I even have to sell?" Would THAT be hilarious?! But that passed, truth is this vintage F50 is just SO darmed resonant, it's just too much. Other than that, HA, it would be a keeper. Maybe if I stuffed a pillow in the sound hole?

 

[adorshki]

Funny, I went by the store again, just for kicks, after all this, to do an A/B with my dear but departing checked, Marlo Thomas F50R, to see what that was like. Truth is, the tone wasn't all that different, and for a split second I was like "Hmmm...I wonder if I even have to sell?" Would THAT be hilarious?! But that passed, truth is this vintage F50 is just SO darmed resonant, it's just too much. Other than that, HA, it would be a keeper. Maybe if I stuffed a pillow in the sound hole?

And Tom says GHS strings can make any guitar sound like a Taylor. Between the two of 'em you should be good to go.

 

[chazmo]

Slap some silk & steel on there if you really want to shock yourself about tone!

 

[adorshki]

Slap some silk & steel on there if you really want to shock yourself about tone!

All joking aside that's a great suggestion.
Seriously Zeb, before you give up that F50, try that once.