Used JF30

[MGK]

Hello everyone,I'm new to the forum and to Guild guitars,I've seen the big names play them over the years and I know they are great guitars,but I have never played one until recently.
A local music store has a used JF30 with the original case.It seems to be in great condition,but it had a small finish crack that ran from about the fourteenth fret to the soundhole rosette that has since been touched up and is hardly noticeable.There is also a crack in the inside lam.of the back that is about a quarter to a half of an inch long that runs from the center of the neck block toward the first back brace.The crack is only visible on the inside and has no signs of it on the outer part of the back,I don't understand how a crack can form like that.The guitar shows no signs of any other damage from maybe being dropped to cause a crack.Is this crack something I should worry about?Besides that the guitar looks solid.There is no signs of fret wear and the bridge shows no signs of lifting.Besides the gold plating on the tuners wore off some,with a little polishing and a set of new strings the guitar would look like new.
The store is asking $1200.00 for it,which I thought was a little high,so I asked what was the lowest they would take and they said $975.00.Is this a good price?The guitar has 1999 stamped on the neck block with a Westerly label inside.The guitar sounds good and I would like to get it,but I am concerned about the price and especially about the crack.Any advice is very helpful.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[capnjuan]

Hi MGK and welcome. Can't help with your question but, be patient, we have several strong luthiers here - I'm sure they'll provide some commentary.

cj

 

[MGK]

Thanks capnjuan for the reply and the welcome,it's good to be a member of this forum.

Mike

 

[dklsplace]

Hi Mike. JF-30's are excellent guitars & probably should fetch that price...but the ebay/used market hasn't supported a price like that on a JF-30 in some time. $600-$800 is about average, but plenty have closed on ebay with no bids. Value, or course, is always in the hands of the buyer. If it's everything you've ever wanted in an acoustic, then whatever you're "willing" to pay is a deal.

 

[Scratch]

Welcome MGK. Interesting concerning the interior crack. I'm no expert, but it could be related to low-humidity which can first affect the untreated wood inside the body; maple sides & back - right? I bought my JF30-12 on ebay several months ago for 950 including shipping. It was (still is) in excellent' condition. I think you can do better on ebay, gbase, craiglist etc... In any regards, you get lots of good advice here at LTG...

 

[MGK]

Thanks everyone for the replies,very helpful.

Thats right scratch,I never thought about low humidity,as a matter of fact the salesman that I talked to about the guitar told me that last winter he complained to the owner about getting a humidifier because it was so dry in the showroom and he was worried about the instruments.

 

[balzakjeff]

FWIW, I think 975 sounds a tad high to me. I don't closely follow JF prices. But, I paid 6 bills at Guitar Center for my 87 GF30, with a tenor side (repaired) crack and crazing.
Jeff

 

[3hundy]

I'd say that price is too high. I bought a 2000 JF-30 at Guitar Center (the rip-off kings) less than a year ago for $700. It was listed at $800 but I had a lil' jam sesh w/ the guy working and he said if I saw anything I liked he'd sell it to me at 10% over cost. Mine came w/ a TKL hardshell case and had Fishman Matrix pickup in it. Which is $130 online. Mine did need a new saddle though, has a little buckle scratch on the back, and looks like it kissed a coffee table on the binding where the spruce meets the maple... it's still in great shape though.

I would go back and offer them no more than the 700 I paid. I'm pretty sure you can Ebay one for $600-$700 no problem. The price they're asking is more typical of a JF30-12 of even a JF65, definetly too high though. Mine is prolly in better shape than yours and included a pickup at a much lesser price.

Hope this helps