Your Opinion Please

[Guilderagain]

Hello LTG'rs,

I need some advise. I'm considering this X-700
that has a finish condition issue with the lower bout, please see the photo.
Anyone out there with experience in finish restoration?
I'm trying to ascertain if it could be done and at what price. I was told
to get in touch with Lays in Ohio, USA. Oh, and they're asking $2000.00 US
in its present condition. I'm not sure what was done to damage the finish ...
Ouch!

Thanks,

Alex

 

[capnjuan]

Hi Alex; no guess on the cost / merits of the fix but it looks like a crushing blow; maybe the case lid coming down? Several splinters lying in the same direction; smooged over with a drizzle of glue or lacquer? Good luck! CJ

 

[AlohaJoe]

Considering this: http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDetails.aspx?Item=1926177 that price seems reasonable even with the damage, and with the damage confined to such a small area I would think a good luthier/repairman could do a nice job of fixing that for a few hundred at the outside, but I'm just guessing... my expertise is nonexistent. The binding looks OK though, almost as though something got seriously stuck to the finish and then pulled off. Capnjuan's scenario seems like a likely possibility too. I've sent pics to a few good repair people and gotten some ballpark estimates that way so you might try that. Good luck, those are stunning guitars.

 

[john_kidder]

If the rest of the guitar is as clean as the undamaged areas in your photo, and you can get a luthier to confirm that there's no underlying structural damage that's not visible, I'd say go for it. An expert should be able to pretty much make that disappear.

 

[capnjuan]

Well...whatever it is, there's alot of it going around. From IronChefChris' post on his new-to-him Guild ... same sort of thing but on the lower treble bout:

 

[jp]

Hey Alex,

Don't know if this is the same X-700 as the Kijii fiasco, but I can at least chime in about Lays in Akron. I've had repairs done by Dan Shinn @ Lay's before and he's does amazing work. He perfectly balances cosmetics, authenticity, and prices to fit what you need. Nice guy too.