I learn something new every time I come on this forum! Thanks!
"De Nada"
:smile:
How do repairs and modifications/additions affect value? The binding was repaired by splicing. The guy did a clean job but you can still see where the splicing is. There was also a Fishman pickup installed. Hurt or help?
Like Stuball said much depends on quality of repair/"upgrade" but there's also the fact that you're not really hurting the "originality" of a high dollar collectible.
I'd consider the binding repair a "plus". It preserves the structural integrity, prevents further damage and it's "clean".
An appraiser
might deduct for it but not much, I'd guess.
With the Fishman, it would depend on how a given buyer views the fact that the saddle/bridge had to have a hole drilled for the UST's lead, and I assume the endblock was drilled for installation of an "endpin jack".
I think most would consider it an added value.
But like a lot of things there's an "appraised value" and the "auction value" and they're not always directly correlated.
There's something out there called the Blue Book for Vintage guitars which does the same thing as Kelly: track reported selling prices to give a current value range.
I think you'd be ok going by the figures they show for stock F30
HR's.
And note that "HR" finish was actually an "economy finish", the standard high-gloss NCL finishes carried about $200.00 "upcharge" when it was optional for a model.
See the F4ce's and the A25's on '96 price list for example (the only one readily available close to the year yours was made, don't worry that F30's aren't on it, it was an on again/off again model in the '90's):
https://www.gad.net/Blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Guild-1996-09-Price-List.pdf
BTW that A25 was actually the "stand-in" for the F30 at the time, it had almost identical dimensions but fizzled for some reason.
And be aware that besides a devoted owner following here, the F30 model itself has a long and celebrated history: it was a darling of the folk players in the '60's, being played by luminaries as diverse as Paul Simon and Mississippi John Hurt.
Paul Simon actually approached Guild to build him a special rosewood bodied version in '67 which became a production model, the F30
R.
And for a while only 3 or 4 years ago their values were spiking a bit as good condition examples were getting hard to find and new production volume was pretty small and even nil (in fact there are still no US-built F30's being made right now.)
So you never know where yours may go in future.
I honestly think if you really love the sound and playability you should keep it.
There're more than a few members here who bemoan "the one they let go" when they didn't really
need to.
Then spend years trying to find a replacement.
Regarding the "negative emotional attachment", I'm reminded of the time a GF simply didn't come home for 3 days and left her dog behind to boot.
I wasn't too worried as I was pretty sure she was out on a bender with a former boyfriend, but I couldn't take it out on the poor doggy, could I, especially since we were already buddies? (insert "friendly wink" emoticon here)
I did realize I needed to get smarter about my choices of partners, though.
:biggrin-new:
In your case, maybe knowing a little about just how special the model is will help.
"Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater"
:friendly_wink:
PS I just had to laugh out loud at this:
I don't think the neck is chunky. I have small hands and it feels just right in my hand. The body size is definitely smaller too, as it also fits just right and doesn't squish my boobs like a standard size or jumbo.
First time I ever saw that being mentioned as an element of playing comfort!
:glee: