fronobulax
Bassist, GAD and the Hot Mess Mods
- Joined
- May 3, 2007
- Messages
- 24,765
- Reaction score
- 8,897
- Location
- Central Virginia, USA
- Guild Total
- 5
We should develop a "sentiment meter" so people can gauge just how much their guitars are really worth to them. There are a lot of folks who expect their Guild(s) won't change hands until the executor of their estate passes them on to their heirs. There are folks who make their living with the instrument and their Guild is just a tool - a very fine tool, perhaps but there will be no looking back if it gets replaced by a better tool.
The advice that splits the difference is get a repair estimate and then ponder so you seem to be following that.
Do not obsess about how to humidify. Just do it. There is only one wrong way to humidify a guitar and that is to not do it. Once you are comfortable with that, anything that actually allows water to drip on the wood is a candidate for improvement but even that damage is likely easier to repair than humidity cracks. There are many threads about how we at LTG humidify but most people put something in the sound-hole and keep the instrument in its case. The cheap "something" is a sponge in a plastic soap dish with holes punched in it. The other somethings tend to be commercial products which tend to vary in cost and convenience but not effectiveness.
To show someone read the optional parts, I think you got a fairly honest story about the Guild 12. Today my dealer wants 50% cash up front to place an order, does not officially advertise a flat 40% MSRP and while most items are 40% MSRP, some are not. Depending upon which model it was and when, Guild 12's were rare enough that if you ordered a new one you would wait months.
Have you considered getting your wife to play guitar? Mine had dabbled in guitar and indeed my original reasons to own an acoustic bass guitar were to assist her. I then made the "mistake" of getting her a Guild and now she has five. Needless to say that makes for a different conversation when I get interested in another instrument. This is important because, while Guilds are wonderful, it seems like no matter how good your first Guild there is always something a second Guild could do that your first one doesn't. Adding a 12 string seems like an obvious next step for you.
We at LTG love our American made Guilds. But except for the extremely xenophobic, most people think the Westerly Collection (Guilds made in China) is competitive at its price point and decent guitars at a good price. That may be a compromise between your budget and your need (and yes, you NEED another Guild) for another Guild. You can always upgrade in the future when your budget allows.
The advice that splits the difference is get a repair estimate and then ponder so you seem to be following that.
Do not obsess about how to humidify. Just do it. There is only one wrong way to humidify a guitar and that is to not do it. Once you are comfortable with that, anything that actually allows water to drip on the wood is a candidate for improvement but even that damage is likely easier to repair than humidity cracks. There are many threads about how we at LTG humidify but most people put something in the sound-hole and keep the instrument in its case. The cheap "something" is a sponge in a plastic soap dish with holes punched in it. The other somethings tend to be commercial products which tend to vary in cost and convenience but not effectiveness.
To show someone read the optional parts, I think you got a fairly honest story about the Guild 12. Today my dealer wants 50% cash up front to place an order, does not officially advertise a flat 40% MSRP and while most items are 40% MSRP, some are not. Depending upon which model it was and when, Guild 12's were rare enough that if you ordered a new one you would wait months.
Have you considered getting your wife to play guitar? Mine had dabbled in guitar and indeed my original reasons to own an acoustic bass guitar were to assist her. I then made the "mistake" of getting her a Guild and now she has five. Needless to say that makes for a different conversation when I get interested in another instrument. This is important because, while Guilds are wonderful, it seems like no matter how good your first Guild there is always something a second Guild could do that your first one doesn't. Adding a 12 string seems like an obvious next step for you.
We at LTG love our American made Guilds. But except for the extremely xenophobic, most people think the Westerly Collection (Guilds made in China) is competitive at its price point and decent guitars at a good price. That may be a compromise between your budget and your need (and yes, you NEED another Guild) for another Guild. You can always upgrade in the future when your budget allows.
Last edited: