ANY info would be appreciated!

[Soli Deo Gloria]

Hello, first time poster here.

I just found out my fiance has a Guild DCE1 Westerly manufactured guitar that I did not know she had. I played with it for about an hour and I think it sounds pretty decent, very full, crisp and balanced.

I'm deeming it worth it to get it setup (action is a little high) and upgrade the pickups.

But,

I wanted to get your expertise on this guitar. Is it even worth the money to spend it on this guitar? Reason why I'm contemplating is the fact that the sides and back are laminated, not solid. At the same time I know that the Westerly made Guilds are different level than the ones being made after Fender purchased it in terms of build quality.

So, any info you guys can throw my way would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[Graham]

Firstly I'd like to welcome you to LTG. A very different group of people as you will find out if you stick around, and we hope that you do.

Secondly as a married man, I would immediately accept this guitar in lieu of an engagement ring by her to you. I don't wear my engagement ring anymore, but I would still play this guitar. That's just me of course, and if things don't work out, she can't really ask for it back unless she gives back her ring, right? :roll:

Make sure her ring costs a bit more than the value of the guitar, none of this 3 month salary crap the jewelers try to sell you on.

A set up is always worth it, IMO. Any defects should be obvious. Laminate does not indicate inferior construction. Guild arch backs are laminated.

Anyway, others will weigh in.

Again, welcome!

 

[coastie99]

And a warm welcome from down here in New Zealand.

A photo of your fiance with the guitar would be nice !

 

[Graham]

A photo of your fiance with the guitar would be nice !

Krap! I forgot about that one Coastie, thanks. :wink:

 

[krysh]

And a warm welcome from down here in New Zealand.

A photo of your fiance with the guitar would be nice !

like the one of the F-45CE, gary? :mrgreen:

ahh and welcome SDG from the north german ltg-division. every guild is worth a good setup. :wink:

 

[Qvart]

I had a DCE1 for awhile and had a setup done on it (a little fretwork, compensated bone saddle) and it was well worth what I spent. Played and sounded very nice. But when a D35 showed up for sale locally I sold the DCE1 and bought the D35. The D35 has a better tone (it's also 18 years older than the DCE1) and a chunkier neck. I dig it.

Welcome!

 

[Soli Deo Gloria]

Thanks guys for all the inputs so far.

yeah, no... I won't be posting pictures lol!

So, would you guys consider DCE1 as an entry level type guitar? Sort of like a Taylor 114 series?

 

[Qvart]

Thanks guys for all the inputs so far.

yeah, no... I won't be posting pictures lol!

So, would you guys consider DCE1 as an entry level type guitar? Sort of like a Taylor 114 series?

I don't know about Taylors, but it's entry-level for Guilds. It's basically a D4 with laminate sides, a cutaway, and Fishman. It has a thinner neck than other Guilds too so someone with smaller hands might find it easier to play.

However - entry-level or not - I thought it had a decnt mahogany tone. It still doesn't quite compare with a D25 (laminate arched back with solid 'hog sides) or a D35 (solid 'hog back and sides).

 

[GuildFS4612CE]

I just found out my fiance has a Guild DCE1 Westerly manufactured guitar that I did not know she had. I played with it for about an hour and I think it sounds pretty decent, very full, crisp and balanced. I'm deeming it worth it to get it setup (action is a little high) and upgrade the pickups. But,
I wanted to get your expertise on this guitar. Is it even worth the money to spend it on this guitar?

Aha, ok, from the 'other side of the fence' here... :wink:

Sure was nice of her to let you play HER guitar. 8)

Has SHE asked you to upgrade the guitar? Has SHE asked you to ask US if it is worthy of this investment?

All guitars can benefit from a setup...and it's not expensive...would be a nice gift to give her if the action is not comfortable for her...assuming she would like to play her guitar...or is she giving to you because she no longer plays and you're trying to decide if you'd like to keep it? As some of the guys have pointed out...the guitar has a neck size/shape more friendly to smaller hands.

Does the stock installed, presumeably UST/onboard preamp combo not function properly? Or is SHE not happy with the amplified sound? Or YOU? A great deal of perceived sound is location/room, preamp, amp...even strings...are they even recently changed...have you checked the onboard battery? Have you adjusted for all these factors? Somewhere in another thread is some wonderful information on this subject...the 'search' function is your friend...when it's not having a hissy fit. :wink:

VALUE...ENTRY LEVEL...in case you haven't noticed, being new here, there's been a spike in interest and heavy competition for some old F20's, and similar models...very much 'entry level'...that are currently commanding higher prices than many of the far better 'premium' level Guilds...why?...my personal theory is that as all these 'geezers' hands age...the shorter scale, thinner neck, and the smaller guitar body size...to fit the not-so-small-any-more player body size...is a lot more comfortable to play than the man-sized normal guitar configuration.

'I played with it for about an hour and I think it sounds pretty decent, very full, crisp and balanced.'

So what IS the problem? Sounds like a guitar worth a set up...and if it needs a pickup upgrade...worth that relatively small expense as well...and there's plenty of guys here that can give you their personal experience with various systems they've had installed. Seems like a small investment to make in a marriage... 8) :wink:

Oh, and welcome to the LTG family and congratulations on your engagement.

 

[adorshki]

Aha, ok, from the 'other side of the fence' here... :wink:
Oh, and welcome to the LTG family and congratulations on your engagement.

Wish I'd said that. (and all that stuff in between)

 

[Soli Deo Gloria]

I just found out my fiance has a Guild DCE1 Westerly manufactured guitar that I did not know she had. I played with it for about an hour and I think it sounds pretty decent, very full, crisp and balanced. I'm deeming it worth it to get it setup (action is a little high) and upgrade the pickups. But,
I wanted to get your expertise on this guitar. Is it even worth the money to spend it on this guitar?

Aha, ok, from the 'other side of the fence' here... :wink:

Sure was nice of her to let you play HER guitar. 8)

Has SHE asked you to upgrade the guitar? Has SHE asked you to ask US if it is worthy of this investment?

All guitars can benefit from a setup...and it's not expensive...would be a nice gift to give her if the action is not comfortable for her...assuming she would like to play her guitar...or is she giving to you because she no longer plays and you're trying to decide if you'd like to keep it? As some of the guys have pointed out...the guitar has a neck size/shape more friendly to smaller hands.

Does the stock installed, presumeably UST/onboard preamp combo not function properly? Or is SHE not happy with the amplified sound? Or YOU? A great deal of perceived sound is location/room, preamp, amp...even strings...are they even recently changed...have you checked the onboard battery? Have you adjusted for all these factors? Somewhere in another thread is some wonderful information on this subject...the 'search' function is your friend...when it's not having a hissy fit. :wink:

VALUE...ENTRY LEVEL...in case you haven't noticed, being new here, there's been a spike in interest and heavy competition for some old F20's, and similar models...very much 'entry level'...that are currently commanding higher prices than many of the far better 'premium' level Guilds...why?...my personal theory is that as all these 'geezers' hands age...the shorter scale, thinner neck, and the smaller guitar body size...to fit the not-so-small-any-more player body size...is a lot more comfortable to play than the man-sized normal guitar configuration.

'I played with it for about an hour and I think it sounds pretty decent, very full, crisp and balanced.'

So what IS the problem? Sounds like a guitar worth a set up...and if it needs a pickup upgrade...worth that relatively small expense as well...and there's plenty of guys here that can give you their personal experience with various systems they've had installed. Seems like a small investment to make in a marriage... 8) :wink:

Oh, and welcome to the LTG family and congratulations on your engagement.

Thank you for the info and thorough questioning

She doesn't need the guitar but she isn't giving it to me, so I'm not sitting here assuming that it'll be mine. LOL

I have not plugged into the PA to test out the pickup and electronics. So far, I've just got to play by itself.

All of the instruments I've had, I always researched to see if there are things I can do to improve the sound. So that is the reason why I'm here asking for more info. Also, if it really isn't worth all the upgrade maybe I should just save that money to buy something better later on. That is where I am at...