Considering my first Guild, a CO-2. What should I look out for?

[jaimoe]

Hi Guild enthusiasts!

Brand new member here, with a question. I have the opportunity to purchase a very nice 2007 CO-2. I've read many threads here about the neck issues that some of the Contemporary Series can have.

And I also watched several YouTube videos by someone who I believe is a forum member(?) that outline the process of correcting a neck hump on a CV-2:

1.
2.

Seemed surprisingly difficult!

So my questions for y'all are...
1. when I go to check out the guitar, what should I look for to "diagnose" a faulty neck?
2. how much effort/expense would be necessary to correct a faulty neck (in the hands of a trained tech/luthier)?
3. regardless of whether the neck on this CO-2 has systemic issues, how much work/effort is it to do a neck reset on a Contemporary Series guitar?


About me: Full disclosure, I'm primarily a Tacoma guitar fan. I have a bunch of their little jumbos (very similar dimensions to an F-30/CO-2) and a few other models. I also have a couple resonators and a Taylor. I'm a singer/songwriter as well as a collector, er, "enthusiast".

Thank you in advance! Who knows? Maybe this CO-2 will end up being my "gateway" Guild?

 

[ReevesRd]

@jaimoe, welcome to LTG.
I own a Tacoma Contemporary Series CO-2 (MIRC).
1. Look for separation between the neck and the soundboard (body). Take a straight edge and a string action ruler. Look at the string height at the 12th fret. Check the saddle height.
2. Not sure. I've heard some say it is an easy fix. Some say that luthiers do not want to work on them.
3. Again, some say it's easy. Some say that luthiers do not want to work on them.

The neck angle on mine is not perfect, as is the case with many of the Contemporary Series.
If the price is right, you could have a nice guitar (Red Spruce top, bound ebony fingerboard, an ebony bridge, and a bone nut and saddle)
Best of luck as you look into purchasing your first Guild. If this model seems to have too many questions, wait. Another Guild will present itself soon.

 

[Boomstick]

Decent guitars but they had the infamous twisted necks. Assuming the bridge is cut evenly, if the action is good and uniform, you probably found a good one. If the action is uneven or downright bad, it's safe to assume that it'll need some work.

If you are a fan of Taylors, it's safe to say you will like a good CO-2

 

[ReevesRd]

Here's a video with my CO-2.

 

[chazmo]

Hi Guild enthusiasts!

Brand new member here, with a question. I have the opportunity to purchase a very nice 2007 CO-2. I've read many threads here about the neck issues that some of the Contemporary Series can have.

And I also watched several YouTube videos by someone who I believe is a forum member(?) that outline the process of correcting a neck hump on a CV-2:

1.
2.

Seemed surprisingly difficult!

So my questions for y'all are...
1. when I go to check out the guitar, what should I look for to "diagnose" a faulty neck?
2. how much effort/expense would be necessary to correct a faulty neck (in the hands of a trained tech/luthier)?
3. regardless of whether the neck on this CO-2 has systemic issues, how much work/effort is it to do a neck reset on a Contemporary Series guitar?


About me: Full disclosure, I'm primarily a Tacoma guitar fan. I have a bunch of their little jumbos (very similar dimensions to an F-30/CO-2) and a few other models. I also have a couple resonators and a Taylor. I'm a singer/songwriter as well as a collector, er, "enthusiast".

Thank you in advance! Who knows? Maybe this CO-2 will end up being my "gateway" Guild?

Welcome aboard, jaimoe.

OK, great, you've seen the concerns about the Contemporary necks and especially the concerns about the MIRC'd Contemporary guitars.

There are just a few things you need to detect a faulty neck. You need to lay a straight edge across the treble, middle, and bass sides of the neck and look for things that are not straight. You need to try turning the truss rod a bit in both directions (no more than half a turn) to make sure it's working.

As for cost for repairing... If you buy the guitar and it's not absolutely perfectly set up for you, then you're potentially into several hundred dollars (depending on where you are) to fix it.

Anyway, it sounds like you want to take the plunge. If I were you, as long as I had a spare grand in my pocket to deal with it, I'd buy it. Other than the necks, there are no knocks against these guitars that I have ever heard. Those who have had good luck or repaired them like them very much.

 

[jaimoe]

Thank you everyone for the detailed and helpful replies! I feel like I have the information I need to move forward.

Also, @ReevesRd WOW that's a beautiful song. Just subscribed to your YouTube channel!

 

[Rayk]

Wow what terrible video ! Lmao

 

[Rayk]

Wow what terrible video ! Lmao

If ya need more info or more confirmation just hit me up .

 

[ReevesRd]

@jaimoe, @Rayk is the Contemporary Series guru.

 

[Rayk]

@jaimoe, @Rayk is the Contemporary Series guru.

Nah to many would argue the title let’s just say a lobbyist for the cause ? Lmao

 

[HeyMikey]

When you do find a good one jaimoe they are truly beautiful instruments. ReevesRd your CO-2 sounds sublime in that video. What tuning are you using?

 

[ReevesRd]

ReevesRd your CO-2 sounds sublime in that video. What tuning are you using?

Thanks! Open G

 

[jaimoe]

Update: I snagged the CO-2. Turns out I bought it from one of the Tacoma factory employees. He got it for free when the factory was shut down. He’s not a player himself, so it was mint/unplayed. Still had all the case candy and everything! Took it to my local luthier (Riley Guitars in Everett, WA) and he said it did need a neck reset, but no fretboard warping or anything so he was confident that would be all it took. I’m having a K&K installed too, for funzies.

Will post pics and maybe a video when it’s back in my hands. Thanks for the guidance, everyone!

 

[GGJaguar]

so it was mint/unplayed. Still had all the case candy and everything!

Wow, that's great! Congrats!

 

[ReevesRd]

Congratulations!

 

[Rayk]

Update: I snagged the CO-2. Turns out I bought it from one of the Tacoma factory employees. He got it for free when the factory was shut down. He’s not a player himself, so it was mint/unplayed. Still had all the case candy and everything! Took it to my local luthier (Riley Guitars in Everett, WA) and he said it did need a neck reset, but no fretboard warping or anything so he was confident that would be all it took. I’m having a K&K installed too, for funzies.

Will post pics and maybe a video when it’s back in my hands. Thanks for the guidance, everyone!

Congrats have him check for a hump over the fretboard extension . She’s gunna sing beautifully with that Adirondack top.

Also if it’s hasn’t been played much I’m sure she’ll sound tight/ compressed so play the heck out her !

 

[jaimoe]

Got the CO-2 home yesterday. Everything's perfect.

Re: warping/humping: Garrett Riley did say that as he was adjusting the neck, he noticed that if he over-tightened two of the screws, the fretboard and top would both immediately begin to deform. Apparently the two graphite rods under the fingerboard extension are so much stiffer than wood that once they're under pressure, everything else has to give since they don't.

Perhaps that's a sign that the cause of the warping in some models is a design flaw inherent to the design itself, not just a manufacturing or assembly defect?

Anyway, it's an awesome guitar. Bright, loud, sweet, and lively. If other Guilds are as good as this one, I may be hooked

 

[ReevesRd]

Very nice! I like the Ice Tea Burst.

If other Guilds are as good as this one

They are. Enjoy!
Thanks for sharing the photos.

 

[ReevesRd]

Mine has a darker rosewood in the rosette. I love the purfling and rosette on the Contemporary Series.
Show us a photo of the back when you get a chance.

 

[HeyMikey]

Congrats Jaimoe! Looks like you got a good one.