eBay DV-72

[Brad Little]

http://tinyurl.com/yj4svam
Anybody make any sense out of the comments about "a finish issue where the fretboard meets the neck on both sides of the guitar." I didn't see anything in his pictures, even on his link to other pics.
What's the going rate for these guitars, anyhow?
Brad

 

[adorshki]

Can't be sure 'cause the pics're so dark but it looks like maybe the binding was replaced around the fretboard and the finish no longer covers the seam, and maybe it's flaked away a bit on the neck in places?

 

[kostask]

It looks like the binding on the fingerboard edge is either shrinking or moving away from the ledge/channel on the neck that was made to accommodate it. While binding sometimes shrinks on its own (plastic sometimes, if not cured properly, can outgass its plasticizers, and shrink, or move in a variety of ways), that is usually a longer term phenomenon, and while there is a very small chance it could be the case here, I doubt it, as the guitar is probably too new for that. I think that it is probable that the binding may not be glued down properly, and that could be allowing it to move from the friction of the hand of the person playing the guitar. There is also the possibility that the binding was disturbed during the neck reset, if the guitar was re-fretted at the same time, breaking the glue joints. It should be a fairly easy fix, just re-glue the binding down. I have never seen a DV-72 in person, so I don't know if lacquer was applied over the binding or not, but if it was, it may also need some lacquer touch up.

Kostas

 

[Jeff]

You talking about this cracked finish along the fretboard/neck seam. My Gf 60 has a similar spot & my CO 1 had one, not quite so ragged. I took the CO 1 in for a neck set, Brady diagnosed it as a poor glue joint. He glued & clamped it, & did some magic, it's no longer visible.

 

[guildzilla]

This is speculation, Brad. But my interpretation of what the seller is trying to describe is that the outline area where the neck was removed and reset has some finish crackles. Evidence of where the reset work meets the original finish.

Two winters ago, in 2008, a pair of minty examples of DV-72's sold on e-Bay less than a month apart for $3,200 and $2,900. That's the highest I've seen. IMO, for this guitar, $1,800 is reasonable.

Chrome, ebony, turquoise, and pearl, the DV-72 is the all-time electric cowboy acoustic. It's a great motif. Just ask West or FNG or Treem.

 

[West R Lee]

I'd ask for close ups of the neck joint, the saddle and bridge and the binding along the neck. If all looks great, I'd pay $1800. He says it's the finest sounding guitar he's played, I'm inclined to agree.

West

 

[kostask]

Sorry if I am coming across as a lawyer here, but the seller says the problem is where the fretboard meets the neck, and the pictures in the link are all having to do with the binding on the neck. Since he seems to be going out of his way to be very open with the problem, my assumption was that he was pointing towards the neck binding. While he did state that a neck reset had been done (isn't it a little bit early for a neck reset already, but that is very dependent on the actual age of the guitar, and the string gauge used, I suppose), he did say the problem was at the fretboard/neck, not soundboard (top) and fretboard or neck. Being as specific as he is about the problem, if there were cracks or finish defects, I would have thought that he would have noted them.

On the other hand, getting as many detailed pictures as possible is a good idea if you are thinking of spending that kind of cash on a sight unseen guitar.

I would discount the "best guitar I have ever heard" statement as being essentially worthless. We don't know what other guitars he has been listening to (was it mid 1970s Japanese made all laminate guitars, or was it excellent examples of pre-war Martins, handbuilts, and small factory production guitars (Santa Cruz, Collings, etc.)), or what his idea of a "great sounding: guitar is, as that is very much a matter of opinion and hearing variation.

Kostas

 

[6L6]

I LOVE that guitar and feel like it's probably a simple fix to get the binding correct again. If I had the cash, I'd go for it!

Must agree with above question about a neck reset this early in it's career though... Still, if done correctly there's no harm there.

Would someone tell me the differences in the DV-72 vs Dv-73 and the approximate premium (if any) you'd pay for a 73 over a 72?

Thanks,

6

'74 D-40
'77 D-50
'06 D-55
'06 F-412

 

[FNG]

Hey 6...the -72 and -73 are the same guitar basically, with different soundhole, fretboard and bridge inlays. I think they may have made a little less of the -73, but I'm not sure. I would think they would be priced pretty much the same...I had a bone nut and saddle put on my DV-73, and that makes it a little brighter than my -72, but looks wise, I like the -72 better. Both are great Guilds.

 

[Treem]

I bought a DV72 last month. For $1800.00 shipped, no neck reset but have comestic finish damage fixer upper. And I am really-really happy with the purchase!!! Tone clarity on it is UNBELIEVABLE!!!

It's my numero uno!!!

my 2 cents! 8)

 

[West R Lee]

I LOVE that guitar and feel like it's probably a simple fix to get the binding correct again. If I had the cash, I'd go for it!

Must agree with above question about a neck reset this early in it's career though... Still, if done correctly there's no harm there.

Would someone tell me the differences in the DV-72 vs Dv-73 and the approximate premium (if any) you'd pay for a 73 over a 72?

Thanks,

6

'74 D-40
'77 D-50
'06 D-55
'06 F-412

The DV73 has a much wider rosette than the DV72. The DV72 is inlaid with turquoise, the DV73 is inlaid with turquoise, red coral and black onyx. Those inlays on the DV73, also make the fret markers. The DV73 is an incredibly beautiful guitar in my opinion. Both the DV72 and DV73 have the Grover Imperial tuners.

Structurally, they are the same guitar. There were around 200 DV72's built and around 50 DV73's. I paid $2000 each for mine. I've seen DV72's and DV73's sellers ask for between $1200 and $5000 depending on condition. I suppose ultimately, the value of those is up to the buyer. I've seen relatively few DV73's for sale for the obvious reason of scarcity I'm sure. I have seen a couple of sunburst DV73's, which in my opinion makes for a really beautiful combination.

Good luck in your quest. Oh, and by the way, the reason I'd ask for pictures of the reset neck area is that the seller mentions he's had it done. Before I spent upwards of $1800 on a guitar that I knew had had a neck reset, I'd want to check the repair as best I could. If it appears to be a flawless job, I wouldn't let that stop me. Bridge/saddle shots and string height will give you an idea of what kind of relief that reset had given you. Seller mentions the neck binding.......I'd ask for more definative pictures. Personally, I'd be much more concerned about the quality of the neck reset than I would the binding. Binding (finish adjacent to the binding) is a fairly easy fix by a good repaiman. A bad neck reset on the other hand could be a deal breaker.

West

 

[6L6]

Thanks for the info!

6

 

[FNG]

Love my DV-73, but to me the inlays look like the YMCA logo... :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :lol:

 

[West R Lee]

The DV73. (Please excuse the upside down truss rod cover)

and the DV72.

West

 

[6L6]

West: Thanks for posting the pics.

BEAUTIFUL guitar!

6

 

[West R Lee]

Thank you sir. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be the DV72. It's the easiest playing acoustic I've ever played. To my ear, she sounds incredible.

West

 

[6L6]

Still no bids, even at $1800.

For a guitar that has been "babied and extremely well cared for", why do you think it would need a neck reset so soon?

6

 

[West R Lee]

Still no bids, even at $1800.

For a guitar that has been "babied and extremely well cared for", why do you think it would need a neck reset so soon?

6

Could be for any number of reasons......too much string tension.....guitar could have gotten hot....lack of humidity......or a combination of these.

West

 

[F312]

Could it be that the truss rod was adjusted to much and then the neck reset was the next option?

 

[kostask]

Truss rod adjustments, even if done incorrectly, would not create a need for a neck reset. Truss rod adjustments can create playability problems, but they generally do not have much effect on the tension for the guitar strings. Could be that the neck was originally set somewhat shallower than ideal, off by perhaps only .5 or 1 degree, and combine that with the guitar being played with medium strings, could create a need for neck reset prematurely. I could see an improperly adjusted truss rod creating a neck with a back bow, or if too loose, allowing for too much relief (forward bow). It is even within the realm of possibility that the fretboard could be damaged (cracked) or even separated from the neck with an extremely cranked down truss rod, but the damage in the pictues is near the nut, whereas the truss rod tends to apply pressure more towards the middle of the neck (from 5th fret down to the 12-15th fret).

Kostas