For the money

[karlo]

For the money I’d rather have a Guild.

 

[amnicon]

I wish I had a nickel for every time I've read here on LTG that GAD import guitars are "great for the money".

 

[davidbeinct]

I have had powder days in the east that would be good days anywhere. They have been few and far between and are getting rarer.

 

[Br1ck]

With apologies for the butt-inski, @Br1ck (in case he needs to correct me) had his guitar professionally refurbished by highly experienced and noted local luthiers 6 or 7 years ago (forgot the actual timing).

He got it for a decent price and liked its voice enough to bring it back to its best possible condition, including a re-finish. At the time the investment was a couple of hundred dollars more than the guitar's market value, but he knew it deserved it. In the meantime his love for it seems to have grown if anything, and suspect it might now even be worth at least what he's got into it, if not a bit more. And he's got to play it in the meantime.

Just giving some background that the guitar is "like new", probably the main reason for his comment.

I know he likes that light '71 build style, but don't know if he thinks workmanship was better. Some of the materials certainly were, "for the money". And thus worth refurbishing.

For me, when I got the second refret on my D25 about ten years ago, it felt brand new again, loved it to death. Sure it's got some dings but now it's better than new in my opinion, with about 1400 hours of playing time having opened her up nicely. I couldn't do that again with a new guitar.

And my '03 D40? Took about 8 years to really get her voice but now it's actually my favorite.

I know my own D25 is probably worth about what I've got into it between original new buy and 2 refrets, and by that measure I've had 26 years of free playing. And FWIW as a '96 Westerly build, even having taken a couple of scary knocks, but always strung with lights, the neck angle is barely deflecting from perfect and all the seams are intact. I call that excellent build quality. Made to last.

You have most of the story correct. I only had a light spray of lacquer over the sanded to bare wood neck. The body is original. The Guitar was bought ten years before I had it fixed from Gryphon, who did not feel it was economically worth their time. They made it clear the guitar, at $250, was no bargain. When I got it fixed, probably ten years ago now, I spent $1100 more. That included a NOS bridge from Hans Mount, he had two left at the time, a neck reset, frets, saddle, and nut.

When I got it back, a D 35 in good nick would have been $900-1000. So yes, it was not a financial but an emotional decision. I would not sell it for less than $1500 today, nor would I sell it to someone really wanting a Martin. From the look of the top, it was definitely thrown in the not fit for even a D 40 pile, for perfect flaw free spruce in 70 was readily available. I'd not be surprised if it were bought from the Martin reject stash. See, it has a lot of bear claw, not prominent, but there to see. So they made D 25 and D 35s out of this kind of wood, slapped the three on a plate tuners on it and saved many a starving student $75. I happen to like lighter guitars, which by their very nature need work sooner.

Given that a 70 Martin D 18 with neck and fretwork would fetch $3000+. My D 35 for $1500 would be a screaming good deal. Not however, if you really wanted a Martin.

 

[adorshki]

I wish I had a nickel for every time I've read here on LTG that GAD import guitars are "great for the money".

You'd probably have enough to buy a used Corona.

 

[Curlington]

There is a benefit in paying up to fix up an old acoustic with good bones. I've experienced great satisfaction in getting one back and it is just magic. As a practical matter, you now have a guitar that you know all about, and your info is solid as it it comes from a pro. You bond with it in a special way. It is very likely the guitar will be good for decades. So, even though you may have more in it than you could sell it for, you are way ahead.

There is a hidden cost that has to be taken into consideration. I've experienced great disappointment when getting a repaired acoustic back. Even the best repair guy might not get it just right. It is part art, part science. Are you feeling lucky, punk? Well, are you?

 

[Rocky]

You'd probably have enough to buy a used Corona

This

or this

 

[Br1ck]

My rebuild was very much a leap of faith. It had a shaved bridge and a low saddle so you could not judge it other than it still sounded pretty good. By nature I like old things, be they houses, furniture, scotch, tools or guitars. I certainly, even when prices were relatively low, did not take economic profit into the picture. Nor is my D 35 a very clean example.

I have a shop nearby, Sylvan in Santa Cruz, who buys older guitars, mostly 70s Martins these days. I think they give trade credit to those who don't want to fix them or estates selling them. Then they do the neck reset and refret jobs and sell them for $3000+ now. Still a bargain for someone not wanting to chance a guitar needing work. A borderline guitar may still have five or more years left in it, but that is a crapshoot.

You have to want to do it.

 

[amnicon]

You'd probably have enough to buy a used Corona.

I probably could, that or two nice GADs. I have my eye on a couple right now.

 

[mavuser]

thread reminds me of this song

 

[adorshki]

This

or this

Both, now that I think about it. (Well, actually I'll take a first-owner warranty on the beer).

It's whatcha call one o' them synergistic relationships.

 

[Rocky]

Both, now that I think about it. (Well, actually I'll take a first-owner warranty on the beer).

It's whatcha call one o' them synergistic relationships.

I figured the empty bottle was worth $0.05 in many states.

 

[chazmo]

or this

Eeew.

 

[Itamar4256]

Look what guitar the front singer plays:

 

[Rocky]

Look what guitar the front singer plays:

I think this is the wrong thread, but that's Black Francis/Frank Black/Charles Thompson IV

 

[Itamar4256]

I think this is the wrong thread, but that's Black Francis/Frank Black/Charles Thompson IV

That’s not the wrong thread, he holds guild D35, I think it’s also the one he plays on the studio version.

 

[mavuser]

Jason Isbell apparently paid $650,000 for a "red eye" 1959 Les Paul. Said he booked several corporate gigs, which he would have never done otherwise, just to even come close to being able to afford it.

funny thing to me is how much money he made *because he wanted the guitar, before he had it. I wonder how much extra money he made because he owned/played that guitar...instead of a different Les Paul??

 

[GAD]

Not “a” red eye Les Paul - THE red eye Les Paul. It’s a named guitar in the Beauty of the Burst book. Hugely desireable guitar.

 

[mavuser]

Not “a” red eye Les Paul - THE red eye Les Paul. It’s a named guitar in the Beauty of the Burst book. Hugely desireable guitar.

i was under the impression there was more than one, but I am no expert. Doesn't really change the point or tone of my post.

But in Isbell's defense, some people would pay 650,000 for a painting or a book (they would be a lot older than 1959, but a guitar is so much cooler).
Also would think he could get a different 59 LP for maybe 100,000 or whatever, that should sound and play about the same (but not according to him).

650,000 is absurd, but he probably pulled 100,000 per hour for those corporate gigs. happy to do my part by paying $6 for a toothbrush (the guitar is in the right hands now!)

 

[Itamar4256]

Another d35?