Guild X500 with varnished fretboard?

[poa77]

hi, i'm interested in guitar over here in the UK but in the pics it seems to have a varnished fretboard on which the varnish is considerably peeling away. i've never seen this on a Guild before so was it added afterwards by a later owner? any info greatly appreciated. cheers

 

[davismanLV]

Definitely added later. It wouldn't come from the factory like that. This is why you don't finish a fretboard. Also the binding is coming unglued on the cutaway. That can be stripped off and cleaned up, though..... but work = dollars off the price.

 

[poa77]

Definitely added later. It wouldn't come from the factory like that. This is why you don't finish a fretboard. Also the binding is coming unglued on the cutaway. That can be stripped off and cleaned up, though..... but work = dollars off the price.

yeah, i thought it was someones personal handiwork i just wasn't sure about these higher ended Guilds though so thanks for the heads up! the guitar has a few issues with binding, stress fractures to the finish etc but it's all there.

 

[GGJaguar]

I'm surprised someone would finish an ebony fingerboard. The ebony that Guild used, in general, is very high quality and is smooth and hard. I don't see the advantage to adding a coat of finish to it.

 

[SFIV1967]

I would ask what kind of stuff is it on the fingerboard. If the seller even knows. Might be nitrocellulose laquer or even poly lacquer of whatever. But since it is flaking off I think a razor blade might be all it needs to clean fret by fret of it. It's a good couple of hours work however. Afterwards some 0000 steel wool and it should be fine. Now the binding is added work.
Ralf

 

[Rambozo96]

I am at a loss as to why anyone would do this. I hate that kind of super glossy feel. And on ebony no less...

 

[parker_knoll]

hi, i'm interested in guitar over here in the UK but in the pics it seems to have a varnished fretboard on which the varnish is considerably peeling away. i've never seen this on a Guild before so was it added afterwards by a later owner? any info greatly appreciated. cheers

The price isn't bad for an X500 so you have to take these things into account. Since it's pickup only you can at least see if the playability stinks or it's otherwise sound