Headstock II the Sequel

[killdeer43]

I'm offering this one for analysis:

How do you think this was done/redone? I suspect that the guitar has an entirely new neck and headstock. Still can't locate the original owner.

Joe

 

[Guildmark]

It appears to be a replacement headstock appliqué. I'd want to know why.

 

[Treem]

very cool looking but wish they put GUILD back on it.

 

[killdeer43]

It appears to be a replacement headstock appliqué. I'd want to know why.

Not sure I follow. Enlighten me, please.

Joe

 

[Guildmark]

Howdy, Joe.

A lot of headstocks aren't one piece. Many have a veneer or appliqué of a thin piece of wood laminated onto it. It's usually the pretty piece that goes on for show, sometimes it holds the inlay work, like the Guild logo, and Chesterfield or G-shield. There is no Guild model with that as a standard (or factory customized) headstock. And the woods on top don't appear to go through all the way to the back. So, I'm guessing he put a new appliqué on the front. If he took the original off to do this, why? If he put this on to hide damage, what was it? Why did he disrespect the guitar enough to not put the logo back on? Pretty wood but, no inlay?

It's the cynical side of me tonight.

 

[killdeer43]

Howdy, Joe.

A lot of headstocks aren't one piece. Many have a veneer or appliqué of a thin piece of wood laminated onto it. It's usually the pretty piece that goes on for show, sometimes it holds the inlay work, like the Guild logo, and Chesterfield or G-shield. There is no Guild model with that as a standard (or factory customized) headstock. And the woods on top don't appear to go through all the way to the back. So, I'm guessing he put a new appliqué on the front. If he took the original off to do this, why? If he put this on to hide damage, what was it? Why did he disrespect the guitar enough to not put the logo back on? Pretty wood but, no inlay?

It's the cynical side of me tonight.

No, Mark, it's all good. I was looking for just that reply. As I've said, I can't locate the former owner and the pawn shop where I bought the guitar is out of business for over a year now. I wonder if I could find a Guild applique' to add to the headstock. What do you think?

Maybe PM Hans? Hmmmm.......

Thanks,
Joe

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

I'd offer a slightly different explanation, k'deer. It looks the veneer over the face of the headstock, which would contain the logo, has been removed. Or scraped off and then painted black, except the strip up the middle. That strip of 'hog up the middle looks exactly the 'hog from the back view, leading me to believe it's the same piece of wood, i.e. the veneer was removed and not replaced. :|

Edit: if the neck was replaced, maybe it never had the overlay. The classic flat black overspray was a poor man's fix??

my $.02.

~nw

 

[GardMan]

Guild headstock veneers do show up occasionally on eBay (even some malachite ones a couple months back)... but I can't say I have ever seen one for a 12er. But I'd bet you get get one made by providing the dimensions and specs for the inlay to a custom inlayer (Bill Nichols or Byan England come to mind). Might be rather pricey, tho'...

 

[killdeer43]

Thanks, Dave. That's something I hadn't thought of at all. Hmmm....custom headstock overlay kind of thing. That would certainly make it unique. Even more so than it is.

It's the easiest 12-string I've ever played, especially tuned down to D, and it has a great sound with the arched back! Might be a keeper after all is said and done. :wink:

Cheers,
Joe

 

[adorshki]

HI Killdeer: First thing I noticed was the absolute straightedge where the tuning pegs are and the fact that it looks like that geometry's causing a little interference where the A's & B's pass by the E pegs on their way to the nut. That might just be the photo angle.Then I noticed there doesn't appear to be a serial number on the back of the headstock. To me that screams "replacement", which is what I thought your question was. But if you like it and it sounds good that's the important part, yes?

 

[killdeer43]

The guitar reminds me of a good-looking woman who just had to have a little "plastic surgery" even though she has a great body and a great voice. Here's the pedigree we look for in our wandering....

We still love her. :wink:

Joe

 

[chazmo]

I'd offer a slightly different explanation, k'deer. It looks the veneer over the face of the headstock, which would contain the logo, has been removed. Or scraped off and then painted black, except the strip up the middle. That strip of 'hog up the middle looks exactly the 'hog from the back view, leading me to believe it's the same piece of wood, i.e. the veneer was removed and not replaced. :|

Edit: if the neck was replaced, maybe it never had the overlay. The classic flat black overspray was a poor man's fix??

my $.02.

~nw

That's what I think. I don't know if this is the original headstock without the faceplate or whether it's a replacement. Either way, the headstock looks like a solid, single piece of mahogany to me (looking at the back). The front is probably painted/stained in those two dark strips.

 

[killdeer43]

In hand, it does look like a paint job. A pretty good masking job, too.

Joe

 

[chazmo]

Joe, I couldn't follow the grain closely enough in the pictures. Does the grain on the top match through the dark/light boundary? If so, it's just stained or painted . If it *doesn't* match, then it's some sort of applique,as Mark was suggesting.

 

[adorshki]

Shouldn't there be a serial number on the back of the headstock there or is the lighting just hiding it?

 

[killdeer43]

Joe, I couldn't follow the grain closely enough in the pictures. Does the grain on the top match through the dark/light boundary? If so, it's just stained or painted . If it *doesn't* match, then it's some sort of applique,as Mark was suggesting.

Under a bright desk lamp , I can see the grain right through the black line, and I can even feel the smooth transition. So, it's an obvious paint job. :wink:

Joe

 

[killdeer43]

Shouldn't there be a serial number on the back of the headstock there or is the lighting just hiding it?

No serial number.

Joe

 

[adorshki]

Then I think your initial suspicion is correct, that's not the original headstock and maybe neck too. Maybe customized on purpose? As opposed to damage repair? The mystery will endure...
Buut...maybe with the overlay there's a clearance issue with break angle at the nut? Or the length of the tuner pegs? Just how thick is that thing? Just things to think about occurring to me since it sounds like you'd like to get the logo on there. What about one of the silk-screened type like they used on D4's? Maybe done like a stencil.
JUST EDITED THIS After Seeing many headstock pictures... I didn't realize they had straight edges for the tuning pegs but thinking about it, it makes sense... Duh....