Help w/ badly Damaged Guild acoustic

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Many thanks for that input... I was just noticing the Chinese vs American made comment above too. I haven't had a chance to dive into the differences, but I appreciate the candor as I know I didn't have the most amazing guitar in the world - just my one and only haa. But, i definitely want candid feedback and whatnot, so thanks for noting that. Much appreciated. -Paul

There's a whole lot of good guitars out there. I have a lefthanded Simon & Patrick that I got cheaply from GC. I'm *not* left-handed, I just have impulse control problems. It's a really good sounding guitar with a cedar top.
But I'm not left-handed.

 

[AcornHouse]

The rosewood Martin in the FS section below might work for you. Even though not a Guild, buying from fellow LTG members has always been enjoyable, in my experience.

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

Welcome and condolences. I know that feeling well.

Here is a similar model at GC:

Guild F-130RCE

Thanks Joe, and I am going to check that one out... much appreciated.

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

Oy. I'm sorry that you did this to your axe. The good news, sort of, is that at least there's no one else to blame.

You've gotten good advice above. Welcome to LTG and keep us posted on what you do.

Thanks so much... you're right too, i know, ha. I appreciate that.

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

Welcome to LTG, Paul, though I'm so sorry about the circumstances. I agree with the consensus here--this guitar is just too far gone and too limited in market value (even recognizing the significant emotional value) to be worth the very pricey work it would take to get it back into playing shape. I hope you can find a replacement quickly and without too much difficulty.

I appreciate your input, Jeff. Thank you

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

Sorry to hear about your guitar. If you decide to replace it, looks like there is currently a GAD-30-PCE on Reverb that can be shipped:

Guild GAD-30R | Reverb

The Guild GAD-30R is considered a great guitar for a musician-friendly price. Featuring an orchestra-style body, the GAD-30R sports a solid Sitka spruce top and solid Indian rosewood back, sides, and bridge. It is completed with an ebony fingerboard on a mahogany neck, mother-of-pearl inlays, and...

reverb.com

Seems like it might have one top crack, not sure about the condition otherwise.

Admittedly, if I were in your shoes, I'd want to try to get my instrument repaired, but I don't have much to add on the question of whether that's practical. AcornHouse's idea of finding a similar Guild with a damaged body and a good neck is appealing, but I couldn't say whether that's practical either.

Thanks so much for pointing that one out - I just saw it online as well, thanks for linking it here too. And, yeah it is a tough call for sure, almost leaning to getting it repaired for "wall art" / commemorate it at this point... thanks again.

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

Yikes, that is unfortunate, sorry to see that happen to anyone’s guitar. I have definitely done absent minded stuff before but it would gnaw at me that I accidentally ran it over, so I might’ve trashed it the rest of the way in a fit of rage at myself. Then use the opportunity to upgrade and buy its replacement. Definitely would not spend any more on it in that condition, besides who needs that reminder? Probably best to just get rid of it. Good luck in whatever you decide and welcome to LTG.

Thanks man, ha I know tell me about it... Onward. I appreciate your input.

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

Welcome to the forum. I have a 1972 Guild G37 that suffered a complete fracture of the headstock from the neck 30 years ago, but it was a clean single break as seen in the below photo. It was through the truss rod pocket and the hole for the high E tuning machine. I was heartbroken as I had bought it new 20 years before. In 1992 we moved from SoCal to Ann Arbor, MI and after we got there, I opened the case and there it was. I called Guild and it just so happened that there was a Guild warranty shop there in town, I took it to them and they were able to glue it back together, and 30 years later it looks like this photo and plays excellently. I have been forever grateful that I fixed it rather than throwing it away. I know that today I could not sell it, but I would not want to anyway.
I am sure in Atlanta (and Nashville) there are many fine luthiers and I cannot imagine that one of them could not fix it, but it may be more than a replacement would cost.
In the replacement realm, I have had both a DCE-1 and the DV-6 I currently have, and both are available as low as the $600 range and would be an upgrade, IMO.

Good luck with it.

Wow, they did a great job with that repair indeed... Glad you know the feeling too. It's tough knowing it's pretty much in retirement mode now, but it is what it is. DOes your DCE-1 and DV-6 have decent warmth / bass to them?

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

Time for a new guitar. Have I ever done anything like that and destroyed a guitar? Not yet a guitar, but I did hand a three year old a $650 Ohana ukulele and tell her to take it upstairs to grandma. When grandma said to give it back to grandpa the three year old threw it back down the stairs. Of course, that's on the three year old and grandma, not me.

Ha, thanks Roland - I think i was driving like a three year old that day... Sorry to hear about that Uke. Thanks for your note.

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

Actually it won't. I still kick myself for crimes less severe that I did to my guitars before I knew how to care for them.

Having said that, it's certainly fun to shop!

Thanks, haa... Yeah i had this guitar for 16 years and took meticulous care of it (as well as my keys and drums / mics etc). That's why this stings so bad... I took damn good care of my Guild for 16 years, and then this stupid mindless accident w/ head in too many places and rushing. Thanks for your note, I am scoping new guitars currently too so we shall see.

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

I'm with @AcornHouse, who is an amazing luthier by the way, that almost anything can be repaired. That neck looks to have clean breaks that could be repaired, but there's a LOT of them. The cost of having someone repair them is not worth it on that guitar, as has been said. Several good replacement choices have been listed. Now, not sure if you like to fix things or tinker or repair stuff, but you could slowly in spare time, slowly piece it back together yourself. Like a little project. What's the worst that could happen? You'd ruin it? That's something I'd maybe take on but I have quite a bit of experience working with wood and doing repairs.

So, get a new guitar and either fuss with this one (if that holds any interest) or sell it for parts on Reverb cheap. Or just trash it. That's my advice, which is just reiterating what's been stated earlier in the post. Good luck!!

Thanks Davis, i appreciate your words here -- yea, I might be going to art / piece route and likely just buy new one. I don't have experience with wood work, etc., so I'm still tracking down best person in ATL to do it. Also awaiting some feedback from Cordoba / Guild as I contacted them as well. Thanks again.

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

since you are in Nashville, you can go to Gruhn's and see what old Guilds they have for sale.
Check craigslist too.
As you do this for a living, you can write off the purchase next year doing taxes.

I love that place and Carter vintage too- I'm planning next visit, and that's a great idea on tax/expense... I am actually catching up with a business manager friend (in nash) tomorrow, so I am going to bring that up. Thank you!

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

Man, I'd be inclined to go get a fresh bottle of Titebond and a few clamps from the hardware store and glue that whole headstock mess back together. You have a lot of gluing surface to work with. It may not be the prettiest thing you ever saw once you are done, but it is worth a try, and it might come out of the operation playing just fine.

You really have nothing to lose. Just take your time, apply lots of clamping pressure, and use lots of glue so it squeezes out of every crack. A few very heavy, fat rubber bands might also be useful in holding it all together until the glue dries and hardens (I'd leave it alone for ~24 hours).

Neal, thanks so much for that idea... i greatly appreciate it. I'm not a wood work expert, but possibly talking to one this weekend who I "think" is a luthier too. That said, can you buy the clamps at Home Depot or Lowes? I appreciate the idea and your input. Thank you!

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

Hello from Finland

Without knowing how well those pieces fit together - and how much ( if any ) wood is missing - it is hard to say wether or not a simple "glue-it-all-together" would be a reasonable solution.

With good luck it just might be the answer - IF DONE RIGHT

Thanks so much, I appreciate your input, and we shall see how it shapes out. I'll be sure to keep all posted. I hope all is well in Finland too! I've always wanted to visit, hear it's beautiful. Thanks again.

 

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Deep throat clamps at Harbor freight

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

First of all, welcome. Secondly rest assured you have not been the first to run over your guitar. I haven't, but I have driven twenty miles before realizing I left my 65 Texan in a bar. I'm going to suggest finding a new friend. I understand sentiment. Not this time. Too many decent to very good guitars out there. If you should be able to swing a D 40 or some such, see about insuring through Heritage.

Thanks so much Brick, I wish I had left mine "in my apartment" ha. I appreciate your words and suggestion... i agree too, thank you.

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

Here ya go Paul....maybe identical to yours?

Guild GAD 30PCE NAT 2007 | Reverb

2007 guild acoustic electric w/hard shell case. Good condition. New strings. Sounds great. Just have others and doesn’t get played

reverb.com

West

thank you, West! Wow that is the one -- great find! Now i need to figure a few things out...

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

A friend of mine once pancaked his nice Taylor, tripping over a curb and falling backwards on it, strapped to his back in a gig bag.

It was splinters, completely irreparable. This GAD can be fixed, even (as a last resort) if it needs a metal bracket on the back of the headstock to help keep it all together. It can still make good music, if not for the OP, then for some kid who wants to learn how to play.

I appreciate that Neal... that story about your friend and his Taylor makes me feel a little better too. Thanks for your encouraging words on my Guild repair too - talk to someone this weekend about it in Atlanta area. Thank you again...

 

[Athens-Nash Guild 33]

That's the one I referred to yesterday, where the seller specifies "local pickup only".

But sometimes a seller can be persuaded to ship . . .

Yes, good point I noticed that too... Thank you

 

[davismanLV]

Thanks Davis, i appreciate your words here -- yea, I might be going to art / piece route and likely just buy new one. I don't have experience with wood work, etc., so I'm still tracking down best person in ATL to do it. Also awaiting some feedback from Cordoba / Guild as I contacted them as well. Thanks again.

Oh sorry ... Guild/Cordoba could care less and you won't get parts from them... okay?
Sooooo, what's your plan? It's a sink hole... money wise...