Newbie, Hi everyone.

[BenF]

Hi everyone, I am new here. Been a member at the AGF and the Larrivee Guitar Forum for a while now, and recently was lucky enough to get a Guild, so thought I would show my face around here.

I bought a used Guild GAD M20 a couple of weeks back, and love it. Action is a bit high, and it looks to have had some surgery at some point (split neck, but expertly repaired), but it sounds brilliant, and offers a new spectrum of sound.

I've been playing for about 2 years in ernest, and love the music of Nick Drake, John Martyn, Iron and Wine etc. etc. I love the dark tones of the Guild, and love fingerpicking on it. I am 31, father of 3, and live in bonnie Scotland, UK.

I took the saddle down a wee bit, but I think it needs to come down further, and a tweak of the trussrod to reduce the relief a little, but it has hardly been played and I am letting it bed in a little first with some serious play time.

To complete my arsenal of guitars, I would like to get a dread one day in the future, and that might well be another Guild. Part of my reasoning for joining here was to learn as much as possible about the brand, with a view to maybe investing in a used one in due course. I would also love a Hoboken M20 in the future.

Anyway, enough about me, I look forward to getting to know some of you, and learning about Guilds. I share some of my music with the Larrivee forum too, and would like to here once I get aquainted.

Ben

 

[evenkeel]

Welcome to LTG land. I like your John Martyn "open C " cover. Very pretty playing. I'm a big fan of open/alternate tunings. Use a bunch, but not open C. Have to work on that. OY!! more on the to do list :wink: :!: :wink: :!:

 

[bluesypicky]

Welcome Ben and congrats on your newly acquired Guild!
Beware though..... You just opened the the door to some risky "gassed" future..... :mrgreen:

 

[Graham]

Welcome to LTG Ben.

Finally someone from Great Britain with a sense of humour. :mrgreen:

 

[twocorgis]

Welcome to LTG Ben.

Finally someone from Great Britain with a sense of humour. :mrgreen:

That's because he's from Scotland, just like my dear old dad, who was a direct import from Edinburgh.

Welcome aboard here Ben. Not only do you meet the nicest people here, next thing you know your guitar collection will increase exponentially like mine. :lol:

 

[cuthbert]

Hi everyone, I am new here. Been a member at the AGF and the Larrivee Guitar Forum for a while now, and recently was lucky enough to get a Guild, so thought I would show my face around here.

I bought a used Guild GAD M20 a couple of weeks back, and love it. Action is a bit high, and it looks to have had some surgery at some point (split neck, but expertly repaired), but it sounds brilliant, and offers a new spectrum of sound.

I've been playing for about 2 years in ernest, and love the music of Nick Drake, John Martyn, Iron and Wine etc. etc. I love the dark tones of the Guild, and love fingerpicking on it. I am 31, father of 3, and live in bonnie Scotland, UK.

I took the saddle down a wee bit, but I think it needs to come down further, and a tweak of the trussrod to reduce the relief a little, but it has hardly been played and I am letting it bed in a little first with some serious play time.

To complete my arsenal of guitars, I would like to get a dread one day in the future, and that might well be another Guild. Part of my reasoning for joining here was to learn as much as possible about the brand, with a view to maybe investing in a used one in due course. I would also love a Hoboken M20 in the future.

Anyway, enough about me, I look forward to getting to know some of you, and learning about Guilds. I share some of my music with the Larrivee forum too, and would like to here once I get aquainted.

Ben

Welcome here! We have approximately the same age...

For the dread, I would suggest an arched back D-25, pretty cheap, 102% Guild.

 

[BenF]

Wow, thanks for the warm welcome guys. Yeah, Scotland is a great place, but we need a sense of humour up here!! Thanks for the nice comments on my tunes, they are pretty scrappy, but learning and playing is my addiction :lol:

There seems to be a lot of vaiables with Guilds, I just don't know where to start. I love learning about guitars as well as playing them, so keen to expand my knowledge. I really want a rosewood dread in the long term, but buying the standard issue Martin D-28 is just too 'mainstream' for me!

I need to get to know my M20 first though!

Cheers everyone.

 

[coastie99]

Nice intro. Ben ......... welcome to the lounge.

Everything Guild is right here, and the natives are very friendly. You may even have a giggle or two !!

 

[JerryR]

Welcome to LTG Ben.

Finally someone from Great Britain with a sense of humour. :mrgreen:

:shock:

Welcome Ben

 

[chicagowineguy]

Welcome to the asylum! Enjoy the M20 and when you're ready to shop for a dread I second the advice on the D25...look for a Westerly...believe me you won't believe the sound!

 

[bluesypicky]

Wow, thanks for the warm welcome guys. Yeah, Scotland is a great place, but we need a sense of humour up here!! Thanks for the nice comments on my tunes, they are pretty scrappy, but learning and playing is my addiction :lol:
There seems to be a lot of vaiables with Guilds, I just don't know where to start. I love learning about guitars as well as playing them, so keen to expand my knowledge. I really want a rosewood dread in the long term, but buying the standard issue Martin D-28 is just too 'mainstream' for me!
Cheers everyone.

Since you mention a rosewood dread, I can't help but suggesting the DV-52...... All those aboard owning one (including myself) are in deep love with this tone monster!

 

[fab467]

Hi Ben.Welcome aboard our board!

 

[BenF]

I didn't buy a new GAD M20 because I happened to find one used that was particularly pretty. I understand these are made of Khaya, rather than mahogany, but it is a nice tonewood in its own right, even if it is different. For the money it cost, it is a great little box. Here are some pics - I guess y'all like pics!!! The last one shows what I believe is a split neck (it goes right to the heel!) but it also looks to be perfectly repaired, and also under the finish. Perhaps it was done as part of the manufacturing process - it might have been a factory second originally??? Dunno, maybe you guys can help me fathom it out. I am firmly of the opinion that they are for playing, not for wrapping in cotton wool, and as the repair is so clean and stable, it bothers me very little. The ebay seller never disclosed it. I suspect he hadn't played it enough to ever notice!!

 

[twocorgis]

I didn't buy a new GAD M20 because I happened to find one used that was particularly pretty. I understand these are made of Khaya, rather than mahogany, but it is a nice tonewood in its own right, even if it is different. For the money it cost, it is a great little box. Here are some pics - I guess y'all like pics!!! The last one shows what I believe is a split neck (it goes right to the heel!) but it also looks to be perfectly repaired, and also under the finish. Perhaps it was done as part of the manufacturing process - it might have been a factory second originally??? Dunno, maybe you guys can help me fathom it out. I am firmly of the opinion that they are for playing, not for wrapping in cotton wool, and as the repair is so clean and stable, it bothers me very little. The ebay seller never disclosed it. I suspect he hadn't played it enough to ever notice!!

That crack looks stable and doesn't seem like it will ever be an issue. Hopefully you got it for the right price Ben, and oh yeah, great pictures. Yes we do love pictures here!

 

[BenF]

That crack looks stable and doesn't seem like it will ever be an issue. Hopefully you got it for the right price Ben, and oh yeah, great pictures. Yes we do love pictures here!

Hmmm, I paid close to the 'new' price for it, because I understood it to be 'as new', which it is except for the neck. The new price isn't very much though, and i don't care for the appointments on the newer ones (rosette, headstock inlay). I don't think I got a fantastic deal, but I am happy to be on the Guild train!

 

[Scratch]

Welcome to LTG, Ben...

 

[twocorgis]

Hmmm, I paid close to the 'new' price for it, because I understood it to be 'as new', which it is except for the neck. The new price isn't very much though, and i don't care for the appointments on the newer ones (rosette, headstock inlay). I don't think I got a fantastic deal, but I am happy to be on the Guild train!

What's the local music store scene like up there in the hinterlands of Scotland? How did you come across this little beauty?

 

[BenF]

What's the local music store scene like up there in the hinterlands of Scotland? How did you come across this little beauty?

Grim - I wish we had more decent guitar stores.

I had been keeping an eye on ebay for a bargain, and it came up with colossal shipping costs, but I noticed it was 20 miles from me (what were the chances) so I went for it. Got in a bidding war unfortunately, but I loved the look of the wood, which can be a bit boring (Ribboned khaya is pretty, normal khaya can be VERY plain). Unfortunately i never noticed the neck split when I picked it up. Risks of ebay I guess. I checked the body for splits, and looked for signs of poor humidification etc, but never looked at the back of the neck.

It needs a good setup still, but for £400 I am confident enough to do it myself. I took my Larrivee to my nearest respected luthier, and he butchered it. Replacement nut, and he took a big chunk out the binding and fretboard. I'll never trust anyone else with my gits again. My Larrivee is an 03 series - basic level - but it is a custom order by the Larrivee forum, with amazing rosewood and italian spruce top and herringbone trim. Amazing guitar for the money.

 

[twocorgis]

What's the local music store scene like up there in the hinterlands of Scotland? How did you come across this little beauty?

Grim - I wish we had more decent guitar stores.

Don't we all! I live near New York City, and the only way to get your hands on an actual Guild to play is to go into Manhattan or Brooklyn. An even then most of them are GADs. USA made Guild demos are rarer than hen's teeth even here.

I had been keeping an eye on ebay for a bargain, and it came up with colossal shipping costs, but I noticed it was 20 miles from me (what were the chances) so I went for it. Got in a bidding war unfortunately, but I loved the look of the wood, which can be a bit boring (Ribboned khaya is pretty, normal khaya can be VERY plain). Unfortunately i never noticed the neck split when I picked it up. Risks of ebay I guess. I checked the body for splits, and looked for signs of poor humidification etc, but never looked at the back of the neck.

You wouldn't think humidification (unless you're talking about too much!) would be an issue where you are. To me at least that neck split doesn't look like much. I'm no expert really, but I wouldn't worry.

It needs a good setup still, but for £400 I am confident enough to do it myself. I took my Larrivee to my nearest respected luthier, and he butchered it. Replacement nut, and he took a big chunk out the binding and fretboard. I'll never trust anyone else with my gits again. My Larrivee is an 03 series - basic level - but it is a custom order by the Larrivee forum, with amazing rosewood and italian spruce top and herringbone trim. Amazing guitar for the money.

Sounds like the luthier situation around you is dire. Now that is a problem. I'd travel just about anywhere for the right guy. What about Aberdeen, or even Edinburgh for that matter? They're not too far away, are they?

 

[coastie99]

That crack looks stable and doesn't seem like it will ever be an issue. Hopefully you got it for the right price Ben, and oh yeah, great pictures. Yes we do love pictures here!

Hmmm, I paid close to the 'new' price for it, because I understood it to be 'as new', which it is except for the neck. The new price isn't very much though, and i don't care for the appointments on the newer ones (rosette, headstock inlay). I don't think I got a fantastic deal, but I am happy to be on the Guild train!

Ben, I note the fact that you have a Larrivee, which if I'm correct, would have a 1 3/4" nut. Have you discerned a difference between the width of the Larrivee and the Guild, at 1 11/16" ?

The reason that I ask, is because I've just bought a GAD F20 on Ebay for our grand-daughter ( 10 ) and a 1 3/4" nut is too difficult for her to play. I'm hoping that she'll find the F20 OK.