NGD 2007 F-47M

[JavelinaJoe]

GAS got the best of me, and I purchased this F-47M from GC when it showed up last week. I've been wanting an F-47 from either Tacoma or New Hartford for some time. I was somewhat surprised when I opened up the case and started examining the guitar. Seems the previous owner had the D-TAR pickup removed and replaced with a Fishman Matrix Infinity pickup. A plug was inserted, and new, slightly off-center end pin jack installed. Then there's the extra strap button. The factory button was apparently not good enough. There are 2 spots on the back where it looks like someone tried to fill in a couple of scratches and whatever they used bled in under the lacquer. I had to get it an angle to see it clearly. Hard to photograph. well.

I then found a small chip on the headstock and upon further examination revealed a hairline crack in the headstock (see photo). There is some cracking where the neck joins the body too. I suspect it may have taken a spill and hit the neck. The neck block looks solid enough and I don't see anything damage from the inside. This is the only issue that really disturbs me. I can live with the pickup swap and the extra strap button, etc. Otherwise, it's in overall great condition and plays/sounds great. I don't like the strings (coated Elixirs I think) and will be swapping them out for D'Addario nickel bronze strings.

The last photo is the F-47M next to my F-40 Koa, both are from Tacoma, built in 2007 about 3 weeks apart. Guild built some great guitars in Tacoma.

Biggest question: is the headstock crack a deal breaker? I want to keep it but if it's going to end up being a problem, I'd rather return it. Looking forward your responses.

JJ

 

[West R Lee]

Beautimous! How I love maple, and strangely no longer own one. I may have to remedy that one day.

West

 

[kostask]

Ideally, you should probably get this checked out by a local luthier who can look at the "cracks" in person. It is hard to see clearly what you are talking about, but based on the pictures you provided, I will do my best to offer an opinion.

1. The headstock "crack" you are concerned about seems to be in the headplate, or black sheet that covers the headstock. You didn't provide a picture of the back of the headstock, so going from the provided picture alone, I don't think the is a "crack". It is a scratch, and most likely to be from somebody being really careless with a string change. It doesn't seem to follow the grain pattern of the neck, and so appears to be on the surface finish of the headplate. I am going to assume that it doesn't appear on the back of the headstock.

2. The neck heel also appears to be a superficial scratch. Again, it doesn't seem to completely follow the grain of the neck heel wood, so it would be in the lacquer of the neck heel. Possibly a scratch caused by using a strap with a longer end on the second strap button, and being careless with the putting on/taking off of the strap.

Again, and I cannot emphasize this enough, get it checked out by a qualified luthier. Your pictures are just that, pictures, I do not have the guitar in hand. A luthier will not only verify if there is a problem or not, but can also suggest a way to get rid of the scratches if they are just scratches, and it shouldn't be expensive, if it bothers you enough to get them addressed.

 

[bobouz]

Rather rare, beautiful, and worth keeping if it is structurally sound. Absolutely agree with the above - have it assessed by a reputable luthier within the 30-day return period. Hope it works out for you!

 

[GGJaguar]

Beautiful! I hope your luthier gives it a clean bill of health.

 

[JavelinaJoe]

1. The headstock "crack" you are concerned about seems to be in the headplate, or black sheet that covers the headstock. You didn't provide a picture of the back of the headstock, so going from the provided picture alone, I don't think the is a "crack". It is a scratch, and most likely to be from somebody being really careless with a string change. It doesn't seem to follow the grain pattern of the neck, and so appears to be on the surface finish of the headplate. I am going to assume that it doesn't appear on the back of the headstock.

This is what I'm seeing. You are correct that it does not follow the grain and could just be a scratch. Definitely going to the luthier for a check up.

 

[plaidseason]

GAS got the best of me, and I purchased this F-47M from GC when it showed up last week. I've been wanting an F-47 from either Tacoma or New Hartford for some time. I was somewhat surprised when I opened up the case and started examining the guitar. Seems the previous owner had the D-TAR pickup removed and replaced with a Fishman Matrix Infinity pickup. A plug was inserted, and new, slightly off-center end pin jack installed. Then there's the extra strap button. The factory button was apparently not good enough. There are 2 spots on the back where it looks like someone tried to fill in a couple of scratches and whatever they used bled in under the lacquer. I had to get it an angle to see it clearly. Hard to photograph. well.

I then found a small chip on the headstock and upon further examination revealed a hairline crack in the headstock (see photo). There is some cracking where the neck joins the body too. I suspect it may have taken a spill and hit the neck. The neck block looks solid enough and I don't see anything damage from the inside. This is the only issue that really disturbs me. I can live with the pickup swap and the extra strap button, etc. Otherwise, it's in overall great condition and plays/sounds great. I don't like the strings (coated Elixirs I think) and will be swapping them out for D'Addario nickel bronze strings.

The last photo is the F-47M next to my F-40 Koa, both are from Tacoma, built in 2007 about 3 weeks apart. Guild built some great guitars in Tacoma.

Biggest question: is the headstock crack a deal breaker? I want to keep it but if it's going to end up being a problem, I'd rather return it. Looking forward your responses.

JJ

This seems like an amazing find.

Re: the strap button - some folks are just really particular with respect to location. I'd just pick the one I like best and ditch the other.

There are few things I love as much as the sound of a maple mini-jumbo.

 

[Rayk]

Nice congrats .