NGD Almost - 2000 Guild DCE5 from GC

[D30Man]

Okay, so I just pulled the trigger on this one. Price with tax and shipping came in at just over $700... I went back the other day to buy @twocorgis DCE3 but he had sold it! I love mine but I was told by a trusted luthier that the action is not able to be fixed without a major neck block repair. I think maybe the DCE3 was dropped. but the top of soundhole has cracks on both side of the FB which is common with this era. My D-30 had the same cracks. My DCE3 has been like this since I bought it. I will use it for slide and playing in the cowboy chord territory. It sounds pretty great.

Soooooo all that to say I wanted another one from this series and the DCE5 was built the same years as my DCE3 so I figured why the heck not. It is the rosewood version with a fishman prefix. Same specs otherwise. Ebony fretboard / bridge. Cutaway. Solid sitka top. Arched back. If I get it and I don't like it, I can always return it. The DCE3 has been a really nice stage guitar and I am hoping the same for this one. Here are some lackluster GC pics. Once I get it I report back with some more pics / assessments. I believe this is pretty underrated series. However, there are a couple of the DCE5 models on the verb for some high falutin prices.

 

[Stuball48]

Beautiful and congratulations. You gonna like it is my bet.

 

[GGJaguar]

 

[twocorgis]

Good luck with the new one, and I hope it works out. I had a local deal worked out on my DCE3, and while the buyer was deciding when he was going to come get it, somebody bought it on Reverb.

With Reverb's fees, I was just able to break even on it. I think I made four dollars, but I haven't gotten the FedEx invoice yet.

 

[D30Man]

Glad it sold, Sandy. I am curious to see how I am going to like this one. My hope is that it has the same overall feel as the DCE3 being built in the same year and all. Hopefully no structural issues.

 

[twocorgis]

Glad it sold, Sandy. I am curious to see how I am going to like this one. My hope is that it has the same overall feel as the DCE3 being built in the same year and all. Hopefully no structural issues.

I hope you like it, and it should be fairly similar I'd think. The DCE3 I had didn't really blow my hair back, but in the maple cutaway acoustic-electric category here, it had some mighty stiff competition with the F50ce.

 

[plaidseason]

YES! I affirm your great life choice.

 

[D30Man]

I hope you like it, and it should be fairly similar I'd think. The DCE3 I had didn't really blow my hair back, but in the maple cutaway acoustic-electric category here, it had some mighty stiff competition with the F50ce.

Yeah the DCE3 ( though mine is nice and broken in and you can hear it ) is not going to stand a chance against an F50 no matter the factory.
My F47M ( NH, CT ) is a cut way above the DCE3. It is more complex tonally. It has a beautiful tone recorded. Not as loud, but I don't need it to be. It is a higher level instrument period.
The DCE3 is a workhorse you don't mind spilling a little beer on that just so happens to have some tonal mojo in a more crude sense if you will. I am going to wager the DCE5 which arrives tomorrow to my home in Rockwall, TX ( I am in Monterey on business ) will be a workhorse for shows. If it is that I will be satisfied.

 

[HeyMikey]

That is a lot of guitar with some nice features for a mere $700! Congrats and I hope you enjoy it. Workhorse = Made to be played, right?

 

[D30Man]

Okay, so I need some help here as I am not a luthier. I got the DCE5 in yesterday and the saddle is super low. That is a concern, but should it be for a guitar made in 2000? No sound hole cracks. See pics. Other than the low saddle, this guitar is in tremendously good shape. Like way better than my DCE3. It is also booms like nobody's business. Sonically very powerful. I asked the store for better pics of the saddle but pulled the trigger and never got them. So, it's hard to imagine that this 23 year old guitar that looks well-kept is in need of a re-set. Also, I am not seeing anything that would make me think it is a neck block issue.. Here are some pics. I am super-torn because I really like the way it sounds. Also the break angle doesn't really seem to have much if any impact on the pick up. Fishman Prefix blended sounds really nice.

 

[twocorgis]

Only you can decide. The guitar might have a low saddle because that's the way it has been for a long time, but there's no knowing that for sure because you don't know its history. Or it might need to have a neck reset soon. My 2010 F512 has had a low saddle since the first time my luthier set it up in 2013, but it has not moved one mm since then. How's the action now? If it needs to come down, that might take even more saddle.

 

[D30Man]

Indeed and I am leaning towards keeping it. Action is actually pretty good right now.. Feels good. Maybe just a touch higher up than I neck than my exact preference.

 

[twocorgis]

Indeed and I am leaning towards keeping it. Action is actually pretty good right now.. Feels good. Maybe just a touch higher up than I neck than my exact preference.

I think you have the 45 day return policy if the guitar is less than 25 years old, so I would get it set up, and then decide. If the action is a little bit high, it depends on whether it's too much relief (good), or whether it all has to come from lowering the saddle more (bad).

 

[D30Man]

Fully agreed and will do just that. If it has come down more I will be doing the old return. Thanks, Sandy!

 

[davismanLV]

Hey @D30Man , it sure is pretty!! That rosewood is incredible!! That saddle is a tad low looking, but as Sandy has said it may be stable like that and stay for years. Or it could indicate movement. One thing I notice is the truss rod cover is upside down (no problem) but that means it's been taken off and probably monkeyed with at some point. So you may want to see if someone has been cranking on it. I'd check that out before your final decision. Do a check of the truss rod and see what you think. Tiny little increments on that, slowly. Report back!!

 

[GGJaguar]

Very nice guitar, congrats! I hope you get to keep it!

 

[D30Man]

Tom oddly enough I didn't notice the upside down TRC until continued inspection last night ( you'd think i've learned nothing being on this forum for 8 years - ) and I wondered the same. So I am going to pull that off today and have a look! Thanks!

 

[HeyMikey]

The guitar is cosmetically gorgeous. Only you can decide. If the action is slightly high now will that bother you? There doesn’t appear to be any saddle left to adjust it. Is that Ok? If you get to the point where you don’t like the action will spending $500-700 for a neck reset, saddle and possibly nut be Ok? It just may be if you like the sound and feel of the guitar that much and you plan to hang onto it for a while.

 

[D30Man]

HM, that is precisely what I am struggling with. I pulled the TRC off and gave the truss rod a couple of small turns. Seems to feel better. Actually if the action could stay just like this, it would be a winner. There is a tech up at GC who is a pretty straight shooter. He is the kind that will tell you whether you bought it from them or not if there are long-term issues going on. He is always shot me pretty straight when I have needed a second opinion. I think I am going to have him go through it too for giggles. A luthier / guitar tech I am not.

 

[D30Man]

And the sound is just so robust and boomy.