We are sick.

[SuperSonic]

I believe the gentlemen we bought the used Guild was trying to do the right thing but we are having no luck. Ok the new Guild arrived and this is what we find. Case damaged and the brass foot crushed in, this leaves a finish blemish about the size of a pencil eraser on the side of the guitar. The blemish is acceptable I could buff it out. It can hardly be photographed or seen. The bone saddle is cracked. The binding has a problem I am not sure what to make of it. It looks like the binding had a void and when it was finished down it became exposed. The binding looks hand worked all the way down versus a machined plastic binding. We really wish to keep this guitar is is beautiful the back has this great red stripe it almost looks like Braz. The neck and action are perfect. I can forgive the saddle it is bone and the way they are cut this could happen any time. The guitar is stunning. Look at the binding and give me the no crapper. It was built this month and booms, sounds amazing and is easy to play. If I can get a new case, saddle and some assurances about the binding I would keep this thing in 2 seconds. I am wondering if Guild is having problems or just my vendor.

 

[dapmdave]

So you're saying that this is a brand-new Connecticut Guild? Sheesh!

A local store owner just told me the other day that new Guilds were showing up in the "seconds" market, now. Marked "used". Is this what you have? Marked "second" or "used" somewhere?

Good luck. I'm sure you have the sympathy of everyone here.

Dave

 

[bluesypicky]

Man do you have everybody's sympathy!.... Hard to believe, two downers in row.
If the cracked saddle and the "hard to see" mark can be lived with, I would definitely not accept
a binding issue such as this one on guitar this price!!!!
Sorry for you and good luck again.....

 

[Dr Izza Plumber]

My condolences on the problems You're having. Looks like quality control issues,
along with inexperienced shipping clerks.

Fender should have kept the Tacoma operation up and running.
Hopefully, the Conn factory will start taking their duties seriously.

 

[jazzmang]

I have yet to see a single CT Guild marked as a second... and trust me, I have looked at damn near every one. :lol:

My GSR F-40 arrived with a cracked saddle also. No biggie. The dealer replaced it for me. I still want to believe this is UPS's fault... :lol:

 

[guitarslinger]

In the 80's I received 3 Artist Awards in a row with broken tops. Each one had either the bridge or the pickguard mounted voluum control or both pushed through the top. You could clearly see the grain on the case flattened from the obvious stacking of something very heavy on the box as it was laying flat. In each case UPS denied an insurance claim based upon an "inadequate pack". With the fourth and thankfully last effort I spoke to the shipping manager personally and had him send this one with the pickguard and bridge in the case pocket. In conversation I mentioned the "inadequate pack" issue. He was pretty upset telling me that as a large shipper of musical instruments UPS had to inspect and approve their packaging and packing. That's when I learned about UPS. Hope the next one comes intact.

 

[Scottdog]

Used? It is what it is.
Second? Again, it is what it is.
New? I would send it back without thinking twice.

Something I have been curious about with the New Hartford factory.
Gotta figure that the mass majority of Guild employees stayed
back in Tacoma. So I wonder about the fact the left over
Ovation employees have absolutely no experience
in building the back and sides of a wooden
guitar. Or even setting a traditional
style neck, for that matter.

 

[kats]

The guitar may be beautiful and play great, but if it has these problems there's no way I'd keep it. That just my opinion though.

 

[devellis]

I'd call the dealer who sold it to you and politely explain that you're sending it back and you want either a new guitar or repairs that will bring this one to an acceptable state. It can all be fixed but it shouldn't be your worry to do that when you buy a new guitar.

 

[SuperSonic]

Man I know what you are all saying is true I am just wore out. I have a 13 year old guitar nut who is heart broken for the second time, as is his father's. This guitar is not marked second or used. If it had arrived with with the saddle cracked I would have thought nothing of it. It is bone after all and they looked to be delicately carved. The case I could have looked past as shipping, the mark isn't even visible unless you hit the right angle but the binding has really got me miffed. Looking at it it almost looks like filler material that has been hand scraped and sanded. It is perfect a where the binding meets the guitar just not up to the frets. I would like to know how they apply their bindings, it might give me some insight what is going on. Maybe I will return it to Guild and have them repair it or just send it back and be do with Guilds. Nothing we have tried sounds this good. Oh well the back sure is pretty though, isn't it?

 

[dapmdave]

Man I know what you are all saying is true I am just wore out. I have a 13 year old guitar nut who is heart broken for the second time, as is his father's. This guitar is not marked second or used. If it had arrived with with the saddle cracked I would have thought nothing of it. It is bone after all and they looked to be delicately carved. The case I could have looked past as shipping, the mark isn't even visible unless you hit the right angle but the binding has really got me miffed. Looking at it it almost looks like filler material that has been hand scraped and sanded. It is perfect a where the binding meets the guitar just not up to the frets. I would like to know how they apply their bindings, it might give me some insight what is going on. Maybe I will return it to Guild and have them repair it or just send it back and be do with Guilds. Nothing we have tried sounds this good. Oh well the back sure is pretty though, isn't it?

SS, I feel your pain. If it's a new Guild, not a second, then you should have a lifetime warranty and they should fix it - no questions asked. The binding issue would be a deal-breaker for me.

Referring to my earlier post: I was in a local music store this past week, chatting with the owner. He sells mainly low-end stuff, and has access to a lot of seconds which have been repaired and placed back out in the marketplace at reduced prices. Knowing my preference for Guilds, he told me he could get some that were marked "used".

But to be clear, I have not actually seen one myself.

Dave

 

[FNG]

Talk to the guy who sold it to you. Seems like some of the issues were probably caused by the shipping. Seems you really like the way the guitar sounds, ask him for some money back for the binding issue. Since it's new, then they should repair the binding, or cut the price some. A new saddle is easy.

 

[Rich]

That binding coulpled with that fret end are nothing short of shameful and slipshod workmanship. I'd send it back in a hot minute.

 

[SuperSonic]

The fret ends are distorted in that picture due to the reflection. They are not in bad shape. I just can't understand the binding, why use filler unless this is how they do it on all the Guilds. Here are some more pics. It is such a beautiful guitar. This is so tiring.

Sorry about the giant pictures but I was tying to make a point. I hate to say this but our experience has soured us on the new Guild's. I think we may just move on and say goodbye to one of the most stunning guitars out there. What discount is reasonable on a guitar with these issues assuming it can be put back to 100 percent through the warranty process.

And it should look like this

 

[FNG]

Who did you buy it from?

 

[gilded]

The head of Rickenbacker, John Hall, has described the binding process as being the hardest job at the factory.
That being said, it looks like the the guitar was bound first and fretted second. Maybe, just maybe the fret guy screwed up the binding....

Also, looking at what I see in the pics, the fret ends seem sloppy and the length of the frets vis a vis their placement to the edge of the binding is inconsistent. If all of the New Hartford Guilds are like that, that's no good. If I had a re-fret that looked like that from a repair-man, I would never go back to the guy.

I would not only send it back, I'd would raise Cain with the factory! Somebody needs to be chewed on; inspector, worker(s), whomever.

 

[capnjuan]

Take it back, take it back ... take that thing right outta here ... :evil:

 

[Dr. Spivey]

I would not only send it back, I'd would raise Cain with the factory! Somebody needs to be chewed on; inspector, worker(s), whomever.

Absolutely. Workmanship like that is unacceptable on a guitar in that price range.

 

[dapmdave]

Take it back, take it back ... take that thing right outta here ... :evil:

Well done, cj. Well done.

 

[kitniyatran]

You're labeled as in South Florida; I wonder where, as we have a forum member with a Guild dealership in Naples, southwest Florida, who could look it over & advise what action to take and/or bid for repairs to make it right.