We are sick.

[bluesypicky]

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.

So do we here in Jupiter, where I actually went and got to see some gorgeous Guilds, without any issue...
I had asked previously about where in FL. but didn't get an answer.

 

[kitniyatran]

Yeah, I tried out a couple of nice Ensenada Guilds at gatorguild's shop, & he tweaked my D25's truss rod.

 

[SuperSonic]

Blues the reason I did not disclose the dealer is he is out of state. I am still in the process of returning this guitar and I am acting in good faith as is the dealer. I feel that disclosing the dealer at this point is of no benefit to me or him. Any further information about the dealer should be directed to PM's. I would like to express my opinion to the folks at Guild though but when you call them all you get is Fender headquarters. This started out as a used guitar purchase and then as the dealer tried to make good on the damaged first guitar he sent me this one which was built this month. It was a good deal as it was thought to have no issues. I would have been much better off going to Wolfe and buying one of theirs at this point. Lesson learned. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to give an opinion you advice has been spot on. I am saddest about losing faith in Guild. Are their any Guild employees around here?

 

[FNG]

You think it's the greatest sounding guitar in the world. It has some minor binding issues. I'd say not quite time yet to throw the baby out with the bath water.

 

[killdeer43]

You think it's the greatest sounding guitar in the world. It has some minor binding issues. I'd say not quite time yet to throw the baby out with the bath water.

I'd like to second that emotion.
Lots of cliches apply here, Sonic, but that one puts it in perspective as well as any.

Guilded,
Joe

 

[SuperSonic]

I understand your sentiment. This is not an indictment of Guild or the dealer it could be just bad luck. I wish Guild could look at the pictures and give me some advice but as I said they are hard to get a hold of.

 

[devellis]

Of course I don't know the back story, but I wonder if it might be the dealer rather than Guild who is at fault. One possible scenario (although, again, I don't know what actually happened) is that the fret ends were a bit sloppy and the dealer tried to clean them up, screwing up the binding in the process. I find it really hard to imagine something leaving the factory with that binding. Rough fret ends, perhaps, but not that binding. Installing fretboard binding isn't that tough. You just rout a channel, lay in some glue, run the strip of plastic binding along the groove, tape it place, let it dry, and trim things up a bit. It's body binding that can be a bear because of the difficulty of getting the mitered joins to be tight and clean.

Guild should be able to fix that guitar so that the binding looks as it should. Worst case is that they pull the frets, remove the original binding, rebind the board, and refret the guitar. For a factory, that's a piece of cake and there should be no sign that anything has been done when they're through. Geez, they're the freakin' factory. They could even re-neck the guitar if needed.

I agree that the back is exceptionally pretty and if the sound is also special, then getting that instrument put right should be your goal -- and it's not an unreasonable goal, at all.

I think you're wise not to mention the dealer until this gets resolved. Good will can be helpful in a situation like this. Both the factory and the dealer have an opportunity to make a favorable impression on a core group of potential customers by doing the right thing here. If being reasonable doesn't work, there's time for a more aggressive approach later. But I'd begin by appealing to their better nature. Personally, I'd be reluctant to take a discount without being absolutely sure that the difference in price was enough to cover fully the cost of replacing the neck binding. The factory should be able to do the binding repair as well or better than anyone else.

Finally, I just want to say how sorry I am that what should have been a good experience for you has turned into such a bummer. All I can say by way of encouragement is that I've seen other situations like this over the years that have had happy endings. It takes patience and forbearance, but these things can get worked out.

 

[southernGuild]

Yes Sonic, all the above, and ......really just feeling sorry for you guys there. THIS should be a time of musical JOY!!! I agree though that with a bit of attention , this matter can be resolved in a favorable manner for you. Hang in there, and make SURE you get what you want and payed for. If you are determined to have THIS guitar, then it should be repaired appropriately and all appear as new! Good luck!

 

[SuperSonic]

Thanks for the encouragement. We have went back and forth about this guitar all weekend. We hate to give up on it, so we will see what tomorrow brings. I will contact the dealer and see what the option are.

 

[SuperSonic]

Here is a rough test recording before it was boxed up. Under Guild D55.......He does love the way it plays
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default ... dID=999565

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

When Guild receives the guitar, they will probable be able to repair the damage and return the guitar back to you.
It's a shame that you have had to go through all of this but one day when it's all over, you will be able to tell some great stories about the guitar.
Keep the Faith,
TMG.

 

[6L6]

You think it's the greatest sounding guitar in the world. It has some minor binding issues. I'd say not quite time yet to throw the baby out with the bath water.

+1

 

[kitniyatran]

I wasn't(and assume the same of others) looking to ID the dealer, just to get some idea of SuperSonic's location that we might advise a luthier location to have the instrument professionally checked out. I agree it's a shame this happened, but it sounds repairable, so if it sounds so good, why not look in to it. Guild or the dealer should pick up the tab. :?:

 

[bluesypicky]

I wasn't(and assume the same of others) looking to ID the dealer, just to get some idea of SuperSonic's location that we might advise a luthier location to have the instrument professionally checked out. I agree it's a shame this happened, but it sounds repairable, so if it sounds so good, why not look in to it. Guild or the dealer should pick up the tab. :?:

Your assumption is correct Mando, I was just trying to locate Supersonic too.

 

[SuperSonic]

Again thank you all for your help. I hope I didn't come off short Blues. I was just trying to get thru the next couple of days as easily as possible.

 

[bluesypicky]

Again thank you all for your help. I hope I didn't come off short Blues. I was just trying to get thru the next couple of days as easily as possible.

No problem. I hope you can get this solved without having to pass on a great guitar like this one, and that you finally get around to talking with some Guild "decision maker" in CT (or elsewhere).

 

[SuperSonic]

Well spoke to Fender Musical and they basically said "there is no one at Guild to speak to and I would have to send it to a Fender repair center. This is unacceptable to me, if this can't get back to Guild and their factory then they can have it back. The general idea that I have to talk to someone in Arizona about a 2500 dollar handmade CT guitar is ludicrous.

 

[chazmo]

Well spoke to Fender Musical and they basically said "there is no one at Guild to speak to and I would have to send it to a Fender repair center. This is unacceptable to me, if this can't get back to Guild and their factory then they can have it back. The general idea that I have to talk to someone in Arizona about a 2500 dollar handmade CT guitar is ludicrous.

Super... I'm afraid that's reality with Fender. The "factory" is a manufacturing/distribution facility; it's not a customer service facility. Yeah, I know, Martin and Taylor do all that at their facilities, but the scale of those facilities and the fact that those are corporate headquarters for those brands make them a different case.

I don't think you're going to be happy with this. Ultimately, your guitar will have to go to a local shop from which it'll either get shipped off to the repair facility in Nashville (which I think is still the process) or it'll get repaired locally.

I wish we knew whether you're guitar had these problems from the factory or whether the person you bought it from created the situation... Since you didn't buy it "new" you don't really have an easy answer to that.

Sorry. I think you should send it back and move on.

 

[SuperSonic]

It was purchased New from a Guild Authorized dealer. Fender's other brands namely Hamer and Ovation handle their own customer service. As a matter of fact you can talk to the tech that handles the Hamer and Ovation technical support and he is located at the Guild-Hamer-Ovation factory. Hamer and Ovation offer an option to have the guitar repaired at the factory. Further more, if you are not thinking of the customer while you are manufacturing/distributing your product then you best start looking for a job. Sorry I am just pissed! :x I am gonna just send this thing back and go get a Martin, Breedlove or a Taylor. At least these corporate giants understand customer service. Like the Fender rep told me "you can't call Ford when your car breaks down" :roll: . The dealers hands are tied by the system that Fender has in place. So rather than be upset I will just get the money back. I have know idea why I am fighting so hard for a damaged guitar. :? I am certain that if Guild wishes to be taken seriously they need to handle their own customer service in house.

 

[chazmo]

First of all, I don't blame you for being upset. But, really, shouldn't you just send the guitar back to the dealer? They will fix these problems for you, if you want, or they should exchange it.

Your comparison with Hamer and Ovation is interesting, Super. KEep in mind that these brands were part of the Kaman Music Corporation before Fender bought them out. In fact, the factory is in New Hartford, and the Kaman office are somewhere nearby, I think. The KMC offices, however, were never responsible for Guild. The "factory" is now part of Fender and not part of the KMC administration anymore.

ANyway, it's confusing, and I don't want to belittle your annoyance. I'm afraid, though, that your "path" back to Guild is through your dealer.