We are sick.

[SuperSonic]

It is going back and we are moving on. I just don't know if we are up to another mail drop. The prospect of sending the guitar to some nameless faceless repair center and hoping for the best feels too much like what we have already been through.

Thank you to everyone here, what a great bunch of guitar enthusiast. I know all your advice came from a great respect for Guild Guitars.

We are gonna concentrate our efforts on a few other manufactures for the time being. We would love to find and old Guild 12 string though. There is a Vintage guitar show in Orlando this weekend we may hit and see what's around. Again thank you all.

 

[bunuel]

Makes me sorta sick to read about. Very sorry to hear about your trevails.

But it's also a reminder that there's no real Guild left any more--the current "brand" is logo owned by FMIC & slapped on axes made in a number of different places (that frequently change) which is not a model for consistency or customer service.

Same for other acquisitions: a luthier friend used to do contract work for the ol' gretsch co., prior to their being bought. His job was to not only do west coast tech/repair/warranty work, but also to occasionally go out & test drive Gretsch axes being sold on the W. coast to make sure they were good to go, regarding set-up, etc. The minute FM bought Gretsch, they put an end to such quality assurance, as well as, more local service under the ol' Gretsch warranty. Really they put an end to any service. The same's now true of what the axes with Guild logos, as Supersonic's found out.

SS: Hope you track down a westerly or hoboken era guild. They're still relative bargains & great, great guitars!

 

[Treem]

SS: Hope you track down a westerly or hoboken era guild. They're still relative bargains & great, great guitars!

+1 The Roots Before It Branched Out! :shock: :mrgreen:

Blessings,

Treem 8)

 

[dreadnut]

I'd be P.O.'d too! This is unacceptable crap to be sending out to customers. I hope Guild isn't taking the blame for something caused by the dealer or UPS, still, pretty unlikely they had anything to do with the binding or the saddle. Especially considering the big price increase, they darn well oughtta be perfect.

If you're considering Martin and Taylor, you should check out Collings :shock:

 

[dapmdave]

SS, there are a few of us Florida LTGers going to the guitar show this weekend. Maybe we'll see you there!

Dave

 

[SuperSonic]

The dealer has been great and UPS is gonna come by an pick up the package tomorrow. The thing that sucks is having it sit in the living room all boxed up. I just can't believe the luck. Are there going to be acoustics at the show? I have seen pictures of the past shows and it looks like a lot of electrics. How about opinions of the new D40?

 

[chazmo]

Super, I really like the D-40 from New Hartford. I don't know if that's what you'll be seeing, but it's a honey of a mahogany dread.

I should also tell you that the recent DV-4 (made in Ensenada) is a low price-point entry for mahogany dreads. It's extremely "raw" but sounds great. MIght be worth getting your hands on for comparison.

 

[Ridgemont]

I have seen pictures of the past shows and it looks like a lot of electrics. How about opinions of the new D40?

Don't own one, but have played a couple around the Texas area. From just the looks standpoint, there are fewer appointments and bling than the D55 (no binding to worry about). The best way I can describe it is that it sounds like mahogany. I only finger picked it, but the tone was very crisp and midrangy. It had a bright full sound with that distinctive mahogany twangy thump in the bass. I felt it was very reminiscent of my D25 with less of a bass response. Overall, I thought it was a great sounding and playing guitar (stiff strings but that could be changed). Although a could not A/B them I felt that the tone and playability did not justify the price when I have the D25 at home.

However, considering your case (who doesn't have a beat up D25 at home), I would highly suggest it. The ones I saw had perfect construction. The red spruce top had a nice even wide grain with that oh so coveted bear claw. Keep in mind that it is mahogany and not rosewood. If you really want that very wide vocal range and full bass of rosewood, the D40 may not be for you. Personally I prefer mahogany which is great for the blues (just check out Bluesypicky's youtube clips). The D50 has the same appointments as the D40 but with rosewood back/sides.

 

[SuperSonic]

Man really having second thoughts about letting the D55 go tomorrow. I wish I knew a great luthier who could replace the binding. Crazy talk I know.

 

[plaidseason]

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.

Back in 2000 I had an issue with a guitar and I went to a dealer and the put me directly in touch with Jim Inman in Westerly. I emailed Jim. Jim emailed me back. A few days later I drove up to Westerly and met with Jim personally. Jim took care of everything. Very unFordlike.

-Chris

 

[capnjuan]

Hi SS; even if there were somebody who'd fix it to a high standard, you'd have a new D55 that was repaired to a high standard. You got less than the value of your original bargain ... and it's the mfr who ought to either replace it or repair it to your satisfaction. If you keep it, you're always going to be out the 'diminished value' ... the spread between what an unrepaired one is worth and what yours would bring if a knowledgeable buyer detected the fix. You paid once for the guitar and you'll pay twice for the deficiency: the cost to fix it and a hit on resale.

Buyer: "Gee, what's this?"
SS: "A former deficiency that was fixed to a high standard"
Buyer:"I see ... well ... how about I give you 85% of your asking price?"
SS: "But I already reduced the price to reflect the deficiency that was repaired to a high standard"
Buyer: "Hmm ... I wonder what the traffic's like on the Interstate..."

I could understand hanging onto it if you got it on the cheap; otherwise, good luck whichever way you choose to deal with it. CJ

 

[chazmo]

Man really having second thoughts about letting the D55 go tomorrow. I wish I knew a great luthier who could replace the binding. Crazy talk I know.

Not really, SS... We all can appreciate that you like the D-55, and really that's the important thing here.

You can either let Fender take care of you or not. I think I disagree with CJ here... From what I saw (correct me if I'm wrong), I don't think binding replacement is needed, and I think this can be patched up to like-new condition quickly by a competent luthier, so really it's just a question of how long you want to wait and whether it'll bother you to have someone working on your guitar. In all honesty there's nothing "magic" about having something done at the factory vs. having a luthier repair something for you. I guarantee that if you keep the axe for a lifetime, you will be visiting a luthier eventually anyway.

So, if you have a trusted luthier, why don't you bring it to him/her and ask for suggestions and estimate? That way, you could simply ask the dealer to reimburse you rather than shipping the guitar all over creation...

Just thinking out loud. Just be absolutely sure that you will be comfortable with the outcome. I think that if you've come around to feeling that you really like the guitar, you should try to keep it. There's no rush.

 

[Scottdog]

Man really having second thoughts about letting the D55 go tomorrow. I wish I knew a great luthier who could replace the binding. Crazy talk I know.

Crazy talk, to say the least. Now you have opened the door to some options.

If you are willing to pay the price to have that fixed ($100-$200), a worthy
Luthier should not be that hard to find.

I think you should just go down to the nearest Guild dealer and order up a
brand spanking new D55. You have already inadvertently said you
are willing to pay another $100-$200 over what you paid for
the defective one so, the need to find a bargain is moot.

I am hard pressed to think that the sound from that
particular D55 is going to be all that unique.

And, by purchasing from a local music store you accomplish two things.
You get to personally inspect the instrument before taking
delivery and more importantly, you support local business.

 

[dapmdave]

Man really having second thoughts about letting the D55 go tomorrow. I wish I knew a great luthier who could replace the binding. Crazy talk I know.

Crazy talk, to say the least. Now you have opened the door to some options.

If you are willing to pay the price to have that fixed ($100-$200), a worthy
Luthier should not be that hard to find.

I think you should just go down to the nearest Guild dealer and order up a
brand spanking new D55. You have already inadvertently said you
are willing to pay another $100-$200 over what you paid for
the defective one so, the need to find a bargain is moot.

I am hard pressed to think that the sound from that
particular D55 is going to be all that unique.

And, by purchasing from a local music store you accomplish two things.
You get to personally inspect the instrument before taking
delivery and more importantly, you support local business.

Wise words from scottdog.

Dave

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

CC did you ever contact Bing about a guitar.
I hear great things about him.He is a Guild dealer plus a Forum member.
If you get your money back on this one, give Bing a try.

As for a D-40.
The new D-40 has an a Addi top.
It may not be the best choice for you.
It is not even close to the sound of a D-55.

 

[adorshki]

Super since you're having second thoughts I will address your concerns about the repair facility by mentioning one of our members by the name of JazzmanG who has spoken extremely highly of repair work he's had done at the Nashville facility. It IS a high quality shop which has been under Guild/Fender control for over a decade. It was originally Guild's custom shop.
Here's a thread wherein he mentions sending a high-end Westerly to that facility, you might want to PM him for more info:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=14257&p=163874#p163874
Still wishing best of luck!

 

[SuperSonic]

Well for one the repairs are on the house since it is a new guitar. The only thing we will be out is time. I do understand the take it back at all cost reasoning. It will be a last minute decision. The local luthier who is Fender certified made me feel a lot better after I talked to her. We keep trying guitars but nothing clicks like this one. It has been boxed up since Sunday and we pulled it out for one last look it still awesome. The problem is that camera is better than I can see....lol. Thank you Adorshki that makes me feel better also. We will see. I have not talked to Bing...yet.

 

[adorshki]

We keep trying guitars but nothing clicks like this one. .

When I bought my D25 I had the chance to play 3 guitars in that family, you'd think they'd all feel the same but somehow the one I bought felt better than the others, and even though I REALLY wanted a cutaway with pickup I passed it up to get the '25. And when the guy in the store said "Let me get you a fresh one from the back" I said "No, THIS one". If that's what you're trying to describe then I strongly reccommend holding on to what you've got. Like Chazmo said, let Fender pay for the warranty work, especially if you're comfortable with that luthier. These guitars AREN'T just cookie-cutter interchangeable, as I suspect you're discovering. Also I personally wouldn't consider a warranty repair of the binding on a brand new guitar by a factory authorized luthier to be a value-lowering issue. And I think you're correct to be THAT picky about a brand new instrument with a Guild label on it. And like someone else said, it'll make a great story down the road!

 

[vusterle]

Supersonic. Sorry about your bad luck..that's what it is and you should take it as a sign; return the guitar. Anything that's ment to be should not come to you with so much effort. Overcoming adversity to attain a life goal is one thing but jumping through hoops and hurdles to PAY for a guitar is another. This particular guild is not in the cards for you. Best of luck in your search..you will find it and when you get it..pure bliss!

 

[SuperSonic]

I agree it shouldn't be difficult. Sometimes the extra effort pays off though. I am sure it will go to Nashville and possibly to Guild. The luthier said they would have to spray it there since it is nitro. It may just go back anyway. I should have left it in the box, darn it! I am a little shocked Guild doesn't have some body here looking things over.