Westerly Guild F30 SB...worth the do-re-mi??

[andrew42]

Just a newbie fishing for opinions...

http://elderly.com/vintage/names/guild-and-reg;-f30-sb-(1988)--20U-13042.htm

What do ya'll think?

Andrew

 

[Ridgemont]

Hi Andrew,

That is not an F30. It is incorrectly listed. It is a GF-30 with maple back/sides. It has an archback too. Price wise, I have seen them sell for as little as $700 in possibly better condition. I have seen a few listed recently (1 here in Austin) for around ~$1200. The price may be fair, but I would call Elderly and get some info on the neck and a better look at the saddle. The last thing you want to do is drop $850 on a guitar that also needs a neck reset.

 

[Ian]

I was looking at that one myself. I've actually got an early F30. mahoghany back and sides and wondered what the maple would sound like. I didnt think it a bad price. Elderly are usually pretty good with descriptions, but watch out if it is being sold as is or on consignment and needs repairs. I know from another guitar I was looking at there recently that the all up cost repaired got pretty high.

Cheers, Ian

 

[philr]

I bought a guitar from Elderly once and it was an excellent experience. If you call them they'll connect you to someone who will take the guitar out and play it and discuss it with you on the phone. You'll get all of your questions answered. Usually if an instrument is in need of repairs they will list them in the ad.

 

[fungusyoung]

I agree Elderly is a very reputable shop, but you will pay top dollar (or close to it) there.

When browsing Guilds recently I was surprised by all of the disclaimers they seem to have added in recent months, including all the work that the guitar needs & many that say "sold as is", etc. That doesn't give me a warm/fuzzy feeling on an internet purchase. For example, there's a mid 70's D40 for sale there now for $995, which IMO, is high. Plus, it needs work.

Just my honest opinion...

 

[Ian]

Hi Fungus,

I had exactly that experience with a recent Gibby I was looking at there. (It's the Harley Davidson one which they still have). Was an Ok price at $1400, but was sold as is on consignment. I asked for an all up repaired price and it was $570 for the repairs which blew it out of the water for me Mind you at least of was aware of all of this straight up, there werent any hidden suprises. All kudos to Elderly actually, they are very prompt at coming back with replies to any qureries and their descriptions are pretty good for a start off, great photos too. Prices: Reasonably fair I thought, some deals better than others: I just bought a Godin 5th Avenue off them for $395.00 which I thought was a good price.
In general I dont mind paying a bit of a premium if it's through a dealer I can trust, of course being in NZ there really isnt much choice unless I'm buying off an LTGer.

Cheers, Ian

 

[onewilyfool]

Bridge has been shaved, and very little saddle left. Hard to tell what the height of the strings is at the 12th fret, but this guitar, IMHO, needs a neck reset.....I would pass. It is rather suspect that Elderly didn't mention these things. If I had ordered this guitar and received it in this condition I would have been very upset with Elderly.

 

[philr]

Elderly is pretty good about listing any defects or damage on an instrument. If you browse the website a little you'll see instruments that have "needs a neck reset" and such in their description. Pretty hard to determine that a guitar needs a neck reset based on one photograph of the bridge.

You really should give them a call and get all of your questions answered. That's a pretty good price for a GF-30 and you don't see them for sale very often.

My understanding is that Elderly sells used instruments as-is with a list of recommended repairs. Instruments on consignment have to be repaired before they will list them. They won't accept a damaged instrument on consignment. I read that in a forum somewhere, perhaps this one, I don't remember which. Maybe someone else who knows more about their policy can chime in.

 

[onewilyfool]

I don't know, no mention of the shaved bridge in the blurb, I just noticed it in the pic. AND, barely any saddle left, again, no mention in the blurb. I'd say, READY FOR NECK RESET, is not bending the truth too much.....but then it's a Guild, how could it need a neck reset?????