Just curious regarding the '63 you returned - what did your luthier have to say about it? I see it available again on the GC site. Wondering if it needs a neck reset soon, or if the damage to the fretboard was downplayed over the phone and is significant? Also did the pickups seem to be original?
Once I fell in love with the 66 I knew the 63 was going back. Even if my luthier didn't ok the 66 I was going to find another one. So I never had him look at the 63. The action on the 63 was low. It chocked out in at least 1 spot. Thus I don't think it will need a neck reset soon. The middle pickup position was out of phase on the 63. I think that's how it was done in that year.
I'm not a luthier and i'm also legally blind. I also don't know much about Guild history so really all I can say is the action was too low and the pickups were out of phase in the middle position.
But, shipping cost me less than $20 so that and a trip to GC which probably totaled an hour round trip is all I'm out. The case is beat up and missing the latch closest to the headstock but I still found it usable.