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Guild
F21212 String
AcousticS# AN
705 (1966)Hoboken,
NJ
Originally designed and
produced in late 1963, the 4th year edition is a quintessential model
evidenced by the Line 6 Variax choice of offering a 1966 Guild F212
symulation in its popular guitar.
This guitar was manufactured
at the Hoboken, NY Guild guitar factory, the second plant after the
original in NYC. Subsequently Guild moved to a long stint in
Westerly, RI, and post Fender acquisition, found its way to Corona CA
and now Tacoma Washington where Guild Acoustics are being made in
2007. More on Guilds history can be found at Guild
Guitars.
This original configuration
features a 25 1/2"
scale, 16" jumbo style body with Solid Spruce top, Solid Mahogany Back and Sides, a 3
piece Mahogany/Maple/Mahogany neck, rosewood bridge and unbound
fingerboard. ortoise Celluloid Pickguard and 7 ply
top and 3 ply back binding are aged and yellowed nicely.
The case fits the guitar a
little loosely, so I am inclined to think it is not OHS. It
is however a Guild Hard case and appears to be quite
old.
My
Observations
This baby is in need of
serious attention. The finish is actually in good
shape. Although it enjoys several dings, dents, scratches on
both the top and back, te actual finish is nicely checked and
stable. A good cleanup and buffing would actually make this
guitar quite nice. The tortoise celluloid pickgurad is waivey and the 7
ply top binding is in pretty good shape for a Guild of this era with
only very slight separation at the waste. The back 3 ply is
only slightly spearated at the seem located south of the neck
heal.
With the help of my preferred
Luthier and authorize Guild, Martin, Fender and Gibson repair tech,
Paul Neri of Clinton CT, I can offer the following suggestions for
repairs to bring the beauty back to excellent playing
condition:
- Neck Reset
- Repair of
crack in the top Bass Bout top. This is not easily seen as it
is not seperated, but it appears to be throug te top and should be
stabalized.
- Bridge -
The rosewood bridge is cracked between the string holes at the second
row. Only solution is to replace. The under bridge
plate inside has similar cracks, but can be resolved at same
time. There is a slight "hump" to the back o the
bridge. This many very well adjust over time with the
misc repairs, but at minimum could be compensated for in the bridge
replacement and neck reset.
This is a lot of work
for a guitar that has an apparent threshold of current sale value of
$1000, but a reputable luthier would likely charge half of
that. With an original MSRP of $335 in 1966, it is ironic
that a similar price today represents an unique opportunity to pay a
similar price today for a guitar that when finished will offer years
beyond it first 41 to an acoustic player with the added seasoning that
only a true vintage guitar can offer.
For more details, please
contact
me.
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