#1
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Would this be a stupid mistake? (Trade content)
So I've been playing an Alvarez AG60CE at a music store I frequent. I really like it a lot. I'm not in the market to buy new right now, even though the price would be <$500 USD. My only choice would be trading in my 2006 Guild CV-1. The Guild is USA-made, all solid wood and sounds awesome. I'm thinking of going to some open mics and playing out more, which would require plugging in. I use a soundhole pickup now, but I was thinking of getting something more permanent installed. There are some other issues with the Guild, just minor ones, like the honky fret at the 15th (only on the low E) and other minor details.
The Alvarez has a cutaway, which I've always liked and would utilize, a strap button pick-up jack (instead of a "barn-door" pick up jack that some guitar companies are installing recently), solid top, laminated b/s. Both are Concert size guitars. So would it be really stupid to trade the Guild for the Alvarez? Your brutal honesty would be appreciated! TIA
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---Rob Martin GPC 11E Guild CV-1 Gibson L-00 Studio Gretsch Jim Dandy Fishman Loudbox Mini |
#2
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Well, it sounds as though you’d be trading down, in overall market value if not in musical utility. Is there any way you could put the Alvarez on layaway at the store and pay a manageable sum on it every month until you’ve got it paid for? I think that’s what I would do if I was in a similar situation.
whm |
#3
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I’m with Wade on this one to be honest. I love having a cutaway on my Taylor but love my other two acoustics too.
If the Alvarez is really what you want then go for it - but I would be reluctant to sacrifice a Guild in order to make it happen...
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Gibson ES-335 Studio 2016; Furch OM34sr 2015; Fender MiJ Geddy Lee Jazz bass, 2009; Taylor 414CE 2005; Guild D35 NT 1976; Fender MIM Classic 60s Tele 2008; Fender US Standard Strat 1992; G&L ASAT classic hollowbody 2005; Ibanez RG350MDX 2010(?); Ibanez Musician fretless, 1980s; Seymour Duncan Tube 84-40; Vox AC4TV; Ex-pat Brit in Sweden
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#4
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What’s more, installing an end-pin preamp pickup or even a passive K&K Pure Mini would make your Guild more plug and play than it is now and isn’t hard to do (or expensive if you get the store to do it).
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Gibson ES-335 Studio 2016; Furch OM34sr 2015; Fender MiJ Geddy Lee Jazz bass, 2009; Taylor 414CE 2005; Guild D35 NT 1976; Fender MIM Classic 60s Tele 2008; Fender US Standard Strat 1992; G&L ASAT classic hollowbody 2005; Ibanez RG350MDX 2010(?); Ibanez Musician fretless, 1980s; Seymour Duncan Tube 84-40; Vox AC4TV; Ex-pat Brit in Sweden
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#5
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Get your Guild fixed. Put some good soundboard pickups, my preference are Dazzos but K&Ks acceptable, and run a good DI unit outboard. A RedEye or the new almost but not quite on the market Sunnaudio, and you will sound great. If you are only going to have one acoustic with pickups, put a Sunnaudio circuit onboard your guitar. It really will blow a RedEye away. I've loved my RedEye, but there is better to be had now.
Disclaimer: SunnAudio custombuilt me a DI box for my open mic, and gave me a discount on it for real world feedback. An under $500 guitar will have underwhelming electronics. Please don't think you can run K&Ks into a mixing board and sound good. It will make sound though.
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2007 Martin D 35 Custom 1970 Guild D 35 1965 Epiphone Texan 2011 Santa Cruz D P/W Pono OP 30 D parlor Pono OP12-30 Pono MT uke Goldtone Paul Beard squareneck resophonic Fluke tenor ukulele Boatload of home rolled telecasters "Shut up and play ur guitar" Frank Zappa Last edited by srick; 04-17-2018 at 02:14 PM. Reason: Rule #1 |
#6
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yup
+1.....keep that Guild! Bolt on neck? All solid? Throw on a K&K and move on
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#7
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If you have a guitar that you're attached to for any reason, don't trade it (especially trading down) if the issue you don't like can be addressed.
I had a '98 Huss and Dalton TD-R (Adi/Rosewood dreadnaught, maple binding, radius top, Waverly tuners). The top would get sticky in hot weather, and according to H&D the fix was to do a refinish, which would have been about $300. Instead, I traded straight up for a Taylor W10 - which is a nice guitar, but never as nice as the H&D. Today, the H&D is worth about 2X what the Taylor is, and I've kicked myself ever since.
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-------- Recording King Bakersfield Taylor 812ce-N Taylor 356ce Taylor 514ce Taylor Baby-M Eastman E40-OM Fender Robert Cray Stratocaster Fender Baja Telecaster Fender MIJ Telecaster Custom G&L ASAT Classic Tribute Bluesboy Semi-Hollow Rickenbacker 620/12 Gretsch 6120 Godin Multiac Nylon Duet Ambience |
#8
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+1 Keep the Guild !
Add a K&K Ultra Pure Mini - includes the preamp and is a simple install.
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Taylor V-Class 814ce, 717e BE WHB, 520ce, 454ce, 420 Cedar\Maple, T5z Classic Martin D18E Retro Cordoba C10 Crossover Emerald X20 Rainsong H-OM1000N2 Voyage-Air VAD-04 Custom Les Paul Hot Rod Deville 410, Fishman Loudbox Performer |
#9
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I’m an avowed Alvarez guy.
I have five of the seven I’ve bought for myself over the years. And quite frankly while the AD60 is a great guitar, it ain’t a Guild. Not by a long shot. A new AD60 is under $500, and an used one can often be had under $300. You can throw a K&K in the Guild and add any one of a dozen DI’s and sound better than decent. You’d spend about what an AD60 goes for to “hop up” the guitar you already love. The issues you mention are pretty easy fixes.
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A bunch of guitars I really enjoy. A head full of lyrics, A house full of people that “get” me. Alvarez 5013 Alvarez MD70CE Alvarez PD85S Alvarez AJ60SC Alvarez ABT610e Alvarez-Yairi GY1 Takamine P3DC Takamine GJ72CE-12-NAT Godin Multiac Steel. Journey Instruments OF660 Gibson G45 |
#10
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Not to pile on, but I'm going to anyway. Keep the Guild. Find some other way to afford the Alvarez.
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#11
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Agree completely with this advice.
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Chris Stern Guitars by: Bown Wingert Kinscherff Sobell Circa Olson Ryan Fay Kopp McNally Santa Cruz McAlister Beneteau Fairbanks Franklin Collings Tippin Martin Lowden Northworthy Pre-War GC Taylor Fender Höfner 44 in total (no wife) Around 30 other instruments Anyone know a good psychiatrist? www.chrisstern.com |
#12
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Just in case you need one more voice: keep the Guild! What are you thinking?
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#13
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If you like the Alvarez and I don't see why you don't, sell the Guild and then use that money to buy the Alvarez. It's not that Alvarez are not very good guitars, they are. It's just they sell for a lot less than most of the competition.
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#14
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Quote:
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#15
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Trade advice
Bad trade, IMHO.
A US made all solid wood guitar for, well, a lesser guitar? If your main issue is a pick up, a K&K mini would be a great choice, minimal modification to install and sound great. In addition, no battery to die in the middle of a gig so you don't need to detune to get to the battery bag. Keep the Guild!
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1995 Taylor 412 1995 Taylor 612C Custom, Spruce over Flamed Maple 1997 Taylor 710 1968 Aria 6815 12 String, bought new |