Besin d'aide !!!

i me seble que l'intervention d'un luthier est la meilleur solution mais a quelle prix ?

One of the guitars in the acoustic room was an interesting steel string Giannini Model AWG531, Ser Num 10/0, with a nicely carved headstock.

It is currently listed on the Guitar Center Vintage Guitars website and has price of $399. They are claiming it is a 1971. The guitar sounded fairly nice and setup was ok. I did notice some repaired damage on the side near the endpin. Overall for a 70’s guitar I’d give it a 7 out of 10 for condition. Their site lists it as a Spruce Top and Rosewood back. It has the very interesting carved headstock making look very regal. The sales rep told me the top was solid and that they weren’t sure but it might be solid brazillian rosewood back and sides (yeah right). I was considering making an offer but wanted to do some research first. I especially didn’t believe the part about the solid rosewood. I spent several hours looking in every corner of the internet (including this forum) and also spoke to Etro’s, the current Giannini importer.

Here is what I found:

1. The only reference to a Giannini model "AWG531" comes from this specific guitar. There are no "AWG" models in any of Giannini’s old catalogs on their Portuguese website (I’ve had parts of it translated) or anywhere else for that matter. Etro's couldn't find a reference to themn either. It appears to be one of a kind internet-wise. The fact that I did not find any specs for AWG models is not that odd since most of the early to mid-seventies Giannini records were lost in flooding.

2. That exact guitar (same S/N) was sold on ebay on July 17, 2012 for $102. At the time of the auction the top was completely separated from the sides down near the endpin.

3. On ebay I found a Giannini magazine ad (allegedly from 1979) from the US distributer at that time, Music Technologies, Inc. with a picture of the same guitar (noticeable because of an oddly place dot inlay on the bridge). Text in the ad calls out the fact that even their least expensive $100 models have the carved headstock.

4. It is definitely a seventies guitar due to the style of the label but nothing that can authenticate an exact year.

5. Most of the Giannini’s being imported at that time were all laminate lower end to mid grade models. Played well but not pricy. The tops were mostly Swedish Pine, and while they marketed the sides and backs as laminated “Rosewood” the majority of them were actually Pau Ferro (Bolivian Rosewood vice Brazilian) Keep in mind this was before the Brazilian shutdown so no one cared as much.

6. Closer phisical inspection of the actual guitar revealed to me that the body is definitely laminate (grain doesn’t match up) and while I have no way to confirm it, I’m almost certain that it is Pau Ferro and not Brazilian Rosewood. The top is laminated Swedish Pine (I can see the sandwiching). Headstock and fingerboard almost certainly Pau Ferro due to the light and dark alternating grain pattern.

7. The crack that separated the top from the body has had a very good repair job. But I couldn't tell if there was any other damage inside to wporry about.

8. I looked at every Giannini that has been listed on ebay for the last year (mostly classical) the selling price for similar models (albeit classical) ranged from $35 to a high end of about $200. This did not include craviola’s or newer Giannini’, and I looked at just 60’s and 70’s era guitars.

I deduced that this was probably one of lower to mid-grade imports and should have a street value (based on ebay and private sales of similar guitars) of about $125-$175 tops. Especially given that it was a laminate pine top and that there was no authoritative documentation to substantiate that it was actually Brazilian Rosewood, nor what the year was.

http://www.acousticguitarforum(...).html

les luthier sont il honnette ? MDR