Yeah....that's the one I had on hold two months back and finally decided to pass on due to all the Guitar Center BULLSH*T, as you know Baz. We agreed it wasn't worth the hassle. Figured it could run $2,000 to restore it right, which would put it around $4,750....when the last couple of non-broken TBirds with nice refins have been in the $4000-4500 range.
I only see the one small front shot on there. I've seen large details shots...the issues:
1) BIG non original PUP...I forget what it actually is. I thought it was a Guild but turned out to be something else I recall. But most likely a routed PUP pocket to deal with.
2) Bass has been stripped (bad sand job) and looks like a monkey refinished it with a brush and didn't seal it first. Open grain with bad clear job. Needs a refin.
3) Someone drilled holes through the body and BOLTED the two of the three tailpiece screws/bolts from the back!! Two nice nuts (that don't even match) one the back of the body in very crude semi-set holes.
3) Bridge and tuners are original but a bit rough and missing some original parts.
4) Pickguard missing a corner.
5) Headstock black looks like done with rattle can spraypaint and is out of route area/sloppy.
The thing that finally did it for me was the GC policy HASSLE. First....they were supposed to throw in a case and ship it for the agreed upon price. I'd put I think $1500 down on it to hold. A close friend who worked at Guitar Center in Hollywood and deals rare guitars, advised to have them remove the tuners before they shipped it to lessen the chance of them breaking the neck in shipping. He also advised to have them ship it intra-store, to the GC about two miles from me....so I could pick it up there and make sure it was not broken or had other undisclosed issues.
GC refused to do either of those things...had to ship it directly to me. Also would not take the balance without first REFUNDING my $1500 deposit....waiting for it to clear back in my account....and then me having to call back and repay the entire amount...PLUS SHIPPING, CASE. ETC.
So, it started to smell bad. A beater Tbird that they seemed to not want me to see beforehand.
I said forget it and got a refund. It's been hanging in a GC in Florida for around six months and those southern Skynyrd boys love TBirds....and no one there has grabbed it.
