Thanks guys. Somewhere along the line someone must have put a layer of shellac. I think the coat under is nitro. Yep, I tested in a few spots. Even the top has an alcohol soluble layer on it. . . albeit it looks nice... Dan, thanks for the tip on the acetone. If I see one like this again, I'll do it.

Agreed on the tough reset. I've done quite a few and this is the first that I had to pause to make a removal jig. It did come out clean, w/o damage. I did not score deep enough, next time I'll do the acetone. It sure looks like it was finished in one piece, after assembly.

Regards,
Geo

They are tough. In my shop I charge accordingly for the job.

As a warning be very careful when re-installing the neck, the slim heels are prone to cracking due to the design. And they're much more prone to it after they've been cut down even more after removal. I'm sure you can handle it though, if you got it out clean and without cracking it you've done well and you'll be fine.

No kidding on the heel. This neck angle was so bad that a straight edge on the fb touched the guitar top before even getting to the bridge. As I look at the heel there is a limit to how much I can take off before it gets unstable. The fingerboard extension was also sitting on a shim platform that was ~1/32" which I thought was done later but then saw it on videos of other Guild resets. A decision to make is whether to put that shim back in or leave it out and glue the fb extension to the top. That would required lowering the dovetail further into the joint and thus require more taken off the heel to get the angle right. I'll stew on this one for a bit. I am curious if you saw the same fb extension ship on the ones you have done.

Regards,
Geo

Super helpful Dan. I think I am going to put a new shim in. If I didn't there would be not enough left of the heel left after correcting the neck angle. I would be afraid it would crack. Thanks.

GS