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Post subject: Fender GDO 500 SE
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:20 am
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So I was in the market for a relatively inexpensive guitar when I came across this model on Musician's Friend. I couldn't believe that an all solid wood (solid top, back and sides) guitar with pickup and free hardshell case was only $400. It sounded too good to be true. It was.

I recieved the guitar today, and it's already back in the box, heading back to Musician's Friend. The top soundboard was cracked and the high E string was already broken. Wow! The case wasn't great either, but I didn't expect too much, since it was included and the price seemed low just for the guitar alone. Although the finish on the guitar was excellent, and the wood materials were excellent (from what I could tell looking in the guitar sound hole, etc), it was assembled poorly (in China). I'm kinda bummed, b/c the sides and back (ovankgol wood) were absolutely beautiful.

I read in another thread here (on the dreadnought version) that two other people had bad experiences with the orchestra version (cracked top and mold/mildew on another). However, two others seemed very happy with the dreadnought version. Maybe it's hit or miss with this series. Oh, and my guitar was in the mail when the other person with the cracked top made her post (so, that's two GDO 500's with cracked tops).

I didn't spend too long tuning it and playing, but it sounded poorly. This experience adds to my opinion that the quality of craftsmanship in building a guitar has MUCH more influence on a guitar's sound than the type of wood from which it is constructed. I hold the same belief with regards to a solid wood versus a laminated wood guitar. Who and how it is built will be much more important that whether the guitar is "all solid" or a laminate. If you don't believe me, then give yourself a blind listening challenge with 5 -10 different guitars and tell yourself which ones are solid and which ones are laminate (or better yet, which ones are Sikta spruce versus which ones are maple).

Hearing is believing, but all I have are pictures. So, let me see if I can attach some pictures.


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Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:02 pm
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aww I'm so sorry!
this is why we should buy our guitars from stores where we can go by foot and see them with our own eyes ;)

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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:14 am
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So here are the pictures I had promised. First a picture of the crack in the soundboard. Image

Next a close-up of the crack: Image

A picture of the guitar in its case: Image

And a picture of a flaw in the case: Image


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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:00 pm
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You may remember my problem with one of these that arrived badly water-damaged.

I don't immediately blame Fender for the condition of those instruments that MF ships -- much less the ones they get back as defective and then re-ship as A-stock to different buyers -- but there sure seem to be a bunch of GDO 500SE clunkers here for some reason. Perhaps something went wrong with the whole shipment. :(

I was going to give MF another try with this, but I just didn't like some basic things about this instrument, such as the tiny frets (which wear out faster than jumbos) and the extremely thick finish...never mind the damage and poor build quality of the example I received.


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Post subject: fender gdo500se-sb
Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 7:37 am
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Devastated.... my experience mirrored yours almost exactly. I fell for the Ovangkol back and sides but I thought the sound was remarkably good for a guitar with far too much lacquer (perhaps to hide the inevitable) and what was essentially a 2 foot long crack. I went into the local Rockshop to pick it up and on the usual examination nothing could be seen but after reading some of the reviews on here I had a closer look. REALLY HAPPY nothing to report on the soundboard, started playing it in the kitchen in different lighting, I look down and there is a mark about 1cm long on the side of the guitar facing me. I try to rub it off it doesnt move, I try to run my nail over it, COMPLETELY smooth! I fetched a small flashlight shining it on the crack the light refracted off all the varnish filling the crack lighting it up FROM THE BACK BUTTON TO THE FISHMAN EQ!!!! almost TWO FOOT LONG!! I took it back and the guys at the Rockshop ROCK and have sourced a replacement, my only concern is whether these cracks are inevitable because of workmanship... I really hope not.

As for solid versus laminate there is no comparison IMO but there are definitely laminates of varying quality and the same applies to solid woods but my rule of thumb is that both materials open up with playing the difference being that in solids its a good thing.


Cheers


R. :cry:


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Post subject: Re: Fender GDO 500 SE
Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 3:49 pm
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I bought my GDO 500 SE about a year ago and I love it, It sounds better than my Guild orchestra acoustic. I have been playing guitar 32 years and I am a published song writer and I just love the way it feels, sounds and everything about it, maybe I just got lucky.


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Post subject: Re: Fender GDO 500 SE
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 10:42 am
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I googled this model just to see what was happening with it as I bought one from MF back in 2008 during the clearance event and am now shopping for a guitar for my daughter and was hoping to find something very much like it (if not the same thing). I was shocked to read all the threads discussing the quality issues. I've had mine for over 4 years now and still love it as much as the day I bought it. I really love recording with it because of the tighter sound concentration from the orchestra sized body, and I love the fast action of the smaller neck. Tone has been VERY impressive. It really delivers a nice full bodied tone rich with bass and mid-range. I really have a pet peeve of acoustics sounding too tiny, but this guitar sounds beautiful whether its plugged in or not.

So chock another one up for Lucky (Is it really lucky? Or are those of us who are happy just far less vocal about it?)- because mine had no issues with cracking, filler, action, playability, the case- nothing wrong what-so-ever, and still doesn't even after 4 years of use. And I LOVE the Ovangkol back and sides- this thing looks as good as it sounds.


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