Boneman
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2021
- Messages
- 1,421
- Reaction score
- 1,682
- Guild Total
- 6
If my right shoulder could take it, I would trade my F30R for a nice old sunburst one in excellent shape. I would consider that a decent trade today, knowing what I know.I think the arched back Guilds are the most misunderstood acoustics ever made. Firstly they were so prominent a feature on the "cheap" D 25s, then they were plywood. Two strikes against for the uninformed. I have a friend with not one but two Linda Manzer arch tops. The solid wood one is far too lively to be amplified, so he had a second plywood guitar made. Not all ply is equal. Guild never did explain it as a feature very well. Still, the only arch back Guild I had was an F 40, which was horribly bright and shrill.
Funny you say that. For my arch back ‘74, I can plug it’s K&K pure mini right into any acoustic amp and it sounds great. My flatback D-25 (K&K too) needs a fancy pre-amp and some eq to sound good. On its own, it’s just too resonant and sounds like a mess.I think the arched back Guilds are the most misunderstood acoustics ever made. Firstly they were so prominent a feature on the "cheap" D 25s, then they were plywood. Two strikes against for the uninformed. I have a friend with not one but two Linda Manzer arch tops. The solid wood one is far too lively to be amplified, so he had a second plywood guitar made. Not all ply is equal. Guild never did explain it as a feature very well. Still, the only arch back Guild I had was an F 40, which was horribly bright and shrill.
I'm going to assume it must have been significantly cheaper - not only is the material probably cheaper (laminate vs solid) but I'd also imagine that the process of heat-pressing a single laminate piece into an arch is much less labor/time intensive than gluing the two halves solid halves together, putting on the back strip, the bracing, shaping it, tucking it into the lining etc etc. Again, just making an educated guess here.Who else at the time was doing the arch backs? I'm curious as to how someone at Guild decided to give it a try. And then, even after seeing the positive effect of the arched back, they clearly thought that it should be the new most affordable model, the D-25. Why not make it a new model, (e.g. D-45) and sell it as a somewhat higher end model than the D-40 with similar other details (chesterfield, etc.)? Unless the arch back was waaay cheaper to make than a flat back (which I doubt), there was no need for it to be the bottom of the lineup.
I'm going to - not only is the material probably cheaper (laminate vs solid) but I'd also imagine that the process of heat-pressing a single laminate piece into an arch is much less labor/time intensive than gluing the two halves solid halves together, putting on the back strip, the bracing, shaping it, tucking it into the lining etc etc. Again, just making an educated guess here.
No, I didn't say that, but I won't beat you up for it! It was poplar!Center layer was normally something light, Hans mentioned larch once for example,
I second that opinion. My '83 has a very dark burst.Hey Boneman. That's the exact same Guild I have. 1980 SB. Guilds best finish by far in my opinion.
And for that I thank you sincerely.No, I didn't say that, but I won't beat you up for it! It was poplar!
Sincerely,
Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl
My D15 kicks bootie. It is much nicer all around than the 2 or 3 D25s I've owned.The D-4, D-15 and D-17 might be viable, lower cost options.
Seriously, look for a D4 (basically a D25 with a hand-rubbed finish) or, if you're not committed to a spruce top, a D15. I have a friend who plays a D4 at an open mic I attend. It's a killer guitar, more than holding its own against a D40 that another participant plays, as well as various Martins and Taylors. As for me, don't tell my D25 (which was my first and for a long time only acoustic Guild), but I prefer my D15 (purchased for $680 five years ago. I haven't kept track of D4 or D15 princes recently, but I'm sure they're less than D25 prices.
And if you're lucky, you'd find one with a high gloss finish. I had a '93 for a while that was as good as any D25 I've ever played, with the exception of my recent D25 "25th anniversary".I'm with Jeff!
The D4 is, IMO, Guild's "best bang for your buck" model. You can find 'em in good shape for under $500.00. I've also owned several D25s, all of them fine guitars. I curretnly have a D15 that is as good sounding as any of the D25s I've owned.
While these models don't excite the hardcore Guild fan, for anyone on a budget (or who is simply a cheapskate) they'll serve you well and then some.
Which is really a D26. j/k