D4-NT query

[Guest]

First off - hello. Newbie here. Signed up about a couple of months ago, but haven't gotten around to posting yet.

Back in March, found a really, really, really beat up D4 at a local shop. And against all common sense, purchased the guitar. Now, have had Guild guitars off and on for quite a few years. This one is a good sounding one. At least for my use in old-time stringband music.

Turns out, the guitar is a latter half 1993. The date stamp is on the neck block and mostly legible.

Here is what makes me scratch my head - the headstock is painted black with a gold Guild logo. Much more like the D-25 of that time, if I remember correctly. Did the D4 have this as a standard feature? I don't have a catalog from the time period, so am unable to just look it up easily.

Guess what I'm really searching for is an excuse to say my guitar is actually a mis-labeled D-25 rather than a D-4. :wink:

Thanks.

Eric P.
St. Paul, MN

 

[GardMan]

Eric,
Can't really help you with your question, but welcome to LTG!
Dave

 

[Dr. Spivey]

Greetings Eric, welcome to LTG.

Without getting into a lengthy explanation, the neck block date usually predates the actual completion of the guitar, sometimes by a year or more. Try looking up the serial # here: http://www.guildguitars.com/resources/guild_dating.php. The serial # should be stamped into the back of the headstock, and written on the label inside the guitar. There are many oddities and exceptions, but that's a place to start.

 

[plaidseason]

Basically if it has a satin finish, it's a D4. And if it has a gloss finish it could be a D4 gloss. I still don't know what makes a D4 gloss different from a D25.

Most D4s are going to have silkscreened Guild logo on a plain headstock, either in gold or black. I've seen a few with a black headstock with an inlaid Guild logo. AND, I've seen at least one with a chesterfield logo.

And truth be told, other than the finish, your guitar is every bit the equal to a D25. I got all excited about a DV25 a few months back becaused I prefer the gloss finish over the satin finish on my DV4. But my DV4 blew it out of the water.

Somewhere in there is a lesson about Shaker influence on New England and the beauty of understatement and simplicity.

-Chris

 

[bluesypicky]

What Chris said.
Welcome!

 

[Scratch]

Welcome to LTG Eric!

 

[adorshki]

Basically if it has a satin finish, it's a D4. And if it has a gloss finish it could be a D4 gloss. I still don't know what makes a D4 gloss different from a D25

That's it, the headstock and the finish. It WAS a low-buck D25.(Whoopsie, edit: the westerlyguildguitars site says it had a "morado" fretboard when introduced)

Most D4s are going to have silkscreened Guild logo on a plain headstock, either in gold or black. I've seen a few with a black headstock with an inlaid Guild logo. AND, I've seen at least one with a chesterfield logo.

I'm not a gambling man but I'd bet money those variations were "mistakes" or simple substitutions of D25 necks (black w/ pearl inlay) and maybe a DV6 neck (chesterfield) for the sake of expedience, like getting some of D4s completed when they didn't have any of the plain (silkscreened headstock) necks ready.

And truth be told, other than the finish, your guitar is every bit the equal to a D25.
-Chris

That's how I understood it. Now my question is, what was a "DV25", a flat-back reissue?
Al
PS WELCOME ABOARD, ERIC!

 

[plaidseason]

Basically if it has a satin finish, it's a D4. And if it has a gloss finish it could be a D4 gloss. I still don't know what makes a D4 gloss different from a D25

That's it, the headstock and the finish. It WAS a low-buck D25.(Whoopsie, edit: the westerlyguildguitars site says it had a "morado" fretboard when introduced)

Most D4s are going to have silkscreened Guild logo on a plain headstock, either in gold or black. I've seen a few with a black headstock with an inlaid Guild logo. AND, I've seen at least one with a chesterfield logo.

I'm not a gambling man but I'd bet money those variations were "mistakes" or simple substitutions of D25 necks (black w/ pearl inlay) and maybe a DV6 neck (chesterfield) for the sake of expedience, like getting some of D4s completed when they didn't have any of the plain (silkscreened headstock) necks ready.

And truth be told, other than the finish, your guitar is every bit the equal to a D25.
-Chris

That's how I understood it. Now my question is, what was a "DV25", a flat-back reissue?
Al
PS WELCOME ABOARD, ERIC!

I totally agree with you on the variations. I think the silk-screened headstock was the true spec.

The DV25 and the DV4 are in my opinion, basically "reissues" or at least reinterpetations of the D35. All solid wood, spruce top, mahogany back and sides.

-Chris