D4 vs D25

[kydog]

ok other than the D25 has been in production longer and the finishes are different are these perty much the same :?:

 

[BluesDan]

I just had Deja Vu.................
:wink:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=9633&p=100644&hilit=d4+d25#p100644

 

[Guildmark]

That's more fun than Vuja De, which is the sensation that you've never, ever been here before.
(Thank you, Robin Williams!)

 

[valleyguy]

I've never played these tow side by side, but I did buy a D4 and have been very happy with it Makes sense they're the same guitar.

 

[taabru45]

Ok, I had both guitars at the same time . The D25 is a Corona made white finish, all mahogany, with a flat back, excellent condition, slight paint damage from hanging on a rubber covered hanger. probably around 2003, as they weren't in Corona that long before moving to Tacoma. The D4 was a 1994 Westerly, in pristine shape, the woman who bought it new never learned to play it. It is mahogany, with spruce top. So which one did I prefer....no contest here....................I kept the D25, it has a deep full spectrum sound that frankly, this particular D4 couldn't touch, in my opinion, or preference. The D4 was brighter, maybe not broken in, but I had a chance to trade it straight across for a 72 F112. It was an older guy who liked bluegrass, so he is happy, he also had a F212 which he kept. I love the little, F112, It needs nothing and has a pickup. Corona made guitars. Whatever was going on there, maybe they used the same wood as they had at Westerly, I don't know..but this D25 is a tone monster, maybe its the flat back, its not as loud for sure, but that suits me fine...So good luck, I'm waiting till the new year to pick up an old D40. Have great hopes for it, and if it blows my D25 away....well that will be some guitar.... Regards Steffan

 

[plaidseason]

Ok, I had both guitars at the same time . The D25 is a Corona made white finish, all mahogany, with a flat back, excellent condition, slight paint damage from hanging on a rubber covered hanger. probably around 2003, as they weren't in Corona that long before moving to Tacoma. The D4 was a 1994 Westerly, in pristine shape, the woman who bought it new never learned to play it. It is mahogany, with spruce top. So which one did I prefer....no contest here....................I kept the D25, it has a deep full spectrum sound that frankly, this particular D4 couldn't touch, in my opinion, or preference. The D4 was brighter, maybe not broken in, but I had a chance to trade it straight across for a 72 F112. It was an older guy who liked bluegrass, so he is happy, he also had a F212 which he kept. I love the little, F112, It needs nothing and has a pickup. Corona made guitars. Whatever was going on there, maybe they used the same wood as they had at Westerly, I don't know..but this D25 is a tone monster, maybe its the flat back, its not as loud for sure, but that suits me fine...So good luck, I'm waiting till the new year to pick up an old D40. Have great hopes for it, and if it blows my D25 away....well that will be some guitar.... Regards Steffan

That's totally not apples to apples? Or at least not the same breed of apples.

The D4/D25 comparison applies only within the context of Westerly built guitars of the 1990s. The 90s Westerly D4/D25s were x-braced, arched mahogany back, solid spruce top deals; which makes them totally different animals (I know, mixed metaphor) from the all solid mahogany Corona mad D25s. There are also 1990s versions of the DV4/DV25 which are both x-braced, solid mahogany back/sides, solid spruce top deals.

My Westerly DV4 has definitely won my heart and I'd put it up against anything in its class (Guild or otherwise) as well as any number of guitars costing much more.

As with any brand/model, I take these things on a specific instrument by instrument basis.

-Chris

 

[taabru45]

Hi Chris, The question was regarding any difference between the 2 models, I didn't see any time frame mentioned. Wasn't there also a flat back D25 in the 70s or 80s, I don't know of all the models, but am in full agreement with you that no two would be the same. I believe all the D4s had the satin, hand rubbed finish, with a spruce top. I haven't played a G37, is that right? and haven't really had any experience with the arch backs, but would love to meet your D4. I wanted to bring up the D25, Corona made because it is a different animal to me, so I think its safe to say that there can be structural differences even though they may have the same name, model. Maybe the two models coming off the line in the same location and time frame would be twins, but as you say, check it out on an instrument to instrument basis....These seem to be great guitars all the way from the Hobos to the Tacs, and lets hope the New ones will measure up to the best of the best.....Seasons best to you....Steffan

 

[plaidseason]

Steffan, I meant for my previous post to come off as more light-hearted than maybe it did.

Also note there were also D4 Gloss models in the late 90s - I believe only the top was gloss and the rest was satin, but I could be wrong.

I'd suggest that we keep an inventory of this, but I think Hans has really got that covered. The Westerly D4s are pretty straight I think:

D4 - Solid spruce top, solid mahogany sides, arched mahogany back. Satin finish.
D4 Gloss - same as above with gloss top (?)
DV4 - Solid spruce top, solid mahogany sides, solid mahogany back. Satin finish.

Of course we also now have the Tacoma DV4s.

I'm not going to even attempt to list the various D25 incarnations. Only that the 90s models were structurally the same as the D4/DV4s. Which means that if the D25 is a "workhorse" then a D4 is "workingman's workhorse" or something like that.

-Chris

 

[EddieZ]

I am by no means an expert nor an accomplished guitar player but recently I acquired a '98 D4-HG see pic here

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=14175&p=147021&hilit=eddiez#p147021

Now I've acquired a '80 D25 Black, see pics here

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=15125&p=160355&hilit=EddieZ#p160355

I put identical strings on both, JP Phosphor Bronze Mediums. I was truly amazed at the difference between the two. The D4 sounds nice and full but the D25 has so much more volume and clarity. I would not have expected it. Both are Westerly built guitars.

Regards,
EddieZ
Austin, Tx

 

[Graham]

Thread veer,

Hey Eddie, any chance you can drive up the highway to Arlington on the 17th and join us in the Yacht Club for some Guildmanship?

We'll be at The Arlington Sheraton.

 

[EddieZ]

Sorry, won't be able to attend. My other hobby, flying with a kite team (http://www.austineol.com), is taking me to Grandbury, Tx for a kite festival that weekend. Maybe next year.

EddieZ,
Austin, TX

 

[12stringer]

I put identical strings on both, JP Phosphor Bronze Mediums. I was truly amazed at the difference between the two. The D4 sounds nice and full but the D25 has so much more volume and clarity. I would not have expected it. Both are Westerly built guitars.

Hi Eddie...just wondering as I know action height can make a huge difference in tone and volume...do both guitars have the same action or is one higher than the other?
Thanks,
Randy

 

[Graham]

Sorry, won't be able to attend. My other hobby, flying with a kite team (http://www.austineol.com), is taking me to Grandbury, Tx for a kite festival that weekend. Maybe next year.

EddieZ,
Austin, TX

Way kewl Eddie, good luck! 8) 8)

 

[fungusyoung]

Am I crazy or are the D4's typically quite a bit lighter than D25's? Talking specifically 90's era Westerly builds. My '94 D25 was a tank, but the D4's I recall playing were much lighter construction.

 

[Graham]

Am I crazy or are the D4's typically quite a bit lighter than D25's? Talking specifically 90's era Westerly builds. My '94 D25 was a tank, but the D4's I recall playing were much lighter construction.

1) Yes, but that's Otay here. :mrgreen:

B) I've noticed the same with any of the D4's Ive played. Very light compared to the D25's that I have owned.

 

[EddieZ]

OK, the string height at the 12th fret was 5/64th of an inch on both guitars. Overall weight, very little difference that I could tell, maybe the D25 is a little heavier but not by much.

EddieZ
Austin, TX

 

[adorshki]

OK, the string height at the 12th fret was 5/64th of an inch on both guitars. Overall weight, very little difference that I could tell, maybe the D25 is a little heavier but not by much.

EddieZ
Austin, TX

I'd expect the older guitar to have better tone/volume assuming it's got a lot more playing time on it. One of the first things I noticed about my D25 was how light it is, lightest steel string I've ever hefted. I attribute that to the arch back needing no bracing but if there are better informed answers to that I'm anxious to hear them. When I was comparing to a D4 at the time of purchase the D25 somehow seemed to have a better tone even though the guitars appeared to have basically identical construction. Main difference I could figure out at the time was that the D25 had pearloid "Guild" in headstock and was gloss finish.

 

[jciampa]

I read once that 90's era D-4s used sapele mahogany, whereas the D-25 uses Honduran (i.e. traditional) mahogany.

 

[hansmoust]

I read once that 90's era D-4s used sapele mahogany, whereas the D-25 uses Honduran (i.e. traditional) mahogany.

Nope!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl