Differences between D30 & G37 Dreads?

[salish]

Hello,

This is my first post here. It's nice to see a board dedicated to Guild guitars.
I had a D-25 from the late 70's until I sold it in the late 80's, sort of giving up on guitar playing. In the last couple of years I've started getting back into it and I'm having a ball. I'm playing a Big Baby Taylor and a vintage 12 string Ovation (the latter sold to me by a coworker). The BB gets played a lot more than the 12 string. Anyway, I've been thinking about getting a solid wood, full size guitar for some time now. A couple of weekends ago I went into a lcal shop and played some great guitars; Santa Cruz, Martins, etc. What literally blew me away, though, was a vintage blond G37 with the arched-back and maple body. It just had a wonderful sound to it. The seller wants $1500 for it. In researching the G37 I read somewhere that it was a predecessor to the D30. I see the D30's pop up more often on ebay, but I rarely see a G37. Can anyone tell me the history behind these two models and, specifically, the differences between the two?

Thanks,

Cliff
Seattle

 

[adorshki]

HI Salish, welcome!
Only help I can give comes from here:
http://westerlyguildguitars.com/index.htm
Looks like the G37 was a maple body archback, seems to confirm your other research. D25s started as flatback-mahogany tops but transitioned to archback sprue tops about '74. There was a short period of transition during which some arch-backed mohogany-topped guitars were built. Unfortunately this site doesn't have details like years of manaufacture, and because specs could vary over the life of a given model, the specs listed should be considered as valid only for the year shown. But it's got other good points.

 

[West R Lee]

I have no expertise on which to base my opinion, other than having played them both, and owning a D30. I'm sure Hans could tell us for sure, but I think they're the same guitar.......the D30 and G37. If there are any differences, they are subtle.

West

 

[GardMan]

Salish,
The G-37, for all intents and purposes, can be considered the forerunner of the D-30. I think Hans Moust (author of the Guild Guitar Book) has said the G-37 was introduced in catalogs in '73, but examples from '72 are known to occur. Originally, it spec'd out with spruce top, arched LAMINATED (not solid) maple back and solid (?) maple sides, mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard (pearl dot markers) and bridge, and plain silk-screened headstock logo. The earliest examples I have seen on eBay have had open back tuners... but my '74has enclosed, adequate Japanese tuners.

Sometime around '76, the neck was changed from mahogany to mutli-piece maple, and a headstock overlay with inlaid Chesterfield logo was added. This configuration lasted until '86, when it was dicontinued.

According to Beesley's Guitar History vol 5: Guild Guitars, the D-30 was introduced in '87, similar to the later G-37s, but with scalloped top bracing and the newer "tapered" headstock design.

My '74 G-37 has a nice, balanced tone... bright, but smooth with a "harp-like" quality.

A typical selling price on eBay for a G-37 would be $500-800, tho' they have gone for less. A D-30 might be just a bit higher, but not $1500 by any means (even with the premium placed by a dealer).

Oh, and welcome to LTG!
Dave

 

[bluesypicky]

Hi Cliff and welcome to LTG.
Thank you for asking that question (difference between D30 and G37) because I have been wondering myself recently... So I'm learning along on your opening thread.
As you already observed I'm sure, this place, aside from being the friendliest online forum, is full of extremely knowledgeable resources willing to spread the Guild awareness.
There are quite some deals to be made on Guilds, here and elsewhere, so look around and good luck in your hunt!

 

[crank]

I own a G37 and can confirm GardMan's price range. I've never seen one advertised for more than $800-ish.

 

[jazzmang]

I was under the impression that the G-37 had slightly different body dimensions than a D-30. Smaller upper bout maybe? Hans?

 

[Jeff]

I was under the impression that the G-37 had slightly different body dimensions than a D-30. Smaller upper bout maybe? Hans?

G37 is my big Guild of choice, #2 right behind the F20. Great guitar, eats D25's for snacks :mrgreen:

I've played a couple D30's & didn't notice any difference in size from My G37. I can see no discernable difference in the exterior dimensions of my G37 compared to a later Westerly D25. Not sure if a D30 differs. The heel profile is different on the G37. Neck block & tail brace are mahogany in both guitars and 50% bigger in the G37. Bridge plate in the G37 is Rosewood & the D25 is maple. The G37 is noticeably heavier than the D25, I suspect these tuners are part of the reason, If I had a choice, everything else equal, I'd choose a G37 with different tuners.

They come up semi regular here on Craigslist, my general take on prices would be $800 should buy you a nice one. With patience maybe less, I have about $650 in mine. ( + $65 for a vintage case I bought from Guilded).

 

[salish]

Wow, what great information - thank you all very much, and Jeff, thanks for posting your photos. This is exactly the type of help I was looking for. Of major importance to me was/is the issue of the cost for this particular guitar, and now I feel much more informed.

Again, thank you.

Cliff

 

[dapmdave]

I have an '87 D-30, and it's great. Very strongly built (like most Westerly Guilds) and has a cool sparkly/shimmery sound. But, $1500 is about twice the going price. Even the Vintage Guitar price guide maxes out the D-30 at $1000.

Dave

 

[adorshki]

I was under the impression that the G-37 had slightly different body dimensions than a D-30. Smaller upper bout maybe? Hans?

It was the G41 that was larger. Even had a 26-1/4 scale (!) acording to westerlyguildguitars.......

 

[salish]

Hey thanks again for the additional comments. I called the shop and I was incorrect on the pricing. They're offering it at $899. I must have confused the price tags with a big jumbo body Guild they had. I'll run up there again to look at it and play it some more.

Addendum: This past weekend I visited some local shops and played high end guitars such as Martin HD25's, Martin 0028's, Taylor GC8, and even a hand made Thompson guitar from Canada. I was absolutely amazed at how fabulous all of these guitars sounded. I felt right then and there I would save my dollars for the next year and get one. I hope I'm not jaded by this experience when I go back to look at the cool old G37.

In any event, I appreciate your advice.

Cliff

 

[adorshki]

More likely when you go back you're gonna discover one of our most universal favorite Guild features: the Bang for the Buck factor!

 

[Jeff]

Salish,

From time to time possible scores like this come up. This one is 100 miles North of me. I suspect it's sick & wouldn't buy it without holding it in my hands for a while, But if I was still looking for one, I'd drive the 100 miles to check it out.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... &viewitem=

 

[West R Lee]

I have an '87 D-30, and it's great. Very strongly built (like most Westerly Guilds) and has a cool sparkly/shimmery sound. But, $1500 is about twice the going price. Even the Vintage Guitar price guide maxes out the D-30 at $1000.

Dave

I paid $565 a couple of years ago for mine and she's a gem.

West

 

[salish]

Salish,

From time to time possible scores like this come up. This one is 100 miles North of me. I suspect it's sick & wouldn't buy it without holding it in my hands for a while, But if I was still looking for one, I'd drive the 100 miles to check it out.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... &viewitem=

Jeff, thank you very much for the heads up. I'm not against driving up to GF at all. I just sent the seller an email asking if that is a possibility. Thank you for steering me into this ebay link.

Cliff