Feed back on D15

[DonH]

I ran across these forums a couple of months ago have enjoyed reading (and learning from) your comments and discussions - a lot of collective knowledge out there in this community.

I'm assuming that there are at least a few of you out there who have some experience with Guild D15's, and wanted to ask you to share some feedback on the sound of the guitar and generally how it plays. I've seen a few of these around recently and was curious about them. I have a 1979 D40 (which I bought new), and have just picked up a 1977 D25 - so any comparison to those two guitars (or any other comments you might have) would be much appreciated.

It appears that the D15 may be similar in some ways to the D25 (dreadnaught, mahogany, archback), with a mahogany top on the 15's, where the 25's were generally spruce.

Thanks in advance for your time and feedback.

 

[dreadnut]

Welcome Don! And you're pretty much right on all counts. Pre-about '74 D-25's had flat backs and mahogany tops. By the time yours and mine were built they were all arch-back with spruce tops. They were still Guild's entry-level dread. I believe the D-15 was introduced a few years later to be the entry-level dread in their lineup. Interestingly, there were a few arch-back D-25's with mahogany tops built during the transition, which is exactly what the D-15's are. I'd love to add one to the stable.

 

[DonH]

Thanks for your comments. The grain and finishes I've seen on the pictures of a couple of D15's were pretty interesting. Don't know how they sound, though, particularly what difference the mahagony top might make in the tone and projection of the guitar.

 

[cjd-player]

One on ebay here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320567666150&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

And being discussed on AGF here: http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195864

 

[DonH]

Thanks for the link on the listing, and the AGF discussion.

 

[cjd-player]

You're welcome.
Just noticed your post count, Don.

Welcome to LTG.

Lots of good and crazy-fun stuff here.
Hold on tight. :wink:

 

[DonH]

Thanks for the welcome. I've been lurking in the background and reading for a while, but just registered in the last few days. Definitely seems like an interesting place to hang out from time to time.

 

[micklevanon]

Welcome to the forum Don. My first Guild (guitar) is a D15 that I purchased a few months back. It is a lovable all hog beast of a guitar that plays unbelievable well and has a nice deep growl to it. A friend describes it as having a very masculine tone. All I can tell you is it's tone is captivating to me as I play it, with a very well defined tonal range. I have teh opposite reaction as most though, I don't find that the guitar projects all that well. While it can get loud, to my ear it tends to have a much more restrained volume.

What I can tell you is that I have completely fallen in love with the neck. I'm very particular about the necks on my guitars and this one is the best I've had. It puts my Gibson neck to shame. It has also started me on an obsessive search for other Guilds.

Welcome again, and enjoy your D15. It's a very underrated guitar.
Mick

 

[yettoblaster]

Welcome Don!

I had a D-15M a few years ago. I think mine may have had a flat back (well, curved like most dreads, but not "arched"). It was a model I only saw for a while and it had a semi-gloss finish with white contrasting binding and rosette rings. Pretty stunning looking. I think on mine the mahogany was not stained very much. It had some toner or something but neither plain nor dark stained.

The necks on all my Guilds have been very consistant for feel and fret finish: some of the best necks in the industry as far as my preferences.

At the time the D-15M was my only acoustic guitar after having only electrics for many years (after starting in the 1960's on a Gibson J-45: after a dreadful Kay "Sizzler" electric the first year [1960]).

I also was fighting carpal tunnel symptoms and recovery from CTS release surgery during that period and so having a 25.5" scale maHOGany topped dread that seemd to prefer medium guage strings for the sound was a poor choice for my recovery.

So though I loved that guitar -for me- it was a bit difficult to play (not IT'S fault), at a time when a longscale guitar with mediums was kind of more "work" than I was up for.

I LOVE mahogany topped guitars for Blues, and would love to have that guitar back now that I also have some others with spruce tops for variety (I am fully recovered and have no symptoms now, for years, post op).

As an ONLY guitar (acoustic) I really prefer spruce with scalloped braces: Adirondak if I get the choice. But there IS a nice Larrivee all mahogany slope-shouldered dread locally that winks at me from time to time from the store's rack... :wink:

To my ears a mahogany top doesn't have the high end crisp "spank" of spruce, but a nice midrange "ka-pow" once it gets driven (takes a pick, IMHO).

Again, I'd love an all HOG dread (or other pattern), as long as I also have something else around too for the more delicate stuff. :idea:

 

[Guest]

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[yettoblaster]

:?:

D15's are all mahogany, D16's are spruce-topped, right?

:?:

 

[Dr. Spivey]

:?:

D15's are all mahogany, D16's are spruce-topped, right?

:?:

D15's,16's and 17's are all mahogany top, back and sides. The same guitar with different levels of finish and "bling". All are arched backs.

 

[P-E-Z]

They are very very warm sounding.
Its one I bought and regreated not getting.
I went back it was gone.

 

[killdeer43]

Thanks for the welcome. I've been lurking in the background and reading for a while, but just registered in the last few days. Definitely seems like an interesting place to hang out from time to time.

Welcome to LTG, Don.
To say that this is "an interesting place to hang out" would be a HUGE understatement!

Stick around and you'll see for yourself! :wink:

Joe