guild d40 restoration

[wontox]

Hello,

I know messing with vintage guitars is frowned upon, however, I picked up a 1970 Guild D 40 for sixty-five bucks in such horrendous shape (neck badly twisted and sunken, someone had very badly re-finished the top, including varnishing the fretboard) that I decided to fix it. And I did, got the neck back to where it should be, stripped the entire instrument and refinished it, new pickguard, pins, anyway , that special tone this guitar had even when I bought it and it was barely playable happily survived the entire fixing process, and it is the most awesome toned dread...really barky and timbery and resonant and loud...so unlike any other dread I have. Anyone else have one of these old Westerly D 40's?

Wontox

 

[twocorgis]

Hello,

I know messing with vintage guitars is frowned upon, however, I picked up a 1970 Guild D 40 for sixty-five bucks in such horrendous shape (neck badly twisted and sunken, someone had very badly re-finished the top, including varnishing the fretboard) that I decided to fix it. And I did, got the neck back to where it should be, stripped the entire instrument and refinished it, new pickguard, pins, anyway , that special tone this guitar had even when I bought it and it was barely playable happily survived the entire fixing process, and it is the most awesome toned dread...really barky and timbery and resonant and loud...so unlike any other dread I have. Anyone else have one of these old Westerly D 40's?

Wontox

Welcome wontox. Sounds like quite a project!

I have a New Hartford D40, but many others here have Westerlys. Our mantra around here is pics or it didn't happen!

 

[GardMan]

Welcome to LTG! I don't have a D-40, but my love of Guild dreads started with a '72 D-35 (just a little less bling than a 40) I bought new when I was 17. I loved her tone then, and still love her today...
Dave

 

[jgmaute]

Welcome to LTG Wontox, kick your shoes off, relax your mind. Sounds like you've done a great rescue, being visual we'll give you extra credit for pictures...before and after would be amazing...but maybe before was too painful to capture. joan

 

[eastcoastbuzz]

Hey Wontox. Welcome. I have a '73 D40 that has been played and played. The finish is completely worn off the back of the neck and it has pick scratches and indentions all over the spruce but it has that sound you are referring to. I've owned a '75 D40 and an '80's D35 in the past but they were nothing like this one. Glad you brought yours back to life!

 

[adorshki]

Anyone else have one of these old Westerly D 40's?
Wontox

:lol: :lol: :lol: You ARE new, aren't you....
Welcome aboard! Nice story!

 

[wontox]

Thanks, everyone, I'll get some photos on soon. This is my first Guild, BTW.

 

[evenkeel]

Welcome!!!

 

[mario1956]

I know messing with vintage guitars is frowned upon

I dunno about that. I found a F212XL (jumbo body 12 string) in similar shape. The neck was straight but the finish and pretty much everything else was toast. BTW it has the same wood choices and trim level as the D40. I "restored" the guitar to a very playable condition. It really has that great old Guild mahogany sound like yours. Do a search for posts from me and you can find the progress of the project starting in Nov 2008. Maybe it can be useful for your project, too.

P.S. Don't feel guilty about making any guitar playable that was probably headed for the dumpster anyway. It takes a special kind of person to recognize when a silk purse can be made from a sow's ear! :mrgreen:

 

[Brad Little]

It takes a special kind of person to recognize when a silk purse can be made from a sow's ear! :mrgreen:

And also a special kind to make a sow's ear out of a silk purse
Brad

 

[taabru45]

It takes a special kind of person to recognize when a silk purse can be made from a sow's ear! :mrgreen:

And also a special kind to make a sow's ear out of a silk purse
Brad

That was my thought too Brad.......and there are a lot more of them.........usually found in the isles of Home Depot. :lol: :lol: :lol: Steffan