Guilds in black?
- Thread starter MCharles
- Start date
hansmoust
Enlightened Member
MCharles said:
Hello Mike,
If you're talking about availability as a 'standard' guitar, then the D-25, the GF-25 and the D-212 were available in 'black' during the '80s. However, 'Black' had always been available as a 'Custom' colour on any Guild guitar, going back to the '60s.
Sincerely,
Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl
Spotted this black D-40 on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Guild-D-40-Black-Ri ... 1e60d5e206
http://cgi.ebay.com/Guild-D-40-Black-Ri ... 1e60d5e206
frettedstrings
Senior Member
What species of wood are used to make Guild Guitars in Black? I think I saw one that was maple and assume that meant back and sides. How does the black finish effect the sound? What other species have been used?
frettedstrings said:
Far as I know, the black color wouldn't influence wood selection. On a D-25, for example, the top should still be mahogany or spruce and back/sides mahogany. Maybe some arch-backs were maple? I always thought my '74 D-25 had a maple back.
BTW, I do think painted tops affect sound somewhat, but that may have more to do with brand. I'm thinking Gibson, mainly; for example, any J-50 that I've played (nat. top) has always sounded more open, clear and bright than a typical J-45, which always seem to have a more mellow tone. I can only attribute that to the J-45's sunburst having a slight damping effect on the top (in a good way). Not sure if the same holds true for painted Guilds, though.
Scratch
Enlightened Member
MCharles said:
It's Tacoma crafted and I likee!!!
hansmoust
Enlightened Member
MCharles said:
Hello Mcharles,
Well, just about! During the first years the D-15 had a 'satin' finish; would have looked pretty ugly in black.
The D-16 and D-17 both had a 'gloss' finish. By 1987 the D-15 did get a 'gloss' finish as well and in 1989 'Black' was officially added as a standard finish. It is very well possible that a few were done earlier than that!
Grover RotoMatics were re-introduced during the first half of the '80s and consequently the combination of a Black finish, large headstock and Grover RotoMatics would have been possible. Probably not on a D-15 because it had the smaller 'tapered' headstock by 1987.
Sincerely,
Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalores.nl
jte
Member
My speculation, based on the experience being a dealer and selling quite a few D-25s, is that the black ones had better wood for the tops. Because the grain was hidden, they didn't have to match it, so higher-grade spruce with mis-matched grain could be used for a black D-25. Every black one we had just sounded better to me and to the owner of the store.
Don't know if that's fact, because so much of this is subjective, but that's what we always thought. Of course, now that it's on the internet, it MUST be true! :lol:
Don't know if that's fact, because so much of this is subjective, but that's what we always thought. Of course, now that it's on the internet, it MUST be true! :lol:
adorshki
Reverential Member
Actually one of the members here who worked in Westerly workers, I think it was "Workedinwesterly" made a famous comment here, something like "Guild didn't make black guitars, black guitars happened". He was humorously pointing out that black was usually applied to guitars with blemishes. It doesn't really contradict your theory, 'cause he didn't say anything about whether or not they might have done it as a way to use up higher grades of wood as you suspect.jte said: