He ain’t heavy ( He’s my Guild)

[Guildguy1965]

Hello all,
I have been looking at Guild acoustics and I happened to see a 1979 G-37 Blonde on reverb two days back and I inquired about the weight with the seller. He messaged me back and stated that the weight is 6 pounds 7 ounces. My question is this: How much is too much when it comes to acoustic guitars weight. The two Guilds I own clock in at high 4 to low 5 pound weight(s). My Martin is a feather weight at barely 4 pounds. I passed on the G-37 and I see where it has sold. I have heard of some real heavy twelve string guilds back in the 1970’s. Let me know what your maximum weight would be for (A) sitting and (B) standing. Hope you folks are all having a great day!

 

[fronobulax]

Are you overthinking or trying to avoid a particular problem? I think my basses clock in at 6 to 7lbs. I don't notice the weight when seated but maybe that's because everything is light compared to the tuba I played long ago. I have a wide, fat strap and so the weight standing is also not a concern with the good strap. But with a thin strap that cuts into my shoulder, 6 lbs gets heavy real soon. I'd get a guitar with little concern about weight but spend some effort on a comfortable strap.

 

[GardMan]

That sounds a bit heavy to me...
Wonder what he used for a scale? I have weighed a dozen Guild dreads from 1971-1995 on our kitchen scale. None have topped 5 pounds 15 oz.

 

[Heath]

Some of the 80’s I’ve played have been great, but could double as boat anchors

 

[Guildguy1965]

Are you overthinking or trying to avoid a particular problem? I think my basses clock in at 6 to 7lbs. I don't notice the weight when seated but maybe that's because everything is light compared to the tuba I played long ago. I have a wide, fat strap and so the weight standing is also not a concern with the good strap. But with a thin strap that cuts into my shoulder, 6 lbs gets heavy real soon. I'd get a guitar with little concern about weight but spend some effort on a comfortable strap.

Fronobulax, Maybe I am overthinking it, I own a 9 pound tele and a 7 pound tele and they do not effect me negatively.My acoustics somehow have always been on the light side ( at or under the 5 pound mark) To me a 6 plus pound or heavier acoustic just seems a bit much. To me acoustics have always equated to lighter weight. I do know Guild built some tanks years ago but the newer ones are lighter, at least from what I’ve experienced.
I can’t think of a particular problem that I’m trying to avoid, I’m 56 and I have no health problems. I handle my electric guitars just fine. I’m more or less just curious what others have to say about heavier acoustic guitars. Also a proper strap is definitely important.

 

[Guildguy1965]

That sounds a bit heavy to me...
Wonder what he used for a scale? I have weighed a dozen Guild dreads from 1971-1995 on our kitchen scale. None have topped 5 pounds 15 oz.

Gardman,
Is your avatar a DV72 with the turquoise and coral? If so that is a beautiful holy grail you possess. The gentleman I spoke to did not mention what he used to weigh the guitar.

 

[GardMan]

My avatar is the rosette from my '95 DV-73. The inlay is turquoise, red coral, black onyx, and nickel silver.

It's a lovely guitar, and sounds great, too!

More pics here...

 

[Guildguy1965]

My avatar is the rosette from my '95 DV-73. The inlay is turquoise, red coral, black onyx, and nickel silver.

It's a lovely guitar, and sounds great, too!

More pics here...

That’s stunning!

 

[richardp69]

One of the reasons I'm a Guild fan. I love the feel of the Guild heft in my hands while I'm playing my guitar. It just feels right and like it could kick the snot out of some of those light/welter weight guitars some seem to prefer.

 

[adorshki]

My avatar is the rosette from my '95 DV-73. The inlay is turquoise, red coral, black onyx, and nickel silver.

It's a lovely guitar, and sounds great, too!

More pics here...

Did that not also have an "edition name", so to speak? Lemme check...ah, here we go, although this list has it listed as a DV74 "Pueblo" (but materials description's identical):

"Pueblo" for the turquoise and silver I'd guess. Maybe yours was built before the model change was implemented, assuming the list is correct? (Which we also know isn't 100% guaranteed)

 

[SFIV1967]

Maybe yours was built before the model change was implemented, assuming the list is correct? (Which we also know isn't 100% guaranteed)

Ngd - dv-74

I was lucky enough to acquire a DV-74. The interesting thing I learned about this one is that the green coloring of the G-shield and rosette is solely the result of the lacquer yellowing (probably due to sun exposure), which changed the original blue to green in appearance. Since there is no...

letstalkguild.com

Jan 15, 1995 pricelist vs. Jul 15, 1995 pricelist:



Ralf

 

[fronobulax]

To me acoustics have always equated to lighter weight.

Fair enough. That's not true, however, of my B-50, or at least that's how it seems. ;-)

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Since most acoustic flat-top guitars are played sitting down, what difference does the weight make? If you're playing a three set, four hour gig I could see it mattering.

 

[GardMan]

Lemme check...ah, here we go, although this list has it listed as a DV74 "Pueblo" (but materials description's identical):

The DV-73 and DV-74 were similar... not identical. The 73 had deep red coral inlay. The coral inlay on the (few) 74s I have seen has been pink.

 

[adorshki]

Ngd - dv-74

I was lucky enough to acquire a DV-74. The interesting thing I learned about this one is that the green coloring of the G-shield and rosette is solely the result of the lacquer yellowing (probably due to sun exposure), which changed the original blue to green in appearance. Since there is no...

letstalkguild.com

Jan 15, 1995 pricelist vs. Jul 15, 1995 pricelist:



Ralf

Ahhh, thanks! After finding the Pueblo didn't look any further, Should have known better. And I see the difference appears to be hardware, gold on the '73 vs chrome on '74??

And Sedona's in southwest US, too, Arizona.

 

[Cougar]

...He messaged me back and stated that the weight is 6 pounds 7 ounces....

As GardMan mentioned, that seems awfully heavy for a G37, which, as I understand it, is a braceless archback dread (15.75" lower bout). Maybe he had his thumb on the scale. My archback jumbo JF30-12 (17.25" lower bout) weighs 7 pounds. Apparently they both have dual truss rods, which indeed adds weight, but still, the G37 only has 6 tuners, not 12, so I'm surprised it comes in at nearly 6.5 pounds.

I always play seated, so hey, no problem.

 

[GardMan]

As GardMan mentioned, that seems awfully heavy for a G37, which, as I understand it, is a braceless archback dread (15.75" lower bout). Maybe he had his thumb on the scale. My archback jumbo JF30-12 (17.25" lower bout) weighs 7 pounds. Apparently they both have dual truss rods, which indeed adds weight, but still, the G37 only has 6 tuners, not 12, so I'm surprised it comes in at nearly 6.5 pounds.

I always play seated, so hey, no problem.

The G-37 does not have a dual truss rod... dual rods were restricted to 12 strings. IIRC, my'74 G-37 weighed in less than 5.5 lbs...

 

[D30Man]

One of the reasons I'm a Guild fan. I love the feel of the Guild heft in my hands while I'm playing my guitar. It just feels right and like it could kick the snot out of some of those light/welter weight guitars some seem to prefer.

Yes sir. The answer is always: Not heavy enough!!
But seriously, we’re talking about a man’s guitar here. Guild did a pretty amazing thing and built weighty indestructible guitars with unreal tone and playability. I have Martin buddies. And when I get into the pickers circle you can’t even hear the martins…

 

[adorshki]

@Guildguy1965, Gardman's note about the weight of his '74 G-37 is to be trusted, but Guild is known to have progressed from lighter to heavier builds from mid-to-late '70's, although 6.5 lbs for a '79 does seem "too heavy". One wonders how accurate the weighing was.

Also recall one member had G-37's from 2 different periods and observed the neck block on one was more massive than the other, but don't recall which one (older or newer). That guitar had better sustain.

And in any case as D30Man said even when they built 'em like tanks they still sounded great. I chalk that up to how much attention they paid to tops and bracing.

And my Corona D40's also "built like a tank" but sounds great. It just took a long time to open up.

But yeah I always play sitting down, too.

 

[D30Man]

Absolutely Al! Bracing or lack there of plays a tremendous role in tone. Yamaha proved that years ago with all laminate guitars that had great projection and tone.