Hi LTG! My first Guild experience and question!

[Drka]

Hey LTGers, greetings from Canada!
I just joined and this is my first post even though i dont even have a guild guitar! unfortunately due to my age, i haven't even heard of guild nor would have had to play one before the fender era (i am now on a quest to find a nice westerly...hopefully). It all started this summer when i traveled to japan to find my dream archtop guitar. There is a city in Tokyo lined with guitar shops and it was quite beautiful. Anyways, i was originally looking for an archtop guitar with a flat top dreadnoughty sound (very very stupid i now realize) but didnt end up finding one. while i was giving up, i decided to look at some flattops. The Guild d-25 was very appealing regardless of people saying it is an ugly guitar. so i played it and instantly loved it. i regret it now but i decided that taking an old guitar on a plane was a stupid idea so i didnt buy it. additionally, there were guild d-25s on the vancouver craigslist so i decided i can get one back home. sadly a few of them had already sold and the one man that seemed promising kept ignoring my calls. :evil:

While i played that first D-25 it seemed very pronounced in the mid range. i really liked it. is that a characteristic with all guilds? or atleast the D-25 series?
(this is a spruce top version with the arched back)

Cheers,
Drka

 

[killdeer43]

Drka,

First of all, welcome to LTG.
You've certainly come to the right place to learn all about Guild guitars since this forum has a wealth of knowledge and experience to offer. Be prepared to have fun, too! This place abounds with characters! :wink:

You'll hear nothing but praise here for the D25, and I can't imagine anyone thinking it's an "ugly guitar." Different strokes, I guess.

Good luck in your quest and keep us posted,
Joe

 

[markus]

Welcome, eh!
You have told us what you are looking for and some of the guys here will help you to find a nice D-25 I'm sure.
If the new king of enablers finds it be prepared for some burst …
And: I can't imagine that it shouldn't be way easier to find a nice dread anywhere in north america than anywhere else!
Markus

 

[fronobulax]

Welcome. You can't go wrong with a D-25 and one will turn up with your name on it, I'm sure.

 

[West R Lee]

Drka,

Pronounced mid range isn't necessarily characteristic of Guilds, but of mahogany guitars (D25). I think you'll also find that maple guitars have tremendous high end, and rosewoods are second to none in terms of bass, The mahogany D25 is a superb choice for your first Guild, giving you the best of both worlds.

Welcome to the site.

West

 

[bluesypicky]

Welcome Drka!
What they said about the D25, that's the one that brought me on board too...
A far as the medium range thing, I would suggest that a different set of strings and/or a good set up can make a world of difference (ask Dave, AKA dapmdave.... :wink: )

 

[GardMan]

Welcme to LTG! Dave

 

[Dubbaround]

Welcome, I am new here as well, and a D25M brought me here...really good dread, can't get better for the price...if the price is anywhere under $1000..JMO.
Strings make a big difference on mine too. I have some lighter Dean strings on mine now, just because I had them already..not satisfied. I need some big old guide-wire sized strings if I'm going to be satisfied. I know the D25 can take it, and she (I call her Musty!) simply BOOMS with them.

 

[Ridgemont]

Welcome Drka,

Well the D25 was my first American Guild, so I see you also have good taste. :lol: If you search the discussions about the D25 you will find there are several variations of that almighty guitar. Well not several but 3 basic models: 1) all mahogany flatback, all mahogany archback, and spruce/mahogany archback. The all hog archback is somewhat of a rarity but the other versions are quite common. Back in the day (early 70's) they were all hog and stained mahogany (D25M). These are a collectors piece and still readily available for well under $1K. In the 90's they came out with a reissue that was a natural top and darkish red hog stain on the sides (this one was an archback). My description is by no means comprehensive, but my intention is to make you aware of all the variations on this "ugly" guitar. A general rule is that the archbacks are very loud with unmatchable sustain in addition to a very very deep and loud bass. The flatbacks are more balanced, not as loud, but have (what another forum member describes) a distinct "quack" that is really great. So the first thing to do is to figure out what kind of D25 you want. We are always willing to help you decide, and many will tell you to get both.

 

[Dubbaround]

Welcome Drka,

Well the D25 was my first American Guild, so I see you also have good taste. :lol: If you search the discussions about the D25 you will find there are several variations of that almighty guitar. Well not several but 3 basic models: 1) all mahogany flatback, all mahogany archback, and spruce/mahogany archback. The all hog archback is somewhat of a rarity but the other versions are quite common. Back in the day (early 70's) they were all hog and stained mahogany (D25M). These are a collectors piece and still readily available for well under $1K. In the 90's they came out with a reissue that was a natural top and darkish red hog stain on the sides (this one was an archback). My description is by no means comprehensive, but my intention is to make you aware of all the variations on this "ugly" guitar. A general rule is that the archtops are very loud with unmatchable sustain in addition to a very very deep and loud bass. The flatbacks are more balanced, not as loud, but have (what another forum member describes) a distinct "quack" that is really great. So the first thing to do is to figure out what kind of D25 you want. We are always willing to help you decide, and many will tell you to get both.

Is "Archtop" interchangable with "Archback" or was that a goof...or did they make an archtop D25 as well?

 

[Ridgemont]

Welcome Drka,

Well the D25 was my first American Guild, so I see you also have good taste. :lol: If you search the discussions about the D25 you will find there are several variations of that almighty guitar. Well not several but 3 basic models: 1) all mahogany flatback, all mahogany archback, and spruce/mahogany archback. The all hog archback is somewhat of a rarity but the other versions are quite common. Back in the day (early 70's) they were all hog and stained mahogany (D25M). These are a collectors piece and still readily available for well under $1K. In the 90's they came out with a reissue that was a natural top and darkish red hog stain on the sides (this one was an archback). My description is by no means comprehensive, but my intention is to make you aware of all the variations on this "ugly" guitar. A general rule is that the archtops are very loud with unmatchable sustain in addition to a very very deep and loud bass. The flatbacks are more balanced, not as loud, but have (what another forum member describes) a distinct "quack" that is really great. So the first thing to do is to figure out what kind of D25 you want. We are always willing to help you decide, and many will tell you to get both.

Is "Archtop" interchangable with "Archback" or was that a goof...or did they make an archtop D25 as well?

nope. a goof. sorry and fixed.

 

[adorshki]

So the first thing to do is to figure out what kind of D25 you want. We are always willing to help you decide, and many will tell you to get both.

Yeah, get both. :lol: Another potential combination, given the relative scarcity of high quality flat-back D25's, would be a D40 (see my sig, :lol: ) Still trying to figure out if there's any real difference other than the chesterfield on the headstock, and binding.

 

[kitniyatran]

Welcome; should be no problem finding the right D25 for a good price. It's all the guitar I need. (though not necessarily all I'd Like!). Mandolins, though, can't have too many.

 

[dreadnut]

Welcome! I can vouch for the D-25, at least mine has never let me down for the last 34 years! Be vigilant, you'll find one, they made more of these than any other guitar. And you can be selective as well, D-25's in really nice shape come along pretty frequently on E-gay and CL, you just have to be patient and pounce at the right time. Good luck!

 

[JerryR]

Hiya Drka - D25 sound is similar to D35 - I've played both - a good choice if you find one

Pity you were'nt around in July - we had a little session in Standley Park :wink:

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=19767

 

[Drka]

Thanks, everyone. oh and i never ever thought the D-25 was an ugly guitar, just been told by many people of that.
i forgot to mention, im a singer songwriter so i might post some things on the forum if anyone is interested.
And yes! hopefully i can get a d-25 soon.... i need inspiring instruments :lol:
Cheers,
Drka

 

[jgmaute]

Welcome to LTG, kick your shoes off, relax your mind. Please be aware, as has already been evident, coming here for advice will always end up in encouragement to purchase...and if you're not sure between two options the answer will be to get them both! We're also willing to check out any Guild that is in our area, so if you find one listed away from where you are just post and quite frequently one of us will make the ultimate sacrifice and go check it out for you! (GuitarDude in NZ had me check one out for him, it's now quite happy with him in NZ. When I found a 1965 M20 on CL someone checked it out for me so I knew what I was getting when I purchased it.) I love Vancouver, a very good friend of mine from the 60s, singer/songwriter, used to live in West Van (she's on Cortez Island now) and in the summer I'd fly to Seattle with my son, rent a car, take him to Whistler for ski camp then spend time with my friend in Vancouver. Wonderful place. If you pm me your email address I'll send you an MP3 of Vancouver 7am, a song I wrote after an early morning walk in the early 80s. Keep us posted on your quest for your D25 and of course once you get it we love pictures! Joan