Picked up my first Guild last night! (got up at 4am?)

[RanCorp]

Drove to IL last night to pick up a Guild, and met an 82 year old musician (gospel player) who had many many stories. His son, Randall Furlow, also an accomplished musician, died this year at age 57. This Guild Randall bought new in 1982 (D25SB S/N DA111378). For reasons which are now clear to me this remained his favorite guitar for the last 27 years! His dad wanted it to go to someone who'd appreciate it (and I do). This will be passed on to my son who has been bitten by the bug (bad) at age eleven!

I took some pictures of the guitar and will post the link. The sunburst is very rich. I had never seen one of these in person before and noticed the back is not flat? It is ever so slightly arched around the entire back. I thought this was a flat back? I'd like to know any info on the guitar's style (please ignore my ignorance).

I paid $450 for it, and the guitar looks like it is new (Randall Furlow certainly babied this beautiful thing)! All I read here is true, these Guilds do sound GOOD! Any feedback is appreciated... Ben

 

[dreadnut]

Hi Ben, and welcome, you've certainly been infected with the Guild virus if you got up at 4am :lol:

Congrats on a great deal on a great guitar. Even though the lowly D-25 was the entry level model for several years, it's one of the most highly praised acoustics on this forum. Can't wait to see the photos, I love the old tobacco sunburst.

Yours (like mine) is an arched back model made in the Wetserly, RI plant, the back is made from plys (not sure how many layers) of tonewood mahogany which were then soaked and formed into this shape. I'm sure someone here with factory experience could explain that process much better than I.

I think this design is the reason for this guitar's marvelous tone by parabolically focusing more sound directly to the soundhole. At least, that's my theory and I'm stickin' with it. :wink:

It was my only guitar for 25 years, until I met my DV-52. But that's another story altogether, it's about GAS, or Guild Acquisition Syndrome. Now that you've been bitten, resistance is futile :shock:

 

[Bobby McGee]

Great story, Great find. Congrats!

Bobby.

 

[cjd-player]

Congrats, Ben.

Sounds like you got a wonderful guitar.

 

[12stringer]

Congrats on an excellent find (Treasure) at a great price...I am sure you will love that guitar for years to come...mmmm...sunburst! :lol:

 

[Ridgemont]

Congrats on the new guitar and welcome to the forum. My D25 also has an archback and I get chills every time I strum a chord. Great voice and projection. Have fun with it.

 

[dapmdave]

Congrats. You'll treasure the guitar. And the story that goes with it.

Dave

 

[RanCorp]

Thanks to all for the responses... I'm at work and my son just called to tell me he's played it all day today (home school 101... music appreciation)!!!
Ben

 

[Scratch]

Congrats RanCorp and welcome to LTG...

 

[JerryR]

Hi Ben - It's not just a guitar, it's a Guild Welcome home

 

[GardMan]

Welcome to the world of Guild and LTG! D

 

[kitniyatran]

Gotta love a D25.

 

[Andy Hiwatt]

Congratulations RanCorp
I also have an arched back 1982 D25 a few serial numbers from yours, mine is DA 111609..so it must be just a few days away from yours.
I love it , big and powerful sound, comfortable instrument and exceptional value for the money. Yours having that sunburst finish must look truly wonderful!

 

[evenkeel]

From another newbie welcome to the group.

Great story and a great Guild :!: :!:

 

[Graham]

Welcome to LTG Ben, pull up a chair and chat while you pick!

$450 for a nice D-25? That's worth chatting about!! :mrgreen:

 

[dane]

Congrats on a great buy and welcome.

 

[adorshki]

I took some pictures of the guitar and will post the link. The sunburst is very rich. I had never seen one of these in person before and noticed the back is not flat? It is ever so slightly arched around the entire back. I thought this was a flat back? I'd like to know any info on the guitar's style (please ignore my ignorance).

Hi Ben: Welcome aboard and congratulations on what sounds like one of the best deals I've heard of around here for a while! The D25 started life as a flatback in 1968 and became an archback in 1976 I think it was, through 1999 at least. I can't remember exactly when it was discontinued, I think it was 2001. Several of us think the archback version is the best one. It was revived under Guild's "GAD" (Guild Acoustic Design) brand as a flatback, but those instruments are manufactured in China. There are mixed opinions about whether or not the'yre as good as "real american" Guilds. Personally, I'm sure I'd rather have your used 1982 than a shiny new GAD25.... :mrgreen:
I agree with dreadnut about the shape of the back helping to focus the sound but I think there are a couple more factors: the guitars are lighter with a one piece back and that means it can vibrate more freely than a flatback which has its ability to resonate somewhat muffled by the bracing you usually see inside keeping the back together. More sound energy is reflected from inside the body instead of absorbed by dense wood. I also think a wider range of frequencies is amplified inside because there's a greater variation in the depth of the body than with a flatback. Higher frequencies like shorter spaces to bounce around and lower ones like wider spaces. In the archback there's a perfect space for every frequency, in fact now that I think about it it's probably putting out more than most of us can even detect! But that's what makes what we DO hear so rich. That's MY story and I'm stickin' to it!

 

[southernGuild]

Great story Ben, THATS the way it SHOULD work out......sounds like that guitar has found an excellent longtime home there with you and your family. THAT IS GREAT!!! Welcome here too. THIS as you can already see. THIS is a great place with some great folks about. ENJOY!!! southern :wink:

 

[bluesypicky]

Great deal! And welcome to the nut house..... (Nut for Guild that is )
As you become more acquainted with LTG, you will realise that you're one of many (including myself) that got infected with GAS by means of a D25....
Enjoy! (But try getting some sleep too... :mrgreen: )

 

[bluesypicky]

As far as the arched vs flat back issue, I know D25's were already made with arched backs in 1975 (as I checked one out for sale that definitely had an arched back).
Mine (a 1972) is obviously a flat back, and is all mahogany, and I believe (but someone by the name of Hans could probably settle the scores here) that the arched back production started around the same time, or shortly after spruce tops made their debut on this model and when we would see a mix of spruce and mahogany tops coming out of Westerly through the end of 1974....
I have been in love with my "punchy" flat back since I met her, but would love to acquire an arched back to make a little comparison demo of both! :mrgreen: