Tell me about your D30 BL tone please

[heyronbrown]

Hey yall! Missin an all maple guitar and have seen a few D30 BL's on ebay lately. Used to have a J-200 but my shoulder prefers dreads. Years ago a good friend of mine used to have an all maple G-37 that I loved. How does the D30 compare? Thanks

 

[dapmdave]

Hey yall! Missin an all maple guitar and have seen a few D30 BL's on ebay lately. Used to have a J-200 but my shoulder prefers dreads. Years ago a good friend of mine used to have an all maple G-37 that I loved. How does the D30 compare? Thanks

I'd think that the D-37 and the D-30 are very similar.

Looking at old catalogs, it appears that the D-30 was introduced in 1987 as a direct replacement for the D-37, which was no longer made after 1986. Someone else may have more or better info about this.

The guitar is a great flat-picker (IMHO, anyway) and the sound is very balanced. The tone is kind of smooth and delicate, but if you push it, it gets agressive and nasty while somehow retaining it's composure. With the arched back it projects well, but doesn't seem to be as loud as your average rosewood dread.

It's also built like a freakin' tank. Not a light guitar.

Bottom line... it's a Guild. You'll love it.

Dave

 

[GardMan]

AFAIK, the D-30 is pretty much a direct replacement of the G-37. The only notable differences in specs I see in Beesley between the later version of the G-37 (which sported the maple neck and Chesterfield headstock) and the D-30 are the latters scalloped braces and tapered headstock.

I really like the tone of my G-37.. smoother sounding than mahogany, but with nice clarity and note separation. I'd agree with Dave... my G-37 is NOT my loudest dread. But, it's also no slouch in the volume dept, either.
Dave

 

[Bobby McGee]

You might also consider tracking down a DCE-3. As far as I can tell it is the same as the D-30, except for the cutout and factory electronics. I'm fortunate to own 2 of them. I bought the amber one (Tony - refer to the tiger striped neck below) to possibly replace the blonde (Blondie), for the following reasons: better electronics (blender vs just piezo) and the amber one has a maple neck, the blonde has a mahogany neck (go figure).
I was also surprized that the amber has a rosewood fretboard and bridge (ala D-30 specs) but the blonde has ebony (ala DCE-3 specs). I must say, on the amber, the rosewood makes for a better color match, possibly the reason for the specification change. While I normally prefer an ebony fretboard, I enjoy playing the amber one more (maybe because it was played way more and has a more open tone).
If I just use one guitar all night, I prefer maple for playing live mostly because of the versatility between fingerpicking clarity and hard strumming powerful tone.

BLONDIE

TONY

Good luck on your quest.

Bobby.

 

[dapmdave]

That's a nice pair you've got there, Bobby!

 

[tjmangum]

For lack of a better expression, my D30 has got that "Guild maple tone". I've got a GF30, F47, F65ce and a JF65-12 too and they all have that same kind of distinct sound. Never heard anything close on that big 'ol Gibson maple nor on any of the new Taylors. For second tier :lol: guitars, they've always been pretty creative in using different woods.
tj

 

[Qvart]

Hey yall! Missin an all maple guitar and have seen a few D30 BL's on ebay lately. Used to have a J-200 but my shoulder prefers dreads. Years ago a good friend of mine used to have an all maple G-37 that I loved. How does the D30 compare? Thanks

Unless there's a difference in the bracing, the only difference from a G-37 is the tapered headstock. The G-37 I got to try out (that now belongs to a forum member) was balanced but a bit too bright for my tastes, built like a tank but not as loud as other Guilds I've tried out (including the D35 I settled on). It did feel great though and had a thin neck. Very easy to play, just not the sound I was looking for.

 

[West R Lee]

Love my D30. Beautiful guitar with superb bright tone, but surprising bass too. Mine is a little particular as to what type of strings I put on her, but man did she love it when I found the right ones.

West

 

[tjmangum]

Love my D30. Beautiful guitar with superb bright tone, but surprising bass too. Mine is a little particular as to what type of strings I put on her, but man did she love it when I found the right ones.

West

Which strings you using on her West?
tj

 

[West R Lee]

Very pricey Thomastik Plectrums.............lights. Man they play and sound nice on the D30. I don't care for any other string on her, and my other guitars don't care for the Thomastiks, but the D30 sure likes them.

http://www.juststrings.com/toi-ac111.html

West

 

[Bobby McGee]

Thomastik Plectrums.............lights

Hey West,
I have a pack of Thomas Plectrum Medium Lights that I'm thinking of trying on Tony. Have you ever tried the TP Mediums Lights? They are .012 - .015 - .024(F) - .033(R) - .044(R) - .059(R) - (light bottom, medium middle, heavy top flat and round wound). I think the maple will like the heavy top.

Bobby.

 

[West R Lee]

Just a thing with me Bobby, but I won't use anything but lights on mine. I'm sure they would sound good.

West

 

[fungusyoung]

I suspect if I ever buy another Guild (cough), it will be a D30 or G37. I really LOVE the maple tone. It's very distinctive. Right now I just have too many guitars to justify getting another, and unfortunately both of the maple back/sides Guilds I've owned were just a wee bit too large bodied for me to be 100% comfortable with.

A nice D30 is a little slice of heaven.

 

[dapmdave]

A nice D30 is a little slice of heaven.

Tru-dat.

 

[heyronbrown]

Re: Tell me about your D30 BL tone please-Score!

Thanks for the help everyone! Scored my D30 last night. My first Guild!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

 

[GardMan]

Congrats! Looks like you got a great price. Is that a gooseneck mike I see in the soundhole?

 

[dapmdave]

You did really well at that price. Get ready to have some quality guitar time.

(I think thats a dampit in there)

Dave

 

[Bobby McGee]

Congrats, Welcome and Nice Score! I'm sure you will feel the Joy as soon as you lay hands on her (Hmm, I wonder what your next Guild will be)....
Enjoy the 'Worbled out Back" and don't let the laquer checking scare you. It just adds character.

I installed the Thomastic Plectrum Med Lights on a DCE-3 Maple last night (I need to get some sleep). After 3 hours, they are worth the price so far, we'll see how many more hours of playing they can take.

Bobby.

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

Re: Tell me about your D30 BL tone please-Score!

Thanks for the help everyone! Scored my D30 last night. My first Guild!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

Two's company!! You'd better buy this burst to go with it:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gorgeous-Guild-...QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item2c52d5b764



~nw

 

[sfIII]

My 2cts

I have a 1972 G-37 with a mahogany neck.. I love it and will keep it forever.. Mahogany necks were only used the first couple of years I believe... If I had Han's book here with me I'd know..

Howard