Quantum Strummer
Senior Member
In my experience the old NYC and Hoboken are a special tone that can't get duplicated today. The pedigree of the wood, in many ways "inferior" to the better cuts available today are light, thin and aged. The vintage stain and clear coat does not dominate the tone as with the newer guitars. They early Guilds appear more fragile than the later instruments. They are special in the era and workmanship they were made.
This is true of many old Gibsons too, if by "inferior" you mean less fancy in terms of figuring, color or other visual characteristics. (As a Michigan guy I have a special fondness for the old Kalamazoo company. The current company…not so much.) I own a 1940 L-50 that pretty much plays me. It says, via tone & feel, "hit the strings like this" or "play this chord, not that one" and I obey. My F-20 is the only other acoustic guitar I own that can hang with it. As the Guild is a flattop it has a different sound & vibe, but like the Gibson it loves being a guitar. There's just something about that old wood, long dried & well seasoned with finishes that are barely still there.
-Dave-