Whats wrong with a D4 ?

Qvart

Qvart

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CajunBlues said:
So this Westerly D4 is dirt cheap ...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

How does the D4 compare to the Westerly D25's or D40's... Is it inferior in sound ? inferior in playability ? or is the difference simply cosmetic ?
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Forum member workedinwesterly has said in the past that there's no difference between the D4 and D25 except the finish (hand-rubbed/satin vs. gloss). It's an arched back 'hog dread with a spruce top. danerectal has one and seems to like it.
 
jcwu

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And I for one love the hand-rubbed finish. It's not quite satin, but feels like RAW wood.
 
Scratch

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Had an early 90's D4; purchased for $400 in near mint condition in 2007 and sold it a year later for 450.00 to one of the sales reps at a local music store. He still has it and enjoys it. In fact, he gigs out with it. Great guitar; not as heavy, weightwise, as the D25 owned at the same time. Agree on the HR finish. Something about HR that is most attractive IMO.
 
valleyguy

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I sold my '93 D4 4 years ago for that price, so it is a decent price for a good guitar, best $450 you'll ever spend.

For the price the D4 is an excellent guitar. It tends to accentuate the mids and makes for a great recording guitar.

I recently bought an '81 D25. As much as I have read that the D25 is the same as a D4, they sound different to me. Much more sustain on the D25, whereas the D4 has more individual string sound separation. Both are mid heavy, but the D25 has a big bass.
 
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The D4 is a great value. I've played some great ones. I previously owned an excellent DCE1 (basically a cutaway electric D4) and I currently own a (Westerly) DV4 which I absolutely love.

There is no structural/build quality difference between the D4 and the D25, it's all cosmetics. But they are on closer to "entry level" side so there will be some variance between guitars. For example I was excited to find a DV25 last year (which is a prettied up version of the DV4) and when I played it side by side with my DV4 . . . the DV4 blew it away. The DV25 sounded quite good, but the DV4 was just much better.

In summary, I don't think you'll find a better value in an American made guitar.
 
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adorshki

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plaidseason said:
There is no structural/build quality difference between the D4 and the D25, it's all cosmetics.... In summary, I don't think you'll find a better value in an American made guitar
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In fact on Guild's Website for 95-97 the exact same serial number sequences are listed for both models. Read between those lines...
Something else I noticed while I was there is that from 91-93 the D4 did have a different serial number system, with "CF" prefixes, and changed to the "AD04xxxx" numbers in '94, but interestingly, the D25 numbers for '94 are listed as "NA" ..."not available"?..perhaps they were indistinguishably mixed with the D4s?
There is also the small detail on the WesterlyGuildGuitars website that D4's had a "morado" fretboard. I'm wondering if that may be the significance of the earlier serial numbers, and the unification of the models was reflected in the common serial number scheme.
I bet Hans knows but if he's saving it for the next volume I want don't want to pester him.
Just playin' "History Detectives" right now. :)
 
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wileypickett

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Rockin' Bob's is a small indie used instrument / sound equipment store about a mile from me. I've scored a few good things there over the past 20+ years or so that they've been open.

Doesn't look like it got any bids. I assume he ended the auction early because he got some walk-in interest, or maybe he re-thought the price?

Or it may still be sitting there.

If anyone would like me to go see if it is available, and check it out if so, happy to oblige. (I may just go do that little thing anyway!)

Glenn Jones
Cambridge, MA
 
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MojoTooth

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If typically employ the rule

"If it says Guild on the headstock, there is nothing wrong with it"
 
Qvart

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Qvart said:
Forum member workedinwesterly has said in the past that there's no difference between the D4 and D25 except the finish (hand-rubbed/satin vs. gloss). It's an arched back 'hog dread with a spruce top. danerectal has one and seems to like it.
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Here is the thread I was referencing.


workedinswesterly said:
Yes the D-4 and the D-25 were the same guitar. If the guitar had any blemishes that the hand rub could not hide then it became a D-25 with a myriad of finish options.
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Qvart

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Thunderface said:
Qvart said:
Here is the thread I was referencing.
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Qvart, you're becoming the reference source of the LTG site. Like a cooler looking Dex from those TV commercials. :D
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Ha! I have partial and varying degrees of success tracking down threads I vaguely remember. That one wasn't too difficult. It's been referenced a few times.
 
valleyguy

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Qvart said:
Qvart said:
Forum member workedinwesterly has said in the past that there's no difference between the D4 and D25 except the finish (hand-rubbed/satin vs. gloss). It's an arched back 'hog dread with a spruce top. danerectal has one and seems to like it.
Click to expand...

Here is the thread I was referencing.


workedinswesterly said:
Yes the D-4 and the D-25 were the same guitar. If the guitar had any blemishes that the hand rub could not hide then it became a D-25 with a myriad of finish options.
Click to expand...
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I have heard this, but I can tell you my '93 D4 does not sound like my '81 D25. Maybe the difference in years would account for the difference, different construction?
 
Qvart

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valleyguy said:
I have heard this, but I can tell you my '93 D4 does not sound like my '81 D25. Maybe the difference in years would account for the difference, different construction?
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I don't know. I've held both models in my hands briefly at different times (not at the same time) and I'm pretty sure there's a difference. The D4 reminds me of the DCE1 I used to have, which had laminate sides. D25's are more like my D35 - feel heftier and boomier. But I really have no idea.
 
taabru45

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My beef with the D4s is that they are so sneaky....they reach out and grab you...steal your attention...convince you that they are irresistible, they follow you home and move in to your place, with or without your invitation..tend to stay for a long time, and other musicians are always flirting with them too.... I'm not complainin' really, just my recent experience.... :? :D Steffan

....and HEY.....5000 POSTS :shock: :shock: :shock:
 
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