D-35 LTG Member Review

Scratch

Enlightened Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2007
Messages
6,909
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20
Location
Canyon Lake, TX.
How long have you owned the D-35:
Year & specific model:
Purchased new or used:
Price paid:

Owners rate 1 (least appreciated) to 10 (most appreciated) in following categories with comments as desired:

Build quality
Looks
Projection
Bass
Mids
Highs
Sustain
Playability/comfort
Dependability
Fingerstyle
Flatpick
Strum

Condition (Mint/Excellent/Good/Fair/Poor):

Favorite Strings (one selection only):

Would you buy another if lost/sold:

Overall Assessment:

Most Appreciated Characteristic:
Least Appreciated:
Favorite D-35 Story/Moment:

Other observations/comments:
 

frettedstrings

Senior Member
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Location
Flat Rock, Michigan
Re: D-35 LTG Owner Review

How long have you owned the D-35: About 6 Months
Year & specific model: 1975 D-35
Purchased new or used: USED
Price paid: $300

Owners rate 1 (least appreciated) to 10 (most appreciated) in following categories with comments as desired:

Build quality: 10 It's A Guild, Right ! It's Built Like A Tank!
Looks: 10 Some would say that my D35 is rather plain looking, but I like its simple look. Mahogany back, sides and neck; Spruce Top; Rosewood bridge and fretboard. My D35 has a black pick guard. I am not a fan of tortise shell pick guards.
Projection: 9 Great projection and quite loud for a Dread.
Bass: 10 This guitar has a great bass tone.
Mids: 9 Very Even Sound
Highs: 10 Each note/spring sounds independently.
Sustain: 8
Playability/comfort: 9 This guitar plays very easily. The action is low.
Dependability: 10 So far so good. No trouble so far.
Fingerstyle: 7 Volume is on the soft side when playing fingerstyle.
Flatpick: 10 This guitar is great for flat picking. I am a flat picker and it suits be just fine.
Strum: 10 Each strum gives a full sound from Bass to Treble.

Condition (Mint/Excellent/Good/Fair/Poor): .I want to say my D35 is in Excellent Condition, considering its 35 years old. There are a few knicks and dings as one would expect after 35 years

Favorite Strings (one selection only): Right now, I am using GHS Silk & Bronze (11-49).

Would you buy another if lost/sold: Yes, but I don't think I will find another D35 in the same condition for $300 again.

Overall Assessment: GREAT GUITAR

Most Appreciated Characteristic: BALANCED SOUND

Least Appreciated: I don't know.

Favorite D-35 Story/Moment:

Other observations/comments:

TimsGuildD-354.jpg
 

Scratch

Enlightened Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2007
Messages
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Location
Canyon Lake, TX.
Re: D-35 LTG Owner Review

I like the added picture; nice LTG member touch; good idea to add to the thread... BTW; you could get locked up for that steal! Nice Guild; unreal price...
 

GardMan

Enlightened Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2006
Messages
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Location
Utah
Guild Total
5
How long have you owned the D-35: 38 yrs!
Year & specific model: 1972 D-35
Purchased new or used: New in Jan 1973
Price paid: $300 w case

Owners rate 1 (least appreciated) to 10 (most appreciated) in following categories with comments as desired:
Build quality: 8
Looks: 8
Projection: 7
Bass: 8
Mids: 9
Highs: 9
Sustain: 8
Playability/comfort: 9 (a typical full-sized dread)
Dependability: Not rated
Fingerstyle: 8
Flatpick: Not rated
Strum: 7
Condition (Mint/Excellent/Good/Fair/Poor): Fair-Good. Shamefully, I will admit to mis-treating her before I knew how special she was...
Favorite Strings (one selection only): John Pearse PB and Silk Light-medium gauge
Would you buy another if lost/sold: Yes, but I'd look for another from '72 or earlier. I think the build got heavier in the mid-70s.
Overall Assessment: 8.2

Most Appreciated Characteristic:
Least Appreciated:

Favorite D-35 Story/Moment: She's been with me thru thick and thin for 38 years... what more can I say!?

Other observations/comments:She's the lightest of my Guilds, at just 4# 4oz. My wife had a '78 D-35 that was MUCH heavier build... it was louder and more "in-your-face," but emphasized mids more.
 

RussB

Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2008
Messages
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Location
connecticut
How long have you owned the D-35: since December 12th, 1998
Year & specific model: May 1980 D-35NT
Purchased new or used: Used
Price paid: $525 w/Guild case

Owners rate 1 (least appreciated) to 10 (most appreciated) in following categories with comments as desired:

Build quality Nice craftsmanship considering this was a lower end model
Looks very understated, utilitarian

I don't have enough experience with acoustic guitars to make fair judgements with the following criteria,
Projection
Bass
Mids
Highs
Sustain
Playability/comfort
Dependability
Fingerstyle
Flatpick
Strum

Condition (Mint/Excellent/Good/Fair/Poor): This guitar & case were in excellent+ condition. It appears it sat in it's case for most of it's life. I have also played it very little in 13+ years

Favorite Strings (one selection only): still experimenting

Would you buy another if lost/sold: maybe...

Overall Assessment: This is a solid, toneful instrument

Most Appreciated Characteristic: Sweet articulate fingerpicked tone

Least Appreciated: Those darn Japanese tuning machines

Other observations/comments: I installed a Fishman Acoustic Matrix natural 2 under saddle transducer shortly after purchasing the guitar, although I have seldom used it. The case was afflicted with a severe mold infestation, and sadly was thrown out after several failed attempts to clean it.

D35nt002.jpg


D35SaddlePins002.jpg


D35nt007.jpg


D35label.jpg


D35Imperialsfront.jpg
 

CA-35

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2011
Messages
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Location
South Florida
How long have you owned the D-35:about 2 days
Year & specific model:1983 D-35
Purchased new or used:used
Price paid:$500 plus shipping all said and done $610.00

Owners rate 1 (least appreciated) to 10 (most appreciated) in following categories with comments as desired:

Build quality 10
Looks 9
Projection clean and crisp
Bass moderate
Mids mellow
Highs clean and brite
Sustain phenomenal
Playability/comfort like butta
Dependability not sure yet
Fingerstyle
Flatpick
Strum

Condition (Mint/Excellent/Good/Fair/Poor):excellent

Favorite Strings (one selection only): Elixir

Would you buy another if lost/sold: yes but will never sell

Overall Assessment:Backflips since arrival, loving the sustain and the crispness of the highs.

Most Appreciated Characteristic: The slab of spruce that the top is made of.
Least Appreciated: The dent in the lower bout but it is not structural and does not affect the sound.
Favorite D-35 Story/Moment: When I strummed her for the first time......oh boy

Other observations/comments: Thanks BillyBudapest
 

DKB

Member
Joined
May 26, 2011
Messages
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How long have you owned the D-35: 40 years
Year & specific model: 1971 Bluegrass D-35nt
Purchased new or used: NEW
Price paid: $255

Owners rate 1 (least appreciated) to 10 (most appreciated) in following categories with comments as desired:

Build quality: 9
Looks: 9
Projection: 10
Bass: 9
Mids: 10
Highs: 10
Sustain: 10
Playability/comfort: 9
Dependability: 8
Fingerstyle: yes
Flatpick: yes
Strum: yes

Condition (Mint/Excellent/Good/Fair/Poor): Mint

Favorite Strings (one selection only): 80/20 Phos Bronze

Would you buy another if lost/sold: you bet!

Overall Assessment: It's been a great guitar. It came new with a build gouge in the binding/top on the treble side where the neck joins the body. Quality control didn't catch it but I loved the guitar anyway. In the late 80's, the bridge detached from the top. I had it repaired by Kevin, who was Jaco Pastorius's tech at the time.

Most Appreciated Characteristic: In 1972 I had a luthier change the nut & saddle to real ivory and also replaced the bridge pins to bone. The sound change was incredible. Everyone that plays it today falls in love with it.
Least Appreciated: None.
Favorite D-35 Story/Moment: It records really well, it has the most beautiul loose, jangly tone ever.

Other observations/comments: Glad I bought it back in the day and it will only leave me when I'm 6' under.
 

bytr6

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2012
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
How long have you owned the D-35:
Year & specific model: 1983 D-35NT
Purchased new or used: New
Price paid: $350.00 Factory second ( a tiny bit of glue showed between the heel and the body.

Owners rate 1 (least appreciated) to 10 (most appreciated) in following categories with comments as desired:

Build quality 8/10
Looks 9/10
Projection 8/10
Bass7/10
Mids 9/10
Highs 10/10
Sustain 9/10
Playability/comfort 10/10
Dependability 10/10
Fingerstyle 8/10
Flatpick 9/10
Strum 9/10

Condition (Mint/Excellent/Good/Fair/Poor): Good

Favorite Strings (one selection only): Martin Bluegrass

Would you buy another if lost/sold: Yes

Overall Assessment: A little thin on bass, plays wonderfully.

Most Appreciated Characteristic: Sound.
Least Appreciated: ?
Favorite D-35 Story/Moment: Bought to celebrate my separation from my ex. Pissed her off.

Other observations/comments: I love this guitar. Plays well,
 
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