D-46 LTG Member Review

dane

Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2009
Messages
756
Reaction score
13
How long have you owned the D-46:
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-46 Story/Moment:

Other observations/comments:
 

dane

Member
Joined
Mar 14, 2009
Messages
756
Reaction score
13
How long have you owned the D-46: Since 1986
Year & specific model: 1985 D-46BLD
Purchased new or used: New
Price paid: $525

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

Build quality: 10 No shortcuts. Great fit and finish.
Looks: 8.5 Gorgeous woods, some small adornment. I have others that are prettier.
Projection: 10 Absolute cannon.
Bass: 9
Mids: 9
Highs: 9
Sustain: 8 to 9 depending on strings used.
Playability/comfort: 10
Dependability: 10
Fingerstyle: 9
Flatpick: 9
Strum: 10

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

Favorite Strings (one selection only): D’Addario EJ16 Phosphor Bronze .012-.053

Would you buy another if lost/sold: Yes without a doubt.

Overall Assessment: It’s as good as it gets. It’s my main player, and absolute favorite.

Most Appreciated Characteristic: The balanced rich tone.
Least Appreciated: If I had to pick something I would have to say the weight. 6 pounds.
Favorite D-46 Story/Moment: There has been quite a few over the past 24 years. But most recently, I was offered a straight up trade for a Taylor 814ce during a jam session. I graciously declined the offer.

Other observations/comments: The tonal quality of the D-46 is well balanced between all the ranges and falls somewhere between the brightness of maple and the dark richness of rosewood. Very pleasant to the ear. The shape and thickness of the neck is very comfortable.

Specifications of the D-46
Type/ Shape: 6 string Dreadnought.
Back: Book matched Ash.
Sides: Ash.
Top: Sitka Spruce.
Neck: 3 piece ash/mahogany/ash.
Soundhole Rosette: 3 separate rings of white and black stripes matching the purfling.
Freatboard: Ebony, with side markers.
Fretboard Inlay: Mother of Pearl dots.
Purfling: White and black stripes on front and back.
Binding: White.
Heel cap: White.
Headstock Overlay: Ebony.
Headstock Logo: Guild Chesterfield.
Bridge: Ebony.
Nut / Saddle: Replaced with Tusq.
Tuning Machines: Silver original tuners.
Scale: 25 5/8”
Neck Width at Nut: 1 11/16”
Number of Frets: 20
Finnish: Nitrocellulose lacquer
Color: Blond (Natural)
Body Width: 15 3/4”
Body Depth: 5”
Body Length: 19 7/8”
Overall Length: @ 42”
 

krysh

Guildarist in the mod squad
Joined
Apr 28, 2007
Messages
4,416
Reaction score
899
Location
near hamburg*germany
Guild Total
6
How long have you owned the D-46: Since 2007
Year & specific model: 1981 D-46, tobaccoburst
Purchased new or used: Used
Price paid: $600 incl. tax (in germany)

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

Build quality: 10 No shortcuts. Great fit and finish.
Looks: 9 Gorgeous woods, some small adornment. I have others that are prettier.
Projection: 10 Absolute cannon.
Bass: 10
Mids: 10
Highs: 10
Sustain: 9 depending on strings used.
Playability/comfort: 10
Dependability: 10
Fingerstyle: 9
Flatpick: 10
Strum: 10
Pickup: Fishman rare earth Humbucker mounted.

Condition (Mint/Excellent/Good/Fair/Poor): Fair
Favorite Strings (one selection only): german handmade Lenzner bronze .011-.046

Would you buy another if lost/sold: Yes without a doubt.

Overall Assessment: It’s as good as it gets. It’s my main player, and absolute favorite.

Most Appreciated Characteristic: The balanced rich tone.
Least Appreciated: If I had to pick something I would have to say the weight. 6 pounds min.
Favorite D-46 Story/Moment: everytime I play it the sun arises. :D .

Other observations/comments: The tonal quality of the D-46 is well balanced between all the ranges and falls somewhere between the brightness of maple and the dark richness of rosewood. Very pleasant to the ear. The shape and thickness of the neck is very comfortable. My personal Acoustic Guitar Reference.

Specifications of the D-46
Type/ Shape: 6 string Dreadnought.
Back: Book matched Ash.
Sides: Ash.
Top: Sitka Spruce.
Neck: 3 piece ash/mahogany/ash.
Soundhole Rosette: 3 separate rings of white and black stripes matching the purfling.
Freatboard: Ebony, with side markers.
Fretboard Inlay: Mother of Pearl dots.
Purfling: White and black stripes on front and back.
Binding: White.
Heel cap: White.
Headstock Overlay: Ebony.
Headstock Logo: Guild Chesterfield.
Bridge: Ebony with non original rosewood pins.
Nut / Saddle: Bone.
Tuning Machines: Schaller S6 original tuners.
Scale: 25 5/8”
Neck Width at Nut: 1 11/16”
Number of Frets: 20
Finnish: Nitrocellulose lacquer
Color: Tobacco Burst
Body Width: 15 3/4”
Body Depth: 5”
Body Length: 19 7/8”
Overall Length: @ 42”

CIMG1181.jpg
 

GardMan

Enlightened Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2006
Messages
5,359
Reaction score
959
Location
Utah
Guild Total
5
How long have you owned the D-46: 3 yrs
Year & specific model: 1981 D-46NT (spruce top, ash sides and back, with rosewood centerpiece in back)
Purchased new or used: Used
Price paid: $970 w case

Owners rate 1 (least appreciated) to 10 (most appreciated) in following categories with comments as desired:
Build quality: 10
Looks: 9. The ash back/sides are stunning (IMHO)!
Projection: 10
Bass: 9
Mids: 9
Highs: 10
Sustain: 9
Playability/comfort: 9 (a typical full-sized dread)
Dependability: Not rated
Fingerstyle: 9
Flatpick: Not rated
Strum: 9
Condition (Mint/Excellent/Good/Fair/Poor): V. Good. Some minor finish checking, dings and scatches.
Favorite Strings (one selection only): John Pearse Phosphor Bronze "Bluegrass" gauge
Would you buy another if lost/sold: Yes!
Overall Assessment: 9.3

Most Appreciated Characteristic: Very balanced, rich tone! Has the sparkle of mahogany with some of the bass of rosewood...
Least Appreciated: My heaviest Guild, at 5# 15oz.

Favorite D-46 Story/Moment: I followed this same D-46 on GBase for more than a year... but it was (IMO) overpriced. Was disappointed when it sold... but then it re-appeared on eBay a few months later at a much lower price. I was on "pins and needles until winning the auction! I think I still paid towards the high end for a D-46, but she is/was worth every penny!

Other observations/comments:
 

KenL

Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2009
Messages
109
Reaction score
166
How long have you owned the D-46: since 2000 or so
Year & specific model: 1981 D-46 BLD
Purchased new or used: used
Price paid: $600 w/ohsc

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

Build quality 10
Looks 10
Projection 10
Bass 9
Mids 9
Highs 9
Sustain 9
Playability/comfort 10
Dependability 10, bulletproof
Fingerstyle 9
Flatpick 10
Strum 10

Condition (Mint/Excellent/Good/Fair/Poor): excellent when I got it 20 years ago. Good now, shows play wear

Favorite Strings (one selection only): Elixir PB Lights

Would you buy another if lost/sold: absolutely, if I could find one

Overall Assessment: best guitar I've ever owned (of 25 or so)

Most Appreciated Characteristic: tone and ease of play
Least Appreciated: none
Favorite D-46 Story/Moment: I have two.

1) Year 2000, I walked into a guitar shop in Omaha to buy some strings. Looked at the offerings hanging on the wall, just the usual. Then I spotted something on the floor in a stand. What's this? I knew nothing about Guild guitars. Picked it up, strummed a few chords, was astounded. Found a place to sit and played for a while. A sales guy checked on me and I asked "What's the story on this one?" Was told it was a one owner, and the guy brought it in and traded it for a Martin; sales guy said the Martin wasn't nearly as good as this Guild. Original receipt was in the case (I still have it), purchased for $435 in Norfolk, NE in 1982.

We had two little kids at the time and money was tight, but I ran home and got my wife and brought her back. She loved the guitar and was okay with it, even though the tag said $700. The sales guy (very nice guy) knocked off $50, and then another $50, and I bought it. The manager told me that he was glad I bought it to prevent the fist fights amongst his staff who all wanted to buy it.

My lucky day.

2) We have an excellent open mic in my little town in Colorado, with a nice sound system and a great sound man who runs the show. The first time I played it, I took the stage (nervous as hell!) and plugged in the Guild. The sound guy asked me to play a few chords, so I hit an Em. The guy's head jerked up and he squinted across the room and asked, "What IS that?" I said "It's an old Guild." "You got one of the good ones," he said. When I came off the stage I had 3 guys waiting to have a closer look at it. All were complimentary, which made me nervous. I never put it down until I got home.

Other observations/comments: if a sunburst model like krysh's above were to come along, I wouldn't be able to resist buying it.
 
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