D-44 LTG Member Review

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-44: 2 yrs
Year & specific model: 1971 D-44NT (pearwood back and sides)
Purchased new or used: Used
Price paid: $825 w case

Owners rate 1 (least appreciated) to 10 (most appreciated) in following categories with comments as desired:
Build quality: 6; see comments below.
Looks: 6; see comments below.
Projection: 7
Bass: 8
Mids: 9
Highs: 10
Sustain: 8
Playability/comfort: 9 (a typical full-sized dread)
Dependability: Not rated
Fingerstyle: 8
Flatpick: Not rated
Strum: 7; a better fingerpicker
Condition (Mint/Excellent/Good/Fair/Poor): Good. Some nicks and dings. Came to me with a 3" soundboard crack and split tail block, both now repaired structurally, but not cosmetically.
Favorite Strings (one selection only): John Pearse Phosphor Bronze light gauge
Would you buy another if lost/sold: Yes.
Overall Assessment: 7.8

Most Appreciated Characteristic: Great note clarity and suprisingly good bass. A great folksy, bluesy sound.
Least Appreciated: Not a great looker; not a lot of headroom when strummed.

Favorite D-44 Story/Moment:
Other observations/comments:Clearly it has the roughest "fit and finish" of all my Guilds. The back has obvious sawmarks, the finish is thinner and is lacking the gloss of my other Guild dreads... and the dye used to tint the back and sides is just sort of 'blah"... not the rich burgandy found on my D-25 and D-35. But don't get me wrong... I love my pearwood D-44 and would only replace it with another in better condition. It's got a great clearness to its tone... like mahogany, but richer with more bass.
 
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