I'm going to be looking online for a new acoustic. Since I have 2 Jumbo's one a Guild one maple back & sides and 3 dreads sitka and mahogany and one rosewood . I'd like to add a all mahogany dread. Which of these 3 would be considered the best all hog sounding Guild D20 , Martin D15M , or Taylor AD27 . I like the Guild neck on my F40 although it's 1 11/16th the shape makes it as playable as a 1 3/4in nut width. The Martin neck may be to narrow for me not sure about the Taylor. Feedback is much welcome on this.
Best all mahogany dread. Guild,Martin or Taylor
- Thread starter cibby54
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cibby54
The best deal on the most underated Mahogany is in "For Sale or Trade" section of this forum. It is a DV6 for sell by Richard P.
I have bought three guitars from Richard P. and each was better than described. In fact, I would have bought the DV6 if not for having a custom sloped shouldered mahogany dread made for me by Chris Bozung. And I am still debating it. So buy it so I won't. Ha
Oops, didn't see "all mahogany."
The best deal on the most underated Mahogany is in "For Sale or Trade" section of this forum. It is a DV6 for sell by Richard P.
I have bought three guitars from Richard P. and each was better than described. In fact, I would have bought the DV6 if not for having a custom sloped shouldered mahogany dread made for me by Chris Bozung. And I am still debating it. So buy it so I won't. Ha
Oops, didn't see "all mahogany."
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GGJaguar
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Unless you really need upper fret access, I'd suggest finding a used Martin D-15S or D-15SM. They have 12-fret necks with 1 3/4" nuts, are feather weight and pack a punch. I have one and love it!
Westerly Wood
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the early Guild D25s are great, they were made from '68-'71, and they come up on reverb now and again.
all hog dreads. really lightly built, great for fingerpicking.
all hog dreads. really lightly built, great for fingerpicking.
I'm really enjoying my recently acquired '88 Guild D15. Beautiful wood and rings like a bell. Great fingerpicker.
6L6
Senior Member
To me the best mahogany dread is a Collings D-1. Here's a pic of my '99 D-1 that I've enjoyed immensely for 22 years now. The top was white when I bought it new at Gryphon. Natural aging has turned it to this beautiful shade.
Br1ck
Senior Member
First choice is the previously mentioned 68-71 Guild D 25
Second a Martin D 15. I have the little 00 15 12 fret slothead. A dread version would probably be awesome.
The one all hog Taylor I played was the only Taylor I ever considered buying.
All hog, Mr. 6L6
Second a Martin D 15. I have the little 00 15 12 fret slothead. A dread version would probably be awesome.
The one all hog Taylor I played was the only Taylor I ever considered buying.
All hog, Mr. 6L6
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
But also not an all hog one...
The American Dream series was only announced in June 2020, so the AD27 is a very new model from Taylor. Sweetwater for instance has her for $1,399 vs. the Guild D-20 for $1,499.
First Look: Taylor's New American Dream Series - inSync
Taylor’s American Dream series of solid-wood, US-made acoustic guitars pack all the hallmarks the Taylor Guitars brand at a great price.
www.sweetwater.com
AD27 Sapele Acoustic Guitar
Boasting all-solid tonewoods and a clean, performance-focused sty
Ralf
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Westerly Wood
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I'm really enjoying my recently acquired '88 Guild D15. Beautiful wood and rings like a bell. Great fingerpicker.
And there are 1-2 for sale right now on reverb, one is $700
cibby, I love all the responses here. You're in good shape if your choices are among Guild, Martin, and Taylor. I mean, talk about life's challenges. . . 
My own personal hat in the ring was the Tacoma or Ensenada DV-4 model. Very, very raw guitars in terms of finishing, but wonderful sounding and crazy values. D-25s are of course a Guild favorite!
My own personal hat in the ring was the Tacoma or Ensenada DV-4 model. Very, very raw guitars in terms of finishing, but wonderful sounding and crazy values. D-25s are of course a Guild favorite!
Yoko Oh No
Member
Its not a dread but my son bought a new Martin 00-15m for $965 with a case from CME. Might have been a COVID sale. I’ve played it, it’s a very nice guitar
jfilm
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I guess depends on what you like - the Martin D15 definitely has the Martin sound, and the mahogany top makes it just a bit mellower than a spruce topped Martin - I think it's a pretty great guitar. The older D15 has a slightly different neck construction than the D15M (2012 or so and later), and the D15M has nicer tuners (I think). But they both sound good, and the D15 is generally a little cheaper- but, if you don't like slim profile necks, the old Martin D15 and current D15M have the modified low oval neck profile, which is pretty slim, combined with 1 11/16" nut width (hence the suggestion above for the D15S).
Would love to try an all hog Guild though. Especially the late 60s early 70s D-25 mentioned previously. Neck profiles on Guilds seem to vary a lot, and you'll probably need to get the info from the seller on whichever instrument you're looking at.
Would love to try an all hog Guild though. Especially the late 60s early 70s D-25 mentioned previously. Neck profiles on Guilds seem to vary a lot, and you'll probably need to get the info from the seller on whichever instrument you're looking at.
Westerly Wood
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Jay, mine is a '71 and it has a very slim neck. the profile is skinny even compared to my '83 D35.
It was my only guitar for a while so I got so used to how thin it was. however, since playing my F30R, which is real close to a 1.75 nut and a rounder profile, my D25 is harder to play...it's like too skinny if you will.
so while i still maintain to the OP of this thread, to give the '68-'71 D25s a run, the thinner profile might not make it viable for him. Of my 3 Guilds, I play the D25 the least, as I want a fuller feel in my fret hand these days.
Yes, but only some of the early '70's D25's are all 'Hog with the arched back, like the later-produced D15.
Priorly, they were all 'Hog with a flat back.
Priorly, they were all 'Hog with a flat back.
Some nice pictures thanks for sharing them. This will be a tough choice and I need to research this better. The 12 frets are nice I'd like to hold one of those and play it. I'm 6-2 with long arms most comfortable with a jumbo next a dread. but they sound good any I've heard. Maybe I should go custom. I've played 3 or 4 D15M's nice but neck is narrow for me. Never heard a Guild all hog. 6 or 7 years ago I had a all Mahogany 500 series Taylor dread should have kept it.
Westerly Wood
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If a Martin neck is too narrow, then an old all hog Guild D25 flat back is not viable.
Custom sounds good.
mellowgerman
Senior Member
I have a Martin D-15M and I can't say enough nice things about it. The neck was a bit slimmer than I might have preferred, but I've gotten used to it and find it very comfortable now. The tone and build quality are exceptional. I love the light satin finish too. On acoustics I'm not a big fan of gloss finishes.
Since I'm predominantly a bassist and this wonderful Martin was gifted to me by a good friend who has since passed, I don't see myself ever replacing it with another. This one will likely be my #1, lifer.
That said, I've played one Guild D20 and a bunch of D25's and they've all been sweet guitars. I don't think you can really go wrong there either.
As far as Taylors go, I've never played an all-mahogany one, but of the several others I've taken for a test drive, I've never connected with one. They're quality instruments, but somehow just not my cup of tea.
Since I'm predominantly a bassist and this wonderful Martin was gifted to me by a good friend who has since passed, I don't see myself ever replacing it with another. This one will likely be my #1, lifer.
That said, I've played one Guild D20 and a bunch of D25's and they've all been sweet guitars. I don't think you can really go wrong there either.
As far as Taylors go, I've never played an all-mahogany one, but of the several others I've taken for a test drive, I've never connected with one. They're quality instruments, but somehow just not my cup of tea.