Who’s Drunk the Archback Kool-aid?

davidbeinct

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Full confession I have. Some of the posts about that black D25 have mentioned whether or not the archback is a big advantage for tone. I definitely believe it is. I’m on my second GF30. I had trade in remorse pretty quickly even though I do love the Waterloo I put the trade towards. My new GF30 is a real tone monster both fingerstyle and strummed. I talked to a former Guild employee who feels the archback provides a stiffness that really allows the top to resonate. I also have pretty good second hand information that the guys at Acoustic Music in Guilford CT were really wowed by my old GF30 they took in trade. This is a shop that has Collings, Flammang, high end Martins, etc. Supposedly one of the guys who played it said it was one of the nicest sounding acoustics he had ever played.
So who else has drunk that archback Kool-aid?
 

gjmalcyon

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I do like the sound of the three I have (JF4-12, F-40B, G-37 and then there's She Who Must Be Obeyed's D-4), but I've never A/B'd the same model archback and flat back. I imagine you could do that with the D-25, and possible another maple dreadnought and the G-37.
 

Guildedagain

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Currently two archbacks, a D5CE with Rosewood archback, and F30CE with Maple archback and they're both exprememly fine sounding guitars, as was my D25 archback.

The F30 was played for a fairly large outdoor crowd last night, unplugged, but vocals were amplified to reach everyone. I ran sound.

Showing it off after the gig, a couple people were surprised to find out it wasn't plugged in.

I'd have to say that for a thin bodied guitar like that, it projects remarkably well.

I'm sold on these.

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PreacherBob

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Currently two archbacks, a D5CE with Rosewood archback, and F30CE with Maple archback and they're both exprememly fine sounding guitars, as was my D25 archback.

The F30 was played for a fairly large outdoor crowd last night, unplugged, but vocals were amplified to reach everyone. I ran sound.

Showing it off after the gig, a couple people were surprised to find out it wasn't plugged in.

I'd have to say that for a thin bodied guitar like that, it projects remarkably well.

I'm sold on these.

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P1450699.JPG
Is that an F4CE-HR and an F5CE-HG?
 

Boneman

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Currently two archbacks, a D5CE with Rosewood archback, and F30CE with Maple archback and they're both exprememly fine sounding guitars, as was my D25 archback.

The F30 was played for a fairly large outdoor crowd last night, unplugged, but vocals were amplified to reach everyone. I ran sound.

Showing it off after the gig, a couple people were surprised to find out it wasn't plugged in.

I'd have to say that for a thin bodied guitar like that, it projects remarkably well.

I'm sold on these.

P1020659.JPG
P1450694.JPG
P1450699.JPG
Guilds with cutaways, very nice, man I'm really digging on those, and the thin bodies with the oval soundhole, very slick. Looking like very fine instruments, call me jealous :)
 

PreacherBob

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I’ve got an ’81 D25 and a ‘74 D35. So is the back the only thing separating these guitars? The specs are the same. Both of those I have are in excellent unaltered condition with original saddles and nuts, so I feel like I can make a fair comparison. I like to switch between them to see the sound difference. D25 definitely has a thump and sounds like it has a deeper body that it actually does. Trebles are about the same. The D35 sounds a little more compressed which gives it a bit sweeter tone, lighter in weight, and a bit noticeabley more sustain, a little more delicate as I’m reluctant to drive it hard. I certainly appreciate both, but if I were more of a finger style player(which I’m not) I would go with the D35. Digging in a bit with strumming I would choose the D25, seems like I get more volume out of that one and I’m not scared to drive it.
 

HeyMikey

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I don’t think it’s a matter of drinking Kool-Aid. Guild archbacks are well known for having excellent resonance and projection. Guild’s technique and lamination materials stand above the crowd. I have limited experience but I can say the Westerly F40 maple I recently sold was a phenomenal sounding guitar. I hated selling it. The downside to archbacks is that they can feel larger than they are, which is bothersome if you have arthritis or similar issues.
 

PreacherBob

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And not just for sound, its actually a bit more convenient than some of my flat backs. The advantage I like with all of my maple jumbo arch backs, is since I’m a mostly standing player, the round-ish back allows me to lean the guitar top back towards me slightly so I can see the front of the guitar just enough to kind of cut my eyes down for sliding chord changes down the neck. It’s difficult to sing in the mic and stick my head out to see where I’m at the same time, not so much if I can roll the top just a bit. With only a 29” waist I can really roll it! And take it from me, I need all the help I can’t get🥺
 

Curlington

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I have a 1972 G37 Maple archback. It is terrific for strumming. It has something like the rosewood "reverb" for lack of a better way to say it. It got beat over the years because it is so fun to play. (Unfortunately, I am having difficulty playing dreds and big guitars these days). Guild does the archback better than anyone. I suspect some uninformed folks turn away from them due to not understanding how and why these backs are laminate.
 

Guildedagain

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Is that an F4CE-HR and an F5CE-HG?

F4CE-HR, neat finish, super thin. F30CE-Bk

These are kind of an oddball in a way, some claim that they have features of a higher end model? This ad description has been plagiarized by other sellers when this model comes up, not that it makes any difference to me but some perceive it as a higher end model than a F30.

Screen Shot 2022-05-20 at 9.28.52 AM.png
 

PreacherBob

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F4CE-HR, neat finish, super thin. F30CE-Bk

These are kind of an oddball in a way, some claim that they have features of a higher end model? This ad description has been plagiarized by other sellers when this model comes up, not that it makes any difference to me but some perceive it as a higher end model than a F30.

Screen Shot 2022-05-20 at 9.28.52 AM.png
WOW! I love them! I just purchased an ’96 F4CEHR and F5CEHG NAT last week! I’d never heard of them before that. I really like the black one. They both are part of an unplayed collection From different sellers. I thought $900 was a bit much for the F5 but I saw the Guild retail was 1499.99. I paid $500 for the F4 and saw Guild retail was 1199.99 so I figured I was getting a good deal on that one. I took photos today of them since you got both I thought that was kind of cool! I see Lexington SC on your reverb add. That’s where I’ve lived for the last 30 years! That’s even cooler. So I’m getting ready to post a thread on these two I got, the F4 has an amazing story to her. Thanks for your reply, I was kind of embarrassed to say I got them but now I know they seem to be respected.
 
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dreadnut

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My D25M is 46 years old now; I bought it new.

It stands right in there with the 5-string banjo in my Bluegrass Band.

It also works great for sing-alongs; plenty of volume and I can thump out the bass notes at the same time.
 

Rocky

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I also have pretty good second hand information that the guys at Acoustic Music in Guilford CT were really wowed by my old GF30 they took in trade. This is a shop that has Collings, Flammang, high end Martins, etc. Supposedly one of the guys who played it said it was one of the nicest sounding acoustics he had ever played.
Brian's got a great ear. Oddly several years ago he steered me away from a jumbo Guild (ex-Jonathan Edwards) to an OM - which ended up being the right decision for me at the time.

As to the archback thing, I think it could definitely add to the projection, but not enough experience to offer a authoritative opinion.
 
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