On the fence - 1979 Guild D-50 or Eastman E20D-TC

dreadnut

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only $800? That's way low, must be a reason or two for that.
 

goodry

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only $800? That's way low, must be a reason or two for that.

That's what I was thinking too but it looks legit in the pictures, I need to talk with the guy a little more - maybe we can work something where I pay half up front half when the guitar arrives or something. Just because it is so low
 

fronobulax

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a 2014 Guild D50 CE came up for around $800 - with that being said, are the guilds of today anywhere near the quality of the '79 guild I was considering?

I think the answer is Yes. Wait long enough and the testimonials will be that today's Guilds are better.
 

Br1ck

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The only thing the newer guitar doesn't have is age. I'd rather have old wood, but it comes with all the old guitar pitfalls (possible repair issues).
 

bobouz

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Make sure it’s not a 2014 Guild made in China! The price is quite low for New Hartford, so proceed with caution, but do proceed & hope it works out.
 

merlin6666

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sadly, no, its coming from 4 hours away.

I have a e10d-tc - the mahogany version and im not floored by it ... but I think im a rosewood guy so im attributing it to that more than the guitar.

I have a Yamaha LJ16 - Torrefied engleman \EIR all solid and a Recording king Torriefied ADI \ Solid rosewood back and sides

I've just heard so many good things about these old made in USA guilds, I am on the fence. I had my money saved for the eastman and this popped up.

I suppose, worst case scenario, if I hate it, I can sell it.
As you already have the Yamaha and Recording King the Eastman will be pretty much the same. A vintage Guild will definitely be a step up and a different guitar. Maybe the owner will change his mind again...
 

merlin6666

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a 2014 Guild D50 CE came up for around $800 - with that being said, are the guilds of today anywhere near the quality of the '79 guild I was considering?
I think that C means cutaway and E means electronics, so this may be a Standard and not a Traditional model then. The legendary New Hartford quality is what brought me to Guild. Some members here feel those were the best
 

mavuser

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I think Sandy "Twocorgis" may have a New Hartford D-50 he would sell. Unless, he already sold it.

The cutaway D-50 is nice, but selling that later will be tough. $800 is a good price but not a steal for that

have to give a firm "no" on the new Eastman, since u asked...no comparison whatsoever to the Guilds or Martins they claim. at least not to my ears. nice guitars for sure just not a substitute for one from the glory days
 
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davismanLV

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Knowing the Yamaha and Recording King is in the stable, branch out. You don't need an Eastman (although I'm sure it's a nice guitar) but I looked and they're all new and they're EVERYWHERE at the same price and as soon as you buy it, the value drops and ..... wait for a Guild. You're not guitarless or anything. Let's do a American built Guild. New Hartford? You kidding? They're amazing instruments. So are the ones coming from Oxnard now. Be patient?? Can you do that? I'm not good at it, but.....
 

goodry

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Knowing the Yamaha and Recording King is in the stable, branch out. You don't need an Eastman (although I'm sure it's a nice guitar) but I looked and they're all new and they're EVERYWHERE at the same price and as soon as you buy it, the value drops and ..... wait for a Guild. You're not guitarless or anything. Let's do a American built Guild. New Hartford? You kidding? They're amazing instruments. So are the ones coming from Oxnard now. Be patient?? Can you do that? I'm not good at it, but.....


Im not either, good at being patient that is - I might sell the E10D-TC - buy the E20D - mainly because im more of a rosewood guy anyways.. the mahogany didnt really speak much to me.

Then save my money for a good USA made Guild.
 

ezstrummer

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I have a 79 G-37 and I would keep it over the Eastman any day.....
 

goodry

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I have a 79 G-37 and I would keep it over the Eastman any day.....

That doesnt surprise me - I bet you could sell it for a lot more now, used, then the eastman goes for new. I think the last price I had was around $1450 for the eastman delivered new with case.
 

Tom O

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One reason for the Eastman is the 1 3/4 in nut even it it doesn't quite sound like a Guild.
 

Antney

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My 2 cents...hold out for a nice d50....any USA factory. Although they’ll vary guitar to guitar, I think they are the flagship Guild guitar. My 93 from Westerly is one sweet guitar I’m a no cutaway, no electronics guy. If you want a cutaway with electronics buy a les Paul
2E296B6D-2381-4FDE-92C7-9C9BF75FB086.jpeg
 

Westerly Wood

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My 2 cents...hold out for a nice d50....any USA factory. Although they’ll vary guitar to guitar, I think they are the flagship Guild guitar. My 93 from Westerly is one sweet guitar I’m a no cutaway, no electronics guy. If you want a cutaway with electronics buy a les Paul
2E296B6D-2381-4FDE-92C7-9C9BF75FB086.jpeg
i should have never sold mine, it was a mess but sounded amazing and i got it so cheap. ah well...but that is a great looking D50. so classic looking. i think Westerly RI made D50s are some of the greatest acoustic dreads ever created. i would put one up against a Martin D-28 any day. I have owned both in my time with acoustic guitars and the D50 was more powerful than my D-28. my D50 was more on par with the HD-28 I owned. and it was socially a notch above the D-35 i also owned for 11 years.

it really begs the question, well, why do you only own hog b/s acoustics today???

ummm......that is a longer story :)
 

valleyguy

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Let me throw in my 2 cents.

I have a 206 Tacoma D50 with Adrondack top. From my experience (for what that's worth), adirondack tops have a very defined, quick attack and less sustain and harmonics than a sitka top. At least that is what I found with Guilds. My D50 with adi top sounds closer to a D40 with mahogany sides/back than a D50 with sitka top from prior years. Of course if sustain and harmonics are what you are looking for, a D55 should be on your radar.

The kind of music you play will make your decision. I flat pick. For awhile I did a lot of bluegrass and got a Martin D18. The Adi D50 also filled that need perfectly. I have now gravitated towards singer songwriter music and find the D55 better meets my needs, I like the harmonics rosewood gives me, but sometimes all those harmonics get in the way.

However, since you have two rosewood guitars, you should consider a mahogany. Of course the best advice is to go out and play as many as you can to get a feel for what you like, though that may be difficult to do in today's environment. Try a Martin D18 or a Guild D40.

Good luck....
 

richardp69

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a 2014 Guild D50 CE came up for around $800 - with that being said, are the guilds of today anywhere near the quality of the '79 guild I was considering?

$800 seems more than fair to me. I wish I had seen that one before I bought my NH D 50 CE for about $200 more. I will say though the D 50 CE is a fine guitar. I'd never been a real fan of a cutaway acoustic but I can't say that with this model. It is a very fine guitar and I'm happy to own it.
 
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