1972 D-25 To Drill, Or Not T o Drill.

[SJS]

Welcome... have a 78 G37 and was pondering allowing someone to use power tools on it. Never have been crazy about the idea. Same for the 49 Martin D28. These guitars were not made with electronics so I'll muddle through with a mic for the time being. While my G37 is probably not considered rare or collectable I will keep it as it is. Should life suddenly decide that I need an acoustic guitar with electronics, there are multitudes of them that can be had for cheap and sound acceptable. Just my .02

 

[Br1ck]

I had no issue drilling my 70 D 35. 66 D 45 would be different. Unmolested Martin Brazilian worth way more with a lot of potential.

 

[mavuser]

I have a Fishman rare earth single coil passive soundhole pickup drilled in my 1972 D-25 flat back mahogany top. into the LR Baggs Para DI extrenal preamp. with the Martin Retro monel (11's) strings, it sounds really, really good. To me at least. very acoustic sounding.

 

[SJS]

I had no issue drilling my 70 D 35. 66 D 45 would be different. Unmolested Martin Brazilian worth way more with a lot of potential.

Have a 49 D28. Sad thing is that, way back when, someone installed a pickup of some kind because whoever put it in drilled a Les Paul style hole on the side of the lower bout. It's been poorly patched with something that I have no doubt isn't 1949 Brazilian rosewood. No more power tools are allowed anywhere in it's vicinity

 

[HeyMikey]

Another option to look into for an expensive or collectible guitar would be the Tapastring Vintage Jack and it’s related components. It allow for installing an end pin jack without resrilling. Smaller pin connectors and extension cable needed but it is another option.

Tapastring Guitar Care Products | The "Vintage Jack" | End Pin Jack No Drilling Required

www.tapastring.com

 

[Neal]

Another option to look into for an expensive or collectible guitar would be the Tapastring Vintage Jack and it’s related components. It allow for installing an end pin jack without resrilling. Smaller pin connectors and extension cable needed but it is another option.

Tapastring Guitar Care Products | The "Vintage Jack" | End Pin Jack No Drilling Required

www.tapastring.com

I have a number of vintage acoustics. I tried the Tapastring, and tried, and tried. It proved to be too unreliable for a live situation. The 1/8” plug is not robust enough to depend on in a live situation, no matter how it is secured and no matter what 1/8” to 1/4” adapter is used.

 

[NM156]

I have a Dean Markley soundhole pickup but it does not bring out the natural sound of the guitar. If you had a need to cut the boomy bottom end of the D-25, then this pickup would work well for it.

 

[Bill C]

I have a Dean Markley soundhole pickup but it does not bring out the natural sound of the guitar. If you had a need to cut the boomy bottom end of the D-25, then this pickup would work well for it.

This D-25 is all mahogany and sounds great with 80/20's on it . If it get's too boomy, I'll dial it in with the the venue pedal . Want to keep that tone as much as possible.

 

[West R Lee]

Drill it Bill. It's no big deal really. I had the luxury of being able to speak directly with the factory when I ordered my last Collings guitar, so I had them drill the endpin hole, but I drilled the under saddle hole for the Baggs Anthem I installed in that guitar. I just didn't want to drill that 1/2" hole at the endpin on a brand new, expensive guitar. I'd drill a D25 in a heartbeat and just be very careful. A piece of cake.

I've got a D25, and if I wanted a pickup requiring and endpin jack, I'd drill it in a second.

West

 

[Roland]

Drill it Bill. It's no big deal really. I had the luxury of being able to speak directly with the factory when I ordered my last Collings guitar, so I had them drill the endpin hole, but I drilled the under saddle hole for the Baggs Anthem I installed in that guitar. I just didn't want to drill that 1/2" hole at the endpin on a brand new, expensive guitar. I'd drill a D25 in a heartbeat and just be very careful. A piece of cake.

I've got a D25, and if I wanted a pickup requiring and endpin jack, I'd drill it in a second.

West

Me too. Why wouldn't you?

 

[Br1ck]

I guess you wouldn't only if the guitar had collector's value. Most Guilds are immune to the collector market, the D 25 is a prime example.

 

[SJS]

I guess you wouldn't only if the guitar had collector's value. Most Guilds are immune to the collector market, the D 25 is a prime example.

Sad, ain't it?

 

[fronobulax]

Sad, ain't it?

Depends whether you are buying or selling

 

[SJS]

Depends whether you are buying or selling

Well now that's a truism. The market is incessantly weird when it comes to guitars of all types. Just nice that you can get an acoustic guitar that sounds as good and usually better than any other one for a third of what you pay for a Martin.

 

[West R Lee]

Here you go Bill. The day my new Collings arrived. It needed a bit of reaming. Don't freak out.




West

 

[Bill C]

Well, I drilled. Put a Journeytek pickup in. I've really been enjoying it. Took some time to get everything dialed in to my liking between my amp, the venue, and my PA, but I found my sweet spot and I'm having a lot of fun with it. Wanted to thank everyone for all the input.

 

[Ross]

West - love the reflection of the towel on the guitar body! It took me a minute or two to figure out what I was seeing.

 

[Br1ck]

The market only reflects what people know. I can't remember just how few Guilds have come through Gryphon (that I've seen) in the last few decades. Certainly fewer than ten. They do show up on eBay auctions that they run. If they need any work at all off to eBay they go. 80s or 90s? Off to eBay. Not economically worth a hanger in the store, especially now Fender demands so much space. It is what it is. 25 years ago my 70 D 35 was on a hanger with an as is tag for $250. Today it would be on eBay. 12 strings and D 55s are worthy but few and far between. People just don't get to see and play them. Hopefully, Yamaha will change that. Who is going to take a chance on a D 40 over a D 18 when you can't play them? This works for those wishing to buy them, against those selling them.

I saw an add for a Santa Cruz Firefly recently for $4500. New they are $7k+. Probably the finest small guitar this side of a thirties Martin. How many have played one? Gryphon usually has one which is why I've played a few. Who will take a $4500 chance? Those few who have played one. Guild has no comfort factor.