1972 D-25 with Spruce Top

[JonB]

I just purchased a 1972 D25 which at some point, a long time ago, seems to have had the mahogany top replaced with a spruce top…as well as a cracked headstock repair. There is some splitting issues on the back of the guitar, it’s a flat back…
Does anyone know if this was a typical repair to do, ? By the Guild factory, or people in general?
The guitar plays fantastic, but I’m just trying to figure out what the background is for this guitar, I literally got it just this past week…
Thank anyone for what kind of information they’re willing to help with…
The guitar plays exceptionally well, I’m just a little extra cautious with it for the time being cuz I don’t want to damage it

 

[JonB]

I just purchased a 1972 D25 which at some point, a long time ago, seems to have had the mahogany top replaced with a spruce top…as well as a cracked headstock repair. There is some splitting issues on the back of the guitar, it’s a flat back…
Does anyone know if this was a typical repair to do, ? By the Guild factory, or people in general?
The guitar plays fantastic, but I’m just trying to figure out what the background is for this guitar, I literally got it just this past week…
Thank anyone for what kind of information they’re willing to help with…
The guitar plays exceptionally well, I’m just a little extra cautious with it for the time being cuz I don’t want to damage it

 

[davismanLV]

Wow. That guitar has had someone get really creative with it. Do you have a photo of the label just so we can collect some info? The pickguard has been modified and also the rosette heavily modified. I'd be curious to see the back and the label. Thanks for the headstock photo. This guitar has been through some stuff in it's time....

 

[JonB]

Wow. That guitar has had someone get really creative with it. Do you have a photo of the label just so we can collect some info? The pickguard has been modified and also the rosette heavily modified. I'd be curious to see the back and the label. Thanks for the headstock photo. This guitar has been through some stuff in it's time....

 

[JonB]

Here are the pics

 

[JonB]

I’m still trying to get familiar with this format, I hope I submitted this correctly

 

[davismanLV]

Headstock matches the label, so that's good. There are so many people here who will know more than I do. Best to let them chime in so I don't look like a fool (again) but if it's a '72 that would be a Westerly, RI made guitar. Those labels without a location (just USA) were transitional, but I'm thinking by 1972 it would say Westerly, far after they movew from Hoboken, NJ. Let's see how wrong I've got it.... LOL!!

 

[JonB]

Wow. That guitar has had someone get really creative with it. Do you have a photo of the label just so we can collect some info? The pickguard has been modified and also the rosette heavily modified. I'd be curious to see the back and the label. Thanks for the headstock photo. This guitar has been through some stuff in its time.

Wow. That guitar has had someone get really creative with it. Do you have a photo of the label just so we can collect some info? The pickguard has been modified and also the rosette heavily modified. I'd be curious to see the back and the label. Thanks for the headstock photo. This guitar has been through some stuff in it's time....

Headstock matches the label, so that's good. There are so many people here who will know more than I do. Best to let them chime in so I don't look like a fool (again) but if it's a '72 that would be a Westerly, RI made guitar. Those labels without a location (just USA) were transitional, but I'm thinking by 1972 it would say Westerly, far after they movew from Hoboken, NJ. Let's see how wrong I've got it.... LOL!!

No, everything I think u said was pretty accurate as far as online available information regarding the dates, …I thought I’d also read somewhere that they kept the Hoboken location for repairs…but I could have misread, misunderstood whatever I was reading…I saw another similar guitar on this site with the dates on the label too, I think literally dated within 8 days of each other …but I generally don’t see then dated as much as not…is my English coherent…? I guess what I was trying to say was thank you

 

[JonB]

Headstock matches the label, so that's good. There are so many people here who will know more than I do. Best to let them chime in so I don't look like a fool (again) but if it's a '72 that would be a Westerly, RI made guitar. Those labels without a location (just USA) were transitional, but I'm thinking by 1972 it would say Westerly, far after they movew from Hoboken, NJ. Let's see how wrong I've got it.... LOL!!

I had been following and watching the guitar being advertised on Reverb and Marketplace…the price kept dropping to the point I could not say no…so I jumped on it

 

[chazmo]

Hi, Jon,

Welcome to LTG.

I'm pretty sure that this guitar was not re-topped by Guild. Perhaps if you put a mirror on the inside, you may find information about the top possibly scribbled by whoever did the work. The fretboard end was cut like a V which is an interesting feature, but I have no idea why it was done that way.

Anyway, I wouldn't concern myself with originality in this case, Jon. Just play it and enjoy it.

 

[mavuser]

I would have the cracks, or "splitting" as you call it, on the back of the guitar, cleated by a professional luthier. does not need to be done at a Guild factory. enjoy that bird!

 

[JonB]

Hi, Jon,

Welcome to LTG.

I'm pretty sure that this guitar was not re-topped by Guild. Perhaps if you put a mirror on the inside, you may find information about the top possibly scribbled by whoever did the work. The fretboard end was cut like a V which is an interesting feature, but I have no idea why it was done that way.

Anyway, I wouldn't concern myself with originality in this case, Jon. Just play it and enjoy it.

Hi, Jon,

Welcome to LTG.

I'm pretty sure that this guitar was not re-topped by Guild. Perhaps if you put a mirror on the inside, you may find information about the top possibly scribbled by whoever did the work. The fretboard end was cut like a V which is an interesting feature, but I have no idea why it was done that way.

Anyway, I wouldn't concern myself with originality in this case, Jon. Just play it and enjoy it.

Not sure if it’s some kind of shim or not…

 

[SFIV1967]

Hi Jon,

welcome to LTG! That top is definitely not a Guild top, so she was re-topped outside Guild by another luthier. As long as she sounds good, that is all that counts!

Ralf