1974 D40 Special

[auldmick]

Hi. I have a 1974 Guild D40. The label iside the body identifies it as a "D40 Special". My understanding is that the designation "Special" was given to guitars with built-in pickups. My guitar does not have, and never has had, a built in pickup. Is there some other meaning of "Special"? I mean, it's a special guitar to me...

 

[donnylang]

I think pictures might help. My understanding is “Special” meant something different than standard.

 

[auldmick]

 

[auldmick]

 

[hansmoust]

Hi. I have a 1974 Guild D40. The label iside the body identifies it as a "D40 Special". My understanding is that the designation "Special" was given to guitars with built-in pickups. My guitar does not have, and never has had, a built in pickup. Is there some other meaning of "Special"? I mean, it's a special guitar to me...

Hello auldmick,

Welcome! Without being able to look at the back of the headstock, I would suspect the 'Special' designation was given for the Schaller M-6 machineheads, which were not standard on the D-40 at that time.

Show us a photo of the back of the headstock and we will know more!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[auldmick]

 

[auldmick]

Just got this guitar back from Elderly Instruments, where they reset the neck, repaired several cracks (some of which were caused by the pick guard shrinking), replaced the pick guard, refretted, and replaced the nut and saddle. They also refinished the back of the neck, where the finish had worn off, making the neck itregular and “sticky”, and unpleasant to play. They did a fine job.

 

[valleyguy]

Bet it sounds nice.

 

[auldmick]

Sounds amazing, and it’s a pleasure to play once again.

 

[dreadnut]

Congrats. Lots of nice mojo!

You may remember I sold 27 of my dearly departed friend's lefty guitars, several were Guilds, but his wife kept "The Moneymaker," his main gigging guitar, an old lefty D40, not sire of the year. This is the only one she wanted to keep. Says she wants to be buried with it.

 

[hansmoust]

Yup! 'Special' designation for the Schaller M-6 machineheads!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[auldmick]

Fantastic - thanks so much to the brain trust here. I didn't think I'd ever know what the Special designation was for, but Hans figured it out in no time! I bought this guitar used in 1982, and I've been wondering ever since. Nice to have that mystery cleared up.

 

[valleyguy]

Says she wants to be buried with it.

Ouch, what a waste. Must be how grave robbers came to be.

 

[D30Man]

Just got this guitar back from Elderly Instruments, where they reset the neck, repaired several cracks (some of which were caused by the pick guard shrinking), replaced the pick guard, refretted, and replaced the nut and saddle. They also refinished the back of the neck, where the finish had worn off, making the neck itregular and “sticky”, and unpleasant to play. They did a fine job.

Man that thing ought to be like new! Nice! So awesome to breath new life into an instrument you love. That is lovely mahogany on the back! And welcome to LTG! As you see knowledge is in abundance here.