Sold 1980' D40 w/ new frets and saddle - $1200 plus shipping/fees

[Muckman]

I am sure this time!

I had this for sale last month and hesitated. I got her out to get some more pictures, played a couple tunes and thought...why am I selling this?....then my wife said "I don't understand why you don't just keep that guitar". Since that time, I have purchased an old Guild Jumbo that I'm shipping to Tom Jacobs for a neck reset. Now my wife's opinion on selling a guitar has changed LOL.

This guitar has the typical nicks and scratches you would expect from a guitar of this age, that has been played. Also, it has been well taken care of and is in great condition for a 42 year old guitar. Nice fat neck on this guitar. The frets and saddle were just done at Dmara Guitars here in Cincinnati, the action is nice and low, plays very well. No cracks or big dings that I can find. It has an under saddle pickup, it was there when I bought it...I'm not sure what kind it is, though it does work and sounded pretty good when I tried it. It comes with the non-original case in the pictures. All questions/concerns welcome, I'm sure I'm forgetting something LOL

 

[PreacherBob]

I can’t believe nobody’s responded yet, all of my Guilds are mahogany except one maple JF30. I have a 2008 D40 BJ, the rest are vintage. I’d love to have your 80’. Leave it on a while. I’ve got my right arm listed on CL now

 

[Neal]

If I did not already own a '70's D-35 (essentially the same guitar with less bling), I would be all over this one. The top is just gorgeous.

 

[Muckman]

If I did not already own a '70's D-35 (essentially the same guitar with less bling), I would be all over this one. The top is just gorgeous.

Thanks, Neal. This was the first Guild I bought, now I'm up to 6 less than a year later . I'll only sell her to an LGTer, if I hadn't come across the F50 I just bought (needs probably $900-1000 work, including neck reset) I would not be selling it. She doesn't get played as much lately, I have 6 dreads right now, 2 D40's and the other is older, near mint and I have too much in it to justify selling it. I don't like the idea of selling any of my Guilds, but I've bought three since the beginning of March....a bit out of control with my GAS

 

[PreacherBob]

If I did not already own a '70's D-35 (essentially the same guitar with less bling), I would be all over this one. The top is just gorgeous.

Yes Muckman’s D40 is in exceptional condition for an ‘80, I’ve seen several not so much. That tops wide open I would expect As well. I have a 1974 D35 as well as a 2008 D40 BJ Adirondack top That I purchased as NOS, it still continuing to open up. So all D40s vs the D35 does have a slight different build, but it is significant in projection and attack. The D40 has a 1/8” deeper body, and a longer scale at 25 5/8” than the D35 at 25 1/2”.
I know it doesn’t seem significant but it really is. The D40 has a little more bottom end, and a little more projection than the D35. My D40 is a beast with mediums on it, though I use lights on the D35 for the better tone of the trebles Which is what I’m after on that one, I think the D35 has a brighter treble tone with the shorter scale, the strings are not quite as tight with tension to reach the same pitch. Tighter string tension generally results in less brightness which is a drawback with medium strings. So the D35 is better finger style player if I’m looking for really bright trebles, IMO. I think the D40 build was more suited for bluegrass players or heavier strumming for that reason. That said, why I chose Guild for my medium stringed guitars is I think the D40 has the brightest trebles for any mahogany dreadnought including the Martin D18. And a D40 with an aged, played through stiffer top like Muckman’s will have very bright trebles for a D40. I’d be very interested in playing it.
So I use both guitars on stage, taking advantage of that combination.

 

[Muckman]

Yes Muckman’s D40 is in exceptional condition for an ‘80, I’ve seen several not so much. That tops wide open I would expect As well. I have a 1974 D35 as well as a 2008 D40 BJ Adirondack top That I purchased as NOS, it still continuing to open up. So all D40s vs the D35 does have a slight different build, but it is significant in projection and attack. The D40 has a 1/8” deeper body, and a longer scale at 25 5/8” than the D35 at 25 1/2”.
I know it doesn’t seem significant but it really is. The D40 has a little more bottom end, and a little more projection than the D35. My D40 is a beast with mediums on it, though I use lights on the D35 for the better tone of the trebles Which is what I’m after on that one, I think the D35 has a brighter treble tone with the shorter scale, the strings are not quite as tight with tension to reach the same pitch. Tighter string tension generally results in less brightness which is a drawback with medium strings. So the D35 is better finger style player if I’m looking for really bright trebles, IMO. I think the D40 build was more suited for bluegrass players or heavier strumming for that reason. That said, why I chose Guild for my medium stringed guitars is I think the D40 has the brightest trebles for any mahogany dreadnought including the Martin D18. And a D40 with an aged, played through stiffer top like Muckman’s will have very bright trebles for a D40. I’d be very interested in playing it.
So I use both guitars on stage, taking advantage of that combination.

It’s definitely brighter than my D18, preacher. Sweeter and more balanced, my D18 is only a few years old and hasn’t seen a lot of play yet…..this D40 is louder to my ear, but I know where the magic is on her too, I played this D40 constantly the first 5-6 months I owned it. I got my other D40 back from Tom after a neck reset in February, been rotating that and my Martin lately. This D40 sits between the two tone wise, I’d say…..

 

[Rickenmaxer]

Oh my...that's a wonderful looking guitar, and I can only imagine how well it plays with that set up. So tempting.

 

[Muckman]

Looking for an interesting trade....expand my selection of Guilds. Hollowbody, solidbody electric......smaller body acoustic.

 

[PreacherBob]

And……everyone is running to their collection of Guilds now..

 

[D30Man]

Yeah that one so nice looking Muck. I don't have anything in my small stable I would want to trade or would match value wise save for the F-55 which isn't going anywhere. That is a solid price for a really nice vintage D-40. I hope someone here snaps it up! Good luck!

 

[Muckman]

Yeah that one so nice looking Muck. I don't have anything in my small stable I would want to trade or would match value wise save for the F-55 which isn't going anywhere. That is a solid price for a really nice vintage D-40. I hope someone here snaps it up! Good luck!

Thanks Dman. Oooh an F55….. My F50 is with Fixit right now, can’t wait to get her back.

It won’t break my heart to keep this D40. It was the guitar that got me hooked on Guilds to begin with. If an LTGer doesn’t snag her up, I’ll just hang on to her. I sold an amp and electric to help recoup from my last run of unplanned guild acquisitions lol

 

[D30Man]

Sounds like me. Selling other gear to add an unplanned Guild!

 

[edinga]

I am sure this time!

I had this for sale last month and hesitated. I got her out to get some more pictures, played a couple tunes and thought...why am I selling this?....then my wife said "I don't understand why you don't just keep that guitar". Since that time, I have purchased an old Guild Jumbo that I'm shipping to Tom Jacobs for a neck reset. Now my wife's opinion on selling a guitar has changed LOL.

This guitar has the typical nicks and scratches you would expect from a guitar of this age, that has been played. Also, it has been well taken care of and is in great condition for a 42 year old guitar. Nice fat neck on this guitar. The frets and saddle were just done at Dmara Guitars here in Cincinnati, the action is nice and low, plays very well. No cracks or big dings that I can find. It has an under saddle pickup, it was there when I bought it...I'm not sure what kind it is, though it does work and sounded pretty good when I tried it. It comes with the non-original case in the pictures. All questions/concerns welcome, I'm sure I'm forgetting something LOL

Looks good muckman! I'm interested, how can we make it happen? Ed

 

[Muckman]

Looks good muckman! I'm interested, how can we make it happen? Ed

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