A possible D35 Trad-athon

[krauser2]

ok so some of you know by now I've picked up a 1977 D35, it sounds awesome, in ok condition, needs a little work, and even then still is a beasty guitar I cant put down....the case works, but its kinda blah

today I get an email from a guy with a near mint 1980 D35 with a nice case and he wants to trade straight up for my guitar even with the flaws

he said his brother had a 1977 D35 and I think there might be some sentimental value behind this guy asking to trade. I told him all the flaws the last seller forgot to mention, so lets see what happens

Its only a 3 year difference in age, what do you guys think? does it sound like a good trade?

 

[cjd-player]

a beasty guitar I cant put down....

You obviously like the one you have.
I would not trade without the opportunity to play the 1980 first.

It might sound different, and you might not like the sound as well as your 1977.

 

[krauser2]

I know this is what I'm thinking

I'm wondering how different 3 years would be Guild wise, like was there a difference from a 77 to 80?

how consistent are they, if they are then it shouldnt be an issue and it would save me some cash in long run with the things I need done

well see

 

[Carol]

I will say I love my 1980 D35... but if you'll notice, nobody talks about the 1980s much... I'm not sure if there is much difference between the 1978-1979 versions, but it seems the 1980 version isn't as cherished by collectors. Of course, I wouldn't mine for anything!

 

[GardMan]

There was a substantial difference between my '72 D-35 and my wife's (now sold to pay for my D-46) '78 D-35. That's a larger span of time, tho', and there clearly were differences in construction between the two (the '72 is much lighter construction). I think I'd want to hear the '80, first.

Do you know the guy with the '80? How did he contact you? If he just got your contact info from eBay, I might be a bit concerned... and certainly wouldn't send him my D-35 until the other arrived. If the two of you are willing to spend the shipping charges (and he is willing to trust you), have him send his '80 (he pays shipping) to you for approval. Side-by-side the two. Then, you either return his '80 or send him your '77 (you pay shipping). Lotta trust involved... but it could work.
Dave

 

[krauser2]

yeah he just found me, he must of been watching the 77 and I got there first

thats what I'm thinking, he send me his guitar first and I'll give it the once over and if everything works out just ship mine to him

Really if the sound is the same its all good, something is very special about the year 77 to him

from 77-80 there were no changes in ownership, so I'm not sure 80's were a hard time for acoustics, but it is a 1980, I'm waiting to hear back from him

 

[JerryR]

Yes - tread carefully :mrgreen:

 

[krauser2]

he wrote me back

he is taking pictures, he using a straight edge to show me some of the more important things on the guitar

also he says he's taking pics today

so well see.... years dont mean a thing to me, either way its older than me by quite a bit

 

[JerryR]

Gee Krauser - I was 31 back in 1980 and I'm one of the youngsters here :shock:

 

[krauser2]

I'm into my senior year of college coming up this fall

I'll be 21 in august

if you are one of the youngsters, that make me like an infant of sorts.... I'll drink to that...er um in a few weeks that is

I played my 77 D 35 and I must say it is an amazing guitar, its beat to hell, but it plays like butter....its taken me a while to get over guitar looks and focus on the most important thing......sound

I'm looking forward to seeing pics of his 1980 D-35 if it sounds the same then deal, but for insurance reasons I'll make him send me his first. I'm an honest guy and hold my end of the bargain up 100 percent, it would be a win win

he would have the specific year Guild he wants and I would have the same guitar and wouldnt have to get work done, still I wonder why he cant be happy with one 3 years younger???

time will tell, either way i'll have a great guild in end

 

[dayuhan]

I'm into my senior year of college coming up this fall

I'll be 21 in august

if you are one of the youngsters, that make me like an infant of sorts.... I'll drink to that...er um in a few weeks that is

I played my 77 D 35 and I must say it is an amazing guitar, its beat to hell, but it plays like butter....its taken me a while to get over guitar looks and focus on the most important thing......sound

I'm looking forward to seeing pics of his 1980 D-35 if it sounds the same then deal, but for insurance reasons I'll make him send me his first. I'm an honest guy and hold my end of the bargain up 100 percent, it would be a win win

he would have the specific year Guild he wants and I would have the same guitar and wouldnt have to get work done, still I wonder why he cant be happy with one 3 years younger???

time will tell, either way i'll have a great guild in end

This is either the wisdom of the ancients or just another one of the old guys babbling, take your pick... but if I had a guitar I really liked, I'd be inclined to keep it.

The differences between instruments aren't just about the year of manufacture, it's not a bottle of wine. Even within the same year there can be a lot of variation. Some of this is there from the start, some is a function of how the instrument is handled. If you have two identical guitars, and one sits in a closet for 20 years and the other gets played for 20 years, the closet guitar will look a lot better, but the guitar that's been played is likely to sound better. The process of "opening up" isn't just about chronological age, it's about the response of wood to being played... or so I understand it, in a very limited way.

There's also just an element of mystery to it... you can pick up 3 or 4 guitars and play them, and one of them just jumps into your arms and you know it's yours. It may not be the one that looks best, in may not be the one that's "best" one in terms of consumer reviews or arbitrary value, but it's the one for you. If the one you've got is doing that for you, I say keep it and fix it up and love it and enjoy it.

 

[krauser2]

the more and more I think about it

I'm thinking of keeping it, yeah its a bit of money to get the work done, nothing short of typical for a guitar that age and played

hmm....I cant imagine another mahogany guitar sounding better to my ears either anywhere in the 2 grand range

just something about the tone of my 77 d35....its light too, but not modified, it weighs just under 5lbs on a scale, still heavier than some acoustics, but very loud, resonant and articulate

i'll still see if he even sends the pics, and what his idea would be to send these things off, at one point during this transaction I'd have to have both guitars A-B'd PERIOD

 

[Mingus]

I've got a '76 that needs a bit of work that I wouldn't trade for the world. I bought it from bdeclee here on the board and it sounds killer. Downside is that it needs a partial refret. Not something I can really afford to do right now, so it'll just get played with a little more relief in the neck than I like for the time being.

GREAT guitar, though. Definitely a different flavor than either of my D-25s!

-James