A Terrible Admission....

[InvisibleWren]

I've fallen out of love with my Westerly Guild.

At the beginning of the year, I sold several of my non-Guilds in order to purchase a used 80s Taylor dread I found for a steal locally. It's a fantastic guitar. Sounds just like a classic d18. Pretty perfect for me.

Now, I've always though there was a little something boxy or honky in the upper mids of my '76 Guild dread, but I'd been pretty happy with it tonally, thinking it almost matched up with much more expensive guitars and was really pretty sounding for the most part. But now it just sounds boxy to my ears. I hate it! I feel unloyal, cuz I always considered myself a Guild guy. I've even considered selling it... Help me out. How do I fall in love with it again? Or have you been in a similar pickle?

 

[fronobulax]

New strings. Invest at least 60 minutes on LTG asking about strings for your model. Maybe tell people the current strings sound boxy (understanding that it might be worth having a separate thread just to define "boxy" in terms of sound - does it mean that all strings respond with the same volume or does it mean that the highs, mids and lows just sort of fade into each other or ???). Invest 30 minutes picking a string recommendation and finding the best price you can. Buy them and put them on. Take time to clean or oil the fingerboard. Maybe give the rest of the guitar a good rubdown. Restring it and coil or trim the ends as you prefer. Play it. You will have invested so much time in it that your ears and brain are going to want to tell you that you got something for that time. If it sounds better then you win. If it is still not what you are listening for, it may be time to admit your tastes have changed and pass that Guild on to someone else.

 

[dreadnut]

What model '76 Guild?

 

[davismanLV]

And maybe take it to a qualified luthier and have the guitar setup. A complete setup should mitigate a change in tone from one range to another. If then you still aren't happy even with new strings and a setup, there's no shame in moving on. Don't let anyone guilt you into keeping a guitar you're not happy with. Keep in mind that more people have regrets over sales than they do over purchases. Maybe the old girl just needs a little love. And don't let anyone Taylor-bash you either. They make some mighty fine guitars!!

 

[Guildedagain]

One night, all my guitars sounded like shit. Next day they were fine. Mood has a lot to do with it. I think the reason we always fall in love with a new guitar, or another guitar is because the frequencies that make us feel better vary from instrument to instrument, and maybe we need others to complement the ones we're getting. Think of guitar sounds as B vitamins, you need quite few of the B Vitamins through B12 to feel good, plus Folic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, and more.

Besides that, at least new if now different strings, but if you still don't like the tone, peddle it. It will not bring out the best in your playing if you are not inspired by what you hear.

I find that sprucing up a guitar for a sale does make you fall in love with it all over again, but the effect is only lasting. After a cooling off period, you can entertain the thought of parting with it again.

And sometimes guitars that are for sale can just jump out at you all the sudden, and you're thinking "I can't sell this thing" and you walk over to the computer and kill the ad. I've had that discovery happen so strongly before that I had to rush to the computer to end the ad. And I still have those guitars.

 

[Br1ck]

To me the early Taylors are fine guitars. I once played #6, a fairly rough dread that I thought would sell because of the neck shape. As stated above, anytime I have the thought of selling a guitar, I change strings. So far that has worked. I have played late 70s Guilds that I didn't care for. It isn't a crime to have a guitar fall out of favor.

I rotate between three guitars, my Guild D 35, my 65 Epiphone Texan, and my 07 Martin D 35 custom. I can play each exclusively for weeks, then it's time for a change. Every so often the Martin 00 15 12 fret comes out to play. I can and do play the Guild as much as the others. It really is my beater. First world problem.

Perhaps it's time for a D 55.

 

[Nuuska]

One night, all my guitars sounded like shit.

Your writing was perfectly on point - but as I started to read - plus I'm married to someone who went through nurse schooling - so I happen to be exposed to some "stuff" - I have to ask you - on this scale - can you please specify?

 

[bobouz]

Too much information!

 

[davismanLV]

Too much information!

I'll say...... jeeze!!! I just had lunch......

 

[InvisibleWren]

@dreadnut It's a '76 D35.

I've tried lots of new strings. I've used Martin 80/20, PB, Monel... DR Rare and Sunbeams... Daddario 80/20, NB, and PB... all in several different gauges. Tried Ebony bridge pins, bone pins. I think maybe what I like in a guitar has changed in the five years I've owned it. I gigged it hard for a long time and was super happy with it. It's sentimental, but taking up space and I'm not playing it anymore.

 

[fronobulax]

@dreadnut It's a '76 D35.

I've tried lots of new strings. I've used Martin 80/20, PB, Monel... DR Rare and Sunbeams... Daddario 80/20, NB, and PB... all in several different gauges. Tried Ebony bridge pins, bone pins. I think maybe what I like in a guitar has changed in the five years I've owned it. I gigged it hard for a long time and was super happy with it. It's sentimental, but taking up space and I'm not playing it anymore.

To be serious then maybe you have fallen out of love and the best thing for both of you is to move on.

Yeah, this is Let's Talk Guild but most people here can live with the possibility that for some times, places and people, a Guild is not the only, or best solution. We'll forgive you and make sure you are aware that there are more Guilds out there in case you being in love with a guitar is like serial monogamy.

Of course you can still expand on "boxy" as a description of sound ;-)

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Of course you can still expand on "boxy" as a description of sound ;-)

I think that might be Type3!

 

[GardMan]

...just means it's time to try a different Guild. Maybe a different model, maybe just a different year. I can tell you that my '72 D-35 sounded way different than my '78 D-35. The '72 is/was much warmer, but still has that mahogany sparkle. Maybe an arched back D-25, or something in maple (G-37 or D-44M come to mind), or a rosewood D-50. Just because you have fallen out of love with one Guild, doesn't mean you have to give up entirely!

Enjoy the hunt!

 

[chazmo]

Enjoy the hunt.

 

[walrus]

Oh wait, wrong thread. Or is it?

walrus

 

[Rebosbro]

I have a 76 D-50. I also had an 81 Martin D16A. It had ash back and sides. Beautiful and very rare. Sounded great, but i always went for the Guild. The Matin turned into a 74 Bluesbird. Have never regretted it.
It might just be time to move on, just be sure you are committed.
Paul

 

[Default]

Needs beer?

I always sound better after a six-pack or two.

 

[Cougar]

...just means it's time to try a different Guild....

That's what I was thinking. And not just another Guild -- a JUMBO Guild! Put some fright in that Taylor.

 

[davismanLV]

I love my two Guilds and Guild guitars are my favorite, but they're not always producing the type of guitars I want and other people are. That's how I ended up with my Taylor. I wanted small, concert sized and short scale, oh, and rosewood. Well, I found my Taylor GC-8. Got a terrific price at GC and took it home!! Great decision. Then when I saw the Breedlove Oregon Concert Rogue (sitka/myrtlewood) in blue.... I knew I had to have it. Lucky for me, it turned out to be one of my BEST guitars!! Then I bought my Breedlove myrtlewood Concerto E!! BEAUTIFUL guitar. Sounded great. Wonderful guitar, and i just hardly ever played it and finally realized it just wasn't for me. The guy who bought it thinks it's the best guitar in the world!! If you're somewhere that you can, go out and play some different guitars and see what floats your boat and what's making you sit up and listen right now. Go see and listen. Choose, and enjoy......

p.s. - and if you find another brand of guitar and buy it, tell us about it. I like guitars, period.

 

[Antney]

Your writing was perfectly on point - but as I started to read - plus I'm married to someone who went through nurse schooling - so I happen to be exposed to some "stuff" - I have to ask you - on this sclae - can you please specify?

Nominated for Post of the Year.