Right around this time last year I signed up here as I was strongly considering a new (as in hot off the assembly line) D40E.
Link to my original post:
http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/showthread.php?197875-Noob-sorely-tempted-by-D40E
Due to circumstances, I ended up buying a D40 traditional instead of the "standard" D40E. More than I wanted to spend for sure, but I'm glad I did it!
I'm far from an expert on guitars, especially acoustic. I'm a mediocre player on a good day. I was very nervous to buy one "sight - unseen" but had a dealer local to me order one. I wanted it for a Christmas present to myself, but ended up getting it a little late. The guitar was beautiful... I mean that very literally. However, in the long run, after trying it, the action was too low with some fretting out and consequences for the tone. I took it to a luthier who ended up replacing the bridge and installing an LR Baggs M80 soundhole pick up.
I now suspect my local dealer took steps to lower the action after they received the guiater from Guild based on thinking I wanted it super-low. I'm not sure about that, but my philosophy at the time was "if" they made it wrong... take it elsewhere to get it made right. I'm happy with that call.
To make a long story short (too late!!!) I absolutely love the guitar. The action is now "perfect" in my opinion. I play rhythm guitar in a traditional country band and we gig a couple of times a month. The Guild is the only guitar I use. It's well up to the task. No issues. I wonder how well the lacquer finish will hold up and whether the poly finish on the standard D40 would hold up better, but OTOH... each blemish is a badge of honor and I'll be happy with a road-worn warhorse in 10 years.