American Made vs. foreign made Guilds

[HeyMikey]

A few years ago I tried a GAD30 and 30R being sold on my local CL. They are going cheap but sounded very good and played easily. I should have bought them and now really regret that I didn’t, but a US model that I was looking for became available at the same time.

 

[tonepoet]

Did they make an A/E D-4? I didn't think so

Yes, it was called a D4-E. I bought a new Westerly one in 1995, thinking it was acoustic. I was looking into the inside with an inspection mirror to examine the construction and saw a black wire running from the bridge to the end strap button. An under-saddle pickup. No controls. Plug and play with the strap button/jack. I then noticed that the label said D4-E not D4.

 

[SFIV1967]

Did they make an A/E D-4?

Yes, it was called a D4-E.

Jan 15, 1994 pricelist shows the "D-4E with transducer", same for the D-6.



Ralf

 

[Prince of Darkness]

Because the MIC Guild will have at least a passable factory installed pickup system, and the D4, if it has electronics, will likely be from the period in which it was built.

Assuming that's important to you.

Although all the archback models have pickups, very few of the flatbacks have a factory installed pickup

 

[Rocky]

Although all the archback models have pickups, very few of the flatbacks have a factory installed pickup

That may be true - don't know enough about the history, but it's most likely if an aftermarket pickup was installed, that it would be within a few years of purchase, and not 20-30 years afterwards.