Calling All Enablers😊

[grmps]

I would like to keep both,, but i have too many guitars and not enough house. I can’t really justify having two of the same model

That sounds like sissy talk! I have 2 models of the S4CE and 2 Songbirds (essentially the same model as the S4) and that took no effort on my part at all... at all. So, I think you'll find that if you put maybe a small bit of effort in on your part, you'll see that you can easily justify having the same model. The fact that they are different colors is kinda already in the realm of solid justification.

 

[Flipperz]

1980-1994 is a cool era for Guild. leftover late 70's>Gruhn-Walker>pre-Fender. On that D-25, the snake shaped headstock, with black overlay, gold peaked roof/underlined logo, sound hole rosette, and 1987 date stamp on the back of the headstock, place it square into that period. I like that the top is not stained (NT), it makes the headstock and rosette pop more and looks more like an early JF/GF acoustic, or even an F-50-R NT or D-55 NT from that era *I think* would have same rosette, or very similar (95 and later on those would abalone rosette). These guitars are a little heavy but that's what make them so magical, somehow. Guns n Roses, Tesla, Clapton, and many others played/still play Guild acoustics from that period. Anyway I can understand not keeping both when u could have something else a little different at least. I would hang onto the 77 for sure. if u sell the 87, someone is getting a super nice D-25, from a very specific (Gruhn-Walker) era at Westerly. D-25's are not so hard to find, but most Guild acoustics from 1987 are not D-25's, and would cost double-triple what you probably paid, or even more. Things were pretty high-end at Westerly in 1987, for whatever that is worth.

Thanks Mavuser, I had not read about this Gruhn -Walker era previously. So then, not so many d 25s were produced during this time at Westerly for some reason?

 

[mavuser]

Thanks Mavuser, I had not read about this Gruhn -Walker era previously. So then, not so many d 25s were produced during this time at Westerly for some reason?

that depends on your definition of "not many."
they are certainly out there. I guess my point was more that Guild went thru some changes after 1979. The D-25 with arch back and spruce top had been produced in very high numbers from 1974-1979. By 1987 Guild was involved in many new designs, both acoustic and electric. Your 1987 D-25 is not so impossible to find, but it is still a Gruhn-Walker Guild, and it would be easier to find a D-25 that is from a different era. Also the finish checking on yours shows it is definitely nitrocelluose laquer. at some point in the 80s (maybe in the 70s) Guild began using polyurethane on some guitars. not sure if poly made it onto any D-25s...but not on yours!

 

[Flipperz]

that depends on your definition of "not many."
they are certainly out there. I guess my point was more that Guild went thru some changes after 1979. The D-25 with arch back and spruce top had been produced in very high numbers from 1974-1979. By 1987 Guild was involved in many new designs, both acoustic and electric. Your 1987 D-25 is not so impossible to find, but it is still a Gruhn-Walker Guild, and it would be easier to find a D-25 that is from a different era. Also the finish checking on yours shows it is definitely nitrocelluose laquer. at some point in the 80s (maybe in the 70s) Guild began using polyurethane on some guitars. not sure if poly made it onto any D-25s...but not on yours!

Ah, ok, I see, thanks.

 

[valleyguy]

Are they both arch-back?

 

[Flipperz]

Yes, both arch back

 

[valleyguy]

Since both are arch back, I'll be interested to get your impression of the difference bin sound between the two.

 

[Flipperz]

I’ll be home tomorrow and will restring her Friday. Weren’t all d25s arch backs after like 74? Anybody have any thoughts about the Gruhn Walker era specific to the d25s? As I mentioned my 77 d25 is noticeably lighter than the 88, just curious if that Gruhn /Walker era impacted the whole Guild line up or primarily just certain models. Thanks again to all!

 

[Flipperz]

Just cleaned her up with new strings, the 87 does have a brighter tone, maybe even more volume than the 77. Maybe like the appearance of the 87 a little more, cooler head stock and Grovers as opposed to the strip tuners. But really not much difference in the sound and I did use same didario lights on both. The strings on the 77 are pretty fresh as well. I may just keep them both. Thanks for all the input.
BTW. Can anyone give any input on the Gruhn/Walker era D25s? Did this era impact the whole Guild line up or perhaps did not impact the D25s? Thanks again!

 

[mavuser]

not really sure what your question is, but either way, the short answer is, if you acquire more Gruhn/Walker era Guilds, such as late 80's Nightbird/F-44/GF-60-R/JF-50-R and/or a long, long list of others, it will have a positive "impact" on your 1987 D-25

 

[Flipperz]

I’m wondering if the Gruhn/ Walker era impacted all the Guild models up and down the product line or only the upper end models?

 

[richardp69]

Flipperz,
Buying a second example of a particular model of guitar because it is a different colour than the one one already owns is to my mind,
(and I'll be as diplomatic as I can be in my choice of words) a rather odd concept I only expect to encounter over at the Gibson site, where they all try to amass the never-to-be completed set of supposedly different versions of the j-45 on a regular basis.
I never expected to find it here as well.
Stay home. Don't waste time or gas.
Save your money for a truly different model of guitar, if you really must have another one.
You're welcome.
RBSinTo

Well, I consider myself to fairly even tempered and quite sane but different colors on the same model is not in my opinion a no no. I've done it many times myself and I'm sure will again. Not sure that's a particular trait of a Gibson owner /lover although I admit to being that as well.

 

[mavuser]

I’m wondering if the Gruhn/ Walker era impacted all the Guild models up and down the product line or only the upper end models?

basically all of them got the new snake head head stocks. 1987 was probably the first year D-25's had that headstock shape. maybe 86. there may have been other differences in internal construction (for all models) than previous, resulting in heavier builds. rosettes, bindings, and purflings could be specific to that era on your D-25, u could look very very closely and compare those features to the 1977. the biggest impact of the GW era on Guild was the introduction of new models, and renaming of old ones. the D-25 would not qualify for either of those categories- but that is kinda the cool thing about it that i was was eluding to intitally, that for a D-25, it is cool to have an 87...some things are just cool in their own way.

 

[HeyMikey]

I recall reading that Gruhn-Walker looked to slightly reduce weight and tweak bracing (scallop, shift, etc) during their period at Guild. I think they also upped the quality of some of the wood and added additional bling like the diamond fret markers here and there. So all else appearing equal perhaps on your D25 you can compare weight, look inside at the brace construction and positioning, and compare wood quality.

 

[Flipperz]

The 87 is noticeably heavier, no difference in the bracing. Hard for me to tell any difference in the wood. Both are really great guitars no doubt! May have to keep both

 

[valleyguy]

Well, you did call for all of us enablers.....

 

[D30Man]

Flippers I wouldn’t care if it was the exact same color, model, specs or year. If it is the condition advertised then that is a killer price for a D25. Especially in a market where folks are trying to get $1500 or more and then $200 shipping. Two is better than one, three is better than two and so on and so forth. Two hours in the car could be an exciting bit of anticipation. I hope it is a beaut!

 

[D30Man]

Flippers I wouldn’t care if it was the exact same color, model, specs or year. If it is the condition advertised then that is a killer price for a D25. Especially in a market where folks are trying to get $1500 or more and then $200 shipping. Two is better than one, three is better than two and so on and so forth. Two hours in the car could be an exciting bit of anticipation. I hope it is a beaut

 

[D30Man]

Yeah that bridge needs a drink! I say keep them both!!