Core Collection Items-Guild Acoustics

[Mr. P ~]

I guess I need to retract my statement about the sunbursts being incosistent. DB's '75 G-37 top and my '78 D-40 look pretty close to identical.

I bought this one based on the above picture from Gruhn's Guitars in Nashville and had it shipped.....Aarrrg! UPS just left it on my front porch.

It needs a full fret job (first 7 frets on the little e side are down to around .005 in fret height), I have put a TusQ saddle on it and I am building a bone saddle as well so I can do my own comparison. It has a new ameture bone nut that will have to be replaced as well.

DB.....one winter night when you have nothing better to do, could you look inside that G-37 (again, I feel sure you have looked before) and give me some information on the braces? Since Gruhn was involved I wonder if they are scalloped? I have made some measurements of bracing on a nice DV-52 for sale here locally, and I would like to compare if the G-37 is scalloped.

I intend to scallop the braces on this one after I get the basic playability restored. (Sure hope nobody fainted!!)

 

[Mr. P ~]

I guess I need to retract my statement about the sunbursts being incosistent. DB's '75 G-37 top and my '78 D-40 look pretty close to identical.

I bought this one based on the above picture from Gruhn's Guitars in Nashville and had it shipped.....Aarrrg! UPS just left it on my front porch.

It needs a full fret job (first 7 frets on the little e side are down to around .005 in fret height), I have put a TusQ saddle on it and I am building a bone saddle as well so I can do my own comparison. It has a new ameture bone nut that will have to be replaced as well.

DB.....one winter night when you have nothing better to do, could you look inside that G-37 (again, I feel sure you have looked before) and give me some information on the braces? Since Gruhn was involved I wonder if they are scalloped? I have made some measurements of bracing on a nice DV-52 for sale here locally, and I would like to compare if the G-37 is scalloped.

I intend to scallop the braces on this one after I get the basic playability restored. (Sure hope nobody fainted!!)

 

[dreadnut]

Nice guitar, Smith, and great story too! I'm right with you on dragging that moron back to the guitar store and getting your guitar back. Boy, Martins are the holy grail for some people, aren't they? That's good for people like us who can still collect exquisite Guilds at reasonable prices.

I guess I just asumed all G-37's were maple. That's all I've ever seen. And you said it has a gold painted logo on the headstock? Almost does sound like a mis-marked D-25...

 

[dreadnut]

Nice guitar, Smith, and great story too! I'm right with you on dragging that moron back to the guitar store and getting your guitar back. Boy, Martins are the holy grail for some people, aren't they? That's good for people like us who can still collect exquisite Guilds at reasonable prices.

I guess I just asumed all G-37's were maple. That's all I've ever seen. And you said it has a gold painted logo on the headstock? Almost does sound like a mis-marked D-25...

 

[SmithfieldFair]

G-37

P - There are no scalloped braces inside my G-37, just the standard "rounded" braces with the tapered ends. I looked again just to make certain. As far as the consistancy of the sunbursts, I've found the colour of the lightest portion of the sunbursts to be the strangest variable for Guild. My bass is a very brown center. You can see my G-37 is like your D40, lighter, but still more woodtoned. Later on, for some unknown reason, Guild began putting out a sunburst that was this horrid yellow in the middle and had an orangeness to the dark edges. Maybe it's just me, but I couldn't take that and have passed on several good buys because of it.

Dred - As far as this being a "mis-marked D25", let me tell you a couple of things I know. In Hans' book, the photo he shows of the G37 has only the painted Guild name - he lists this as a 'silkscreened logo'. In 1976, Hans notes that they added the 'Chesterfield' inlay. Beesley has a photo of the G37 from the 1981 catalog and the Chesterfield is definitely there by then and he states the Chesterfield added from the late 1970s on. Beesley also notes that the G-37 was available in Blonde, sunburst, and natural top with shaded mahogany sides. There's even one shown in the catalog photo with the sunburst and dark sides (I assume the back is also dark). My brother has a 77 or 78 (can't remember right now) maple G-37. The neck is ash-coloured and the top is natural.

Now, here's the kicker - Westerly told me one time that the reason they figured this for a mismarked D25 was that if my back and sides are mahogany (Holger says he believes they are) they didn't make G37s with mahogany back and sides, though I think I saw somewhere they did. Though there were never any hard and fasts with Westerly Guilds - they just didn't feel this was a G-37. Hey! doesn't hurt my feelings - it's an incredible guitar regardless of the number. But, I have seen a D25 or two from the period that are identical to mine in every way. As Hans says, the G designation was a new one and "one of the unsolved mysteries behind Guild's model designations." It wouldn't be the first time I've seen 70's Guilds with the wrong model designation written on the label. I once say an F112 with F30 written on the label. Go figure.

Mystery is the spice of life. Eh?!?!?! dbs

Dudley-Brian Smith
Smithfield Fair/Stevenson Productions
http://www.smithfieldfair.com

 

[SmithfieldFair]

G-37

P - There are no scalloped braces inside my G-37, just the standard "rounded" braces with the tapered ends. I looked again just to make certain. As far as the consistancy of the sunbursts, I've found the colour of the lightest portion of the sunbursts to be the strangest variable for Guild. My bass is a very brown center. You can see my G-37 is like your D40, lighter, but still more woodtoned. Later on, for some unknown reason, Guild began putting out a sunburst that was this horrid yellow in the middle and had an orangeness to the dark edges. Maybe it's just me, but I couldn't take that and have passed on several good buys because of it.

Dred - As far as this being a "mis-marked D25", let me tell you a couple of things I know. In Hans' book, the photo he shows of the G37 has only the painted Guild name - he lists this as a 'silkscreened logo'. In 1976, Hans notes that they added the 'Chesterfield' inlay. Beesley has a photo of the G37 from the 1981 catalog and the Chesterfield is definitely there by then and he states the Chesterfield added from the late 1970s on. Beesley also notes that the G-37 was available in Blonde, sunburst, and natural top with shaded mahogany sides. There's even one shown in the catalog photo with the sunburst and dark sides (I assume the back is also dark). My brother has a 77 or 78 (can't remember right now) maple G-37. The neck is ash-coloured and the top is natural.

Now, here's the kicker - Westerly told me one time that the reason they figured this for a mismarked D25 was that if my back and sides are mahogany (Holger says he believes they are) they didn't make G37s with mahogany back and sides, though I think I saw somewhere they did. Though there were never any hard and fasts with Westerly Guilds - they just didn't feel this was a G-37. Hey! doesn't hurt my feelings - it's an incredible guitar regardless of the number. But, I have seen a D25 or two from the period that are identical to mine in every way. As Hans says, the G designation was a new one and "one of the unsolved mysteries behind Guild's model designations." It wouldn't be the first time I've seen 70's Guilds with the wrong model designation written on the label. I once say an F112 with F30 written on the label. Go figure.

Mystery is the spice of life. Eh?!?!?! dbs

Dudley-Brian Smith
Smithfield Fair/Stevenson Productions
http://www.smithfieldfair.com

 

[dklsplace]

Mystery is the spice of life. Eh?!?!?!

I thought tabasco was the spice of life? :lol:

 

[dklsplace]

Mystery is the spice of life. Eh?!?!?!

I thought tabasco was the spice of life? :lol:

 

[john_kidder]

And so, after various diversions into photos and G-37 bracing, anyone else with thoughts about the essential collection of Guild acoustics?

I am surpised, nay, shocked and appalled, that not one other person thinks that either my Hoboken M-20 or my GF-60R are worthy of mention - I may have to sell them for a few peanuts now that I know no one cares. But perhaps I'll just put them away where none can see them, and play them quietly to myself.

Come on folks, let's deal with the original question: name the 5 or 6 Guild acoustics that will form the building blocks for any collection. At the least, we'll all then be able to compete for the same guitars when they come available.

And I do like the pictures, and I don't think that G-37 braces were scalloped, but what do I know?

John K

 

[john_kidder]

And so, after various diversions into photos and G-37 bracing, anyone else with thoughts about the essential collection of Guild acoustics?

I am surpised, nay, shocked and appalled, that not one other person thinks that either my Hoboken M-20 or my GF-60R are worthy of mention - I may have to sell them for a few peanuts now that I know no one cares. But perhaps I'll just put them away where none can see them, and play them quietly to myself.

Come on folks, let's deal with the original question: name the 5 or 6 Guild acoustics that will form the building blocks for any collection. At the least, we'll all then be able to compete for the same guitars when they come available.

And I do like the pictures, and I don't think that G-37 braces were scalloped, but what do I know?

John K

 

[Mr. P ~]

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha ......Funny Boy! You know Guild fans can't pick just Six!!! :lol: :lol:

Maybe the way to do it is:
~ Drednaught - Low End
~ Drednaught - Hi End
~ F Series - Low End
~ F Series - Hi End
~ Drednaught - 12 String
~ F Series - 12 String
:wink:

 

[Mr. P ~]

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha ......Funny Boy! You know Guild fans can't pick just Six!!! :lol: :lol:

Maybe the way to do it is:
~ Drednaught - Low End
~ Drednaught - Hi End
~ F Series - Low End
~ F Series - Hi End
~ Drednaught - 12 String
~ F Series - 12 String
:wink:

 

[SmithfieldFair]

Core more

I thought tabasco was the spice of life?

Being originally from and now again living in Louisiana - I don't eat spicy food (I'm from Central Louisiana - where the Scots settled), so, I'm the last one to ask about tabasco. Ha!

OK, John - here's the deal - I answered Jim's idea for a core collection just to start things going and illicit some discourse. I think the stimulation has worked. BUT - if you want JUST 5 guitars which I think are the quintessential core collection...here it is: D25, D50, F30, F50, and J30. When I think about what other people think about what Guild IS...that's what I think.

What do I think about - I'd have to say D25, GF25, B50, F112 and....(drum roll please).......M20.

Peace in mahogany & spruce...dbs

 

[SmithfieldFair]

Core more

I thought tabasco was the spice of life?

Being originally from and now again living in Louisiana - I don't eat spicy food (I'm from Central Louisiana - where the Scots settled), so, I'm the last one to ask about tabasco. Ha!

OK, John - here's the deal - I answered Jim's idea for a core collection just to start things going and illicit some discourse. I think the stimulation has worked. BUT - if you want JUST 5 guitars which I think are the quintessential core collection...here it is: D25, D50, F30, F50, and J30. When I think about what other people think about what Guild IS...that's what I think.

What do I think about - I'd have to say D25, GF25, B50, F112 and....(drum roll please).......M20.

Peace in mahogany & spruce...dbs

 

[dreadnut]

Interesting, Smith. The only thing is, a D-25 of that vintage would have had a mahogany top I think. But yours does have mahogany back & sides...any comments, Hans?

 

[dreadnut]

Interesting, Smith. The only thing is, a D-25 of that vintage would have had a mahogany top I think. But yours does have mahogany back & sides...any comments, Hans?

 

[West R Lee]

I thought I had given an answer.

1. D-55
2. D-25M
3. F-50
4. DV-73
5. D-100

There you have it.....the last two would have to be part of my collection out of shear beauty and collector value. All would be Westerly built.

 

[West R Lee]

I thought I had given an answer.

1. D-55
2. D-25M
3. F-50
4. DV-73
5. D-100

There you have it.....the last two would have to be part of my collection out of shear beauty and collector value. All would be Westerly built.

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

sunbust

I it just my failing eyes, or do Guild sunbursts have a peach color unlike no other?

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

sunbust

I it just my failing eyes, or do Guild sunbursts have a peach color unlike no other?