Corona flat tops

[guitarslinger]

Some of you know that I've been acousticless for awhile and offered great advice as to some possible Guild options. I recently picked up a rediculously ornamented guitar for a rediculously low price of which I'll post pictures sometime. Right now I'm looking at a couple of D-40's and would appreciate some input. One is a Corona Guild in great condition which I know is somewhat stigmatized, but, at a great price. The other is 70ish and about 50% more in cost. Comments? Insults? Jokes?

 

[john_kidder]

I bought a Corona D-50 for my brother, with which he is completely satisfied as to form, construction, tone and intonation. Completely.

 

[taabru45]

I bought a Corona D-50 for my brother, with which he is completely satisfied as to form, construction, tone and intonation. Completely.

Can I be your brother too, John? :lol: Steffan

 

[john_kidder]

Can I be your brother too, John? :lol: Steffan

There are undisclosed costs, Steffan, which may or may not make up for the occasional guitar benefit.

 

[jgwoods]

While I have heard of a stigma attached to the Corona Guilds, and high compliments for the Tacoma Guilds, I have to account for Bill Whitsett of Whitsett Guitar Works who much prefers the Corona instruments.
Some of this stuff just gets repeated over and over by folks with no basis in experience or facts of any kind and I wonder if there is anything of substance to this idea that somehow the Corona made instruments are inferior in some way- what way? who has the goods and isn't just repeating something he heard?

I have no axe to grind - I have a Westerly D50. Right now my thinking is that it is quite possible that the Corona Guilds' reputation- earned or unearned- is making them the best deal of all for a good guitar as they regularly sell for less than the Tacoma Guilds.

 

[chazmo]

If we were talking solely about D-50s here, I'd recommend trying out a Tacoma version because I feel that the D-50 was their standout dread. Apparently, they experimented a little bit with this model, introducing Adirondack braces, possibly other things as well.

That's not to say that Corona- or Westerly- (or forthcmoing New Hartford-) built D-50s are slouches in the way; I have no experience. All I know is the D-50 from Tacoma that I tried was a responsive cannon of a dread, and it was the standout (in my opinion).

Can't really offer an opinion on the D-40. All I know is that around here there haven't been any significant complaints from the Corona-built owners. I do think I played a Tacoma-built D-40, but I don't recall any specific impressions.

 

[plaidseason]

The only Corona guild I ever played was a D25 that a Guild sales rep brought along. Sound, fit and finish were as good as anything I've played in that price range (Martin D15, etc).

Despite it's reputation, I'm sure Corona produced some fine guitars.

-Chris

 

[Scratch]

I agree the Corona-builts are probably the best bang for the buck going. My Corona D25 (blem) was a great guitar and priced well under what I eventually paid for a vintage Westerly built D25. The Westerly model outplayed the Corona, but its an unfair comparison as it was an archback vs. braced flatback. I'd have no hesitation in considering a Corona built at the right price...

Chaz: regarding the Tacoma-built D40s... I bought a NOS 2005 Tacoma-built D40 Richie Havens two years ago for 950.00. Our kitchen remodeler, Richard Martinez, turns out to be a guitar nut and two weekends ago spent more time looking at and picking on my Guilds than he did appraising our kitchen makeover (much to Pam's chagrin). He has a Martin D18 and is looking to add another acoustic to his corral. He is now a born again Guild fan and called to offer one grand for the D40 last Saturday. I declined... Then he says, what about that J30 (Grammy)? Again no thanks, but I told him I'd try to find him a nice Guild from the forum here. He's looking for a hog or maple body, dreadnaught or jumbo and willing to outlay up to 1,000.00. Also says he wants to come to Arlington in October!

 

[chazmo]

Good for you, converting the heathens out there, Scratch!

 

[Graham]

I had a Corona F512 which was absolutely wonderful.

The only real knock that I've seen or read about Corona was the unusually high number of seconds or blems hitting the market.

 

[6L6]

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH CORONA GUILDS!!!! PERIOD!!!

The Corona D-50 I used to own was a stellar instrument I never would have sold if I hadn't needed cash to reacquire an old Strat I let go.

As I've said before, I've owned Guild guitars built in every location and I loved every single one of them. I'm sure New Hartford will continue the legacy just fine (although they need to lose the new pickguard shape on the D-55...).

6

'74 D-40
'06 D-40BJ
'06 D-55
'06 F-412

 

[guitarslinger]

I'm still sniffing the D40's, but, pulled the trigger on a D4 in great shape in the mid 3's to hold me over for awhile. Hope that turns out OK.

 

[Pike]

I've owned a '81 Westerly D50, a Corona D50 and played a Tacoma D50. Sound wise the Tacoma was the best one, then the Westerly, the Corona was OK. None of them were anywhere near my Westerly D55.

 

[J45dale]

I am still playing my Corona built 2002 model, D-55.
No finish blims, no quality of workmanship problems, it plays and sounds great.
But remember they did introduce Red Spruce tops in Tocoma on the D50 and D40 Bluegrass models, so they will be different than older Corona or Westerly models.
Dale.

 

[archiestone]

FWIW, I have a Corona D40E that is perfectly wonderful.

 

[wordlesschorus]

I think alot of Corona's bad rep comes from it being connected to the Fender name. The first guild that i bought was an all-mahogany Corona D25 that i foolishly sold last year to help fund another guitar purchase. Out of all the guitars that have passed through my hands that Corona had the most unique tone. It definitely wasnt as loud as my 76 Spruce/Hog DD25 but it had a bit more warmth and when fingerpicked it had a tone that another reviewer put as "spooky", and i think that's probably the best word for it! I've tried out a few Hog martins and they sounded pretty good but they were all pretty bright with a strong fundamental sound to it. The Corona had something else going on which i liked. With that said though, i'd love to try one of those red-spruce topped Tacoma guilds. I tried a D-4 with the thick baseball bat neck that was really nice sounding at a store awhile ago.

 

[taabru45]

I've only had my Corona for a couple of months or so, but, it really is excellent, maybe spooky, but its different for sure, and lovely to play, and in its own way as nice sounding as my F512. Different, maybe a little darker, bluesier, hard to say but just a pleasure. to play and listen to..and still a Guild. one day they will get the recognition they deserve. ..Steffan

 

[guitarslinger]

Got the D4 NT I bought today. Represented as no scratches no dings, but, had about ten top dings 6 of which were through the finish. Worse. The top was slightly bowed and the bridge starting to lift. Still circling the D40's (Corona and Westerly) and now a nice Tacoma D50. Man I got the GAS so bad I'm doubled over with cramps...ain't it great!!!

 

[wordlesschorus]

I've only had my Corona for a couple of months or so, but, it really is excellent, maybe spooky, but its different for sure, and lovely to play, and in its own way as nice sounding as my F512. Different, maybe a little darker, bluesier, hard to say but just a pleasure. to play and listen to..and still a Guild. one day they will get the recognition they deserve. ..Steffan

Haha, maybe all Coronas should now be considered synonymous with the word spooky, lol.