D-35, early 1970's, best investment ever

[Ihguild]

New member here, recently had more time on my hands so found time to play again

In 1984 I bought a very used D-35 (I just liked the guitar and had no idea about the brand at the time) from a pawn shop in Fayettville NC on a whim for $35, it was obviously used as a gig guitar with a lot of use. t I started to notice that when I played with other people my guitars sound always seemed to stand out, and people were always asking to play it. Back when I played more, I would pick up other guitars and strum them at music stores, pawn shops, etc.... I never seemed to find other guitars that I thought sounded as good as mine. As I recently pick up playing again (after a 20 year break) I instantly reconnected with how great my guitar still sounds, and started looking for more info about it.

It is serial # OJ-2380 which seems to be an early 1970's serial number. The guitar has not suffered any additional damage since I've owned it.
There is a small round ding that cracked somewhat through the top, and a lot of strumming wear on the top also, it has a weird clear plastic pick guard (?) which is peeling away and I may remove it sometime in the future. It still sounds incredible, and plays maybe a little rough but it is a keeper and a the best $35 I ever spent.

Since this is all "useless" without pics I placed a few here. https://photos.app.goo.gl/c7niz3Ds5uxvmPJe7

If anybody has any more info about my guitar I would love to hear about it....

Thanks for reading,

IHGuild

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Just to get this right, you peeled the clear protective plastic off of the pickguard of a pawnshop guitar?

 

[Ihguild]

No, the clear plastic piece (pickguard may not be the correct term?) was on it when I bought it and I have not removed it as I am unsure what effect it would have on the wood, it has a regular pickguard.

 

[Heath]

Just to get this right, you peeled the clear protective plastic off of the pickguard of a pawnshop guitar?

I think what he is saying is there is no pickguard, just a clear piece there.

 

[MacGuild]

It (sort of) looks like someone put a golpeador on it a long time ago.
Or that layer is residue left over from a larger pick-guard that has been removed.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

I think what he is saying is there is no pickguard, just a clear piece there.

There is a pickguard;

Maybe the clear piece was above the sound hole?

 

[Br1ck]

I own OJ 1644, a D 35 from 1970. Though the label says made in Hoboken, it is certainly a Westerly build. The bridge and fingerboard are Brazilian rosewood, so resist shaving it. The tuners are not original, but functionally better. I feel now is the time to get it to someone like Mr. Fixit. Have the impact damage stabilized to prevent further cracking. The guitar will never be anything but a worn in instrument, but I feel it could be made nicer by removing the clear plastic. Lacquer is pretty forgiving for touch ups. The elephant in the room is fretwork and possible neck reset. The work would be well worth it. My D 35 is the best playing guitar I own. I'd consider open back tuners as it will take about 6oz off the peghead. It's noticeably less neck heavy. Make that guitar solid and well playing and enjoy it for the next twenty years. There's a lot of mojo there, and there is a benefit to having a guitar you can take anywhere. They are uniquely well balanced from a great vintage.

I would and have spent $1000 on one. You won't find a thousand dollar guitar you'll like better.

 

[sailingshoes72]

Great story! It's always fun to read about how a player discovered a favorite instrument. The clear plastic pickguard, or golpeador, is usually found on classical guitars used for Flamenco music. That style of playing... aggressive strumming, rasquedos, and slapping the top can damage the soundboard with the players fingernails. A big change in guitar maintenance over the last 20 years is the use of luthiers to properly set up an instrument for ease of playing. This can entail adjusting the neck relief, leveling the frets and setting the action. Ask around to find a respected luthier in your area.

The elephant in the room is fretwork and possible neck reset.

This is the big issue with a 50 year old guitar. The many years of string tension can pull the neck out of alignment. Here is a good article that explains it: http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Musician/Guitar/Setup/NeckAngle/neckangle.html

That forum also has a good section on guitar "setups". Mr Fixit is Tom Jacobs, an instrument repair specialist and member of LTG Forum. There are lots of good references for his work. Enjoy spending your time with an old friend!

 

[7GuildsandanSG]

There is a pickguard;

Maybe the clear piece was above the sound hole?

Custom cut golpeador?

 

[Ihguild]

It sure seems like a golpeador (I learned a new word!), flamenco style playing would explain the long scratches on the top. I had always assumed the scratches were from heavy pick strumming. NC seems like a strange place for a flamenco guitar to end up in a pawn shop.
Were the D-35s marketed as a "bluegrass" guitar, I've seen the word bluegrass used for some D-35s for sale.
Big thanks for all the info!

IHguild

 

[5thumbs]

Custom cut golpeador?

Richie Havens could have used one of those.

 

[sailingshoes72]

Here are a couple of threads that discuss the use of "Bluegrass" as a model name in addition to a model number.

Check out post #4 here:

70s D-35 and "Bluegrass" tag

I inherited a 1976 D-35 (sunburst finish, uncommon for this model as far as I can tell). Looking up similar instruments on Reverb and elsewhere, I see some listed as "D-35 Bluegrass" and others simply with the model number. Does anyone know if these are in fact two different models, or is...

letstalkguild.com

Check out post #8 here:

https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/new-to-me-vintage-d40-few-questions.197065/#post-1813597

Someone who was a heavy strummer with a pick, may have appropriated the idea of a golpeador for a steel string guitar to protect the soundboard from damage!

 

[Br1ck]

Good as my D 35 is, it's not my choice for bluegrass, though it certainly could be. Here is where the signature Martin's bass comes in. I'd have to put .013s on it. My Custom Martin D 35 has them already, so it gets the nod.

 

[valleyguy]

Great story, thanks for sharing, must say I'm jealous, $35!! I love old guitars with what I call mojo.

 

[Guildedagain]

Probably the best $35 guitar I've ever seen ;]

Good on you keeping it this long. We're only keepers, temporary, caretakers enjoying the ride.

 

[chazmo]

I think you guys are right-on about what this is, but I don't recall seeing anything like that on a flattop. Interesting.

I tend to agree with lh that I wouldn't touch it at this point if what I'm seeing around the edges of that thing is just dirt and adhesive and plastic (which is what I think it is). If it's actually cracked wood, then I *might* use this opportunity to brace the cracks, remove that awful piece of plastic, and strip the finish for a refin. But I wouldn't go that route unless those are actually cracks in the soundboard.

 

[SFIV1967]

If anybody has any more info about my guitar I would love to hear about it....

Welcome to LTG! Good story about the guitar! Thanks for sharing! Depends what exactly you'd like to get as "more info", here is some info from the 1969 catalog, no 1970 catalog available.



April 1970 price list:



Oct 1970 price list:



Ralf

 

[Christopher Cozad]

Welcome to a forum that hosts a great bunch of really pleasant and knowledgable folks! I have learned so much on this site, and met so many people I wish I lived closer to (I would be the pesky neighbor on their doorstep asking, "Whatcha doin'? Wanna play some guitar?")

I was thinking back to what I was doing the year you purchased your $35 D-35... "on a whim," no less. I remember that I had paid a whole lot more than $35 for my Guild guitars. I know that it never crossed my mind to look in Pawn Shops for a guitar back then... I was so focused on what I wanted and *had * to have...

I want a "do over!"

I am so happy to hear you are playing the guitar, again. I certainly understand the idea of "leaving well-enough alone," but I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment that, if it is affordable, any investment into preserving / restoring / updating that instrument is money well-spent.

 

[GuildyAsHell]

I have found a ‘73 D-35 for $895 in a shop near my hometown. Pickguard is coming up a bit but it’s all original in “good” condition. I haven’t played it yet. After reading some of these comments, I may need to grab it. I usually favor small body guitars, but I’ve been wanting a dread lately.

 

[SFIV1967]

There is a pickguard;
Maybe the clear piece was above the sound hole?

The clear pickguard is still on the guitar!
They cut it around the Guild pickguard and it even goes down the bridge on the trebble side. Not sure what all the white stuff is, almost like they used a spray glue as there are lots of such drops visible inside as well.

So the difficult task is removing that clear pickguard as one first would have to see what type of glue was used.
Maybe that is a task where Tom Jacobs (Fixit) could help, I'm sure he could do magic to the guitar to bring her back to glory.





Ralf