D140 vs older D25/35/ etc...

bruno

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Hello ! I've been looking to buy a 70-80s D25m or D35 locally for almost a year but havent found one yet. An used D140 (2022) just popped up at a reasonable price. I'm wondering if it's close to what I'm looking for?

Thanks!
 

twocorgis

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The 100 series is all solid wood. 200 series has laminate back and sides and solid top. The imports have poly finish.
And in my experience, a thick poly finish. All things being equal, I'd wait it out for a nice used D25 or D35. Or, check out one of the laminate D240Es if you get a chance. They have a very thin satin finish, and if the D240E is anything like my OM240E, it will sound surprisingly good.
 
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jeffcoop

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I'll second Sandy on the poly finishes of the imports, although there are exceptions to the rule (I played an OM-120 in December that was very expressive). The deadest sounding Guild I own is the 2010 or 2011 GAD-F20, which is beautiful but which has a thick finish that unquestionably dampens the sound. And, like Sandy, I have an OM240E that has a very thin poly finish and that sounds plenty lively (though not as complex as, say, my Tacoma-built F30).
 

bruno

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Ok, thanks ! Then I'll stay away if it's a poly finish. Because the "westerly collection" is an homage to the classic models, I thought the finish would be nitro....
 

fronobulax

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Hello ! I've been looking to buy a 70-80s D25m or D35 locally for almost a year but havent found one yet. An used D140 (2022) just popped up at a reasonable price. I'm wondering if it's close to what I'm looking for?

Thanks!

I don't know about the comparison beyond the general comment that it is extremely unusual for someone with experience to say imports are better than the used or vintage equivalent that was made in the USA.

I will say though, given that you are in Canada this may be a case of the Bird in Hand being worth more. If the D140 will work for you you can get it knowing you will upgrade when something better comes on the market, but in the meantime you do have the pleasure of the D140 while waiting.
 

twocorgis

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Ok, thanks ! Then I'll stay away if it's a poly finish. Because the "westerly collection" is an homage to the classic models, I thought the finish would be nitro....
Very few Asian rim acoustic guitars have nitro finishes. Eastman is the only company I know of.
 

Guilderland21

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There's certainly nothing wrong with waiting for a D-25 or D-35, especially if having a nitro finish is important. But I will say that I think my D-140 sounds good and plays well. While I haven't had a chance to play it side-by-side with a D-25, I have played several of them and didn't feel like they were obviously in a whole different league.

Maybe I'd feel differently with a side-by-side comparison, or maybe if I knew more (or had better taste!) it would be obvious. But I (and I think a couple of other people here) have had a good experience with a D-140. (Mine is from 2015, though I don't have much sense of whether there have been changes to the specs/quality over time. I don't think the finish is especially thick but I'm no expert.)
 

Wellington

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If you're willing to look beyond locally, there's used D-25's and 35's on reverb all the time, most people accept offers so don't let the list prices scare you away.
 

bruno

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If you're willing to look beyond locally, there's used D-25's and 35's on reverb all the time, most people accept offers so don't let the list prices scare you away.
Good to know they accept offers, but I never bought a guitar online, maybe if nothing show up locally (except for guitars ridiculously overpriced) maybe I'll consider that option...
 

Cougar

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But I will say that I think my D-140 sounds good and plays well. While I haven't had a chance to play it side-by-side with a D-25, I have played several of them and didn't feel like they were obviously in a whole different league.
I gotta agree with you here. I recently saw a great deal on a GAD D125-12 (with poly finish but super glossy) and snapped it up even though I've got 3 tremendous U.S. made Guilds with nitro finish. As for sound, the D125-12 not really that far behind! Looks great too.

brn213-2.jpg
 

Boneman

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Any luck finding a good Guild dreadnought nearby? If not, Reverb has plenty, and you can likely find one that’ll play right as soon as it arrives. For example, something like this might tickle your fancy? You could be playing it next week :)
 

Runner6

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I owned a D140 and played, with the intent of buying, a new D40. I own a 1977 D35. The new guitars are great. I prefer the D35. The challenge buying a 70’s era Guild is that often the guitar needs additional work, in my case a neck reset and new frets. So, to get the instrument up to speed requires more than you may think.

so, yes the D140 is a very nice guitar. Plus it’s much less expensive.
 

Br1ck

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If you aren't faced with constant comparisons, a good quality import will do fine. It is when you are constantly presented with good US guitars in good shape that it becomes a problem. Once you hear it it eats away at you, to the tune of one or two thousand. And face it, percentage wise you are going up ten percent, but what a ten percent it is.

So lets hypothetically examine a worst case scenario with a pre 73 D 35. You find one that is in good condition "for it's age." It plays ok, no obvious cracks or loose braces. It has some fret wear, but heck, it plays ok, and yes, it has a fairly low saddle, but now it seems ok, so say you pay $800-900 for it. I'm figuring this is a very good deal. You buy the guitar and sometime someone tells you the bridge has been shaved, and how much better the guitar would sound with a good break angle. So you are where I started, but I paid $250 for mine 20 years ago, and it sat in my closet for a decade. I still put $1100 into it. So I'm all in for around $1400. This seems like a deal to me now.

So you decide on the works, and since your guitar has a Brazilian bridge, you have one made with a Brazilian blank. Nothing wrong with Indian, but still.....the neck gets reset, a refret, a nut and anything else. Now you have a $2000 guitar. One year, five years, or ten, keep the guitar, you are going to spend that for it eventually. Your $2000 guitar is worth $1500. My $1400 guitar was once worth $900. Not anymore.

So where does that leave us? Buy the import and have worry free guitar experience for a few years, maybe a decade. The tonal experience is fine, you haven't gone out and played a bunch of D 18s or a D 55. You are happy. Notice how many say the import is fine for the meantime? We know. Pay now, or pay later. Pay now and that worst case scenario will seem like a bargain in ten years. I've always wanted a good straight braced D 18 from mid sixties. My 70 Guild D 35 has hampered that effort, it's just that good, and I'm not into similar guitar multiples. And my D 35 just keeps growing on me, eight years later.

Here is the kicker. Once you live with forty or fifty year old wood, it gets under your skin. I play and derive great pleasure from my 07 Martin Custom D 35, and my 14 Custom 00 15, but picking up my Guild D 35 or my 65 Epiphone Texan just has a different vibe. You may not hear it, but if you do, welll sorry, it costs in money and effort, and time away at the doctors. But to me it is so worth it.

We all are on our journey of discovery and as always, YMMV. I'm fully aware, and don't care, that many would play my guitars and go, I'd rather have a new D 18. I took my D 35 camping last weekend with not a care over any dings that might occur. I couldn't tell you where they were anyway. But it took me 72 years to arrive at my conclusions, as it took 72 years to realize improving my skills was more important than any which guitar obsession could be. As they say, live and learn.

Now to middle ground. I'd say buying a D 25 from the eighties or nineties would be a fine alternative middle ground. You still might need fretwork, but basic geometry will be a much less likely issue. You'll get a robust, loud, punchy guitar. If I were in a band, I'd go directly to one of these and put a pickup in it. And when and if you get something "better', you'll have the world's best beater.
 
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