D40 Vs D40 Richie Havens

[Wulfthar]

Surprisingly enough, a D40 Richie Havens showed up locally (300km range) and I'm thinking about it.

What are the main differences between the Richie Havens model and a D40 Traditional or an old BJ? To my eyes it appears that besides the tuners all is cosmetic: white binding, truss rod cover with Richie's signature, the optional pickguard, but I would like to hear the opinion of the board on these guitars.

 

[Just_Guild]

Make sure the finish is dry on the Richie Havens one. (Those who attended the last Let’s Meet Guild with Mark Dronge will get my reference/joke!)

 

[MLBob]

If I Googled it right, that comes out to 185 US dollars. I'd buy that one in a heartbeat. TRC and the pickguard (came uninstalled as I recall) would be the only differences in that and the Traditional D 40. as far as looks.

 

[Wulfthar]

Mmm, not much input from the board, I thought the D40 Richie Havens was a popular guitar here.

 

[SFIV1967]

The Tacoma made D-40 RH model had a sitka spruce top and the D-40 BJ an adi top. So there are important differences besides cosmetic things!
Same in NH for those two models but NH had also a D-40 Standard which had a sitka top but different cosmetic appointments.

Ralf

 

[Wulfthar]

The Tacoma made D-40 RH model had a sitka spruce top and the D-40 BJ an adi top. So there are important differences besides cosmetic things!
Same in NH for those two models but NH had also a D-40 Standard which had a sitka top but different cosmetic appointments.

Ralf

Yes that's clear, my main question is that if the Tacoma RH was as heavily built as a Westerly one from the 70s as well as the same bracing.

 

[Pike]

I owned two D40s, one from 1976, one from 1998. Two entirely different guitars. The 76 was good the 98 was wonderful...

 

[Westerly Wood]

Technically any Hoboken or Westerly D40 would be a RH D40, just add a 2nd pick guard.

But I know what you mean. His signature model.

I just sayin the D40 he played at Woodstock was a Hoboken D40. Wait... right Hans?

or would he have had an early westerly or maybe it was NYC D40? Interested to know.

 

[adorshki]

Yes that's clear, my main question is that if the Tacoma RH was as heavily built as a Westerly one from the 70s as well as the same bracing.

Sorry I missed this, but "probably not". Out of my 3 my Havens D40 (from Corona where it was introduced) is the heaviest, lives up to the old "built like a tank" rep.

In Tacoma where they started trending towards lighter builds overall, the Havens D40 got adi bracing which allowed for a more resonant top via reduced bracing mass. As far as we've ever been able to know, Guild didn't use adi in Hoboken or Westerly, so the bracing thing is a definite "no".

BUT: Richie's earliest '40's ( a '66 at latest, as seen on cover of his first "big" album) were definitely Hobokens which are reputed to have been built lightly.

By Woodstock, he was using one with a chesterfield and drop-in saddle so pretty sure that had to be a Westerly. WhIch were also supposed to have started off with "light" builds.

But apparently he had no problem with Guild's various build styles over the years, endorsed 'em to the end.

Hope that's not too late to help!