First Time Guild Owner

PapaLeo67

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Hello everyone!
I went to my luthiers shop today to pick up a repair he was doing for me, and decided I wanted to buy a beater acoustic. Looking through his shop I found a Guild D4 that he says is a 2000 model. Serial AD407834. I have a freind who loves Guild so I picked it up and hit a D chord..... WOW. What a beautiful sound. It took me all of 5 minutes to decide to take it. Its a little beat up, but sounds awesome and feels great. I was hoping to learn a little more about it from you guys.
 

GGJaguar

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Welcome to LTG and congrats on your D4. Sometimes those slightly beat up guitars are the best sounding ones. Enjoy!
 

gjmalcyon

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Welcome. Stick around - nice bunch of folks around here. My wife has a D4 - a gift from me that I liked so much I nearly kept it for myself.
 

walrus

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Welcome, and congratulations! Would love to see some photos of your "beater"!

walrus
 

Stuball48

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Welcome to a great bunch of guitar enthusist--Guild mostly--but every brand.
 

PapaLeo67

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ClaytonS15

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Excellent! I have a 91 D-4-E and really like it. Mine kind of looks like it’s been through some bar fights but made it out intact and still plays and sounds great.
 

Cougar

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I was hoping to learn a little more about it from you guys.

Welcome to the boards, Leo! You've come to the right place. My knowledge is limited, but there are guys here who will be able to tell you anything you want to know.
 

davismanLV

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Late Westerly, under Fender's ownership and it looks GOOD to me. Maybe we have different definitions of "beater" but it looks good. Haven't seen the back but doesn't matter. I'll bet it sounds amazing. As has been said, some of those older guitars with a few miles sound the best!! Welcome, and congrats!!
 
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PapaLeo67

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Let me clarify...
I was looking for a beater. I was not expecting to walk out with a 20 year old American made Guild. There are some dents in the bottom side like it was played by someone with rocks in their pocket.. a nice gouge in the top side, some fret wear on the first couple frets. Non original case, but it plays perfectly, sounds awesome, Intonation spot on,, and best of all, I got it for $400. I think that's a pretty good deal for a USA guitar. Overall, I would say good condition.
 

ruedi

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.... Maybe we have different definitions of "beater" but it looks good. ...

Go google Willie Nelson's Trigger when you want to look at a beater 😳😂

Welcome PapaLeo, and congrats on your guitar! The preciser your questions are, the better answer you will get. There's a bunch of extremely nice and knowledgeable people around here (not me though😅)
 

beecee

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I know you've already touched on it but if that's your beater I'd like to see your good stuff!

The D-4 is one of the best bang for your buck guitars out there. Solid mahogany sides, solid spruce top and the legendary arched back. Same recipe as the D-25 but slightly less trim, satin or Hand Rubbed, (HR) finish. The D-25 is like a Mack Truck, the D-4 is like a Mack Truck with less chrome.

I had one for a long time and loved it, really punches above it's weight class, that arched back really gives it something extra.

I was on the hunt for one as I missed having one but ended up w/the D-26 at a really great price.

Sounds like you got a good one, Google Let's Talk Guild D-4...you'll get all the info you'll need.

Here is a good start: https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/guild-d4-nt.187185/

Adorshki, one of our quieter members, has some good summations in there.

Careful tho.....D-4's are akin to an entry drug!!

:sneaky: Ok..$5 says PapaLeo will have 3 Guilds by the end of the year
 

Badger

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Papaleo where are you from? I'm from Italy. You too?
I bought a Guild D4 from the same period as yours. It was an unfortunate guitar and I changed it soon. I was unhappy with the Guild brand and no longer considered these guitars. Until I bought a JF30 (I was looking for a Jumbo). In less than a year I put the JF30, the D60, the F50r and an M240e at home ....
 

SFIV1967

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Serial AD407834....I was hoping to learn a little more about it from you guys.
Welcome to LTG!
Yes, your serial number was made in year 2000.

Our member GAD scanned the catalog page from the year 2000 Guild catalog:

Here are the full specs if you are interested:

Model Name: D4 HR (HR stands for "handrubbed finish")
FMIC/Guild Model Number: 350-0100-021 (-021 without case, -721 with case)
Category: Traditional Dreadnought Guitars
Body Style: Dreadnought
Scale Length: 25 5/8"
Top: Solid Spruce Top
Bracing: Standard
Back: Arched Laminated Mahogany Back
Sides: Solid Mahogany Sides
Neck: Mahogany
Width at Nut: 1-11/16"
Fingerboard: Morado (12" Radius)
Frets: 20
Bridge: Rosewood
Hardware: Chrome
Tuning Machines: Grover Chrome Plated Die-cast Tuners
Pickups: Optional
Controls: N/A
Pickup Switching: N/A
Finish: Handrubbed Satin Finish (Polyurethane)
Other Features: Dot Inlay,
Tortiose Shell Pickguard
Case: Optional, Uses Standard C4500 Hardshell Case p/n 3501075204
U.S. MSRP: $899.99 Price without case, *add $100.00 for C4500 hardshell case
Options: 350-0105 D4 (as above with Fishman Transducer) $1,099.99
350-0106 D4 (as above with Fishman pickup and preamp) $1,199.99
350-0120 D4 (Left hand) $899.99
350-0125 D4 (Left hand with Fishman Transducer) $1,099.99
350-0126 D4 (Left hand with Fishman pickup and preamp) $1,199.99
Strings: Guild L350 Phosphor Bronze,
p/n 3500350000,
Gauges .012, .016, .025, .032, .042, .053
Source: U.S.
Introduced: 1991
Discontinued: 12/2001

Ralf
 
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