Gruhn Era reputation

[Brad Little]

Hello,
I'm sure this has come up on the forum before, but I hope nobody minds rehashing it. Curious as to the reputation of the Gruhn era acoustics, especially those models that were Guild staples but modified somewhat during this period. Of course, I have an ulterior motive, how my D-50 may differ from older and newer eras (other than the obvious snakehead).
Brad

 

[FNG]

I've played an F-46, and almost bought a D-60. The F-46 was an outstanding guitar, one of the early ones with the "Co-designed by George Gruhn" labels. The D-60(the later version of the D-66, I think) had some undisclosed issues from an ebay sale, so I returned it. But it really sounded great also, but didn't like messing with some loose bracing. Both guitars really sang. You see occasional F-46s, but not that many F-44, D-64s or D-66s.

Here's a really stunning F-44 with quilted maple...

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=23762&hilit=quilted+maple

 

[evenkeel]

I have two Walker/Gruhn era Guilds. A 1987 GF-30 and a 1988 D-60. Both are terrific guitars but vastly different as you would expect from a maple mini-jumbo and a rosewood dread. The GF-30 is very bright with a crisp balanced tone. My guess is the arched, lam maple back gives it a bit more low end oomph than maple typically delivers. Only down side (for me) is the neck feels a bit thin. It's the same width as the D-60 but it just feels thinner. The dread is a real superstar. Huge sound, ton'O volume, with lots of that trademark dread rumble and the bright top end rosewood is known for.

 

[Geo]

Wish I knew. I've never had the pleasure of playing one of the Gruhn design Guilds.

George

 

[Scratch]

When I promised my wife to 'downsize' my guitar collection from 17 to 4, the sixer I kept was the Gruhn inspired GF-25. Simply an awesome guitar.

As I understand, the Gruhn years were 1986 - 1988. The GF series guitars were so-named based on his involvement. Curious why others he affected were not similarly labeled with the 'G' prefix?

I'm guessing the new Ren Ferguson inspired models may perhaps have similar designations?

 

[marcellis]

I have a 1988 D60. Big tone. Lots of rumble.
I consider it the third-best Guild I've ever owned.

Aesthetically, I prefer the narrower head stock design of the Gruhn models.

 

[dapmdave]

I have an older F-44, but not as pretty as the one linked above. It has the type-written label. Mine was "rode hard and put up wet" as they used to say, before I rescued it. Anyway, I really like it. I love maple guitars generally, so the crisp and bright tone is just fine. The guitar is built more like a Hoboken Guild in my opinion. Lighter construction, smaller heel, etc. I exchanged email with Mr. Gruhn regarding the F-44, and he did say he was trying to move Guild away from the heavily built Westerly models we all know and love.

Snake-head vs. boat paddle? I don't care. If it says Guild I'm prolly gonna like it.

Dave

 

[Geo]

Aesthetically, I prefer the narrower head stock design of the Gruhn models.

The narrower head stock is probably more practical since the tuners slant inward from bottom to top allowing a better angle for the strings to follow but I like the look of the boat paddle better. However, I think they both look very good. 8)

George

 

[Ridgemont]

Never had the pleasure. But I do like the snake head and inlaid logo and CF that followed on many of the lower models throughout the '90s. Both Gruhn inspired.

 

[West R Lee]

Personally, I prefer the wide headstock. It is Guild traditional to me. :lol: There was a member here who was convinced the smaller headstocks made the guitar sound better :shock: :? . I do have a couple with the small headstock, and have sold one....a DV52 which sounded incredible, however the DV72 and DV73 have the large headstock, and they sound pretty good too. :wink:

West

 

[Frosty]

On the cosmetic side, I also prefer the pre-Gruhn headstock.

On the sonic side, a Gruhn era rosewood D-60 is one of the
best (IMHO) sounding instruments to bear the Guild logo.

 

[West R Lee]

On the cosmetic side, I also prefer the pre-Gruhn headstock.

On the sonic side, a Gruhn era rosewood D-60 is one of the
best (IMHO) sounding instruments to bear the Guild logo.

Never played one....I'll bet they do sound nice.

West

 

[walrus]

My 1984 D64 has the "co-designed by G. Gruhn" label. It is a great sounding guitar, it is the best acoustic I ever owned (got rid of a Martin D35 to buy it!).

walrus

 

[Gruhn Loon]

I'm a fingerstyle player and as you can see below, I know nothing about dreads. I can vouch for the great sound of the GF 60's I own as well as the GF 50 12. As you would expect the neck width on the six strings is much narrower than on the twelve which more closely resembles the width of an F 50. Headstock on the twelve is done with the Chesterfield inlay, the sixes with the G shield. One of my friends who knows his guitars and is a bit of a Guild aficionado is always amazed by not only the volume of sound these Gruhn's put out, but by the balanced sound, and the quality of the rosewood used. I consider myself lucky to have them.

 

[adorshki]

Personally, I prefer the wide headstock. It is Guild traditional to me. :lol: There was a member here who was convinced the smaller headstocks made the guitar sound better :shock: :?

I remember Bluesypicky and I were joking around about that a while back, but it was purely by way of ribbing each other's tastes in dual pickguards and whether the wide headstock was neccessary to keep Corona D40's from being too bright. :lol: .

 

[Pike]

I own a D66 and a GF25, both great Guilds. The GF25 is one of the earlier scalloped braced models. George says that he designed all the GF25's to have scalloped braces, wonder what changed along the way...There are actually three Guild headstock widths that I know of. For instance my D55 of course has the wide one, my D66 and D40 have the same narrow ones, and the D60 that I had and the GF25 have narrower ones yet...