Guild D-40

[Heath]

Laminate doesn't equal bad in any quality guitar.

A great example would be an all laminate 70's vintage red label Nippon Gakki Yamaha FG-75 vs a similar vintage all solid woods Harmony Stella, the Yamaha has rather magical tone to the Harmony's somewhat dubious "cheap guitar tone".

Some of my favorite (and best!) sounding guitars are old Nippon Gakki Yamaha’s. I have a ‘71 FG180 that just sounds amazing. Better than half my guilds. Chimes like a bell.

 

[Br1ck]

A friend has not one, but two Linda Manzer arch top guitars. One is useless for jazz gigs. It is way too resonant. Miced up quiet gigs only. So he had another built with laminate, the only way to build her archtop if any kind of volume was needed. It wasn't any cheaper for sure. Ply is only one aspect of making an import not a great guitar. Heavy finishes being another. The list goes on. All ply is not equal for sure. But the OPs decision was based on what every guitar purchase should be, playing the guitar. Otherwise you are basing a buy based on hype.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Such players are just demonstrating their ignorance or unwillingness to change

Or that they can afford pricey jazz boxes.

Now where'd I put my old D'Angelico? . . .

 

[Boneman]

Yea, a lot is made of solid vs. laminate, and for me, I’m not a snob, I can appreciate either. My Martin DM has laminated hog back and sides, it’s a wonderful instrument.

Having said that, I sure would love to get a D40 traditional, plus it seems that and the F40 traditional are the only USA made Guilds with the Chesterfield as well. Somehow all my Guilds have the Chesterfield, and I could keep it that way Then again, maybe I get the Jumbo since I have enough dreads.

 

[chazmo]

Boneman, I was a dread guy most of my life until I was finally exposed to the rounded (two-bouted) folk-style guitars and, especially, the Guild jumbos.

I haven't played the new F-40 models (jumbos), but they look great. Also, if you can get your hands on a pre-Oxnard F-40 or F-30, they're not jumbos, but they are wonderful too. I think it's a sound you'll either take to or you won't, but -- as a dread lover -- I can tell you it's worth trying!

 

[PreacherBob]

i have several laminate guitars that have ended up keepers for me. The best I have played has been with me many years. I’ve resuscitated it from the dead several times. It’s played everywhere from beaches, pubs, and street corners. Garth Brooks started with this one, as he still endorses Takamine. Springsteen played a laminate back Takamine as well, the EF341C. Country singer Craig Morgan endorses Takamine and plays the laminate backs. I’ve seen the All American made Merle Haggard with one. This old laminate back I have, cedar top N10 sounds as great as my D35. I’ve cleaned it so many times the original satin is glossy. Not much of any finish left on the back of the neck though. It’s either the way they are pressure glued or maybe the selection of the woods, not sure.

 

[Br1ck]

The so and so pro plays an XYZ guitar phenomena should be taken with a 25 lb. sack of salt. These guys realize they could play anything in the context of a band, and a lot of what makes a great acoustic is detrimental to a live mix. Guys, they are being paid. A lot. Takamine and Taylor are both companies with huge artist budgets. Pete Townsend played a black Takamine on a Who tour once. Six month's prior, the rep went to the dealers taking orders, ten guitar limit. Five or six dates into the tour, the guitars were sold out everywhere. The guy that told me this story said they could have easily sold twenty guitars. No one wanted the natural version. Such is the strength of star power. We never know if the artist is playing an off the shelf guitar either. To think that an artist walked into a store and picked any guitar to take on tour based on the guitar is naive. Ten guitars times every Tak dealer is a lot of profit dollars.

 

[Roland]

If we're comparing the Oxnard D-20 with the D-40, please note that a mahogany top (D-20) vs. spruce (D-40) is a huge difference in tone. Otherwise, another big difference is that the D-20 uses a varnish whereas the D-40 is finished with satin nitrocellulose lacquer. At least I think so... Not 100% sure about that.

Also, I think both of these guitars use a mortise and tenon neck joint with the body. That is an Oxnard thing. Guilds of the past used dovetail joints.

I agree; let sound and playability be your guide! Comparing specs is only a starting point.

I was looking at the Guild site and under the specs for the D-20 is shows a Satin Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish as well. Is that something new or is it a misprint?

 

[D30Man]

Okay, update, today is my birthday and we went back to the big city in search of a new Guild. I came home with a D-20 sunburst. I traded the D-240 and I feel like I got a pretty fair deal in the trade.

Happy belated. My 46th birthday was on the 3rd. That is a beautiful birthday gift! I love the antique burst on those D-20's. I have played probably 3 or 4 D-20's at various stores. All were winners. All hog is just a simple and beautiful formula. So understated yet so perfect. Congrats!

 

[D30Man]

Laminate doesn't equal bad in any quality guitar.

Stereotypes are just a thing that help people categorize things they don't know much about so there's less mental gymnastics involved, you already know what it is before you really know anything about it.

A great example would be an all laminate 70's vintage red label Nippon Gakki Yamaha FG-75 vs a similar vintage all solid woods Harmony Stella, the Yamaha has rather magical tone to the Harmony's somewhat dubious "cheap guitar tone".

The Yamaha makes a great and loud campfire guitar. The Stella works well for some voice accompaniment, but doesn't have much volume or projection.

My neighbor has a 70's MIJ Red label Yamaha acoustic. All lam. Holds its own in any picking circle. Great guitar.

 

[D30Man]

Yes and let's face it, lam guits are so easy to take care of - not as concerned with impact from the elements.. At NAMM I played a couple of JW brand ( same co. as stagg ) all lam acoustics as well as some Vintage UK brand acoustics. They sounded pretty damn good, had nice electronics and would serve anyone well on the gig. Let's face it, a good design is a good design. However, there is still a certain feeling holding an all / partially solid wood guit in your hand. That is the beauty of being a GAS-induced guitar lover. You can have as many flavors as your pocket book will allow.

 

[D30Man]

Some of my favorite (and best!) sounding guitars are old Nippon Gakki Yamaha’s. I have a ‘71 FG180 that just sounds amazing. Better than half my guilds. Chimes like a bell.

I think that is the model my neighbor has. Is yours a three piece back with a maple section?

 

[Br1ck]

Doesn't the D 40 Traditional have a dovetail joint? The quality improvements on the lower end made in USA guitars and the upper end imports in the last decade or two is remarkable. Especially when you realize a D 18 out the door is $3k now. More interesting to me is the contrast between the old and the new Guilds. The Guilds I'm most interested in, pre 73, are now on par with brand new as far as price goes, as you have to really view them as needing work, or paying a premium for work already done. That Hoboken D 40 isn't going to end up costing what you paid unless you get lucky. So a hassle free great sounding D 20 makes a lot of sense for worry free enjoyment. Everyone needs an all mahogany guitar.

 

[Heath]

I think that is the model my neighbor has. Is yours a three piece back with a maple section?

No, the 180 is a one piece back. But what a great, great sound.

 

[wileypickett]

Here's a Guild -- sort of -- with a laminate top:

1970s Madeira by Guild A-40 Acoustic Guitar - musical instruments -...

This 1970s Japanese Madeira A-40 plays and sounds fantastic, delivering what you would expect from a jumbo bodied acoustic. The rich full tone has a pleasing crispness and a fine balance that make...

providence.craigslist.org

I had a dreadnaught Medeira some years ago, which wasn't bad, but wasn't good enough to keep either. Haven't stumbled across any jumbos.

 

[Tom O]

My 2003 Corona D-40 is a keeper. Here is a new review on an Oxnard D-40