Guild D 55 Compared to Martin D 28

Wulfthar

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The new "re-imagined" D-28 has scalloped braces, I think that model was used in the comparison.
 

jklemm18

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I played an HD28 in the store when I bought my D55 and the D55 sounded better.
 

GGJaguar

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I thought the re-imagined D-28 has forward-shifted straight bracing, not scalloped.
 

Neal

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This is typical of every A/B comparison I have ever done of equivalent Martins and Guilds.

Martins have a scooped midrange, are generally pretty dark down low, and have a lot of chime in the trebles. Quick note attack. Punchy.

Guilds are generally brighter guitars, and a lot more balanced. Smoother attack.

if I were flatpicking bluegrass, I would prefer the D-28. For everything else? The D-55.
 
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Cougar

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I played an HD28 in the store when I bought my D55 and the D55 sounded better.
You're going to fit right in here, JK! :D (y)

I didn't listen, but generally Martins are just so.... plain. I like a little bling! Abalone rosette? Yes! Something other than a plain dot fret marker? Yes! Emeralds on the tuning posts? Well, OK, that's extra. :p

f50r562.jpg
 

F312

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You're going to fit right in here, JK! :D (y)

I didn't listen, but generally Martins are just so.... plain. I like a little bling! Abalone rosette? Yes! Something other than a plain dot fret marker? Yes! Emeralds on the tuning posts? Well, OK, that's extra. :p

f50r562.jpg

I have seen this guitar before. How are the emeralds placed on the post? Would like to see a close-up, top, and side if you have such pictures to share. The emeralds add a nice touch, without looking gaudy at all.

Ralph
 

Br1ck

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Application, application, application. That and the guitar you had when you got your first girlfriend.
 

Cougar

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I have seen this guitar before. How are the emeralds placed on the post? Would like to see a close-up, top, and side if you have such pictures to share. The emeralds add a nice touch, without looking gaudy at all.
Yeah, I show it off a lot, lol. The top of the posts are slightly indented, and the emeralds are glued into the indention. Same with the bridge pins. The guitar came this way. Looks like I need a new photo shoot for this guitar!

f50r560.jpg

f50r553-b.jpg
 

Rich Cohen

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As GAD would say, "Wowzie!" That's one hella of a bootiful (as they say in south Philly) geeataar you got there Cougar! I bet it sounds just as good as it looks. Man o man. More pics please... more shots of those tuners and pins, close up! Show us the back and sides. :love:
 

F312

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Oh, I never knew the bridge pins were emerald also.

Ralph
 

Peter Z

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It this fair? Isn't the D28 a lower model than the Guild D55?

I’d say it is is fair. They are two takes of spruce/rosewood dreads from two companies.
A comparison with the HD-28 would also be interesting since both the D55 and the HD-28 have scalloped bracings. Still that does mean the will sound the same.
I think, the D55 is more like a Martin 40 series. But most say, the ‘better’ wood of the 40s is just better looking and has no influence on the sound. That means, the comparison is ok.
 

Br1ck

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The D 55 is one of the best all around dreads out there. I love them, but for a hard driving string band, nothing much can beat a Martin dread. Pick one. There is however, a lot of other styles out there. And once again, the answer is one of every kind of guitar. At a bare minimum you need a Martin dread, an old Gibson slope, a Guild 12 string, a small hog, Santa Cruz1929 00 if you have money. That will get you started and you can fill in with a maple jumbo, an OM or 000, and a mahogany equivalent of every rosewood guitar, then buy a 20s 00 18. At some point you need a Dobro. So get crackin'.
 

twocorgis

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I think they're both great, but two completely different guitars. I agree with what Neal said above. A lot of it is what kind of tone sounds better to your ears. Me? I've had a couple of D55s pass through here (one Westerly, one New Hartford), and while they are great, they're not for me. But then again, neither are D or HD28s. Now my D18DC OTOH...
 

Jim

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Nice shootout! I hear the wood in the Martin. Excellent note separation. I just hear the strings in the Guild. No note separation just slush.
 
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