Guild D25 - just received

[travisfling]

Hello All,

I just received a Guild and was looking for some information on it, and this seemed the place to be. I love the sound, it's a Guild d25 serial number 97899, so I believe it's a '74. Original hardshell case and it even has the little leaflet from Guild, telling how to care for the instrument. It's cherry and has a great tone to it. I really like playing it and the action is very nice as well. I've got a Taylor 4 series and a pair of custom made Classical's from Spain and Mexico, and a Tele. Anyway, just wondering if anyone had any neat information on this particular piece. Thanks!

Travis

 

[GardMan]

Travis,
Welcome to LTG! D-25s from the 70s and early 80s hold a bit of cult status in these parts. Incredible sound for what was then Guilds cheapest dreadnaught model! I presume your '74 (which would be the correct date for the SN you provided) has a cherry-stained spruce top, mahogany sides, and an arched mahogany laminated back. If you really want to get into the history of Guilds guitars, I highly suggest getting/borrowing a copy of Hans Moust's "Guild Guitar Book." It has a wealth of info on the guitars and company that made them (up to 1977).

I have a '74 D-25M, a couple thousand up from yours in the SN list, that I picked it up off eBay in the summer of '06. I knew it was a keeper from the first strum. I string it with Jon Pearse light 80/20 lights, and keep it tuned to DADGAD... it just sings! Enjoy!
dave

 

[Graham]

Hey Travis, welcome to LTG.

Bet it looks somethin' like this eh? :wink:

Great acquisition and aside from these guys, who knew they sounded so sweet huh?

 

[travisfling]

HEEEY!!! That's the one! Yeah, I was really surprised... It belonged to a lady who lived down the street from my parents and when she passed her daughter thought that I should have it. She was a big part of the Haight Ashbury movement, and I know it's been played on a few stages out there. I'll have to get with the daughter to hear some stories.

It plays beautifully and it's got that dark stain, just like yours. I'm a fan!!

 

[JerryR]

Hi Travis and welcome Join the vintage Guild club - were there any Guilds after Westerley :?:

(Now that'll stir up the dirt some :mrgreen: )

 

[steverok]

Although sad, that is a really nice way to acquire an instrument. She'll live on when you play her baby!

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

...were there any Guilds after Westerley :?:

(IMNMHO) No!

 

[travisfling]

Yes, very sad indeed. She lent me her 12 string (fender?) when I was growin up... don't know what happened to that one, but it's actually been a few years ago, and I think they were going through some of her stuff, and finally lettin' go. I can't imagine all the places it's been and what it's seen... amazing, really. I know her memory will live on as I play it. I think of her every time I strum a chord.

Apart from that, any ideas on what to watch out for, or any special care it might need? I'm not a luthier by any means, but I'm lucky to have a good one close. (jthomasdavis.com) Anyway, thanks for all the looks and I can't wait to get home and get 'er out again! I thought it would be worth much more, with how nicely it plays and whatnot, but I've seen a few on ebay/craigslist in the 6-900 range...

 

[Graham]

Apart from that, any ideas on what to watch out for, or any special care it might need?

Bridge lifting is somewhat common, easy enough for a good luthier to fix as well though.

As for care, needs to be played quite a bit, doesn't need to be babied but look after her please.

Most of all enjoy. :mrgreen:

 

[krysh]

welcome travis,
great story, play well, play often

 

[travisfling]

Thanks to all for the warm welcomes! Much appreciated and I'll certainly give 'er lots of love, and let her sing her heart out frequently!!!

 

[chazmo]

Travis, that's a wonderful axe to get, and with mojo to boot.

Listen, mahogany is a bear when it comes to humidity. Make sure you get the thing into a humidity controlled environment. If you already have some cracks there due to neglect, get 'em stabilized by a luthier with some braces, and you'll have a guitar for life.

Rock on.

 

[dreadnut]

Welcome, Travis, and congrats on the D-25.

Does it have a flat back or a bowed back? If it has a flat back it's likely a mahogany top, if it's a bowed back it's likely a spruce top. I believe this was right during the transition. Hans says there are some bowed (laminated) back D-25's with mahogany tops, I'd love to play one of those!

 

[sitka_spruce]

Hi and welcome, Travis! Congrats on your guitar, btw. My 12-string is a direct derivative of the archback D25 and I couldn't be happier about it. Wish Guild would bring the D25 and dreadnought 12-string back into production, but I suppose I'll have to keep on dreaming... Not losing any sleep over that these days since I can't keep my hands of my Willy Porter Signature I bought last month - and she sounds sweeter every time I pick her up.

 

[sitka_spruce]

Hi Travis and welcome Join the vintage Guild club - were there any Guilds after Westerley :?:

(Now that'll stir up the dirt some :mrgreen: )

What, are you some bloody psychic?! :twisted:

Seriously, now, those Tacoma ones are far from that bad in my limited, yet hands-on experience. Will definately beat the living daylights out of contemporary Martins and Gibsons at any given pricelevel. Undeniably, though, parts of the sould of Guild certainly flew out the window when that manufacturer of bolt-on electrics swept in.

I should actually be more worried about what the next move will bring; will Tacoma Guilds be the last good Guilds ever made? Can those Connecticut fruit-bowl guys rise to the task and build all solid acoustic the way acoustics are supposed to be made? Will Fender succumb to the dark side and Guilds eventually will recieve the full fruit-bowl treatment too? :shock:

 

[Default]

Hi Travis and welcome Join the vintage Guild club - were there any Guilds after Westerley :?:

(Now that'll stir up the dirt some :mrgreen: )

What, are you some bloody psychic?! :twisted:

Seriously, now, those Tacoma ones are far from that bad in my limited, yet hands-on experience. Will definately beat the living daylights out of contemporary Martins and Gibsons at any given pricelevel. Undeniably, though, parts of the sould of Guild certainly flew out the window when that manufacturer of bolt-on electrics swept in.

I should actually be more worried about what the next move will bring; will Tacoma Guilds be the last good Guilds ever made? Can those Connecticut fruit-bowl guys rise to the task and build all solid acoustic the way acoustics are supposed to be made? Will Fender succumb to the dark side and Guilds eventually will recieve the full fruit-bowl treatment too? :shock:

What do you care? You can't keep your hands off your own willy














porter!

 

[Graham]

Not too many guys I know need a Porter for their Willy. :shock:

 

[Default]

Sometimes you need a Willys for your Porter.

 

[Graham]

What, are you some bloody psychic?! :twisted:

I knew you would say that. :shock:

 

[sitka_spruce]

Sometimes you need a Willys for your Porter.

You guys crack me up like the top of a dehydrated acoustic! :lol:

Now that is a vintage one - but does it beat a Humvee? Hardly.
8)