Guild D40 Bluegrass Jubilee

[PreacherBob]

Greetings to all. I just purchased a 2008 D40 Bluegrass Jubilee from an older gentleman from Tennessee that had closed his bluegrass shop in Tennessee some years ago. He’s moving forward in moving his old stock. It’s new in the case and is unplayed, still had the original strings, no blemishes or scratches, very glossy. It has a factory installed pickup. Serial # suggests it was the final produced in Tacoma before moving to Connecticut. I thought $1500 was a fair deal. It’s sounds amazing, much better than the D40 standard snake head I had in the mid 90’s. So my question is for you guys, he said the top was Adirondack and red spruce scalloped bracing, and the it will sound better once it was played a lot. Well I thought it sounds amazing now. Will that improve? So it’s not the age of the 14 year old top, it’s more or less the mileage I put on it? How many miles before the top opens up? If it never improves at all I’m very happy with the sound I’m getting now. I can hear every string and note in the chord when I strum, I’ve never experienced that over the many guitars I’ve owned Guitars. It’s that going to get even better? Thanks!

 

[SFIV1967]

June 1, 2008 price list:



2006 catalog:



Ralf

 

[PreacherBob]

June 1, 2008 price list:



2006 catalog:



Ralf

Wow thanks. i don’t know how you guys find this info, but thanks. So I’m guessing I at least got a reasonable deal based on the original pricing, especially with the pickup and all the paperwork. I don’t do much research I wasn’t sure if I paid too much. So with the lacquer finish it’s obviously thinner than polys and such so I need to take care in protecting it.

 

[davismanLV]

The used market is SKY HIGH right now. GREAT time to sell, not so much to BUY. I think you got a killer deal on a virtually new D40 and those that came from Tacoma are known to be amazing!! And yeah, if you like the way it sounds now, just play the hell out of it and you're gonna love it even more!! Congrats, and welcome to LTG!

 

[PreacherBob]

The used market is SKY HIGH right now. GREAT time to sell, not so much to BUY. I think you got a killer deal on a virtually new D40 and those that came from Tacoma are known to be amazing!! And yeah, if you like the way it sounds now, just play the hell out of it and you're gonna love it even more!! Congrats, and welcome to LTG!

Thanks Im feeling a lot better about it today. That was my other thing. I know that Guild moved around multiple times, I wasn’t sure if the Tacoma guitars were considered dependable. I had switched over to rosewood years ago for the power and that was awesome, however later realized how much I missed the midrange of mahogany when playing and singing solo. I really lean on the midrange to follow pitch as I’ve heard many singer songwriters prefer mahogany, I see a lot of soloist use the Gibson hummingbird for the same reason. (or maybe I’m just tone deaf )

 

[Cougar]

I think you got a killer deal on a virtually new D40 and those that came from Tacoma are known to be amazing!!

Yep. In other words, that was a steal for a killer dread! Major congrats and welcome to the boards!

 

[davismanLV]

I really lean on the midrange to follow pitch as I’ve heard many singer songwriters prefer mahogany, I see a lot of soloist use the Gibson hummingbird for the same reason. (or maybe I’m just tone deaf )

IF you're tone deaf (I know it was a joke) but ask your friends and see. If so, maybe singing is not for you. Doesn't mean you can't write or imagine tunes.... you just can't carry them out.

 

[Br1ck]

A friend has had four or five Tacomas, still has an F 312, and has been trying to buy back a D 40 for the last twenty years. I've never had an adi top on a guitar, but a mandolin I built added a ton of warmth to the low end over around three years of heavy use. The bass was weak at the start and filled out as time went on. It may not be dramatic but it will probably be noticable to you. Those that know will tell you it varies guitar to guitar.

 

[chazmo]

You got yourself a beauty there, Bob. Congratulations. Yes, the soundboard and braces are red spruce (Adirondack), and that's just a wonderful model. Will the sound get better over time? You'll be the judge of that. Keep good strings on there (whatever strikes your fancy) and you've got a lifetime guitar right there. Original strings were D'Addario coated (EXP) strings. The latest version of these are called "XT" and they have a new coating. Personally, I'd go with uncoated.

I didn't know there were NOS Tacoma-built instruments out there, but this is wonderful. Yes, you got a great price!

 

[dreadnut]

Sweet! I think Tacoma built some of the nicest Guilds.

 

[richt54]

I love the sound of my New Hartford D-50. I think that the Adi tops and bracing is what makes them special. Great find, great price.

 

[gjmalcyon]

Ya stole it. Congrats on a fantastic guitar that will only get better. I have two Tacoma-built Guilds and they're excellent. The guitars that came out of Tacoma are highly-regarded.

 

[Wellington]

Oof that's a nice guitar, don't worry about the finish in my opinion, just enjoy it, if it gets finish checking it's just signs of being enjoyed. Welcome to the D40 club.

 

[valleyguy]

Congrats on a steal, those are fabulous guitars.

 

[Razz]

I had been playing my BG-Jubilee for about 18 months and thought in sounded great. The guitar put out huge sound at the bluegrass jams. One day, shortly after a change of strings (the same that I always use) I pulled the guitar out of the case for some practice. To my delighted surprise the guitar's sound had filled out like I could not have imagined. The sound was rounder, fuller and generally more mature. It sounded like a different, even better sounding guitar. Yes, the sound will improve after you play it for a while.