Guild sunbursts

[jciampa]

All this talk about which finish everyone prefers got me thinking about the various sunbursts Guild has offered over the years.

It is my understanding that my guitar, a 1981 D-25SB, was made during a period when Guild was generally applying its darkest sunburst finishes, similar to what you'd see on an old Gibson. I've included two photos of my guitar for comparison, because it's often difficult to get a photo of a sunburst finish that's representative of the actual guitar (both shots appear slightly different).

I know I'm biased, but I've always liked this darker shade, though I know some prefer a lighter contrast such as the new "ice tea" finishes Guild is offering.

I'm anxious to see what other sunburst owners post for photos, with the hope being whether we can see patterns arise showing that Guild did, in fact, employ different sunburst finishes though its various eras.

Regards,
John

[img:600:800]http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/7104/1981guildd25029ov8.jpg[/img][img:600:800]http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/7121/1981guildd25037fn2.jpg[/img]

 

[Graham]

When I first went on my hunt for a new guitar, that is what I had in mind for a burst. Just like the J-45, very nice jc.

 

[West R Lee]

John,

You really want to know? Seriously....I think that's about the best looking D25 I've ever seen.....and I mean that. I love it.

West

 

[FNG]

I love this one..a 2000 JF-55-12.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y157/a ... LDJF55.jpg

 

[Jeff]

Lucky for Jerry My D 25 didn't look like yours JC, don't know if I could have parted with it.

 

[Graham]

I love this one..a 2000 JF-55-12.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y157/a ... LDJF55.jpg

That's sweet.

Hey West, you HAVE to get a pic up of your D-55. I remember the pic on the Podium website, you know the one, the one I showed you just before you pushed me down and bought the guitar, you remember don't you?????

That was a great photo of our guitar, that you are holding for me..... :lol:

 

[West R Lee]

Yes I do Graham. I'll try and take a good one an post. You're not going to believe what I did to that thing.

When the bridge pin came out of the case compartment in shipping, it put a dent, deep scratch really, right under the bridge in the darkest part of the sunburst, black part really. Well, that spruce is pretty light underneath and I just couldn't stand it. The guitar was spotless otherwise, and the best sounding D55 I've ever played.

Our very own Dudley Smith checked with a luthier friend of his, and I had planned to drive the D55 down to South Louisiana to him, then Dud offered to drop her off back here in Texas on his way to his next Dallas gig. Long story a little shorter. I couldn't find the time to drive her down there. This ding still driving me crazy.

Then one day, I was rummaging through a junk drawer here at home, and come across some black colored nitrocellulose lacquer paint used to touch up a car. I figured what the heck, can't hurt anything. Doesn't look too bad. I'm sure one of these wise guys will writre back and tell me how I've ruined the entire guitar. It will make the top cave in or something.

Anyway, I don't feel quite the sense of urgency anymore, but will get her properly repaired one day.

West

 

[dreadnut]

West, I fixed my D-25 soundhole laquer chips with some perfectly color matched nail polish Mrs. Dred had on hand It's hard as, well, nails.

That is one pretty guitar John. My buddy has a D-35 looks like that, its a '76, I believe they called that "tobacco sunburst"?

 

[RT 66]

Hi JC
This looks like a good spot for a first post.
My 77 D35's Burst finish is nowhere black like yours. It is closer to a golden brown on the border and a nice amber tint in the middle. I would call it a two tone. Probably the tobacco burst finish I heard mention.
Did they offer different "Burst" finishes in a typical year, or just the one?
Anyways, I love it.
Sort of reminds me of my first guitar as a teen except the action isn't 3'' off the fingerboard, and it don't sound like your playing on strings stetched across 3/8 plywood. I did like the color though. On the up side, it made my left hand strong sometime after they quit bleeding.
I wonder why I kept playing the stupid thing.

Frank R.

 

[sitka_spruce]

Same thing with my D-212. It's as if it was finished with black and brown rather than black and orange.

 

[Abalone]

I love this one..a 2000 JF-55-12.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y157/a ... LDJF55.jpg

Thats actually my JF-55-12 :lol: :lol: 8) 8)

Here are some more pics 8)

[img:968:648]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y157/abalonee/525.jpg[/img]

[img:800:536]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y157/abalonee/619.jpg[/img]

[img:800:536]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y157/abalonee/621.jpg[/img]

[img:968:648]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y157/abalonee/618.jpg[/img]

[img:816:612]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y157/abalonee/2004_0928Image0006.jpg[/img]

 

[Graham]

That's beautiful!

 

[guildzilla]

Actually, I see a correlation between the color variations in Guild sunbursts and the trends in woodwork generally. Fashion, if you will. Light tones in the 60's, getting darkest in the late-70's and then gradually lightening up again.

With cabinets, woodwork and furniture, very dark walnut finishes were the most popular finishes until around 1980, when oak finishes began to predominate. Finally, by the 1990's people were buying light maple cabinets.

Guild color tones tend to follow these trends. Not just on the sunburst tops, either. The Hoboken mahogany-bodied Mark guitars, for instance, have a lighter, redder finish, compared to dark-brown finishes on the same guitars from Westerly 15 years later.

Also, the D-25M makes its auspicious debut just as those colors became more broadly fashionable. Very distinctive, dark 70's shades, top, sides and back. Those colors create the nostaligic allure the D-25M's have.

 

[jciampa]

Actually, I see a correlation between the color variations in Guild sunbursts and the trends in woodwork generally. Fashion, if you will. Light tones in the 60's, getting darkest in the late-70's and then gradually lightening up again.

With cabinets, woodwork and furniture, very dark walnut finishes were the most popular finishes until around 1980, when oak finishes began to predominate. Finally, by the 1990's people were buying light maple cabinets.

Guild color tones tend to follow these trends. Not just on the sunburst tops, either. The Hoboken mahogany-bodied Mark guitars, for instance, have a lighter, redder finish, compared to dark-brown finishes on the same guitars from Westerly 15 years later.

Also, the D-25M makes its auspicious debut just as those colors became more broadly fashionable. Very distinctive, dark 70's shades, top, sides and back. Those colors create the nostaligic allure the D-25M's have.

That's very interesting, Doug. And I think you're spot-on in terms of Guild's color schemes through the years, with the lighter bursts appearing through the mid-70s and darker colors lasting until the mid-80s. It seems there were a lot of three-tone cherry sunbursts appearing during the late-80s that again darkened into "antique" bursts (see Abalone's guitar) in the 90s and beyond.

Great thread and I appreciate all the kind words and thoughtful responses!

 

[Dr Izza Plumber]

I love this one..a 2000 JF-55-12.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y157/a ... LDJF55.jpg

I'd love to own that one! :shock:

 

[Abalone]

I love this one..a 2000 JF-55-12.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y157/a ... LDJF55.jpg

I'd love to own that one! :shock:

Not to put GASoline on your fire, but this JF-55-12 is such an amazing sounding guitar! Simple the best guitar I've played of them all.

Not the best recording with my digital camera but here are two videos with me playing it. A Springsteen&Young song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASxVacU67Ps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9p-V3eoLPE

 

[Graham]

Fabulous Magnus :!:

The Springsteen was especially good, to me.

 

[Guildmark]

Utmärkt!

 

[jp]

Duktig, du Magnus! 8)

Visste inte att du också kunde lite svenska Guildmark.

 

[West R Lee]

Ya vul!

Von West