How do they hold up to the competition?

[killdeer43]

Steffan,
You're beginning to remind me of my Dad.
Whichever car was in the garage was "the best," but he was always looking for the next "best" one! :lol:

Just enjoy the ride, eh?
Joe

 

[West R Lee]

At the Arlington Guitar Show, I found a very nice couple (Custom Shop Guitars) who were kind enough to allow me to take what they descibed as a select Collings rosewood guitar into the hall where it was quiet. The lady and my wife accompanied me. I spent about 20 minutes with that $4200 guitar, and it was very nice. To be honest, I've got about 3 Guilds that I personally think sounded better. The Collings had a very conservative beauty, very nice action, but just didn't blow me away.

I'll stick with my Westerlys.

West

 

[killdeer43]

I'll stick with my Westerlys.

West

Otherwise, you might need a new screen name. :wink:

Joe

 

[West R Lee]

I'll stick with my Westerlys.

West

Otherwise, you might need a new screen name. :wink:

Joe

Yep....Col. Lings just doesn't sound right.

West

 

[dayuhan]

I'm hoping to check out the D-40, D-50, and D-55 models.

The Ds are wonderful but somewhere along the line you owe it to yourself to try a jumbo, maybe an F50 or F50R. You may find yourself converted...

 

[taabru45]

Yeah.......they ARE big...bold......and beautiful....not too loud for their size, but all kinds of tone in those babies.........Steffan

 

[bluesypicky]

The Ds are wonderful but somewhere along the line you owe it to yourself to try a jumbo, maybe an F50 or F50R. You may find yourself converted...

Ahhhhh, the F50R! Thanks for reminding me dayuhan...... :evil:

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

PS: Frono- Is the civil war over?
I lived in the South shortly (the real South, not South Fl. :wink: ) and couldn't tell for sure.... :? :shock: :lol:

Grot, if you know the answer to that question, does that mean that you, too, have lived the Real South? If the answer is yes, are you talkin' about
South Jersey??? :lol: :lol:

Nope, Central Jersey! But I've spent a lot of time in Mount Airy NC. They got a lot of "damn" yankees there too!

 

[gilded]

Grot, if you know the answer to that question, does that mean that you, too, have lived the Real South? If the answer is yes, are you talkin' about
South Jersey??? :lol: :lol:

Nope, Central Jersey! But I've spent a lot of time in Mount Airy NC. They got a lot of "damn" yankees there too!

Actually, some of my best friends are Yankees........ :lol: :shock:

 

[Rockinb23]

Once again thanks for all the help and info, I've got my eye on some of the D40's on ebay right now but we will see.

 

[devellis]

Guilds are different from boutique and luthier-built guitars. They have a different kind of allure. A Santa Cruz is feather-light and responds if you just breathe across the strings. Guilds can be very responsive but in a different way. Both types of guitars are great in my judgment, but fairly different. A Guild -- even a new one -- has a sort of vintage vibe in both its looks and sound. Not vintage in the sense of Martins, but perhaps more like '50s Gibsons. There's a wonderful sort of brashness about them. They also have a really solid feel. You (OP) should definitely check them out.

 

[Rockinb23]

Well I just bought a 2009 Guild D40 Bluegrass Jubilee in mint condition from Rocky at Streetsounds so I will report back in about a week. Thanks again for the info and help. I look forward to playing this instrument, I'm going to have a K&K Pure Mini Pickup installed on it.

 

[hojo199]

I like to think of it as what stays in the cases and what stays on the stands.

Here is the answer: the Guild D30 never leaves the stand and makes it to every gig. The Gibson J45 hasn't seen the light of day in a month. My Taylor, I left in Florida to play when I see my folks -- it's not even HERE anymore. The Martin D28 (which I have had for decades) comes and goes. The Guild J30-12 and Guild DV-52 are also on stands most of the time.

So there you go folks who are keeping score:
Gibson= 0
Taylor= 0
Martin= 1
Guilds= 3

As for new guitars, the Gibson and Taylor are new (2006); the DV-52 is a '97, the rest are older. While the Gibson has "that Gibson tone," it will be years and years until it does what the D30 or D28 do. The Taylor is generic sounding -- real nice, but like any decent guitar. I really prefer the tone of an older instrument.

Hope this helps and, welcome!