How much would a decent 1966 D-44 go for?

[walrus]

it sounds amazing!!!

Case closed - buy it!

walrus

 

[donnylang]

If it sounds amazing, buy it. I had a bit of a love/hate with mine because I really liked the feel and many aspects of the sound- but the mellow “folky” quality did not work well for me across the board as my only guitar.

Here is a song I cut with my ‘67 D44, and I think this is a pretty good representation of the sound of that guitar:



Ultimately, I prefer my ‘68 D35 that replaced it.

 

[macriverside]

If it sounds amazing, buy it. I had a bit of a love/hate with mine because I really liked the feel and many aspects of the sound- but the mellow “folky” quality did not work well for me across the board as my only guitar.

Here is a song I cut with my ‘67 D44, and I think this is a pretty good representation of the sound of that guitar:



Ultimately, I prefer my ‘68 D35 that replaced it.

Beautiful video and love the tone of the Guild D44. Thank you for sharing!!

 

[macriverside]

I purchased the 66' D-44. Thank you all for the kind words and awesome advice.

 

[chazmo]

Awesome, Mac!!!!! Looks like a nice choice! Hope to see an NGD photo spread when you have a chance!!!!!

 

[Cougar]

I purchased the 66' D-44. Thank you all for the kind words and awesome advice.

Major congrats and welcome to LTG!

 

[HeyMikey]

Congrats Mac! Looking forward to your review and pics of that old gal.

 

[wileypickett]

Congrats!

We at LTG are great at enabling, as you no doubt have noticed.

We're also great at living vicariously through the purchases of others -- share pics and let us know how you like it!

 

[macriverside]

Congrats!

We at LTG are great at enabling, as you no doubt have noticed.

We're also great at living vicariously though the purchases of others -- share pics and let us know how you like it!

I completely understand and have enjoyed each one advice and comments. It's on layaway as soon as its out and in my hands Ill post pics

 

[bobouz]

If the action feels good right now, you're in business. That saddle looks fine to me when enlarging the photo. During this era, Guild placed the saddle quite close to the bridge pin holes, which gives you a sharp break angle on the strings. Bottom line, you could take that saddle down a bit if need be, and the break angle would still remain within a reasonable ballpark.

This looks like a very nice example - Congrats & Enjoy!

 

[Russell Letson]

Interesting variation on a D-44. All the ones I've run across have been pale pearwood and not stained, as D-40s were during that period. (My '65 D-40 is a deep, almost cherry red.) There were also pearwood Mark classics.

The guitar in the Norm's video also has a reddish-brown color that must be stained, as well as the same design tuners as my '65--basically open-backs under a teardrop-shape dust cover. I've not seen those on many of the older Guilds I've encountered. Another odd (to me) feature is the volute, which my guitar lacks. And the saddle has been replaced or altered--it doesn't go all the way to the end of the through slot on the bass side.

In any case, mid-60s Guilds are very good guitars--better, to my ears, than their 70s descendants, which became a bit overbuilt.

Addendum--after Googling around for photos, I see that most of the 60s D-44 examples are stained, some of them in that familiar near-cherry shade, and that quite a few have volutes. More evidence of variability from the Guild factories.

 

[Br1ck]

Was there a sharp transition in weight or was it gradual? I seem to remember 74 was when things changed, but did they get progressively beefier as the 70s went on, or was it a sudden change?

 

[adorshki]

Was there a sharp transition in weight or was it gradual? I seem to remember 74 was when things changed, but did they get progressively beefier as the 70s went on, or was it a sudden change?

I never heard of a "sudden" change, I always got the impression it was gradual and not all models at the same time, either. But end result was that by early '80's the "built like a tank" rep was born.

Which also started turning around after Gruhn arrived. Always been curious to see how my D25 would compare to something like your D35, weight-wise. I gotta learn how to program that new-fangled digital scale I got last year.

 

[Br1ck]

Well, you have a standing invitation to A/B them any time. Don't people in your household get sick of you sometime?

 

[adorshki]

Well, you have a standing invitation to A/B them any time. Don't people in your household get sick of you sometime?

That'd just be me, but, yes....

And thank you for the standing invitation, sir, I'm actually at a lifestage that looks like it'll afford me the time I didn't have a couple years ago.
Need a couple more weeks to sort some things out, I'll get in touch here via PM.

For that matter I'd also be curious to see what you think of a fully opened up (at its age) Corona D40 from the "built like a tank" school, according to Fender's "Vintage Justified" philosophy of the time.

(Pilzer's article in Vintage Guitar for your convenience)

 

[Russell Letson]

I've long made a point of playing Guilds--especially D-40s--whenever I run across them at a store or show, so I've sampled pretty much every period and factory. And I've found examples I would happily own from just about every one, though fewer from the mid-70s through the 80s than earlier and later periods, and more than I would have predicted from the Corona factory.

I recall being especially taken by a Tacoma F-47M I came across in Langley, WA--a surprise, since I'm generally underwhelmed by maple flat-tops. So one never knows, does one.

 

[valleyguy]

I’m a little late to this dance, but here’s a 1969 for $1,100 In Los Angeles.

https://offerup.com/item/detail/1099661082?q=Guild+guitar

 

[macriverside]

I’m a little late to this dance, but here’s a 1969 for $1,100 In Los Angeles.

https://offerup.com/item/detail/1099661082?q=Guild+guitar

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Br1ck]

We are starting to see prices rise on older Guilds. I have not seen many D 25s at $600-700 like there used to be.

So I go to the classifieds and there's two at $750. Go figure

 

[wileypickett]

We are starting to see prices rise on older Guilds. I have not seen many D 25s at $600-700 like there used to be.

I've also noticed that asking prices for Guilds have been rising over the past year or two. (I use the JF30 12-string -- my first Guild -- as a barometer. I got mine for six bills; you rarely see them going for under a grand these days, at least in decent shape.)

Are they selling for higher prices, or are people just trying to get more for them?