Iconic arched back pays tribute to Guild's early acoustics.

Roland

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I have a Guild D-240e. I like the guitar and for no particular reason I like the arched back. I have a Taylor GS Mini as well and it too has an arched back. A fellow who wanted to talk about them the other day said that to arch the back like that they have to use laminates and I'm not sure what that has to do with it but he was pretty clear that it meant something to him. People have asked me why I have arched backs on both my guitars and my only answer is because they came with it, but I'm sure there is more to it. So that is why I'm posting the thread. Two questions, why are they iconic and what do they do for me?

I'm new here, so I might just say I'm glad I found you all. I'm in the Midwest and I'm into Old Time Music and Bluegrass. I'm a flatpicker and play in the Carter style. I also enjoy standing on the corner at farmers markets and street festivals sharing my music with anyone who will listen. Yes, I have even stood on the corner in Winslow, AZ, but just long enough to get my picture taken.
 

Guildedagain

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It's obvious.

It's a conversation starter ;]

It also makes it so your guitar can't lay flat on its back, a mild annoyance.

It's a girl my Lord, in a flatbed Ford ;]

I hitch hiked trough the SW about that time, some very nice memories ;]


The reason people whine about laminate backs and laminates in general is just everyday jealousy, and condescension.

They wish they had one, and they have something better.


Guild was a quite famous for its arched back, the science of which is as nebulous to me as black holes in the Milky Way, but I think Nigel Tuffnel would describe it as "Louder, like 1 louder, you know" ;]
 

Rambozo96

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My 77’ G-37 and 86’ D-25 are arched backs and have a certain added low end punch that’s hard to describe. My D-35 and D-44 flat backs have noticeably more treble
 

dreadnut

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Yeah, it's the low end Ram. It really rises above the others in that category. In fact, I think it sounds better than my (son's) DV52.

It's nice for picking out basslines, rhythms, and harmonies on the lower strings. It has sufficient volume so the rest of the band doesn't need to back off.
 

Cougar

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I have a Guild D-240e. I like the guitar and for no particular reason I like the arched back. I have a Taylor GS Mini as well and it too has an arched back.
Welcome to the boards and congrats on your D240E! I'm surprised to hear that GS Mini has an arched back. Taylor must have copied the idea from Guild :p, which has been producing archbacks for a long time. My JF30-12 12-string also has a laminate, braceless archback... Perhaps the archback focuses the vibes back to the solid top because it seems to give out a very full and loud sound.
 

Roland

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The GS Mini is very popular and has a big sound for such a small guitar. I have to wonder if it comes from the arched back. I had a Yamaha concert size that I could never get every excited about and then I found the Guild and traded the Yamaha. I had never thought about it before, but yesterday I compared the two and it seems that other than some differences in trim and the size they are both built the same. The profile of the backs is just alike. I like them both a lot. I particularly like the Fishman pickup in the Guild.
 

marius

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I'm surprised to hear that GS Mini has an arched back. Taylor must have copied the idea from Guild :p
I believe Taylor uses an arched back entirely on the lower end of their lineup including the GS Mini, the Academy Series and 100/200 series.
They market their laminates as “affordable”, which probably reinforces the idea that laminates are only used on “cheap” guitars.
 

Prince of Darkness

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A fellow who wanted to talk about them the other day said that to arch the back like that they have to use laminates and I'm not sure what that has to do with it but he was pretty clear that it meant something to him.
This is not strictly true. Arch backs (and arch tops) can also be carved from solid wood, though this is much more expensive :unsure:
 
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