Js versus Ds

[fretless]

okay... still overthinking guitars. curiosity is okay i guess but i think i'm beginning to understand why it killed the cat!
i'm curious about dreads, because i've generally played maple jumbos, and for the past year or so exclusively Guilds. a '75 F50 and a '94 JF30 12. for the sake of tone and style difference is there any reason to add a dreadnaught to my selection. part of me wants to add a Gibson to the mix, but i just haven't been impressed by them, i just like the idea of it. then the whole back and and side wood discussion just will make you crazy. so... i know it's guitar to guitar, but if i was looking to find something DIFFERENT from my F50, but still pleasing... what should i be looking at? here's what appeals to me the most... Guild D50/55 or possibly a D40, and even though i haven't played any that even touch my Guilds in any form or fashion, just for the sake of diversity,Gibson J45,50,30,35 etc.

also... which back and side wood will be the most different from my maple? i know i'm dealing with generalities here, but i live in a market where the selection is not huge, and advice does help.
oh i also am stuck on these two makers. THANKS!

 

[dreadnut]

See if you can find a DV-52. Or a Tacoma made D-50. And the New Hartford D-50's are essentially a DV-52. All tone monsters, sustain into next week. Different from your F-50: Braced, solid rosewood back and rosewood sides, and the other obvious differences in body style.

Also a big fan of the vintage arch-back spruce top D-25's, huge tone.

 

[killdeer43]

Hard to go wrong with a nice Westerly D50.

Rosewood back and sides, ebony fingerboard/bridge, and just a beautiful, no-frills Guild that sounds great.

Just sayin',
Joe

 

[davismanLV]

I'm sort of in agreement with dreadnut. I think a DV-anything is gonna make you really happy. And just for the record, I'm not FOR overthinking guitars. I'm more in the "moderately thought out and slightly impulsive" corner, if I had to chose a style of action. FOR SURE play it first. Guitars are individuals. Good luck.

 

[Bikerdoc]

While I could be mistaken, I'm thinking you've got this unexplainable urge for a Gibson. I've played a number of J-45's from different years but I never found one that satisfied me. There's been a mystique for me when it comes to the J-45 but I was disappointed. My D-50 and my D-25 do more for me than the J-45 Gibby. However, knowing that every model may sound different the Gibson D-35 I've played was a great sounding guitar. I have a 2009 Gibson Hummingbird Artist Series (no birds on the pick guard) and it's a fine guitar. I also have a Gibson Songwriter Deluxe and I have to say it is magnificent. But again, you takes yer chances with any guitar. However, if I ever decide to get another guitar it won't be anything else but a Guild.
Peace

 

[fretless]

Thanks! this is so not a Guild town, so i appreciate the Advice!

 

[fretless]

i think there are 2 Guilds for sale here. one is a GAD CE, and the other one is an unloved little 12 at GC. y'alls advice is very helpful. thanks! i'm a decent combination of overthinking and impulse, i just need to go to a different town to shop!

 

[fretless]

i think this is where i'm heading. Guilds are about the only guitars i feel comfortable ordering. it wouldn't be to much of an overlap with the F50 BLD, right?

 

[fretless]

thanks, Bikerdoc. you nailed it. i'm happy with my Guilds, but... yeah the unexplainable urge. the newish J45s i've played feel like toys, and the old ones other than being too expensive seem to have more mojo than anything else. i don't Need another guitar (who does) but i'd like to explore the whole dread/dark back and sides since both of mine are jumbo maples and i'd like to mess around with something a lot different sonically. in the long run it will probably turn out to be a westerly D50. thanks so much for weighing in. you definitely have me pegged!

 

[Wilfred]

Well, I love the looks of jumbos, but prefer the feel of dreads (and they're certainly not visually inferior). Really different beasts and the only way to get your question answered is to try, try and try again until someting 'clicks'.

 

[guildman63]

I can't offer any advice on dreads as I prefer the grand orchestra myself. As for feeling the need to get a Gibson, there are some that are very good, but others that I have played that were very unimpressive (aside from the price!). If you play one that you love that is one thing, but to me Guild's are much more consistent, and typically less expensive while having every bit of the quality of a better Gibson. That makes buying one without previously playing it much less of a gamble. Just my 2 cents. Best of luck!

 

[fretless]

I agree. I trust Guild, and all the J45s I've played seem overpriced and underwhelming. there's a D50 with my name on it somewhere. Thanks for weighing in!

 

[davismanLV]

I thought you already had an F50 and were looking for a dread?

 

[fretless]

Oops...D 50. Thanks for paying attention! Will edit when I get to a real computer

 

[Bikerdoc]

I just took a look at the Guild slope shoulder 12.......WOW!!!! I have to get some place to play one of those.

 

[dreadnut]

You're looking at vintage I assume.

 

[fretless]

I can't afford vintage Gibsons(or new) so probably '90s. In Guilds I'm more familiar with the Westerlys, and there are some D50 s that I could probably afford. Are there any model years after Fender that you could recommend?

 

[davismanLV]

Did you see that ad for the Sunburst D50 that someone posted recently? Craigslist ad, I think. I forgot who posted it but, that guitar is GORGEOUS!!!

 

[Christopher Cozad]

Did you see that ad ... that guitar is GORGEOUS!!!

As brother Tom reminds us, 'tis the season to be enabling. ;~}

fretless, I believe Tom is referring to this ad:

http://syracuse.craigslist.org/msg/4240545216.html

 

[adorshki]

I can't afford vintage Gibsons(or new) so probably '90s. In Guilds I'm more familiar with the Westerlys, and there are some D50 s that I could probably afford. Are there any model years after Fender that you could recommend?

Fretless: Technically "After Fender" would be from mid '95 when the actual acquisition occurred, and there's a strong contingent here including myself who believe that that "late Westerly" period of '96-'01 was probably Guild's finest.
One of our founding members, Hideglue, was there at the time and has described how Fender instituted some measures to ensure that existing QC standards were consistently applied and followed, resulting in the highest overall quality of production in Westerly's history. The underlying message was that prior to the Fender takeover, the inconsistency was the weak point. Essentially, little things could be missed in the absence of a master checklist until Fender took over, after which it was as good as it could get.
If by :"After Fender" you were thinking of Coroana onward, well: seen a lot of love for D40's from Corona and after, and flatback 'hog is about as far as you can get from archback maple.
Off the top of my head '07 Tacomas in general seem to get a lot of love and mentions, but maybe there were just more of 'em built.
:wink: