Need any info on guitar, quick!

[california]

I think I know this guitar. Unless there were more than one, the shot of the back is identical to one that I bought from Bargainland Discounters and re-sold on eBay in January, I would doubt that there were too many out there with the same unusual back. Very nice guitar, decent tone, the wood grain on the back is killer. There was some slight issue but I honestly don't remember what it was; I am writing ths from home, will look for more info and picks when I get to my office. The picture below is from the current lisiting, look at the pattern on the back. West, if you're reading this, you'll probably remember the guitar.

 

[West R Lee]

If I recall, didn't you post some pictures of the unique wood grain on the back Cal?

West

 

[california]

If I recall, didn't you post some pictures of the unique wood grain on the back Cal?

West

Sure did... I couldn't find the listing in the LTG archive, but I did find a link to the expired eBay listing dated January 11. When I get to my office I'll look for pictures -- this really looks like the same guitar. If it is, I'll post some thoughts on how it played.

 

[california]

I found a picture in my photobucket account from when we comparing the rosewood to my Cocobolo T5. The grain is similar, but I don't think it is the same -- if anything the one in the new listing looks nicer. They must have found a great batch of woods for these guitars. I didn't keep it because while it was nice, it didn't have the presence of either of my Guild dreads. It did have a great neck, beautiful woods, and the dual Fishman worked great. If electronics and a cutaway are important, go for it, a guitar that looks this good can only go up in value.

Mine:

From the listing:

 

[JerryR]

I was interested until I heard the plywood comment. Anything over $500.00 for a used plywood guitar is too much. And with the smart axx attitude I wouldn't want to do any business with that jerk. Well that’s my 2cents. Good luck

Didn't notice a plywood comment - did Guild ever make any with plywood? Still under about $350 I notice so looks like most bidders are wary :!:

 

[capnjuan]

Still under about $350 I notice so looks like most bidders are wary :!:

Seller's attitude, displayed in the Q&A at the bottom, can't be helping.
cj

 

[hideglue]

I was interested until I heard the plywood comment. Anything over $500.00 for a used plywood guitar is too much. And with the smart axx attitude I wouldn't want to do any business with that jerk. Well that’s my 2cents. Good luck

Didn't notice a plywood comment - did Guild ever make any with plywood? Still under about $350 I notice so looks like most bidders are wary :!:

I like to think of them as 'laminate'
You know, like 'used' vs. 'pre-owned'

 

[Jeff]

I was interested until I heard the plywood comment. Anything over $500.00 for a used plywood guitar is too much. And with the smart axx attitude I wouldn't want to do any business with that jerk. Well that’s my 2cents. Good luck

Plywood ?? You guys referring to my comment on Rosewood laminate.

I'm of the impression Guild built many plywood guitars. Laminate is such a gentler term.

I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure Guild used laminate to build the archback guitars with no bracing inside the back. Backs are one piece. I have 4 plywood Guilds ,D 25, G 37, DCE5, even my '57 F 20 is Maple Plywood. Tough buggers & they sound great.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[capnjuan]

I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure Guild used laminate to build the archback guitars with no bracing inside the back. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.

My understanding is the same as yours; regardless of (flattop) model, if it's got an arched back, it's ... ahem ... laminated and, further, because it's laminated, it's strong enough to do without bracing.

Calling Dr. Hans, Dr. Hans...

cj

 

[dpicker]

I would like to hear more about the plywood guitars. My only concern is I have had several plywood guitars with plywood back and sides with solid tops and the sound and resale was not as good as all solid wood guitars. So if you are buying a guitar with plywood it should be bought at price that is considerably less than a guitar with no plywood. I am not saying you shouldn’t buy one, just beware. I am only trying to help. thanks

 

[kentukblue]

I feel fairly sure all of the arched back acoustics...D25, DCE- series, JF30-12..etc...were all laminate. They have to form this laminate in a vacume or steam press to make that shape..and its extremely strong...thus no braces. Dont be scared of these guitars though, resale wise. I mean look at the cost of a vintage D25 these days. If you were to have a guiar such as the DCE-5 with a carved solid rosewood back it would probably cost $3000.00.

Although...tone and volume wise...my DV52 with solid back wins over the DCE5 i had. Every guitar is different though

 

[california]

I would like to hear more about the plywood guitars. My only concern is I have had several plywood guitars with plywood back and sides with solid tops and the sound and resale was not as good as all solid wood guitars. So if you are buying a guitar with plywood it should be bought at price that is considerably less than a guitar with no plywood. I am not saying you shouldn’t buy one, just beware. I am only trying to help. thanks

Many of the most revered Guild acoustics are laminates, any of the jumbos with arched backs and no bracing are laminates, it is the only way to get the shape without the enormous expense of carving. People will be paying premiums for these guitars for years to come. The same goes for archtops. There are basically two types of tops -- hand carved and laminate. A hand carved top guitar, new or used is very expensive, laminates are more reasonable and the good ones are nothing short of spectacular. There is a world of difference between a good laminate and a cheap guitar that is plywood with maybe a more attractive top. For example, a Guild F series jumbo laminates thin pieces of fine tonewoods so you get the tonal effect of the wood and the strength of multi plies. A new Epiphone whth a flamed maple looking top has a very thin layer of patterned wood on top of the same piece of plywood as all the rest of its $200 guitars. I have a Schecter that is drop dead gorgeous -- quilted maple top and figured Brazilian rosewood back, but when you look at the inside the woods aren't even close to the back and top and the sound is definitely not what you'd expect from a solid or laminated rosewood body.

 

[dpicker]

Thank you California, i will try a guild laminate guitar. I did not know there were top quality Guild guitars with sounds comparable to solid wood guitars with laminate construction. I have had a Sea gull, several Fenders and a Tackamine (laminate), they were good sounding guitars but not to the Quality of sound of my solid wood Guilds. But i will be looking for a Guild laminate. Thank you

 

[Jeff]

So far, this week anyway, my personal preference for plywood Guilds is G 37's.

Likely a personal thing, but it seem to me both G 37's I have played were exceptional examples of Laminate tonewoods.

One of those G 37's lives here at my house, the first one would have lived here too except the seller came to his senses & weaseled out on the deal.

 

[Dreamlander]

Well, i won it. Woohooo! Only $676, i guess that seems like a damn good deal to me, considering the guitar is actually in great condidtion.

 

[Metalman]

To laminate or to make solid . . . what is better?

All things aside: price, stability, weight, etc.:

If you were to close your eyes, and have someone hand you the guitar, you play it, and not have him tell you what it is, then you make a judgement if you like it or not.

Then repeat the process with a few more guitars, same thing: if you like the sound, feel, etc., does it matter in the long run, (and this is where it really matters) whether it was a laminate Guild or solid wood instrument?

A really good guitar company can make a laminate guitar sound very good, whereas a mediocre company that is not on par with Guilds, Gibsons, Martins, Taylors, etc. can make one out of all solid woods, and not sound as good as the afore mentioned example.

I played a Takamine a while back. Price was over 1,000. All solid premium woods they said. Didn't like it at all. I could tell it still didn't measure up to what I feel makes a premium guitar.

Many nylon stinged guitar makers in Spain, Italy, Latin America make custom classical guitars, ranging in the thousands of dollars. Quite a few of them have a laminated back and sometimes sides as well. They are going for a certain sound, and they achieve it by going this process sometimes.
One comment they made is that the laminate back tends to force the sound out from the back of the guitar, and make the top work harder, therefore bringing the sound further out and into air space.

My question to you all would be: is it possible to make an arched back out of a solid piece of wood? Does it have to be laminate? Why can't they steam a solid piece of maple, or rosewood, or mahogany, for that matter, and press it into the shape that is desired?

Just wondering.

 

[Scratch]

Congratulations on a nice acquisition Dreamer... We're looking forward to a report!!!

 

[mario1956]

Really nice looker, there! FYI- My 68 Gibson Heritage has a rosewood/maple/rosewood laminated back/sides. The rosewood is Brazilian. You should hear the guitar. No worries about sound quality at all. If you should decide to re-sell I think you could get your money plus some out of it. The USA made laminate guitars seem to have a better tone quality than most imports IMO.

 

[dpicker]

I feel fairly sure all of the arched back acoustics...D25, DCE- series, JF30-12..etc...were all laminate. They have to form this laminate in a vacume or steam press to make that shape..and its extremely strong...thus no braces. Dont be scared of these guitars though, resale wise. I mean look at the cost of a vintage D25 these days. If you were to have a guiar such as the DCE-5 with a carved solid rosewood back it would probably cost $3000.00.

Although...tone and volume wise...my DV52 with solid back wins over the DCE5 i had. Every guitar is different though

This is what I was thinking, Laminates can have nice tone and built strong but they are not equal to a solid wood well built guitar (Guild). But I am going find one and buy it (Guild) just to see for myself. The S6 Folk Seagull I had was a nice laminate guitar but it didn't have the quality of tone of the 3 guilds I have had. Maybe it is I personal thing, but you sure do hear allot more about the tone qualities of solid woods in upper end guitars and not to much about the great plywood they use. I still think there is nothing wrong in buying a plywood or laminate guitar I just I just wouldn't want to pay as much as a solid wood guitar because there is a trade off.

 

[West R Lee]

Metal,

I couldn't say one is better than the other.....only different. I've got 2 laminate guitar in the JF30 and the D25, and 3 solid backs in the D55, DV72 and DV73. They all sound different, but the laminates have noticably more projection. It's hard to beat a flatbacked rosewood for tone quality, but the laminates have their own character. All good guitars.

West