NGD-1970 D 25 Cherry

[richardp69]

I just bought this from Tom Jacobs. I was looking for an all Mahogany flat back D 25 Cherry to go with my Spruce top, arched back D 25 Cherry. This used to be Eric Singer's guitar. This is one of the finest D 25's I've ever owned and I've had a few.

It says Hoboken on the label but Hans assures me it is a 1970 D 25 Cherry made in Westerly.

Tom did a great job setting this up and the sustain is about forever. The neck angle is perfect and the action is really low, even a little lower than what I typically go with. It's very playable. He must have buffed the heck out of it because it's really nice and glossy and looks better than some of my newer high gloss Guilds.

This guiitar makes me smile and makes me happy. I'd like to be able to say I'm so content I will now quit buying but I never lie to myself so......

 

[Br1ck]

I've never lied, but I've roughed the truth up some.
-Harold Fethe

 

[Stuball48]

A new adventure for Richard. Always pays to check - just to see what Richard is up to. No grass grows under his feet.

 

[wileypickett]

Congrats!

I just picked up a brother to your guitar -- mahogony top / flatback D25BR, also from 1970 (serial # OG 844), likewise with a Hoboken label but (also per Hans) Westerly made. Same style pickguard.

It's got a top crack that needs addressing, but sounds fantastic as is, with a really pronounced bass. And the saddle is high; no need for a neck reset.

It also has the metal TRC like yours, but mine has the "Starfire" model name on it. The guy I got it from bought the guitar new and never had any modifications made to it, so it appears to have left the factory like that. (Hans said that Guild sometimes used other TRCs when they'd run out of the proper one. Going to leave as is.)

Looking forward to the time when it's fixed and ready to make music again!

 

[walrus]

That's a cool color, Richard! Congrats!

walrus

 

[mavuser]

so happy this one wound up with you, Richard. that one was actually pretty glossy when I first got it, and i'm pretty sure that is how it came from the factory. It was all good to go when Jacobs took ownership, just needed some minor attention that he gave it, as you know.

this D-25 still has the thinner, tortiouse shell bindings. very soon after this guitar was made, Guild switched to wider, black binding on the 1970 D-25. the purfling and soundhole rosette are slightly different as well, shortly after this one. the red is so vibrant! enjoy that bird my friend! -Eric

 

[mavuser]

Congrats!

I just picked up a brother to yours -- mahogony top / flatback D25BR, also from 1970 (Serial # OG 844), likewise with a Hoboken label but (also per Hans) Westerly made. Same style pickguard.

It's got a top crack that needs addressing, but sounds fantastic as is, with a really pronounced bass. And the saddle is high; no need for a neck reset.

It also has the metal TRC like yours, but mine has the "Starfire" model name on it. The guy I got it from bought the guitar new and never had any mdifications made to it, so it appears to have left the factory like that. Hans said that Guild sometimes used other TRCs when they'd run out of the proper one. Going to leave as is.

Looking forward to the time when it's fixed and ready to make music again!

does yours have the skinny turtle binding or the wide black binding?

also yours should be very close to one of the very last Hoboken labels, for any model Guild, is my "somewhat educated" guess.

 

[GGJaguar]

I can't keep up, you're always on the move. What a beauty, congrats!!

 

[wileypickett]

does yours have the skinny turtle binding or the wide black binding?

also yours should be very close to one of the very last Hoboken labels, for any model Guild, is my "somewhat educated" guess.

You mean tortoiseshell ("turtle"), yes? If so, no, it has B/W/B/W binding on the top, but very thin, and an even skinnier B binding on the back.

Have no way of knowing whether it was one of "last of the Hoboken labels" or not. The three-digit OG serial number series ended sometime in 1970, and the new five-digit numbering system also began sometime in 1970.

No date stamp inside that I can find.

 

[dreadnut]

That does it, I'm gonna have to drive up and visit you again. When the weather is nicer.

 

[mavuser]

You mean tortoiseshell ("turtle"), yes? If so, no, it has B/W/B/W binding on the top, but very thin, and an even skinnier B binding on the back.

Have no way of knowing whether it was one of "last of the Hoboken labels" or not. The three-digit OG serial number series ended sometime in 1970, and the new five-digit numbering system also began sometime in 1970.

No date stamp inside that I can find.

thanks yes thats what I meant. I am so sick of spelling it wrong!

so u have the skinny binding? it should appear like it is black, but actually it is tortoise (just copied your spelling thanks!) look super close in the light

 

[chazmo]

Great addition to the herd, Richard!

So, Glenn, Richard, is there any tone comparison you can verbalize regarding the all-mahogany-solid D-25 and the ubiquitous spruce-arched-lam version?

 

[wileypickett]

thanks yes thats what I meant. I am so sick of spelling it wrong!

so u have the skinny binding? it should appear like it is black, but actually it is tortoise (just copied your spelling thanks!) look super close in the light

Definitely black.

The aternating B/W/B/W binding on the top is less than 1/4" thick altogether. The single piece of black back binding is less than 1/16" thick.

There's no binding on the neck, but it almost looks like tortoiseshell because of the grain runout of the rosewood fingerboard. (Very pretty!)

I've owned two D25Ms (still have one) but both were mahogony stained / arched back. This is the first true mahogony top D25 I've landed.

 

[wileypickett]

Great addition to the herd, Richard!

So, Glenn, Richard, is there any tone comparison you can verbalize regarding the all-mahogany-solid D-25 and the ubiquitous spruce-arched-lam version?

Hey Chaz!,

Once I get that crack taken care of, I'll string it up and A / B it with my D25M.

My response to playing it with strings on it that were at least 20 years old was "wow!"

The original pickguard had shurnk over time, but rather than taking the top with it and cracking (which often happens), the glue failed under much of the pickguard -- a good thing. I nudged it with my thumb and it popped right off.

In the days since, the pickguard has shrunk even more, so that it's shy of the original footprint by about 1/16". So this will get a newly cut pickguard as part of its repair.

The originalists will wince of course, but I intend to also replace the tuners -- probably with Grover 18:1s. Unike in the old days when I just tossed the old tuners out (or sold them to Hans!), I'll keep the original tuners in the case pocket for the guitar.

 

[7GuildsandanSG]

(Hans said that Guild sometimes used other TRCs when they'd run out of the proper one.

Would they at least turn it backwards to hide the lettering?

 

[wileypickett]

Richard: just out of curiosity, what's the serial number on yours?

 

[wileypickett]

Would they at least turn it backwards to hide the lettering?

This one was front-side-out. These metal TRCs were (I think) aluminum, and were unpainted on the back. They wouldn't have looked too good mounted back-side up.

Proper TRCs for this model turn up from time to time, so I could replace it with a model-correct version. But I like that it left Guild with this TRC.

On the side of the top bout (where your typical singer / songwriter Scotch tapes their set lists) there is a tiny note (about the size of a fortune cookie fortune) that reads: "A Dragon Lives Forever."

I intend to preserve that too. I really like the notion that the original owner felt compelled to personalize the guitar in this way, some 50-odd years ago or so!

 

[7GuildsandanSG]

This one was front-side-out. These metal TRCs were (I think) aluminum, and were unpainted on the back. They wouldn't have looked too good mounted back-side up.

Proper TRCs for this model turn up from time to time, so I could replace it with a model-correct version. But I like that it left Guild with this TRC.

On the side of the top bout (where your typical singer / songwriter Scotch tapes their set lists) thee is a tiny note (about the size of a fortune cookie fortune) that reads: "A Dragon Lives Forever."

I intend to preserve that too. I really like the notion that the original owner felt compelled to personalize the guitar in this way, some 50-odd years ago or so.

I agree it's cool but a D25 leaving the factory with a Starfire branded TRC just seems weird!

 

[wileypickett]

I agree it's cool but a D25 leaving the factory with a Starfire branded TRC just seems weird!

Weird?! Guild?! No!

It seemed odd to me too. Here's what Hans said when I asked him about this:

"I'm familiar with some acoustic guitars having metal 'Starfire' truss rod covers. Your guitar fits in with the other ones I have on file and I can only assume that the factory ran out of 'neutral' truss rod covers and decided that the use of the 'Starfire' ones was an acceptable solution."

 

[wileypickett]

so u have the skinny binding? it should appear like it is black, but actually it is tortoise (just copied your spelling thanks!) look super close in the light

Expanding Richard's pics, I think I see what you mean about the tortoiseshell binding.

Mine is definitely black, but matches Richard’s in terms of thickness.