NGD: 1971 D-35

Andrew79

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OK so it arrived a week ago but it's still a NGD, in a way.
I bought this from a fellow Canadian on Reverb so thankfully didn't have to wait too long for it to arrive. I've been looking for a D-35 for a while so when this popped up I grabbed it quickly. It's in great condition for being 50 years old and I just can't put it down. It's very light (especially compared to my D-25m) and the sustain is incredible.
It's from 1971, which makes it my oldest Guild.
I really, really love it.

Question: The tuners were replaced some time ago with Grovers. I'm curious if anyone know what the original tuners were? Tuners are an area of guitar knowledge I realize I know next to nothing about.

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walrus

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Nice! Congratulations!

I have no info on the tuners, but someone will!

walrus
 

Stuball48

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Nice guitar and those Grover's are my favorite type tuners. My congratulations to you on your new 1971 D35.
 

Rambozo96

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If it’s 71’ I want to say that would make it too early for it to have the goofy looking Gotoh’s like my 74’ D-35. I know for a short period of time they came with Klusons but those are kinda rare on a D-35. Didn’t Waverly make tuners for Guild?
 

Rambozo96

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Any questions about these kinda details I always asked Hans Moust. That guy probably knows more about old Guilds than anyone on the planet.
 

GardMan

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Hope I don't burst your bubble...

...but according to the SN charts, it (SN 71761) was actually completed in 1972. I've got a '72 D-35 that I bought new in 1973. Hope yours is just as special!
 

GGJaguar

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Congrats! And the fact that you really love it is the best part!!
 

Westerly Wood

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Nice! My D25 is a ‘71. I forget the name of the original tuners but they were terrible. Grovers are quite an upgrade. Congrats!
 

Treem

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Congrats! I think those Grovers tunerswill make the strings sustain a little better than the original ones.

Cheers and blessings!
 

D30Man

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Nice score!!! My ‘78 D-35 is nothing short of special so I bet yours is a tone machine.. congrats!
 

wileypickett

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From your photo, I believe the original tuners would have been what are often referred to as "three-on-a-plank"s -- that is, three tuners mounted on a single band of metal, one for the treble side, one for the bass.

I can't recall seeing a brand name on the ones that came on my guitars, all of which I replaced. (IMO, you're much better off with the Grovers, which, functionally, are much better tuners.)

But if you're looking to restore the guitar to what was originally on there, Hans Moust, or one of our resident experts, may be able to help.

Keep watching this space!
 

Neal

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Here are the original tuners on my ‘73 D-35 (1st photo below).

I used to own a ‘71 F-20 that had three-on-a-plate tuners (2nd photo below) that were not all that great. I replaced them with Stewmac Golden Age tuners that worked much better.

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Guildedagain

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Originals were probably MIJ strip tuners, very common on these. If it had come form the factory with open back Grovers, they would have more than likely never been swapped.

The Grovers that are on it are quite old, installed in the 70's would be my guess.
 

Br1ck

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My 70 D 35 has the three on a plate tuners shown above, which work just fine. No, the gear ratio is not 16 to one, but they don't add unwanted mass either. They work, don't slip, and I see no reason to change them. If I did it would get open back tuners of some kind. I can feel the neck weight pull on every guitar I play with heavy tuners, and don't care for it. Waverlys rule. Your guitar just predates the changes made to beef up the builds, so you luck out there. Enjoy the guitar that may foil my desire to own a D 18 as it has that base covered.
 

Rambozo96

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My 70 D 35 has the three on a plate tuners shown above, which work just fine. No, the gear ratio is not 16 to one, but they don't add unwanted mass either. They work, don't slip, and I see no reason to change them. If I did it would get open back tuners of some kind. I can feel the neck weight pull on every guitar I play with heavy tuners, and don't care for it. Waverlys rule. Your guitar just predates the changes made to beef up the builds, so you luck out there. Enjoy the guitar that may foil my desire to own a D 18 as it has that base covered.
I’m in the same boat. A set of tuners would have to be so bad that they slip out of tune within a few minutes for me to replace them. I think the worst I encountered was those cheesy inline skate tuners on a 60’s Danelectro. Was original to the guitar but just absolutely abysmal for serious use.
 

Guildedagain

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I personally play one of these almost daily. Tuners are on the par with other 60's tuners, the guitar usually sounds fabulous with very minimal retuning. The skate tuners actually come apart to clean and lube.
 

HeyMikey

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Nice score Andrew. Yeah those Grovers are a definite upgrade. Enjoy!
 
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