Played an Oxnard D40 (standard, not Traditional)

[RBpicker]

I recently sold my D40 T (I know, bad move), and got the itch again and wanted to try out one of the standard Oxnard D40s. I have a D20 and love everything about it (except how big it is). The finish on the D20 is very good…mild satin over a completely pore filled body and neck. It’s really beautiful, the guitar plays like a dream, and it sounds glorious. So I’m thinking if the 20 is that good, the 40 must be similar only with a spruce top, no?

well, I played one today and was very surprised to find that its finish is nothing like the D20. There is no pore filler, the top had some very rough patches in the grain, and the neck is rough…just not very inspiring at all. It is light as a feather, maybe a little too light to be honest. The sound was big, but quite unfocused. It need a setup of course, which is not a problem, most guitars do. Frankly, it felt like some of the rough inexpensive imports that I’ve played. Very un-Guild like.

I left the store a bit disillusioned and am wondering if I just played a bad one. Any other experience with this model? The 40T was exceptional as is the D20, so I’m left wondering. Don’t flame me, I love Guild, but….

Roger

 

[chazmo]

That's odd, Roger.

Oxnard has switched to NCL for all of the models, I think. But in the first two or three years they were using catalyzed varnish to finish some of the lower end models...

I wonder when the D-40 you tried was built. Did you catch the serial number?

Well, I'd be interested to have more details and pictures about this guitar. I agree, it sounds very un-Guild-like! Keep us posted if you uncover more details.

I do think this is the first report we've heard of this kind of thing from Oxnard.

 

[SFIV1967]

"Played an Oxford D40"

Oh that's because it was an "Oxford" model...

Ralf

 

[chazmo]

I'll fix the title, Ralf. You're such a meanie!