Playing my Guild D4 acoustic guitar

[stratntele]

Hello Everyone,

I've been a Guild guitar fan for many years so I thought it was about time that I got involved & said hello to other Guild guitar fans out there too!

I currently have a JF55, D55, D4 (which I'm playing in the video below), a black F4CE (a long-term project but that's another story), 2 USA Nightbirds (sunburst & natural) & an early 50's sunburst X500.

Please let me know if I'm posting the Youtube link below correctly or not.....



Looking forward to hearing from other Guild guitar fanatics!

Best wishes,

Michael.

 

[walrus]

Welcome! An excellent entrance!

walrus

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

That is a fine way to make your arrival.

 

[GGJaguar]

Welcome to LTG! Nice Guilds there!

 

[Guildedagain]

Wow, the Guild sounds great, really sings. Clever chording, taking note ;]

Can you break the chords down?

Was this a Beatle, I mean Beagle song?

Not a Beagle, there's nothing silent about a Beagle ;]

 

[stratntele]

Hello Everyone,

Thanks for your warm welcome & kind words of encouragement!

Both the Guilds of Grot & GG Jaguar's have a serious number of guitars, amps etc there - do either of you have any particular favourites amongst those collections?

The chords for this particular song are all based around the key of D but with a capo at the second fret, Guildedagain - can you PM your email address on this forum? Then I can send you the chord sheet & lyrics if you like....

The D4 is a really nicely balanced guitar from the viewpoint of sound, weight & ergonomics despite being in the lower end of the USA range. I think that the arched back helps to project the sound & I would be hard pressed to find another guitar with equally good 'value for money' as this particular Guild.

The JF55 & the D55 both have a richer deeper sound with their solid rosewood back & sides but I find that the D4 has a nice balance of bass, mids & treble - maybe that's why similar Guild models such as the D25 have always been so popular? Would be interested to hear your various opinions on the lower-end Guild acoustics compared to other brands such as Martin, Gibson, Eastman, Taylor etc.

Thanks once again for the warm welcome & I look forward to contributing to the LTG Forum in the near future!

Michael.

 

[GGJaguar]

Both the Guilds of Grot & GG Jaguar's have a serious number of guitars, amps etc there - do either of you have any particular favourites amongst those collections?

For me, it's difficult to just single out a particular guitar or amp. In general, my favorites include G&L ASAT models, DeArmond equipped Gretsches, and Martin acoustics. For the Guilds, I'd have to say any archtop from the 1970-2003 period. I prefer Fender amps from 1960-67 as well as 1960s Ampegs, but I also dig the Vox sound a lot.

 

[adorshki]

The D4 is a really nicely balanced guitar from the viewpoint of sound, weight & ergonomics despite being in the lower end of the USA range. I think that the arched back helps to project the sound & I would be hard pressed to find another guitar with equally good 'value for money' as this particular Guild.

The JF55 & the D55 both have a richer deeper sound with their solid rosewood back & sides but I find that the D4 has a nice balance of bass, mids & treble - maybe that's why similar Guild models such as the D25 have always been so popular?

Michael.

Welcome aboard Michael!
As others mentioned that's great way to make an entrance. Re popularity of D4/D25 I agree with your evaluation of the tonal characteristics but I think it's the body wood more than the back shape. There's a reason 'hog's one of the most popular body woods and I think that's it.
But the back shape definitely produces more overtones, longer sustain, and greater volume.

 

[ezstrummer]

Well done. Also a great collection of Guilds you've got there..

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Both the Guilds of Grot & GG Jaguar's have a serious number of guitars, amps etc there - do either of you have any particular favorites amongst those collections?

Well I'm very partial to my T-100-D since it was my first Guild bought for me by my parents. Second would be my D-55-NT which was bought with my own money. As you can see, it's all sentimentality versus sound or playability. Not sure if that is good or bad...

 

[stratntele]

Welcome aboard Michael!
As others mentioned that's great way to make an entrance. Re popularity of D4/D25 I agree with your evaluation of the tonal characteristics but I think it's the body wood more than the back shape. There's a reason 'hog's one of the most popular body woods and I think that's it.
But the back shape definitely produces more overtones, longer sustain, and greater volume.

Thanks for you reply, Adorshki. Hogs definitely rule especially from the viewpoint of 'value for money'!

Well I'm very partial to my T-100-D since it was my first Guild bought for me by my parents. Second would be my D-55-NT which was bought with my own money. As you can see, it's all sentimentality versus sound or playability. Not sure if that is good or bad...

Yes, it's true Guilds of Grot that sentimental value & the memories attached to that guitar are often more important than the monetary value of the guitar itself.

 

[stratntele]

For me, it's difficult to just single out a particular guitar or amp. In general, my favorites include G&L ASAT models, DeArmond equipped Gretsches, and Martin acoustics. For the Guilds, I'd have to say any archtop from the 1970-2003 period. I prefer Fender amps from 1960-67 as well as 1960s Ampegs, but I also dig the Vox sound a lot.

Lovely choice of guitars & amps there GGJaguar - I'm sure that would keep any guitar player happy!

 

[ruedi]

What a way to enter a room! Welcome Michael.

Any chance we get to see these two Nightbirds you mentioned?

 

[stratntele]

Hi ruedi,

Here's 2 pictures of the Bluesbirds as requested by yourself (sorry I said Nightbirds in my original post).

The natural one is dated 1997 & was already fitted with PRS McCarty pickups when I bought it in 2012. I think this has a book-matched (?) spruce top & has a serial number CL******. The only change I made was to fit different Guild tone & volume knobs but I still have 3 of the original knobs in the case.

The sunburst one has an intensely flamed/quilted maple top & is 100% mint with original tags & case candy. I think that it's slightly earlier than the natural one but I cannot find any reference to its serial number (CH******) in any of the Guild serial number lists.

I used to have a black Nightbird but I had an agreement with the previous owner that he could buy it back from me anytime that he wanted too for the same price which he did in 2014. I did contact him last week asking if he still had this guitar but unfortunately he said that he'd sold it several years ago.

Hope you enjoy these pictures!

 

[GGJaguar]

Wow, the quilt top on your Bluesbird is insane! Very nice!

 

[stratntele]

Thanks GGJaguar!

 

[hansmoust]

The sunburst one has an intensely flamed/quilted maple top & is 100% mint with original tags & case candy. I think that it's slightly earlier than the natural one but I cannot find any reference to its serial number (CH******) in any of the Guild serial number lists.

Hello stratntele,

Your sunburst Bluesbird is younger than the natural finished one. The serial number prefix is not CH, but CM and that particular guitar was completed in Corona, CA during the year 2002.

And by the way, the 'natural' finished one does not have a spruce top. It's maple as well, just like the other one, but with different figuring in the wood.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[stratntele]

Hello Hans,

Thanks for your reply.

I couldn't tell if the sunburst serial number began with CH or CM? Thanks for clarifying this for me - much appreciated!

I also didn't know that the natural one has a maple (not spruce) top - I always thought that it was spruce because of its light weight (7.7 lbs).

A fountain of Guild knowledge on this forum!

Kind regards,

Michael.

 

[ruedi]

Hi ruedi,

Here's 2 pictures of the Bluesbirds as requested by yourself (sorry I said Nightbirds in my original post).

The natural one is dated 1997 & was already fitted with PRS McCarty pickups when I bought it in 2012. I think this has a book-matched (?) spruce top & has a serial number CL******. The only change I made was to fit different Guild tone & volume knobs but I still have 3 of the original knobs in the case.

The sunburst one has an intensely flamed/quilted maple top & is 100% mint with original tags & case candy. I think that it's slightly earlier than the natural one but I cannot find any reference to its serial number (CH******) in any of the Guild serial number lists.

I used to have a black Nightbird but I had an agreement with the previous owner that he could buy it back from me anytime that he wanted too for the same price which he did in 2014. I did contact him last week asking if he still had this guitar but unfortunately he said that he'd sold it several years ago.

Hope you enjoy these pictures!

Michael, thanks for sharing these two beauties with us! too bad you had to let go the Nightbird, I bet she looked great in black!

 

[stratntele]

Hi ruedi,

Yes I was sad to let the black Nightbird go but I'd promised the previous owner that he could buy it back anytime that he wanted to....

Does anyone know how many Nightbirds were made by Guild? I'd like to buy another Nightbird one day again (finances permitting of course!).

Kind regards,

Michael.