Question about tops on D15, D16, D17

[Guest]

Hello!

Does anyone know if the tops on the D15, D16, D17 guitars were solid or laminate mahogany?

Thanks!

 

[dreadnut]

Solid, I believe. I know this was the case with the D-25's. The arched backs were laminate to facilitate the forming of the arch.

 

[West R Lee]

:shock: I thought they were spruce :? ?

West

 

[sitka_spruce]

I doubt Guild has ever utilised laminate tops, espec. back in the days of the 15, 16 and 17. Laminate tops is generally a sign really low end acoustic production and is found on the simpler Chinese and Korean instruments.

As said the only laminate that has occured on a Guild to my knowledge is the arched backs - and the necks, btw. Laminate tops on higher end instruments archtop instruments is for the same reason as the arched back design of Guild's.

 

[sitka_spruce]

:shock: I thought they were spruce :? ?

West

Not these models. I used to have a hypothesis the Guild D15 and D17 had borrowed their model designation from CF Martin 15s and 17s but as it happens I believe these Guild models was introduced prior to the Martins.

 

[Default]

The D-15 and 17's were lower cost versions of the D25. The 15 had satin finish and the 17 was gloss, IIRC. I don't believe the naming had anything to do with Martin.

 

[fungusyoung]

I have a D15 & D17 (both from '85). They're solid mahogany tops, and the D16 is as well.

The finish of the 15 changed from satin to gloss, maybe after they discontinued the 16 and 17 (both of those were pretty short-lived models).

 

[Bikerdoc]

My '86 D15 is solid top Mahogany.