String Gauge/Tension on lighter built Guilds

[Muckman]

For you LTGers out there who have owned and maintained lighter built pre-Westerly vintage Guilds.....do you recommend running lighter gauge strings? I usually run Martin or DR 12-54 PBs.......I have a 74' G37 and a 68' D40. For those who have years of experience with older Guilds, what are your thoughts concerning the lighter build/bracing and string tension over years?

 

[donnylang]

Most of the '60s Guilds I've owned (even if lighter in weight- which is not always the case) don't seem to be braced particularly lightly. I don't think there is any issue w/ using 12-54 on those guitars. Guild certainly shipped them with heavier strings that that originally, at least the '68. I used 12-54 on the '68 D35, and that guitar was barely 4 lbs.

 

[Muckman]

Thanks Donny, I expected you would have

Most of the '60s Guilds I've owned (even if lighter in weight- which is not always the case) don't seem to be braced particularly lightly. I don't think there is any issue w/ using 12-54 on those guitars. Guild certainly shipped them with heavier strings that that originally, at least the '68. I used 12-54 on the '68 D35, and that guitar was barely 4 lbs.

Thanks Donny, I appreciate your insight/experience on this

 

[donnylang]

My '67 Hoboken D40 is one of the heavier Guilds I've owned, for the record.

 

[Muckman]

That's interesting.... My Hoboken D40 is considerably lighter than my other Guilds. My 74' G37 is slightly heavier, I have an 80' D40 that is one of the heaviest solid wood dreads I've ever held.