Tried a '90's D-4.

[Charlie Bernstein]

I played a Westerly, RI, D-4 NT today at a shop that's asking about $850 for it. Arched back, exteme bear claw top.

Heavy play wear, but the action, playablity, and sound are all great.

Not that I'm shopping for another guitar now, but what do you know about D-4's? I'd never heard of 'em.

 

[davismanLV]

D-4 is the very base, entry level dread. I think mostly 90's to 00's. Spruce top, mahogany sides, and mahogany arched back. No bling, very base. I hear they are great. My only experience with one was when I went to GC to buy my first guitar in 1994 I went through the whole selection process and out of all of them chose the Guild D65S! Then I panicked that I was spending too much money, settled on a D-4 and took it home. The next day I took it back and got the D65S. Best decision ever, and hardly a fair comparison. Here's more....

Guild D4 - Westerly Guild Guitars

 

[GGJaguar]

The D-4 is like a bare bones D-25 and so should sound very much like a D-25. They seem to get a lot of love on LTG.

 

[plaidseason]

All the above, plus note that structurally and sonically, there is no difference between the D4 and D25.
I own a DCE1 (my second) which is the cutaway acoustic-electric version of the D4. I'm a big fan of the sound of arched-back dreadnoughts. They don't quite sound like anything else.

Sidebar . . . is it a satin finish D4 or hand-rubbed?

 

[Westerly Wood]

I know there is inflation right now, but still, $850 for a D4 is steep.
Unless you loved it...

 

[Norrissey]

@wileypickett just posted a link to a D4 on the the Boston CL that appears to be in pretty good shape for $380. Here's the link again.

Guild D4 - musical instruments - by owner - sale

1991 model D4 by Guild made in Westerly, Rhode Island, won't last at almost HALF market price. Great Christmas gift. Great guitar with a solid Spruce top, Solid Mahogany sides and an arched laminate...

boston.craigslist.org

 

[davismanLV]

Yup!! Boston area. Check it out!!

https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/boston-area-d4-craigslist-380-00.213949/

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

. . . Sidebar . . . is it a satin finish D4 or hand-rubbed?

Dunno. Wasn't glossy, though. Does that mean satin?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I know there is inflation right now, but still, $850 for a D4 is steep.
Unless you loved it...

My thought, too. But I don't do much buying or selling.

I certainly wasn't going to buy it.

 

[plaidseason]

Dunno. Wasn't glossy, though. Does that mean satin?

Hand rubbed looks almost unfinished.

Satin looks finished, but not super shiny.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Hand rubbed looks almost unfinished.

Satin looks finished, but not super shiny.

Got it. Probably hand-rubbed, then.

 

[AcornHouse]

A D4 was my Guild initiation. All the sound with none of the bling. There are plenty out there in the $400-$600 range, no need to spend more. And, as a bare bones tone monster, no need to baby it or worry about it; just enjoy it. Most of them are the non-gloss hand rubbed satin.

I don’t have it anymore. I sold it to a student when I came to the conclusion that, ergonomically, dreads were not for me. But I could never fault the sound.

 

[portsider]

Not exactly hijacking the thread, more like a detour. Other than the Gloss finish how does a D4 differ from a D15?

 

[Guilderland21]

A D-15 has a mahogany top, a D-4 has a spruce top - both have mahogany for the back (arched) and sides.

 

[portsider]

A D-15 has a mahogany top, a D-4 has a spruce top - both have mahogany for the back (arched) and sides.

Interesting. Different marketing eras I guess. I'm seriously loving my D15 (92 I think). It's the first acoustic that has gotten me to reevaluate my 12 string fixation. I love the gloss nitro, bet other than that the D4 sounds like it's in the ballpark.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Not exactly hijacking the thread, more like a detour. Other than the Gloss finish how does a D4 differ from a D15?

All my questions are answered. Hijack away, and burn the bridges behind you!

 

[jeffcoop]

I got to hear a D4 on a regular basis at an open mic where I played from 2013 until 2016 (whin it closed). The guitar always sounded terrific, holding its own against more expensive guitars (including my own). Obviously, a lot of that was the electronics in the guitar. But I couldn't argue with the results.

 

[plaidseason]

I got to hear a D4 on a regular basis at an open mic where I played from 2013 until 2016 (whin it closed). The guitar always sounded terrific, holding its own against more expensive guitars (including my own). Obviously, a lot of that was the electronics in the guitar. But I couldn't argue with the results.

Normally when some dude tells me they play a HD28 with K&K, etc. I'm like, who cares about the guitar, we're hearing the K&K. But . . . I do think with the D25/D4/DCE1-3s you do get a certain roar/rumble from that arched back that does come through a piezo pickup.

 

[beecee]

Normally when some dude tells me they play a HD28 with K&K, etc. I'm like, who cares about the guitar, we're hearing the K&K.

Is that true?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Is that true?

Pretty much. To me, folk guitars through a pickup all sound the same.

Don't get me wrong. I love K&Ks and JJBs. But if you want people to hear your guitar, use a good mic.