Trying to make a decision - DS-240 or D-260e/ce

[Joelarcher86]

Hello everyone -

New user and I'm trying to make a decision -

I've been running all over town trying out a many guitars as I can - My primary guitar is a guild GAD-30, which I absolutely love. But I'm looking for something a bit bigger for gigging, travel, and playing live. (Primarily I dont wanna take my GAD-30 anywhere, and as it doesnt have a pick up, and I dont have a set up to run a mike, it makes it a little harder for those purposes.)

My eye keeps getting drawn to the DS-240 Memoir. I love the look - it reminds me slightly of the Orpheum Slope shoulders I would never be able to afford even if I could find one. But I've never gotten to play a slope shoulder dread, and once again it's lacking a pick up (My though is to Pick up an L.R. Baggs Lyric, but that's also adding about 200 to this project. )

My other option is a local shop has a really nice sounding D-260ce. I've played it, I like it. and I've enjoyed the new westerly Archbacks when I've played them. And the pick up is all ready installed, ready to go. Just gotta get it set up and we can roll out.

Do you all have thoughts / opinions on the two guitars? Most of my gigging will be just me - I play some irish folk locally and sit in with sessions from time to time.

 

[Westerly Wood]

welcome to the forum, and to me it comes down to do you want a slope shouldered dread or a square shouldered dread? both are cool looking guitars and what i hear is well made. personally, i nearly bought the slope as i was missing a more J45 like acoustic. but the 260 looks cool as well.

 

[Bluesra]

Welcome to the forum. I only own one Guild acoustic (also own an electric) and it is the D-260e with the ebony back and sides. I'll give you my impressions. Now I own a few other guitars in that price brackets a Seagull S6 ( cedar over cherry laminate )and an Eastman AC222( spruce over rosewood laminate).

The D-260e has great projection and has a clear and balanced tone. It is more even across the sound spectrum than rosewood, more mid presence. It is worth noting that 90 percent of the time I'm a finger picker, and this guitar can be played soft but I find it sounds great when I really dig into it. I first put EJ16s PB on for strings as the guitar was opening up and it sounded okay, at first it seemed to be lacking in warmth but it warmed a little with time. I then put on Monels and it now sounds warmer and still that clear balanced tone. My one complaint is that in comparison to my Eastman is it lacks dynamics, to me it has a straight forward tone. But its worth noting that I haven't found anything at it's price point that sounds as favorably as my Eastman. As for the electronics, I don't really plug in so I can't speak on that but I did take out the under saddle pick up and found the tone improved a little bit to my ears.

In conclusion I find this guitar good for singer songwriter, I been using it for that over my Eastman because it has a more tamed treble and bass, more even sound and it's clear so I pairs well with vocals imo.

 

[Westerly Wood]

good to know that the build design they are making sure happens at the overseas plant in china still harkens back to the "evenness of volume across all strings" mission that Guild acoustics set out to first produce. I am glad that had not changed. I would hate for Guilds to one day sound like a Martin or a Taylor etc, and lose their unique embrace of the acoustic sound spectrum.

 

[Br1ck]

It has been a very long time since I've shopped this market level, so take that into consideration. If I were, I'd put my money into the best sounding and playing guitar I could buy, and until I was able to buy something like a used Martin D 15 or a beat up old Guild D 25, I'd sell what I had, add money, and trade up. You can buy JJB pickups fairly inexpensively later. Keep in mind you'll need some sort of pre too.

What you'll get in an inexpensive guitar is electronics built to a cost. Undersaddle pickup most likely. It will produce sound. It may be good enough for you. IMHO you would be better off with one Eastman than two Import Guilds. I help run an open mic and have heard many acoustic electric guitars from the cheapest to a Cole Clark. After I had SunnAudio build me a DI just for the open mic, even the inexpensive guitars sounded OK, but don't count on anyplace having good gear to plug into.

I'm a serious but not Grail chasing gearhead, long past ok gear, but I'd say again, get the best guitar you can. If you like the guitar you have but are concerned with bumps and bruises, get over that. Just have pickups put in it and go out and play. Someday you'll have a D 55 and you'll be glad to have something to take camping.