SmithfieldFair
Member
Hi, everyone. Well, here's my predicament. Look at the guitars I have listed below and then ponder this with me. I watch Ebay from time to time and often see Guilds I am interested in, but the starting price is above what I think the guitar is worth to me. Maybe it's just my Scottish blood, but that happens a lot. Occasionally, when this happens, I watch the guitar to the end and if it doesn't get bid on, I email the seller after the ending time and state I would be interested, but cannot afford their starting bid. I assure them it's a lovely instrument, but tell them my top dollar. This happened late last year with an A25. Now, I know we've talked about the A25s and A50s, but here's my dilemma.
My main guitar is the 1997 G37 - a big dreadnaught with mahogany sides and arched back and a spruce top. It has an AMAZING sound and I've used it on all of the albums projects I've worked on since I bought it new in 1978. However, on the road, I began to feel it had too much sound and began using a GF25 small jumbo. My 12-string is an F112 and I felt the two very balanced. I LOVE the arched backs and have always been more than amused that the upper level Guilds DON'T have them. In the Gruhn-designed GF series, the lower end GF25 and GF30 have arched backs, but the GF40, GF50, GF55 and GF60 do not. Since I play in open D (Vestapol) tuning exclusively, I need a great rhythm guitar with a FAT sound, but clarity - hense Guild. So, I've been looking for a road guitar to replace the G37 and thought this little A25 might work.
It wasn't an issue as she said when I offered initially, that she had someone interested, but if they didn't buy it, she'd contact me. Well, here we are a couple of months later and she's offered it at slightly less than I offered. So, what say, lads? Should I buy this grand concert size. Will it give me the oomph I need in my rhythm playing that the dreadnaught does? Will I miss the projection of an arched back? Any experience with the A25 for strumming? I hear from some that finger-style is perfect on the A25, but strumming hard tends to break apart the sound. Any thoughts on that?
Any input, opinions, and ideas would be greatly appreciated. Hans? West? Mr. P? Anyone....?
Thanks -
Dudley-Brian Smith
Smithfield Fair
My main guitar is the 1997 G37 - a big dreadnaught with mahogany sides and arched back and a spruce top. It has an AMAZING sound and I've used it on all of the albums projects I've worked on since I bought it new in 1978. However, on the road, I began to feel it had too much sound and began using a GF25 small jumbo. My 12-string is an F112 and I felt the two very balanced. I LOVE the arched backs and have always been more than amused that the upper level Guilds DON'T have them. In the Gruhn-designed GF series, the lower end GF25 and GF30 have arched backs, but the GF40, GF50, GF55 and GF60 do not. Since I play in open D (Vestapol) tuning exclusively, I need a great rhythm guitar with a FAT sound, but clarity - hense Guild. So, I've been looking for a road guitar to replace the G37 and thought this little A25 might work.
It wasn't an issue as she said when I offered initially, that she had someone interested, but if they didn't buy it, she'd contact me. Well, here we are a couple of months later and she's offered it at slightly less than I offered. So, what say, lads? Should I buy this grand concert size. Will it give me the oomph I need in my rhythm playing that the dreadnaught does? Will I miss the projection of an arched back? Any experience with the A25 for strumming? I hear from some that finger-style is perfect on the A25, but strumming hard tends to break apart the sound. Any thoughts on that?
Any input, opinions, and ideas would be greatly appreciated. Hans? West? Mr. P? Anyone....?
Thanks -
Dudley-Brian Smith
Smithfield Fair