1968 D40

[Kevin@1978]

I purchased a 1968 D40 three years ago.l from a somewhat famous guitar store in Minneapolis. I have talked directly to guild, but they have no way of really tracing the serial number. It seems to me that it was played quite often and professionally. The case is pretty road worn as well as the neck. It has had professionally done repairs and was re-fretted. it's a beautiful guitar and after I bought it, I found a tiny little folded up piece of paper in the neck pocket of the case that said simply "take care of Betsy". I would love to find out more about this guitar. I'm starting to believe I just cant. I even contacted Richie Havens estate, knowing that he played them. And I believe it was his daughter that responded and said it would NOT have been his. The tuners were replaced with Schaller tuners. I have contacted Hans Moust as well. I'm just dying to know more about her. It seems to have its own personality. I have 13 other guitars but this one almost is like having another human living in our house. I'm sure people here would understand that. Serial # is AJ2813. Please let me know your thoughts. My name is Kevin.

 

[chazmo]

Hi, welcome Kevin! I hope you hear back directly from Hans. Guild themselves do not have the records, but Hans does (or at least a lot of them)...

We've been talking about D-40s all week, for some reason. Such a great guitar!

According to Hans' book (which we call "the bible" around here) AJ2813 was completed in 1968.

 

[GGJaguar]

Welcome to LTG! Please post some photos of your D-40. We love pix!

 

[F30]

I am totally intrigued by this guitar after reading your post. Love to see it.
If you do find out more please share with us.
Thanks for the post and Welcome - you are among friend's.

 

[jeffcoop]

Hmm, there's definitely a story there. Welcome. I hope you can learn something about your D40's history.

 

[Kevin@1978]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/GniVGSgVp9qGzpdd9 thanks for all the responses! Nice to hear from everyone, glad to have found you all.. I hope the pictures turn out..otherwise let me know. Was trying to send as PDF. I bought Betsy in 2020 from Willie's American guitars. I have a Univox phase 1 and 3 All original not too mention some pretty cool Fenders of different ages. I'm 45, my.neighbor who played in bands since the mid 70s and my daughter we all play different instruments. But yeah this guitar is like a living soul. Smells like perfume and cigarettes. Lots of miles of "cowboy chords" She has all the original pegs, which kind of look like rotten teeth and were marked at some point to go back in exactly the same way each time.

 

[chazmo]

Kevin is there more than one picture of Betsy at that link?

You can upload/post the pictures if you want them to be served up by LTG.

 

[Kevin@1978]

https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?attachments/upload&type=post&context[thread_id]=219780&hash=35229bf019b903a2d342d58112de482d.

Sorry this one too. But yeah. I've played since 1994 and have just never had a guitar that almost just kind of leads the way. And we have both played professionally (he way more than me) in the past and somehow this guitar just takes us both in its own direction. And maybe she was just some average persons guitar but I have those. And this one just feels special

 

[WaltW]

Welcome to LTG Kevin! I owned a D40 in 1981, bought new but I was so into playing my 1980 G312SB that I sold the D40 in 1985. I've seen personally as acoustic guitars age the develop personalities unique to the particular instrument. My 12 string has changed significantly since 1980. It has become quite dynamic and the depth of the sounds it generates is quite remarkable.
I wish you many 1000s of hours making your D40 sing

 

[Kevin@1978]

For sure. Hope my pictures went through. But yeah we'll modify electrics usually with 59s etc. But I only have 2 acoustics and my neighbor has 1. But the D40 has become the queen bee. Just like man when you need that steady rhythm tone, you got it.

 

[Br1ck]

I absolutely love to know the history of a guitar. You usually can't, but there are guitars that just look like they were gigged. My 65 Epiphone Texan has that look. Four or five case bites in the sunburst top, and some fingerboard wear above cowboy chord territory, with the dozens of minor dings very like guitars I've owned that I bought from working musicians. My 07 Martin D 35 Custom has bluegrass wear, pro or not. If you buy a guitar gigged by a pro for a long time, it will usually be a good one with more wear than a hobbyist would likely have on a guitar. I had a Martin that was played for twenty years on the road. It had a wonderful patina and sounded great.

 

[Kevin@1978]

I appreciate your response. And yeah know it whe you feel it. I had almost bought an Epiphone Texan years ago and screwed up by not doing so. I had a 74 tele deluxe that I sold for I think $650 in 1998...needed the money. Now those are like $4,000. I wouldn't part with this D40. But I do hope I can learn more.

 

[Br1ck]

You have to be careful with any Gibson made in the sixties products. The further into the decade, the more hit and miss. I played a 68 Texan that I could not believe was the same model guitar. I'd never buy even an older Gibson because the J 45s were all over the place. All over the place good, but different guitar to guitar. I'd have to play the guitar.

The top of the market ten years ago was $3400 and that is exactly what I paid, yet it was a much better guitar than the four sixties J 45s I played in the same store that day.

 

[Kevin@1978]

I've only ever had 2 Gibsons which I don't have anymore and neither I could keep in tune.But I did build one those kits a double cut "gibson" style guitar that I put Gotoh lockers on. With the Jimmy Page electronics and the hot Rodded Duncans. Its pretty decent