1974 D-25: is this mahogany or spruce?

[jazzercizer]

[quote="jazzercizer"/quote]
Thanks! I feel vindicated!

All part of the service here on the Guild Forum. Besides, I finally got a Photobucket account and put on a few photos (braggin' rights, as I got one of the coolest of Guilds[IMVHO]). Also, I have the priviledge of being the original owner, so provenance is beyond question!

[/quote]
Yeah but Jazzerciser says he's got a D25M which is supposed to be spruce top with mahogany stain...he hasn't answered back yet as to whether his top wood really matches the sides and back.[/quote][/quote][/quote]
Hell, I don't know...it LOOKS like Mahogany, but it is what it is, and it's a wonderful guitar!

 

[adorshki]

Hell, I don't know...it LOOKS like Mahogany, but it is what it is, and it's a wonderful guitar!

Thanks for lookin' ! :lol: I know it ain't easy trying to see what color the unfinished inside part of the top is! :lol:

 

[loess]

'fraid I never got my hands on this one. We had a death in the family this week and I've not had the time or focus to check this guitar out. I'm hoping it's still available in a couple of weeks! Sorry to disappoint you guys...

 

[killdeer43]

No disappointment...you have your priorities in order, and there are plenty guitars out there.
Just take care of yourself and your family, and we'll be here for you.

Best to you,
Joe

 

[adorshki]

'fraid I never got my hands on this one. We had a death in the family this week and I've not had the time or focus to check this guitar out. I'm hoping it's still available in a couple of weeks! Sorry to disappoint you guys...

Many of us are no doubt pulling for you in both those situations. Thanks for the update.

 

[fab467]

loess:

So sorry to hear of your loved one's passing. You and your family will be in my prayers...

fab

 

[JLWhite]

My 74 D-25 sn.95*** is most definitely a mahogany top and arched back. A guy who worked at the Guild factory at that time, told me that they mixed the color tint in the lacquer when they sprayed them red (not stained wood and clear lacquer). I read somewhere that the D-25 model became spruce top in 76. Hope this helps.

 

[GardMan]

Loess, Sorry for your loss...

My '74 D-25M (SN 110XXX) is definitely spruce-topped... The top has a date stamp of "Aug 1974,"* so the transition to spruce tops was underway in the third quarter of '74. What I don't know (but Hans probably does) is whether there was a definite cut-off SN (or date) for the mahogany topped D-25s, or whether their was overlap in production of the two versions (the first spruce-topped D-25s were completed before the last mahogany-topped models).
D

Added: the date stamp would be for completion of the top... not the entire guitar. The SN suggests final completion was later in the year... but still in '74. But, the top completion date would indicate that spruce tops for D-25s were being made by this time.

 

[dreadnut]

I'm too lazy to look up the thread from before, but as I recall '74 was the year when the transition started to arched backs and production of spruce and 'hog tops was mixed for awhile.

I know a couple people here have arched backs with 'hog tops. I'm guessing they're 74's.

 

[jazzercizer]

I'm too lazy to look up the thread from before, but as I recall '74 was the year when the transition started to arched backs and production of spruce and 'hog tops was mixed for awhile.

I know a couple people here have arched backs with 'hog tops. I'm guessing they're 74's.

Mine's a '73...

 

[adorshki]

I'm too lazy to look up the thread from before, but as I recall '74 was the year when the transition started to arched backs and production of spruce and 'hog tops was mixed for awhile.

That's how I remember it, but I'm more error prone lately! :lol:

 

[cjd-player]

Sorry to hear of your loss, loess.

 

[geoguy]

Family obviously comes first . . . take care of yourself & your family, loess.

- Mark

 

[JazzyDaddy]

Without a doubt it's mahogany. I've worked with both 'hog and spruce many, many times for many, many years and that top is 'hog.

It so happens I have a '76 D-25CH that has a spruce top. Yours' is mahogany, my friend.

 

[GardMan]

A guy who worked at the Guild factory at that time, told me that they mixed the color tint in the lacquer when they sprayed them red (not stained wood and clear lacquer).

That's certainly what appears to have been done with my D-25M... the bare light-colored spruce shows thru the pickwear around the soundhole. Same thing on my D-44. The finish is chipped off the back in a couple spots, showing the lighter color of the pearwood. I've thought of trying to stain and drop fill the blemishes... but figure it's best left alone.