1978 D 25 CH

[richardp69]

I always loved the looks, simplicity and sound/tone of a nice D 25. I've owned bunches of them over the year but it seems whenever I needed some quick cash they were the 1st to go. They sell easily in part because they are so affordable and sound so great. And, you can always find another when you're ready to buy again..

I found this arched back Cherry finish D 25 years ago. I've owned it a while now and it's pretty minty cosmetic-wise. When I bought it I knew the neck angle was not great but I played it that way for years and it worked just fine. But, about 3 years ago or so I decided I was going to get each and every guitar that I own and plan to keep in the best possible playing shape I possibly could. I sent this down to Tom Jacobs. It needed nothing but a neck reset, set up and a fresh set of strings. I got it back yesterday and is always the case I'm thrilled with his work. What a great guitar.

I'll likely never get my money out of this one should I sell but sometimes that's o.k. if you love a guitar enough. Plus, never say never, but I have no plans to sell this one. It's one of the two best D 25's I've ever owned.

Here's a couple pics.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Such great dreads! Do you another arched D25, Richard, or just this one?

 

[richardp69]

Such great dreads! Do you another arched D25, Richard, or just this one?

This is the only one Woody. I still regret selling my minty D 25 BR a few years back.

 

[Westerly Wood]

This is the only one Woody. I still regret selling my minty D 25 BR a few years back.

I would sell or trade you for my '71, as I just don't really care about it at all, but my wife loves it... It's a default keeper then...

 

[GGJaguar]

Wonderful to have a well-loved guitar. They are a joy.

 

[wileypickett]

This looks just like my D15, which I assumed was the less fancy version of the D25, rght? The D15 has the same mahogony top as the D25 (or at least the D25s that are mahogony-topped rather than mahogony stained).

The apparent differences, to my eye anyway, are the white binding to the top of the D25, and -- I find this kind of odd -- the headstock logo on my D15 is inlaid MOP, more elaborate and requiring more effort to produce than the plain-Jane gold silkscreeend version on the D25 headstock.

What are the other differences, anyone know?

 

[Westerly Wood]

This looks just like my D15, which I assumed was the less fancy version of the D25, rght? The D15 has the same mahogony top as the D25 (or at least the D25s that are mahogony-topped rather than mahogony stained).

The apparent differences, to my eye anyway, are the white binding to the top of the D25, and -- I find this kind of odd -- the headstock logo on my D15 is inlaid MOP, more elaborate and requiring more effort to produce than the plain-Jane gold silkscreeend version on the D25 headstock.

What are the other differences, anyone know?

main diff vs your D15 is Richard's D25 has a spruce top (or should be if it's a '78), not hog. and the trim you mention.
the spruce vs hog top is a big tonal difference imho...

 

[D30Man]

Man there is nothing wrong with a D25ch!!! Best sounding Guild I ever owned was a ‘79. So dark and loud. She is a beaut Richard. I fully agree. It’s not always about resell value or investment, but about making a guitar play its best and loving it.

 

[D30Man]

And damned if that box is not minty as hell..

 

[D30Man]

I would sell or trade you for my '71, as I just don't really care about it at all, but my wife loves it... It's a default keeper then...

WW you have had a love / hate relationship with that ‘71 BR.. I get it. Sometimes you pick your guitar up and there is something magical about it. Sometimes you play it in a different room or with old string or you just hear it differently and you’re just like man why do I like this?

 

[Westerly Wood]

WW you have had a love / hate relationship with that ‘71 BR.. I get it. Sometimes you pick your guitar up and there is something magical about it. Sometimes you play it in a different room or with old string or you just hear it differently and you’re just like man why do I like this?

could not have said this better D30! the Br and I have had our moments for sure, really good and really bad. it's kind of taken on a life of its own however, and never seems to care about my feelings on any given day...lol I often remind the Br that I am 4 years older, so....

really, if it were not for my wife's fondness of its sound and playability, as it reminds her of her beloved J45 sound-wise, I'd have sold it or traded it or honestly, given it away years ago.

 

[wileypickett]

I own (or have owned) both spruce and mohogony topped D25s. My question was just about the mahogony-topped versions of the two models.

I was wondering why the less expensive model (I assume the D15 sold for less than the D25, true?) had the more elaborate, more time-consuming-to-make MOP headstock.

Other than the top binding, what else did the D25 offer that the D15 didn't?

BTW, my D15 is one terrific sounding guitar -- it may even have a slight edge over my D25s.

Thanks!
Glenn

 

[Westerly Wood]

BTW, my D15 is one terrific sounding guitar -- it may even have a slight edge over my D25s.

Interesting to hear this. I know dreadnut loves his D15.

 

[wileypickett]

Interesting to hear this. I know dreadnut loves his D15.

The overall sound on both models is very crisp and punchy and there's no mushiness in any of the tonal ranges. But the bass is especially pronounced on the D15. (This is the only D15 I've ever owned, so I don't know if this quality is typical of all of them or if I just lucked into a particularly great one.)

One other thing that's interesting about my D15 is that the top braces don't go extend under the kerfing. If you've ever spent any time looking inside your guitars (I've taken up residence in some of them!) you've probably noticed there are little gaps under those bits of the kerfing to accommodate where the ends of the braces extend.

On my D15, there are no gaps, the kerfing is flush all around, and the top braces -- all of them -- thin out to nothing maybe 1/16" from the kerfing, so there's a space all the way around the guitar between the ends of the braces and the kerfing.

I assume this was a cost-cutting measure in constructing what were inexpensive guitars (but then why the MOP headstock logo?!), but it seems like it couldn't help having an impact on the sound of the instrument as well.

Only the edges of the top are glued to the kerfing -- the braces are all "floating," so to speak, ie, not in any contact with the sides of the guitar.

 

[D30Man]

could not have said this better D30! the Br and I have had our moments for sure, really good and really bad. it's kind of taken on a life of its own however, and never seems to care about my feelings on any given day...lol I often remind the Br that I am 4 years older, so....

really, if it were not for my wife's fondness of its sound and playability, as it reminds her of her beloved J45 sound-wise, I'd have sold it or traded it or honestly, given it away years ago.

The overall sound on both models is very crisp and punchy and there's no mushiness in any of the tonal ranges. But the bass is especially pronounced on the D15.

Now this is the only D15 I've ever owned, so I don't know if this quality is typical of all of them or if I just lucked into a particularly great one.

One other thing that's interesting about my D15 is that the top braces don't go extend under the kerfing. If yiu've spent any time looking inside your guitars, you've probably noticed there are little gaps under those bits of the kerfing where the ends of the braces extend.

On my D15, there are no gaps, the kerfing is flush all around, and the top braces -- all of them -- thin out to nothing maybe 1/16" from the kerfing, so there's a space all the way around the guitar between the ends of the braces and the kerfing.

I assume this was a cost-cutting measure in the construction (but then why the MOP headsrtock logo?!), but it seems like it must also have had an impact on the sound of the instrument.

Only the edges of the top are glued to the kerfing -- the braces are all "floating," so to speak -- ie, not in any contact with the sides of the guitar.

I have never seen a D-15 with MOP headstock. What a nice touch for that model.

 

[Br1ck]

If you are underwater on your D 25, you'll be less tempted to ever sell it. I call that a win.

 

[dreadnut]

Selling it?

 

[Bonneville88]

Wasn't an MOP inlay on the D15 headstock - was a very thin "pearl-ish" looking applique,
which was sealed under the finish. Might have been polyester film or something
similar.

 

[wileypickett]

Wasn't an MOP inlay on the D15 headstock - was a thin "pearl-ish" looking applique,
which was sealed under the finish.

That sounds right.

 

[D30Man]

That makes sense.