1980 D25

[Guild Man]

Hello. Newbie here. I am the original owner of a 1980 D25 sunburst. Its been my only acoustic for 42 years. I was looking for that deep even tone. Played it for ten minutes and out the door we go. Never looked back. I have since had some frets replaced and some other work done. Almost like new today with that aged and played richness. I read that it came with a nitro finish. Am I correct in assuming this. I am also looking for a second Guild. Thanks for any input on the subject.

 

[chazmo]

Yes on the nitrocellulose finish.

For dreadnoughts I think you should balance your tonal spectrum with a rosewood D-50 or D-55. If you're not interested in the rich overtones, you might prefer a D-40 (flat-backed mahogany) to set off from your arched back D-25.

There are so many ideas that come to mind if you've never played a non-dreadnought... Not even sure where to start there!

 

[GGJaguar]

Welcome to LTG! For a second Guild, you might consider something with a smaller body like an F-30. Or maybe go the other way with a full-size jumbo like JF-30. Or even a 12-string. So many possibilities!

 

[WaltW]

Welcome to LTG and as far as the guitar to select.....what they said! So much to choose from I have issues myself. For me, it depends on what I am looking for in resonance and sustain and then there's the $$.

 

[Cougar]

....Or maybe go the other way with a full-size jumbo like JF-30. Or even a 12-string. So many possibilities!

Yes, welcome to LTG, GuildMan! I like that "other way" suggested by the Jag man -- jumbos are something else! I just love my F50R, but a JF30 with the braceless archback maple would also be excellent. Nowadays I'm mostly a 12-string player and there's nothing like a jumbo Guild 12-string -- JF30-12 or an F512 or F412. My Guilds were all bought used online, paid before played, except for my JF30-12 which I looked at and played for about two minutes before forking over the cash. Good luck in your hunt!

 

[Guild Man]

Thanks for the replies! Cool forum.

 

[Wilmywood]

My recommendation will always be an archback all maple G-37, preferably a 1977 or earlier with a mahogany neck

 

[davismanLV]

As I get older I find I tend to grab the smaller bodied guitars to play. The dreads are nice, but they're big. If you have any neck or shoulder issues, a smaller body is the way to go. Otherwise, play what you like.

 

[Br1ck]

D 55 if you can swing it. Wild card would be the flat back D 25 from late 60s, early 70s. All hog would give you quite a different tone to yours. Quite similar would be a D 35 or D 40 from around 70, but still a bit different from your D 25.

 

[Br1ck]

As I get older I find I tend to grab the smaller bodied guitars to play. The dreads are nice, but they're big. If you have any neck or shoulder issues, a smaller body is the way to go. Otherwise, play what you like.

I didn't play dreads until my sixties, probably why I'm issue free. I do dream of a small body Santa Cruz someday.

 

[Guild Man]

Yes it's heavy all right. Guys in the band played it and called it the truck. But how they loved the sound. My issue is arthritis in my hands. I can play for three nights and then a break. Can't hold the bars anymore so playing open. However it has opened me up to some tunes I maybe would have never played. At my age anything over 1000.00 is a non starter. Looking for a second guitar so I can leave it at girlfriends and not have to lug the truck around. I am leaning on a DS240, D140 or a D120 Hog.

 

[Wilmywood]

Yes it's heavy all right. Guys in the band played it and called it the truck.

My '72 G-37 is substantially lighter than my DV-62 or even a later maple necked G-37, noticeably lighter