'81 Guild D-25 SB review...

[cuthbert]

Hi Alex:

Congratulations on a fine acquisition. I also have a sunburst D-25, made in 1982. Mine is in similar good-but-played condition; I am the original owner.

The dark burst pattern gives the guitar a certain character, especially when in the company of natural-finish instruments. My nut & saddle are quite dark yellow (I kept the guitar on a stand for years, and the plastic yellowed from light exposure). I recently replaced the pins with black pins; this gives it an even darker appearance, and I'm considering finding a dark saddle to complete "the look".

I had a problem with bridge lifting. This was caused by dryness - I left the guitar on a stand in a heated, dry room during several Canadian winters. Since it was repaired, I keep it in its gig bag, humidified.

As for the neck-heavy balance, I find that using a leather strap counteracts any tendency to "neck dive". I installed a strap button at the base of the neck, and the rough leather grips my shoulder and holds the guitar in the proper position.

Again, congratulations and I hope you will enjoy the D-25 for many years!

cheers
Ross

1)I'm a little envy...I'd have loved to buy a new sunburst 25...in the late 70s early 80s...can we see her?

2)Yes also this one does have a yellowed nut and pins, but the saddle doesn't look original. Anyway I decided to buy a complete bone set, pins, saddle and nut, because I think that the guitar deserves this upgrade. Besides that, the plastic pins are very worn and they look pretty bad. Given the option, I chose vintage bone, because I love the yellowed look of these parts:

http://www.guitarsaddles.com/images/Ima ... %202mm.jpg

But I'm not a great fan of black pin, the finish, at least in this one, is already VERY dark. Anyway if you like it, you can mail Colosi, I think he makes blackened bone parts as well.

3)That's bad, it seems that it's a common problem with these guitar, I was lucky to find one with a perfectly straight top and flat bridge.

4)No I don't have a problem with the heavy neck, it was just an information I added in the review, and I find interest to notice that this kind of dense mahogany was used in the same period by Guild and Gibson: the Les Pauls of the late 70s/early 80s are VERY heavy, even the ones with mahogany neck. I think that in that era the builders were available to use heavier wood than today because the raw material was scarce. In any case, I'm impressed by the overengineering of the guitar...in a favourable way.

Good luck with your problem, I know a pair of names that could solve your problem with the bridge but we are too far away. I'm a littel worried about what will happen this winter, I think I'll hunt down a humidifier as well: the guitar is lovely, has a bright and powerful sound (And I was never a fan of dreadnought, I always liked more "woman shaped" guitars like the Valencias) and I don't want to risk any damage at the finish or worse a structural problem.

 

[Ross]

Hi Alex:

I have no photos to post, but mine is virtually identical to yours.

The bridge, and the bridge plate below, have been repaired and reglued; the guitar is now in excellent condition, with a flat top. I now humidify diligently, and keep the guitar in its bag, rather than on a stand.

I purchased the guitar without a case, because I had a case that would fit it (even with the contoured back). Unfortunately the case deteriorated, but I have a good Levy's gig bag that is now the guitar's "house". It retains humidity quite well.

cheers
Ross