Break-in period for Oxnard D40 Traditional

[Norrissey]

About three months ago I purchased a minty 2018 D40 Traditional from Guitar Center. The guitar had been in the inventory of a music store that went out of business, sat in storage, and was later acquired by Guitar Center. The guitar was totally clean with the plastic still on the pickguard and yet because it had been in storage I got it for a used guitar price.
I have never owned a "like new" guitar before. I had it set up and it sounds very pretty and plays really nicely (love the neck) and I have been playing it regularly. So, everything is great except I'm a bit of a resonance junky and this guitar doesn't have the deep resonance I would expect of a top of the line Guild. (my 1971 D25 and D35 are far superior in this respect, as is my Martin D-18) I am wondering if I can expect the resonance of the D40 Traditional to improve over time as I break it in and if so how long might this break-in period be? Is there anything I can do to speed up the break-in period? I would guess I've played it for about 30 hours so far.
Thanks in advance for any comments. A pic of the guitar is below.

 

[West R Lee]

Perfect candidate for about a week on a Tone-Rite. Relatively new, very little play. I'd try a Tone-Rite on that one in a heartbeat. Nothing to lose.

West

 

[GGJaguar]

No way to know. One of my Adi top dreads opened up within a few months while another took several years (and yes, it was worth the wait). And yet another never really changed.

 

[twocorgis]

About three months ago I purchased a minty 2018 D40 Traditional from Guitar Center. The guitar had been in the inventory of a music store that went out of business, sat in storage, and was later acquired by Guitar Center. The guitar was totally clean with the plastic still on the pickguard and yet because it had been in storage I got it for a used guitar price.
I have never owned a "like new" guitar before. I had it set up and it sounds very pretty and plays really nicely (love the neck) and I have been playing it regularly. So, everything is great except I'm a bit of a resonance junky and this guitar doesn't have the deep resonance I would expect of a top of the line Guild. (my 1971 D25 and D35 are far superior in this respect, as is my Martin D-18) I am wondering if I can expect the resonance of the D40 Traditional to improve over time as I break it in and if so how long might this break-in period be? Is there anything I can do to speed up the break-in period? I would guess I've played it for about 30 hours so far.
Thanks in advance for any comments. A pic of the guitar is below.

Sounds like a real aberration for an Oxnard D40T. I've played four different examples; three at Sam Ash, and the one that I own, and all four were super resonant right out of the box. In fact, mine is about 95% there compared to the '66 D40 that I used to own, and I imagine it will be only more so as it ages. As @West R Lee suggests, there would be no harm in trying a Tone Rite on it if you have one. In fact, I have one that I'm not using at the moment that I'd be willing to lend you as long as you cover the postage, and promise to send it back! PM me if you're interested.

There's also a possibility that it could be a sonic runt (© @adorshki). I had a New Hartford D40 Traditional that was like that, and was one of the rare duds from that plant.

 

[Bill Ashton]

"Sonic Runt?" Ooo, that's harsh, LOL Certainly possible I guess. My H & D "Pilgrim" just does not
match my DS, even though its a "full" dread and torrified...but in its defense, I have to admit I probably have just have not played it
enough...

OK question and suggestion...does your D40 have an undersaddle-pickup? I am convinced my NH D55 with its
undersaddle is not what my previous Tacoma D55 was (which went through the bandsaw at NH )...the NH is superior
in every way build-wise, but just doesn't quite have that "chest-rumble" the other one did.

Suggestion: I don't know what Oxnard is using for strings, NH used "standard" D'Addarios, EJ-somethings. I would put on a set or either
DR Veritas (much better on my Guilds than Rare) or the "new" D'Addario XT's, let them break in (not a long wait) and then see how she sounds. I am about to try XT's on my Pilgrim instead of the NB that should emulate the Monel strings Tony Rice used way back...tone might be right but not the overall volume

In my travels I have only come across one new Oxnard D40, presume it was a traditional, but it was in the vendor area at
the Joe Val Festival and my exposure with the guitar was more feel rather than sound...given the cacophony around me...

Best of luck, I am sure she is a fine guitar, give 'er time...and new strings!

 

[chazmo]

Have you changed the strings, Norrissey?

 

[Norrissey]

Have you changed the strings, Norrissey?

Good point Charlie and Bill. The guitar was set up 2 months ago and I have not changed the strings since then. Because it is in rotation with my other dreads I estimate I play it 2-3 hours per week. So, those strings only have 16-24 hours of playing time on them. All four of the dreads I am comparing ('71 D25, '71 D35, and the Martin D-18 is a 2018 model but with way more hours on it than the D40T) are strung with Martin Phosphor Bronze 11s. I really like those strings on the other 3 guitars but perhaps I should bump up to 12s on the D40 Traditional? And perhaps the heavier strings would speed up the break in period too? Open to string suggestions but I do like Martin Phosphor Bronze a lot.

Thanks to everyone above for their thoughts and suggestions. I really appreciate it.
Thank you Sandy for your kind offer. I will try some different/heavier strings on the D40T and then depending on how that goes get in touch with you about a loan of the Tone-Rite.

Edit: Sorry Bill. Forgot to answer your question. My D40T does not have an under saddle pickup installed. No electronics. I will try those strings you suggested too. Thank you.

 

[twocorgis]

"Sonic Runt?" Ooo, that's harsh, LOL Certainly possible I guess. My H & D "Pilgrim" just does not
match my DS, even though its a "full" dread and torrified...but in its defense, I have to admit I probably have just have not played it
enough...

OK question and suggestion...does your D40 have an undersaddle-pickup? I am convinced my NH D55 with its
undersaddle is not what my previous Tacoma D55 was (which went through the bandsaw at NH )...the NH is superior
in every way build-wise, but just doesn't quite have that "chest-rumble" the other one did.

Suggestion: I don't know what Oxnard is using for strings, NH used "standard" D'Addarios, EJ-somethings. I would put on a set or either
DR Veritas (much better on my Guilds than Rare) or the "new" D'Addario XT's, let them break in (not a long wait) and then see how she sounds. I am about to try XT's on my Pilgrim instead of the NB that should emulate the Monel strings Tony Rice used way back...tone might be right but not the overall volume

In my travels I have only come across one new Oxnard D40, presume it was a traditional, but it was in the vendor area at
the Joe Val Festival and my exposure with the guitar was more feel rather than sound...given the cacophony around me...

Best of luck, I am sure she is a fine guitar, give 'er time...and new strings!

All D40 Traditionals come with coated D'Addario EXP16s, and while coated strings aren't my favorite, it certainly didn't seem to affect the sound of the guitar all that much, but I swapped them out for "regular" EJ16s on the first string change. Right now, I have three mahogany square shoulder dreadnoughts (the D40T, my D18DC, and D18 Authentic 1939) that are all so good, that I am in the midst of trying an experiment with them. I have a few sets of Elilxir Nanowebs (which are definitely not my favorite strings, especially when new) lying around, and I've decided to hobble all three guitars with the same strings, and have a shoot out for the next month or so. That plan is to almost certainly keep the D40T, because I got it for such a good price. I also have an LR Baggs Anthem I'd like to put in it for those rare times I plug in, and I see some open mikes coming up with my GF singing and me playing. But I have to decide which one of the Martins will go, as it's really overkill to have both. It most likely will be the Authentic, but I'm not sure yet. They are sonically very similar, and I waffle between the two often. The Crosby does have a lot in its favor though, because it doesn't have a through saddle, and it also has an adjustable truss rod. I think ultimately, it's more collectible, too. I'd also like to get a Lowden F body guitar, and the Authentic would be good trade bait for one.

It's interesting that your Pilgrim can't keep up with your DS. I've only played one (at Rudy's in the city), and thought it was terrific, but not better than my '69 D28. In all fairness, the D28 has 54 year old wood though (and is Brazilian rosewood), and there's something about those old straight braced D28s that seems to cut through everything. Is your Pilgrim mahogany or rosewood? I think the "standard" configuration is rosewood, but it also comes in mahogany. Could be you just like mahogany guitars better? I'm kinda like that. Maybe you need to borrow my Tone-Rite too!

 

[Westerly Wood]

Definitely try EJ16s before you give up, .12-.53 gauge. That should help...And I think it can take 6 months or more of steady playing for a guitar to really open up. I have owned Bonneville's F30R for going on 2 years now, and I play it daily, and it just started opening up about 6 months ago.

 

[twocorgis]

Definitely try EJ16s before you give up, .12-.53 gauge. That should help...And I think it can take 6 months or more of steady playing for a guitar to really open up. I have owned Bonneville's F30R for going on 2 years now, and I play it daily, and it just started opening up about 6 months ago.

I will second that! I've never liked 11s on acoustic guitars.

 

[merlin6666]

Good point Charlie and Bill. The guitar was set up 2 months ago and I have not changed the strings since then. Because it is in rotation with my other dreads I estimate I play it 2-3 hours per week. So, those strings only have 16-24 hours of playing time on them. All four of the dreads I am comparing ('71 D25, '71 D35, and the Martin D-18 is a 2018 model but with way more hours on it than the D40T) are strung with Martin Phosphor Bronze 11s. I really like those strings on the other 3 guitars but perhaps I should bump up to 12s on the D40 Traditional? And perhaps the heavier strings would speed up the break in period too? Open to string suggestions but I do like Martin Phosphor Bronze a lot.

Thanks to everyone above for their thoughts and suggestions. I really appreciate it.
Thank you Sandy for your kind offer. I will try some different/heavier strings on the D40T and then depending on how that goes get in touch with you about a loan of the Tone-Rite.

Edit: Sorry Bill. Forgot to answer your question. My D40T does not have an under saddle pickup installed. No electronics. I will try those strings you suggested too. Thank you.

I don't think that 2 to 3 hours per week is enough time for a good chance to bond with the guitar. Rather than looking at potential mechanical solutions I suggest you break the rotation and play this exclusively for at least a week or even longer. This gives you more of a chance to figure out how to tickle it right and make it sing.

 

[Norrissey]

I don't think that 2 to 3 hours per week is enough time for a good chance to bond with the guitar. Rather than looking at potential mechanical solutions I suggest you break the rotation and play this exclusively for at least a week or even longer.

That's a fair point. (I should probably get rid of some guitars : ) I'll do some more hours on the D40T while I experiment with strings a little.

 

[Norrissey]

Definitely try EJ16s before you give up, .12-.53 gauge. That should help...And I think it can take 6 months or more of steady playing for a guitar to really open up. I have owned Bonneville's F30R for going on 2 years now, and I play it daily, and it just started opening up about 6 months ago.

Thanks @Westerly Wood . Noted! I used to use EJ16 12s on everything and I liked them. Just prefer the Martin Phosphor Bronze for some reason. Strings selection is so hard and such a rabbit hole! Thanks for sharing your experience with your acoustics. I probably just need to be patient. (but I'm not! : )

 

[Westerly Wood]

Thanks @Westerly Wood . Noted! I used to use EJ16 12s on everything and I liked them. Just prefer the Martin Phosphor Bronze for some reason. Strings selection is so hard and such a rabbit hole! Thanks for sharing your experience with your acoustics. I probably just need to be patient. (but I'm not! : )

If you like the Martin PBs, give the 12s a try.

 

[chazmo]

Norrissey, I hope a string change has the desired result, but I have to say that with a Sitka top, the D40 traditional should not really have much a "break-in" period. Adirondack is far more susceptible to tightness at the beginning.

Are you beyond the dealer's return period? Not suggesting that you do that, as I think strings will do the trick, but if not I don't have much to offer in terms of hope for much change in tone.

 

[Walter Broes]

Very strange - I can only echo what Sandy said - I've played three, I think, and they were all equally impressive - you could feel the hair on your chest vibrate though your shirt if you strummed a G chord. They were all loud, punchy as heck and had all the low end yould want from a dread. The kind of dreads bluegrassers dream of, really.

 

[Bill Ashton]

@Norrissey @twocorgis

My experience has been that strings which are favored for Martin guitars have not fared well with either my NH D55 or NH F47R. "Lowly"
DR Rares, GHS (Bright Bronze), GHS Vintage Bronze or D'Addario EJ's were always much better. Just stumbled upon the XT's and have been really impressed so that is why I suggested those.

Sadly, I could not get Martin or other Monel-wanna-be's off my Guilds fast enough...GHS "Americana" strings were not much better...

 

[twocorgis]

Very strange - I can only echo what Sandy said - I've played three, I think, and they were all equally impressive - you could feel the hair on your chest vibrate though your shirt if you strummed a G chord. They were all loud, punchy as heck and had all the low end yould want from a dread. The kind of dreads bluegrassers dream of, really.

I agree 100% Walter. All four of them that I've played were uniformly great.

 

[Norrissey]

I think, and they were all equally impressive - you could feel the hair on your chest vibrate though your shirt if you strummed a G chord.

Yeah. That's exactly what my other dreadnought guitars have that this D40T is missing. That deep resonance. In isolation the D40T sounds pretty good, but when I switch from the D40T to one of the my other dread acoustics, I really notice the difference.
Hopefully a string switch and more hours of playing time and perhaps a loan of Sandy's Tone-Rite do the job.

 

[chazmo]

Also, just make a quick check of the saddle and the strings against the pins to make sure everything's seated firmly