D-25 and D-40

[Taylor Martin Guild]

I have been Gassing for a Mahogany Guild.
I have never played one before so what is the tonal difference between an Arched Back Spruce topped D-25 compared to a D-40?
Which one would cut through Banjos and Mandolins best?

I know that Tacoma and NH D-40's have Red Spruce tops so I would guess that there will also be a difference between a Sitka topped and a Red Spruce topped D-40, correct?

 

[adorshki]

TMG, if anybody here can answer that specifically, it's me. I have both, and I've made the humorous comment that my D25 can eat my D40 for breakfast. I'll qualify that with the fact that the '25 has literally about 1000 more hours on it and I'm hoping the '40 still has some opening up to do. Allowing for all that I've finally come to the conclusion that the arched back accentuates and amplifies overtones/harmonics more than a flatback, which give a more organlike character to those instruments. Both of my archbacks display this characteristic (the F65 is an archback even though the body is completely different), that's why I think it must be the back.. The biggest thing I note about the D40 now is that when chording, the individual notes are more distinct compared to the '25 especially. I have to assume now that's due to the flatback. The '25 sounds louder and more lush but the '40 is actually more "crystalline", especially when fingerpicking. I enjoy having both options available to me. Hope that helps!

 

[twocorgis]

I have been Gassing for a Mahogany Guild.
I have never played one before so what is the tonal difference between an Arched Back Spruce topped D-25 compared to a D-40?
Which one would cut through Banjos and Mandolins best?

I think in all likelihood that arch back will be louder. i think that's why they made them that way. My New Hartford D40 isn't particularly loud now, but I think it will be. General consensus here seems to be that dreads are louder than jumbos. I think jumbos are a bit louder to my ears; dunno, maybe they're just different.

I know that Tacoma and NH D-40's have Red Spruce tops so I would guess that there will also be a difference between a Sitka topped and a Red Spruce topped D-40, correct?

Amigo has Red Spruce too (AKA that vaunted "Adi"), but sound-wise is much more open. Scratch must have played it a lot.

 

[GardMan]

TMG,
You're welcome to come down and test drive my D-25 anythime that's convenient... She's definitely in the top half of my dreads for volume and projection.
Dave

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

TMG,
You're welcome to come down and test drive my D-25 anythime that's convenient... She's definitely in the top half of my dreads for volume and projection.
Dave

Thanks for the offer Dave.
I will take you up on it.
I have an even better idea.
I will be at the Green River in July from the 7th to the 18th.
Bring your D-25 with you and let's go fishing.

 

[taabru45]

Headline from local paper....July 19...Man has unfortunate accident while fishing, guitar is safe....... :lol: :lol: Steffan

 

[GardMan]

TMG,
You're welcome to come down and test drive my D-25 anythime that's convenient... She's definitely in the top half of my dreads for volume and projection.
Dave

Bring your D-25 with you and let's go fishing.

I'd love to... but I'll be in Ptld, OR until the 10th, and then have a solid week of student orientations/advising when I get back. :shock: I expect to be pretty shell-shocked by the time it's over (I just took over student advising in our dept... for 800 biology majors.... and this will be my first real experience with new student orientations). Maybe we can get together some evening later in July?
Dave

PS... we floated/camped A/B/C on the Green last week just after the water came down. Worked hard to catch 10 fish in 3 days... not your typical Green River experience (but a beautiful float anyway).