Yes, hence the quotation marks. The one I just sold to Rich is only four serials away from my old D26, with the same serial matrix.Which is really a D26.j/k
D25 price increases.
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wileypickett
Enlightened Member
And if you're lucky, you'd find one with a high gloss finish. I had a '93 for a while that was as good as any D25 I've ever played, with the exception of my recent D25 "25th anniversary".
I have two D4s -- one HR and one HG.
Glenn
Possibly, but I don't think I've ever seen one. The HG one in my photo I was glad didn't have the "True American" TRC, which I think started in '94. That's easy enough to fix, though.
I honestly prefer snakehead type headstocks for the straighter string pull over the nut. Still not as straight as my Bourgeois Slope D, though.
adorshki
Reverential Member
No, the snakehead had been standard on '25's since '87, and since D4's were "cloned" from D25's they got snakeheads from introduction in '92.
"True Americans" originally applied to the DCE series and was then extended to D4's, D25's, and even some Fce's ca '97. My 10-31-96 D25 has a TA TRC.
GGJaguar
Reverential Member
On the D-4s, the True American TRCs seems to have been used from 1997 to early 2000. Not sure about the other models, but would think it would be close if not the same.
adorshki
Reverential Member
'92 catalog:
Guild Gallery #1 (winter '97):
As noted, my '25 had one already when I bought it new in March '97.
I think they started slapping 'em on a lot of models, think they must have had a surplus.
I could go either way on the dreadnought bodies. On the F-style bodies, I agree with you (looks better with the wide crown).
Nice, Sandy!I honestly prefer snakehead type headstocks for the straighter string pull over the nut. Still not as straight as my Bourgeois Slope D, though.
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It's funny. My first Guild acoustic was a 1990 D25. It had a snakehead headstock, and because I didn't really know any better,* I just accepted the snakehead as the shape of a Guild headstock, to the point that when I purchased a 2003 D50 and first took it from the case, I looked at the headstock and thought, "what the hell is that?"I can see how someone conditioned by the traditional headstock shape would find the snakehead jarring, but it doesn't bother me.
*My actual first Guild was a B-302 that I received as a birthday gift in 1980. I wanted to be Paul McCartney. A year of trying to play along to records every day after school made it clear that that was not going to happen. I continued to use that bass through 1985, using it for brief stints in two bands, then gave it to my brother, who had actual talent. In any event, my first exposure to the Guild headstock was not to the snakehead, but to the extent that I thought about it at all I think I figured that basses were just different.
*My actual first Guild was a B-302 that I received as a birthday gift in 1980. I wanted to be Paul McCartney. A year of trying to play along to records every day after school made it clear that that was not going to happen. I continued to use that bass through 1985, using it for brief stints in two bands, then gave it to my brother, who had actual talent. In any event, my first exposure to the Guild headstock was not to the snakehead, but to the extent that I thought about it at all I think I figured that basses were just different.
Westerly Wood
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I have one paddle and one snake headstock. I do prefer the look of a paddle stock any day, but it doesnāt impact the sound at all.
Rambozo96
Senior Member
I think itās not just D-25ās but the vintage market and old Guild stuff in general. But if you donāt mind a more utilitarian guitar the D-4 can still be had for a bargain but theyāre getting at that age where a couple of them need neck resets. I have a D-25 from 1986 thatās a lovely guitar.
adorshki
Reverential Member
I think inevitably there were but more due to final headstock shaping after the "wings" were glued on.
I've noticed some apparent variations over the years but now suspect most of 'm are just distortions from the photo angle, particularly that GV-52. Compare to the almost ideal angle for this GV-70:
Snakeheads carried over into very early Corona on D40's ( got snakeheads right at the and of Westerly) JF30's and F47R/Mce's.
I like 'em both, got 2 snakeheads and a crown.
Westerly Wood
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I know it's silly, but I find the Paddle far superior. The Gruhn snake stock was not a great or necessary idea, IMHO.
It's a terrific guitar Charlie. So good that the near identical Orpheum SS 14 fret Mahogany didn't make the cut!
adorshki
Reverential Member
I'm absolutely convinced headstock mass is inversely proportional to attack transient waveform decay and distortion cancellation, particularly with uncoated pb alloys.
Snakeheads enhance the bloom of archback transients and paddleheads put the punch into 'hog flatbacks.
I hear the buzzing of psychedelic bees every time I play now.
GGJaguar
Reverential Member
I think the snakehead looks okay on something like a Bluesbird or Nightbird. On a big body model like the JF-30 it looks too out of proportion. Still, over time, I've become so used to it that I don't really think about it any more.