D35 vs D40
- Thread starter donnylang
- Start date
jfilm
Member
My '64 D40 is 4 lbs. 5 oz., and the '65 D40 is 4 lbs. 4 oz. My Ensenada DV-4 is 4 lbs. 11 oz. I used to have a 1985 D25, which was about 5 1/2 lbs. if I remember correctly. Certainly was noticeably heavier than the D40s.
The scale I'm using is an old baby scale that's kicking around the house - maybe not super accurate, but I've used it to ship things with USPS and never had a problem, so assume it's pretty close.
The scale I'm using is an old baby scale that's kicking around the house - maybe not super accurate, but I've used it to ship things with USPS and never had a problem, so assume it's pretty close.
Both great guitars, I much preferred the ‘98. It seems that the Westerly post Fender builds were very good. I had a 99 D55 that I liked a lot better than a Corona built one I had the pleasure to play for a while. I’d a kept the 99 D55 had I not found something I liked better. I only let the D40 go for a Gibson Southern Jumbo. Out of the very many Guilds that I have owned (including three Gruhn/Walkers) the only one I regret letting go is the 98 D40.
Yes, true. The 98 was also lighter braced, thinner finished and had the narrowest of the three modern headstocks.
Br1ck
Senior Member
If I've ever played another D 35 except mine, it was between 70-74. I assume it would be pretty much the same as mine. I've played D 40s from the late 70s and early 80s that were heavy, loud, but didn't do anything for me. Same can be said for Martins pretty much. The heavy build era is not for me.
donnylang
Member
Well I’ve got a ‘66 D40 on the way ... so I’ll report back here soon.
Br1ck
Senior Member
A 66 should be sweet. Look forward to your joy.
Rambozo96
Senior Member
That describes my 86’ D-25 perfectly. Weighty and on paper should have absolutely zero tone and projection yet it’s the loudest acoustic I ever owned and has a nice low end.
Rambozo96
Senior Member
I think the D-35 was a weird red headed stepchild of the line after the D-25 switched to spruce tops even though my arched back spruce top D-25 is very different from my D-35 in that it has more low end punch whereas the D-35 has a brighter attack which when recorded together has a cool result. When originally conceived the D-35 made sense, a more stripped down dreadnaught that’s cheaper than the D-40 that would satisfy the demand doe guitars during the folk boom but after the D-25 got spruce tops I had a hard time figuring out what was the point of the D-35 unless they had demand for a stripped down flat/braced back offering with better tuners. I never played a D-40 so I cannot really say much about them but from the catalog descriptions from the mid 70’s is the D40 seems to get more aesthetically appealing woods, heck Guild may even have had a system of how to see if the top woods would be tonally superior but that in itself would be subjective. Though I have heard reports that a D-35 and D-40 are tonally different. Looking forward to your findings on the matter. I thought about owning a D-40 but the specs are so close to a D-35 that I have a hard time justifying owning one as I never seemed to be much for owning duplicates or guitars with nearly similar specs. Though it wouldn’t hurt if it’s for science?
donnylang
Member
It will be interesting to compare side by side. But so far, the D35 is the most unlike the other dreadnoughts IME.
The ‘72 D25 had more in common sound wise with the ‘68 D40 I had than the D35s. The ‘67 D44 and ‘68 D40 felt extremely similar, but had different tonal qualities. Both of the D35s I’ve had seemed to be less Guild-like for lack of a better term.
donnylang
Member
So … the D35 won. The ‘66 D40 is cool, different from the ‘68 I had and very different from the ‘67 D44. I think the biggest lesson here is each individual guitar is very different.
That said, the D40s had in common a sort of “deeper” voice to them, a darker sound in the lows. The D35s, a more balanced “lighter” sound.
So- no real answers as to whether or not D35s were explicitly “voiced” or constructed differently than comparable D40s, or if they were just “lower-grade” D40s by design. My hunch is still the former, but ultimately this particular D35 has the magic and vibe, and I’ve grown attached to it. It’s the only guitar I’ve had where I can pick it up and play all of my songs, and they all sound “right”.
I think this also solidifies my previous experience/opinion that the “transition” era guitars/early Westerly are the ones I like the best. Doesn’t hurt that they are also the biggest bang for the buck too.
That said, the D40s had in common a sort of “deeper” voice to them, a darker sound in the lows. The D35s, a more balanced “lighter” sound.
So- no real answers as to whether or not D35s were explicitly “voiced” or constructed differently than comparable D40s, or if they were just “lower-grade” D40s by design. My hunch is still the former, but ultimately this particular D35 has the magic and vibe, and I’ve grown attached to it. It’s the only guitar I’ve had where I can pick it up and play all of my songs, and they all sound “right”.
I think this also solidifies my previous experience/opinion that the “transition” era guitars/early Westerly are the ones I like the best. Doesn’t hurt that they are also the biggest bang for the buck too.
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Br1ck
Senior Member
Your description of a D 35 is spot on and dovetails with my experience. I was playing My Martin D 35 the last two weeks, and finding I had to adjust my playing, sparser mostly, so the overtones didn't overwhelm the clarity. The Martin is certainly better for somethings, not for others, The Guild is good for everything, if not the best for any one thing, except recording. The Martin's bass is lush and there are times only my Texan will do for the dry bass tones. Reason enough to have multiple guitars.
Rambozo96
Senior Member
Supposed to see a D-40 next weekend so maybe I will have more to add to this D-35 vs
D-40 phenomenon. I find my 74’ D-35 has a nice high end shimmer as opposed to my D-25’s low end punch.
D-40 phenomenon. I find my 74’ D-35 has a nice high end shimmer as opposed to my D-25’s low end punch.