F-55 maple or vintage D-35, what would you choose?

[schoolie]

I'm not super proud of this, but I have the guitar sweats again. I'm considering a 1970 D-35, and a new F-55 maple. I can buy the D-35 for a good price, but it will need a neck reset, and maybe more. I already have an Oxnard F-40T, so how much difference in sound will there be with the F-55? The F-55 has the arched back and maple, but is it enough of an upgrade to justify the cost? Even with 10-15% off, the F-55 is more than 3x the cost of the D-35, I think the D-35 will be a cool project, and I'll have a cool vintage Guild which is maybe what is missing in my guitars,

I guess the D-35 might be the more sensible choice. I would probably be $1500 into the D-35 after the neck reset, and could do the frets, nut, and saddle myself.
Anyway, if you have any thoughts, I would love to hear. Free free to stage an intervention. Thanks!

 

[Boomstick]

It's funny that you mention both of these models, because both of these were the steel string acoustics that my dad owned throughout my childhood. He bought the D-35 new in '68 and it was the guitar he pretty much exclusively played (and still owns), and bought a maple F-50 around the time I was born but he found it hard to fret the high E due to the neck shape, so he rarely played it. Fast forward some years, I became a better player and really took a liking to the F-50, it might quite possibly be the best sounding acoustic I've ever played and a few years back he gave it to me.

I haven't actually played a F40, but it should sound a fair amount different than both a maple F-55 as it's mahogany back and sides. The maple F55 is a pretty well balanced guitar with full midrange where the F40 seems to have a good amount of low midrange from demos I've heard, which is typical for a mahogany guitar.

Here's a video of me playing my F-50

https://1drv.ms/v/s!AhZmMB-Fz0_2j68TgNi_He3Jq08ktw?e=v43JBD

As far as the D-35 goes, that's also a very nice guitar. It's possible that you might like it better, depending on your playing style. My dad's college buddies always told me that when it had the full height saddle, it absolutely buried their Martins in volume. Now it has a very low saddle and insanely low action and from what I'm told the low mids were tamed quite a bit.

Here's a video I did on my cell phone after restringing it for him. I put D'Addario XT phosphor bronze strings on it and with the brighter strings, it has really rich highs (which my cell phone didn't fully pick up).

https://1drv.ms/v/s!AhZmMB-Fz0_2j6IpkB7xC0Wh_lgH9g?e=L1ZoUg

 

[Boomstick]

I will also link this demo as it's I can attest it's a very accurate representation fo the F-55's sound. The F-55 can be fingerpicked, or picked heavy, but my favorite is playing stuff like this. In fact, Preston Reed's What You Don't See is on my to learn list partially because I know it will sound great on my F-50.

 

[chazmo]

I'm not sure "upgrade" is the right word, schoolie. I would never steer anyone away from a Guild jumbo. You might look for an older F-50/JF-65, or even a JF-30 if you're interested in working your way up the chain; a new F-55 maple is pretty steep.

Love vid from Guild of the F-55 maple, shot in front of the Wabach press that made the back of almost all US-built archies for a very long time.

 

[Westerly Wood]

If it’s me, I am going with the F50 (forgive my rebelliousness re Oxnard number system). I have owned 3 D35s, early and later versions, and they are kind of ordinary. No disrespect meant. Now a 1970 version might be quite the keeper, those can be sweet. But no way will it match an F50. However, I don’t have a F40 so might be redundant.

 

[Neal]

I have owned all three. Apples, oranges and bananas.

If you are looking for a huge, cavernous “what the hell just happened” tone, there is no substitute for a guild maple jumbo.

They also happen to be the most attractive instruments Guild has ever made.

 

[Cougar]

The F-55 has the arched back and maple....

A jumbo maple arch back -- yes, absolutely, no question, hands down.

 

[schoolie]

Thanks for the excellent advice!...I talked myself down, and I'm going to wait. If I decide to sell off a few, I'll get the F-55.

 

[Brad Little]

I've had a maple F50 for 40 years or so, and had a Tacoma F40 for a few years during that time. No comparison, F50 is a sound beast, the F40 more of a pussy cat (but a nice one).

 

[Westerly Wood]

Thanks for the excellent advice!...I talked myself down, and I'm going to wait. If I decide to sell off a few, I'll get the F-55.

plus, Schoolie, I see your avatar and you have either a D25 arched or flatback?
I have the D25 flat and I have had many D35s, and honestly, the sound difference is negligible. So an F50 will rock the Casbah.
Like, don't get me wrong, I know Neal and Brick love their old early 70 D35s, etc, but I cannot describe my "meh" reaction to them...I really really wanted to like them. But I think it's mostly my fault, my ears etc, and I think Sandy is right. I need a D50 for what I like to do on guitar. Think I will save that purchase for my 60th birthday. A few years away.

 

[Br1ck]

It's a matter of taste. The jumbo maple Guild I had was perhaps my least favorite guitar I ever owned as far as "quality" domestic fare. I rescued a 70 D 35 and have been extremely happy with it for the last ten years. Clear and articulate, it has my favorite neck. It took me ten years to get around to fixing it. Even if you get the jumbo, buy the D 35 and save it for when you get another itch. It's my vote. I much prefer dreads over jumbos in general for how I play.

 

[schoolie]

plus, Schoolie, I see your avatar and you have either a D25 arched or flatback?
I have the D25 flat and I have had many D35s, and honestly, the sound difference is negligible. So an F50 will rock the Casbah.
Like, don't get me wrong, I know Neal and Brick love their old early 70 D35s, etc, but I cannot describe my "meh" reaction to them...I really really wanted to like them. But I think it's mostly my fault, my ears etc, and I think Sandy is right. I need a D50 for what I like to do on guitar. Think I will save that purchase for my 60th birthday. A few years away.

That's a D-15m in my avatar. It's honestly still my favorite guitar. Sounds good all the way up the neck. The arched back seems to add some magic to the sound,

 

[Neal]

Granted, there are no flies on an early ‘70’s D-35, either. I still have my ‘73 from high school, purchased with money I had saved from delivering newspapers in 1975.

I would describe the tone of the D-35 as “sweet”. It is not a particularly loud or aggressive guitar. Very balanced. I have owned many fine dreadnought worth considerably more, but the voice of a D-35 is unique. As I get older, I have gained a real appreciation for all it offers.

The F-50’s I have owned have been loud, rumbling beasts. If they had 1 3/4” nuts, I would still own one.

FWIW, I usually play the D-35 with a capo on the 2nd fret, to give me a little more width on the fretboard.

 

[Rayk]

F50R or F55 rosewood . That’s all I got lol

 

[Westerly Wood]

I still have my ‘73 from high school, purchased with money I had saved from delivering newspapers in 1975.

FWIW, I usually play the D-35 with a capo on the 2nd fret, to give me a little more width on the fretboard.

I still love that story, Neal.

And when I do play the BR, super rare these days, I capo 2 as well. It makes the tone sweeter and less dark I find.

 

[Boomstick]

FWIW, I usually play the D-35 with a capo on the 2nd fret, to give me a little more width on the fretboard.

The clip I posted was capo’d on the 5th fret, gives it a nice mellow sound

 

[adorshki]

Thanks for the excellent advice!...I talked myself down, and I'm going to wait. If I decide to sell off a few, I'll get the F-55.

It's exactly like Neal said: What it really is is apples and oranges.
What flavors do you want to have readily available? Is one inherently better than another?
(Yes, chocolate, coffee and bacon taste better than broccoli, carob, and uni)

So, buy what you can put in the freezer (figuratively speaking) first: Bite the bullet, get the F55 and put it under the bed immediately, then buy the D35 and play the snot out of it until it's time to treat yourself to a new guitar, and voila! You've got an F50 stashed under the bed!

BTW the current F40 formula is NOT the traditional F40 formula, which was a maple archback 16" lower bout, and it's ideal for guys like m who wouldn't be able to handle a full 17"jumbo like an F50 in any case.

 

[Christopher Cozad]

...So, buy what you can put in the freezer (figuratively speaking) first: Bite the bullet, get the F55 and put it under the bed immediately, then buy the D35 and play the snot out of it until it's time to treat yourself to a new guitar, and voila! You've got an F50 stashed under the bed!..

See... *this* is classic LTG enablement. Right here, folks, is how it is done, properly!

 

[Rayk]

It's exactly like Neal said: What it really is is apples and oranges.
What flavors do you want to have readily available? Is one inherently better than another?
(Yes, chocolate, coffee and bacon taste better than broccoli, carob, and uni)

So, buy what you can put in the freezer (figuratively speaking) first: Bite the bullet, get the F55 and put it under the bed immediately, then buy the D35 and play the snot out of it until it's time to treat yourself to a new guitar, and voila! You've got an F50 stashed under the bed!

BTW the current F40 formula is NOT the traditional F40 formula, which was a maple archback 16" lower bout, and it's ideal for guys like m who wouldn't be able to handle a full 17"jumbo like an F50 in any case.

Yes then , then , then buy them all !!!!
Muahahahahaha

 

[bobouz]

Well, you’ve already got a mahogany Guild jumbo in the Oxnard F-40. I’m not a big fan of square shouldered dreads which are a dime-a-dozen (and you have the D-15), so forget them both & go for a 16” maple small-jumbo!