For the money

[Br1ck]

That phrase is one of the worst when used in the guitar world in general, and in the Guild world in particular. From the early days, this was attached to Guild because their lower cost guitars were less than Martins, and this phrase or at least the idea has stuck for the duration. Yesterday I experienced an interesting phenomena. I've had a love affair going on for around seven months now with my Santa Cruz D P/W. So much so that every time I tried to play another guitar, it didn't last long. I was harboring the idea I may have to sell everything and buy another SCGC. Frankly, those were unwanted thoughts.

Yesterday I got my 70 D 35 out, certainly the least valuable of the pack. I played it all day. Loved it. Yes, the neck is not quite as perfect as my Santa Cruz, but very nearly, and while the Guild does not quite have the resonance, it is really darned near. Add to this it's worry free take it anywhere attribute, it certainty remains a keeper, for which I'm very happy. I can recommend this early Westerly vintage to anyone, not for its good guitar for the money, but as a good guitar. If you are trying to make the jump to a good US made dread on short money, it's hard to beat. The for the money part is just happy coincidence.

 

[davenumber2]

I get tired of hearing the phrase too even though I am guilty myself of using it here and there. It’s either a good guitar or it isn’t.

 

[1976GuildD55]

That phrase is one of the worst when used in the guitar world in general, and in the Guild world in particular. From the early days, this was attached to Guild because their lower cost guitars were less than Martins, and this phrase or at least the idea has stuck for the duration. Yesterday I experienced an interesting phenomena. I've had a love affair going on for around seven months now with my Santa Cruz D P/W. So much so that every time I tried to play another guitar, it didn't last long. I was harboring the idea I may have to sell everything and buy another SCGC. Frankly, those were unwanted thoughts.

Yesterday I got my 70 D 35 out, certainly the least valuable of the pack. I played it all day. Loved it. Yes, the neck is not quite as perfect as my Santa Cruz, but very nearly, and while the Guild does not quite have the resonance, it is really darned near. Add to this it's worry free take it anywhere attribute, it certainty remains a keeper, for which I'm very happy. I can recommend this early Westerly vintage to anyone, not for its good guitar for the money, but as a good guitar. If you are trying to make the jump to a good US made dread on short money, it's hard to beat. The for the money part is just happy coincidence.

Br1ck, When I bought my GuildD55 in ‘76, my Martin D35 had just been stolen. I could buy either the Martin D35 again or the GuildD55 for the same price. The Guild played and sounded much better, which surpried me. I believe the D55 today is $3900 or so and the Martin D35 is a bit lower, but relatively the same. Guild is not the less expensive alternative in my thinking. I’ve admired those Santa Cruz guitars for over a decade. Good for you on owning one!

 

[Rocky]

"Great value" is a real thing. When I was shopping for a 'beach/campfire" guitar it had to meet a few specific criteria:
It had to be playable
It had to be loud
It had to be cheap enough that I could easily get over damage/destruction

Sound was way fown the list. I ended up with a Yamaha FG700S. Imagine my surprise when I realized how great it sounded. Better than a number of far more expensive guitars I've played. Now I probably got lucky, but I'll take it.

 

[Guildedagain]

It blows this old saying out of the water "Cheap is cheap".

 

[Itamar4256]

I found someone sells D35 in my country for 1200$. Isn't it too old guitar? How long it'll last?

I also found a D55 (RI) from around 99' for 2900$, I think it'll last for much longer since it's newer.

I posted them both here, maybe you can help with consideration?

 

[Curlington]

Guild acoustics from 69-72 are generally priced way too low for what you get, IMHO. It is the sweet spot.

That said, one needs some experience to safely evaluate an acoustic that is 50+ years old. I would not buy one sight unseen unless I was feeling very lucky.

A bargain like that can turn into a nightmare of repair costs. You'd probably still have a bargain on the other side, if you have a good tech, and if you are OK waiting.

I am biased. I have two 69-72s remaining, and have sold off several others over the years.

Best of luck in your quest.

 

[Itamar4256]

Oh sorry, I can also check the D35. I will check it today hopefully.

 

[Wilmywood]

I found someone sells D35 in my country for 1200$. Isn't it too old guitar? How long it'll last?

I also found a D55 (RI) from around 99' for 2900$, I think it'll last for much longer since it's newer.

I posted them both here, maybe you can help with consideration?

I have a '72 Guild G37 I bought new and it's just coming into its prime. It has no cracks, and no neck issues, although through me negligence it has had the headstock reattached after it snapped off, totally my fault, not the guitar's. 30 years later it still plays just fine.
I also have a '53 Guild X-375, same thing. If kept in good condition, they never get 'too old' in my opinion.

And I'll reiterate, that D35 is the deal of the bunch you mentioned in the other thread, IMO.

 

[Iceman]

I believe that Guild guitars have the best bang for the buck!

Case in point, 2010-2013 Standard series guilds.
If you can find one in good shape, you should seriously consider it.
I have the D 50 CE STD and it is a phenomenal guitar.

 

[Itamar4256]

I drove one hour to play the D35.

I have a fender guitar, dreadnought mahagony which cost around 250$ and I didn't see much difference.

 

[adorshki]

I drove one hour to play the D35.

I have a fender guitar, dreadnought mahagony which cost around 250$ and I didn't see much difference.

Wouldn't surprise me but in 5 years when the Fender needs a re-fret, will it be worth the investment? I guarantee you the D35 will be if it's been properly maintained.

It's a rhetorical question but it's a big reason I got a D25 to replace my own stolen MIK Fender flattop, with poly finish and nowhere near the quality of materials that D35's going to have, and it was Guild's entry-level dreadnought at the time.

 

[Br1ck]

I found someone sells D35 in my country for 1200$. Isn't it too old guitar? How long it'll last?

I also found a D55 (RI) from around 99' for 2900$, I think it'll last for much longer since it's newer.

I posted them both here, maybe you can help with consideration?

Guitars don't have a lifespan. Anything can be fixed as long as you are willing to pay the price. One of the major expenses on an old guitar is the likelihood of a neck reset, along with frets. That $1200 guitar could need $1000 worth of work. My 70 D 35 cost me $1100 at a luthier's shop. Even taking into consideration that I bought it in unplayable condition for $250, I spent $1400 on a guitar worth $900 at the time. Monetary value was not the point. Preservation was. My 70 D 35 will be in good order when a 90s guitar needs work. Price should not override your preference. A D 55 is a flagship rosewood dread. A mahogany D 35 was not and never will be the resonant rosewood flagship of the line.

If you were to buy a seventies Volkswagen in good running order, you must realize it will need an ongoing series of repair, and you cope until you can't. Old guitars are like that, but when you get a guitar rebuilt, it stays in good condition for a long while.You have to buy the old VW because you love them. If you really want an old Mercedes, don't buy a VW.

That D 55 is old enough to need work. Buy it knowing that and get it checked out. If the D 55 floats your boat, commit to it.

 

[1976GuildD55]

Wouldn't surprise me but in 5 years when the Fender needs a re-fret, will it be worth the investment? I guarantee you the D35 will be if it's been properly maintained.

It's a rhetorical question but it's a big reason I got a D25 to replace my own stolen MIK Fender flattop, with poly finish and nowhere near the quality of materials that D35's going to have, and it was Guild's entry-level dreadnought at the time.

I would really go for the Guild, though those Fenders can be great if it is more to your liking price wise.

 

[adorshki]

I would really go for the Guild, though those Fenders can be great if it is more to your liking price wise.

'81 F210. Nice little guitar, solid top, but I just couldn't stand the thought of getting another "disposable" guitar in '97.

 

[Itamar4256]

My 70 D 35 will be in good order when a 90s guitar needs work.

You say it because you think the building quality of the 70s was better?

 

[adorshki]

You say it because you think the building quality of the 70s was better?

With apologies for the butt-inski, @Br1ck (in case he needs to correct me) had his guitar professionally refurbished by highly experienced and noted local luthiers 6 or 7 years ago (forgot the actual timing).

He got it for a decent price and liked its voice enough to bring it back to its best possible condition, including a re-finish. At the time the investment was a couple of hundred dollars more than the guitar's market value, but he knew it deserved it. In the meantime his love for it seems to have grown if anything, and suspect it might now even be worth at least what he's got into it, if not a bit more. And he's got to play it in the meantime.

Just giving some background that the guitar is "like new", probably the main reason for his comment.

I know he likes that light '71 build style, but don't know if he thinks workmanship was better. Some of the materials certainly were, "for the money". And thus worth refurbishing.

For me, when I got the second refret on my D25 about ten years ago, it felt brand new again, loved it to death. Sure it's got some dings but now it's better than new in my opinion, with about 1400 hours of playing time having opened her up nicely. I couldn't do that again with a new guitar.

And my '03 D40? Took about 8 years to really get her voice but now it's actually my favorite.

I know my own D25 is probably worth about what I've got into it between original new buy and 2 refrets, and by that measure I've had 26 years of free playing. And FWIW as a '96 Westerly build, even having taken a couple of scary knocks, but always strung with lights, the neck angle is barely deflecting from perfect and all the seams are intact. I call that excellent build quality. Made to last.

 

[Boneman]

Yea no doubt, don’t even get me started on money itself, I think the whole thing is an interesting concept and seems to distort kindness.

Case in point, 2010-2013 Standard series guilds.
If you can find one in good shape, you should seriously consider it.

Agreed, lol, I just found one in brand new shape and jumped on it

I have a fender guitar, dreadnought mahagony which cost around 250$ and I didn't see much difference.

I had a 1989 Fender acoustic, and neither then, nor today, do they make a guitar as good as a Guild. Oh and to answer your question, get the D55 if you can afford it

 

[mavuser]

it's a good guitar, for the money

it's in good condition, for it's age

the band sounds good, for a bunch of washed up drunks

those are good tires, for a honda civic

the skiing is good, for the east coast

he was a good doctor, for a rural town in North Dakota

that's a good price on that house, for today's market

that's a lot of rain, for Arizona

the food tasted great, for a hospital

that flight was good, for American Airlines

it was a good marraige, for the first 8 years

he is tall, for a 5 year old

it was a good job, for 2 of the 8 people in my office

the weather was hot, for the Yukon Territory

it was a good year, for Amazon and UPS

they did a good job paving that road, for a bunch of blindfolded monkeys on drugs

he played good hockey, for the first ten minutes of every game

that's a good car, for staying home

the wine tasted good, for a six dolla bottle

I didn't lose that much money, for a 10 night stay at Ceasar's Las Vegas

@GAD is a good guy, for a Taylor Ham eatin dude from New Jersey

LTG is pretty cool, for an online forum

 

[mavuser]

baa how could I forget.

"this is a huge apartment, FOR NEW YORK CITY"