It wasn’t just the Guilds; I used to have a Harmony 1260 that I put a lot of effort into restoring, two Simon and Patrick prototypes (a Pro Maple and a Pro Mahogany), a Takamine F370SS in solid Koa, amongst others. I miss my DV-52 the most, though.
Guild D-40 $1700 vs Guild D-40 Traditional $2700 (+/-) - what is the driving the price difference?
- Thread starter WC_Guitarist
- Start date
Br1ck
Senior Member
I just had a shop visit this week. Played a few guitars, Authentics among them. It's hard to wrap my head around $7000 guitars when the plain D 18 is less than $3k. It is even more remarkable when I get home a play my Guild D 35. I guess I'm so used to it. I did quite like the Rich Robinson D 18. Very straight braced tone, but even more than the Authentic. I played a D 35 that was so boomy I put it down right away. Guy comes up and loves it. Different strokes.
For how I play, overtones get in the way. My D 35 Custom gets tolerated because it has less than most rosewood dreads. I can't tell you how many times I've been playing a , to me, perfect D 18 and someone will make a derogatory comment. Straight bracing is so out of fashion. I realize while I enjoy my Guild D 35 just how many would dislike it. Just as the Martin D 35 owner would hate my Custom.
I just know I'd probably like a modern D 40T.
For how I play, overtones get in the way. My D 35 Custom gets tolerated because it has less than most rosewood dreads. I can't tell you how many times I've been playing a , to me, perfect D 18 and someone will make a derogatory comment. Straight bracing is so out of fashion. I realize while I enjoy my Guild D 35 just how many would dislike it. Just as the Martin D 35 owner would hate my Custom.
I just know I'd probably like a modern D 40T.
I guess it's all in what you hear. I have played a ton of modern era D18s, and they're great guitars, but none of them are even close to my D18 David Crosby, or the D18 Authentic 1939 that arrived yesterday. Yes, you do get to diminishing returns when you get to the top end of the market (like anything else really), but I was able to get the 1939 Authentic for less than MAP on a new D18 Modern Deluxe. And to my ears at least, it's a way better guitar.
As for straight braced guitars? I love the way my '69 D28 can cut through the mix, and it seems like only the straight braced Martins can do it like that.