My 2020 D-40 Traditional

[James Hart]

Been spending too much time on electric and bass, barely touched this beauty in months! Well this morning I took it out on the deck with the dogs and played my heart out with my morning coffee. Fell back in love (though my fingers are still sore)! I've been using D'Addario Nickel Bronze 12-56 but think I want something lighter tension and warmer, my electrics are all wearing 9s these days and my basses have TI Jazz Rounds or Flats... I know the top needs a certain tension to sound its best, what is everyone else using?

 

[GGJaguar]

For a warmer sound and softer feel you might try DR Sunbeams.

 

[Stuball48]

James, you must have very friendly neighbors or no neighbors of you played it just previously to your posting this thread.
A beautiful guitar and as far as strings, I use D'Addario EJ16s Lights on all my acoustics.

 

[richardp69]

I'm not all that finicky when it comes to strings. But, I do like medium gauge strings on all my Dreads and Jumbos. I'll use lights on 000 or smaller bodied guitars. I like D'Addarios as well as any.

 

[James Hart]

For a warmer sound and softer feel you might try DR Sunbeams.

I used there bass strings for a while and liked them... might have to give them a go.

James, you must have very friendly neighbors or no neighbors of you played it just previously to your posting this thread.
A beautiful guitar and as far as strings, I use D'Addario EJ16s Lights on all my acoustics.

lol, no it was around 8:30am! I ended up with an evening cup of coffee, which normally wouldn't be an issue but my cup holds a 4 cup pot

I'm not all that finicky when it comes to strings. But, I do like medium gauge strings on all my Dreads and Jumbos. I'll use lights on 000 or smaller bodied guitars. I like D'Addarios as well as any.

I do love the tone I get, and my fingers feel good this morning... maybe I need to just toughen myself back up!

 

[karlo]

I just put some light nickel bronze D’ads on my Martin to make it easier for my GF to learn on… it sounds weak and anemic and the dynamic range is severely reduced. No power, no volume, no fun. Don’t do it.

Beautiful guitar and back yard btw!

 

[James Hart]

I just put some light nickel bronze D’ads on my Martin to make it easier for my GF to learn on… it sounds weak and anemic and the dynamic range is severely reduced. No power, no volume, no fun. Don’t do it.

Beautiful guitar and back yard btw!

I bought the kid a 1/2 sized Fender (kinda visible in the first shot) and put nylon strings on it for her little 8 year old fingers... it may as well be a Prime box with some rubberbands! I'm going to make it a point to give it more regular time before going lighter, but I might go with some of their coated strings next change since I don't play it as often as my electric stuff (considering going coated on those guitars too).

and Thanks! Got the yard in 2020 too! 2.3 acres of heaven. the house & lawn is about 3/4 of an acre scooped out of the woods here in NW NJ farm country... I'm watching a pair of fawns grazing on the front yard security camera as I type, we had a litter of red foxes entertaining us all spring, a single male Barred Owl has taken up residence in the bit of woods off my garage/driveway side of the house, we watch him hunt on the same camera around 9pm most evenings. I do need to thin and replant some of the woods though... the Emerald Ash Borer Beetle & Woodpeckers have destroyed 1/2 the trees

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I use phosphor/bronze twelves. To me, they sound best and play best. Lighter sets don't ring out. Heavier strings are loud but sound a little sluggish. Twelves bring out the lively jangle that Guilds are all about.

But the .24mm G strings that come in the package don't last long, because I bend a lot. So I keep a supply of .28s for when the .24s go dead. The .28s don't bend quite as easily, but they sound good and last longer — for my style, a worthwhile trade-off.

Gorgeous D-40, by the way. Keep on pluckin'!

 

[Hoyt]

Nice guitar. I'm looking at the D40T and Martin D18. Just can't decide which one.

 

[Boneman]

That’s a beauty!, imo Guild did the tobacco burst on acoustics the best during that era.

I like PB D’A .13s on my dreadnaught acoustics but tried .12s on my D25 last string change and they sound okay. I am not too snobby when it comes to brands, I’ve tried John Pearce strings, Martins, Ernie Ball and others but just gravitate to D’addario Phosphor Bronze because I know what I’m gonna get when I restring ’em and I like the sounds I do coax out of them.

I'm looking at the D40T and Martin D18. Just can't decide which one.

That is a tough call, but being we’re on a Guild forum, I’d say grab the Guild! Oh and a belated welcome to LTG! We’ll be sure to help to get that message and Guild count up, lol

 

[James Hart]

Gorgeous D-40, by the way. Keep on pluckin'!

Thanks, I do like the 12s and generally like the slightly heavy bottom

Nice guitar. I'm looking at the D40T and Martin D18. Just can't decide which one.

I was torn for a couple years over the D40T (or older Bluegrass version) & the J-45 Gibson... the D40T just talked to me more.

That’s a beauty!, imo Guild did the tobacco burst on acoustics the best during that era.

I passed up 2 other bursts before this one became available!




I just finished some aquarium maintenance I needed to handle (we've got around 250 gallons of tanks in the house), going to make some lunch and take my acoustic outside again now. I think I may have just been being a wimp yesterday... I'm sticking with 12s but will try the 12-53 set of XS. I want to try the D'Addario coated strings for all my guitars

 

[Norrissey]

Beautiful D40T! I purchased a 2018 D40T in unused/mint condition last spring. I recently tried 11s on it and it did not go well. I much prefer the feel of 11s but they just don't work on my D40T - totally lost the low end.
I posted about it and LTGers quickly advised me to put 12s back on it and they were right. The guitar came back to life with the 12s. I like Martin phosphor bronze 12s but D'Addario EJ16s are good too. Or maybe some coated 12s would be easier on your fingers?

 

[Norrissey]

I'm looking at the D40T and Martin D18. Just can't decide which one.

I have both (they are both 2018 models) and they are both excellent guitars. The rich tone of the Martin is pretty special so I would give the Martin the edge in that department BUT I personally much prefer the neck and string spacing of the D40T. I would definitely recommend you play both before purchasing so you can make the right purchase for you.

 

[Br1ck]

A vote to toughen up, string it up with .013s, and enjoy the glorious improvement in tone. I must say, the key to ease of play with .013s is a very flat fingerboard, about .004 relief, and impeccable fretwork, a Plek or master luthier fret level. Never did I imagine at 72 I'd be playing with .013s. Love the truss rod cover.

 

[James Hart]

A vote to toughen up, string it up with .013s, and enjoy the glorious improvement in tone. I must say, the key to ease of play with .013s is a very flat fingerboard, about .004 relief, and impeccable fretwork, a Plek or master luthier fret level. Never did I imagine at 72 I'd be playing with .013s. Love the truss rod cover.

As stated, I'm sticking with 12s... my current set has the heavier bottoms, so not quite a 13 set, but not 12 either. I strung my 68 Starfire V with 13s for years

 

[Maguchi]

Been spending too much time on electric and bass, barely touched this beauty in months! Well this morning I took it out on the deck with the dogs and played my heart out with my morning coffee. Fell back in love (though my fingers are still sore)! I've been using D'Addario Nickel Bronze 12-56 but think I want something lighter tension and warmer, my electrics are all wearing 9s these days and my basses have TI Jazz Rounds or Flats... I know the top needs a certain tension to sound its best, what is everyone else using?

I hear ya! When I don't play acoustic for awhile and get back to it, it's a little rough on the fingers. My left index fingertip has been seriously sore for the last couple a days or so since I started playing acoustic again, but it'll go away eventually.

I use both 12-52s (or 54s) and a couple a acoustics got 11-50s (or 52s) on them. I tried 10-47s before in the past, but those were a little too slack. Ernie Ball makes a cool set name of Earthwood Rock and Blues. Those got skinny strings on top and fat strings on bottom, 10-13-17-30-42-52. Great for bending and vibrato on acoustic guitar and they sound pretty balanced string to string too.

PS: I got 12-56s on a dreadnought for Bluegrass. Forget 13s though, that's for the swole!

 

[Hoyt]

I have both (they are both 2018 models) and they are both excellent guitars. The rich tone of the Martin is pretty special so I would give the Martin the edge in that department BUT I personally much prefer the neck and string spacing of the D40T. I would definitely recommend you play both before purchasing so you can make the right purchase for you.

Thanks. That helps. I’ve played D18s, had a D28 and several other nice guitars. I know both are fine instruments.

My first decent guitar was a late 70s Guild D25. And my avatar shows a Guild bass. So the brand has mojo for me.

I doubt I’ll find a D40T to play, but slightly narrower neck and string spacing make a positive difference to me. I don’t mind putting a few hundred dollars at risk ordering one from a shop that allows returns, if I don’t bond with it. That’s probably my best choice. Ultimately, I’m sure I’ll be happy with either.

Thanks again. Wish I could afford both, but this will likely be my last guitar because of my age. Used to never say that, but semi-retirement and age are big factors nowadays.

 

[chazmo]

Thanks. That helps. I’ve played D18s, had a D28 and several other nice guitars. I know both are fine instruments.

My first decent guitar was a late 70s Guild D25. And my avatar shows a Guild bass. So the brand has mojo for me.

I doubt I’ll find a D40T to play, but slightly narrower neck and string spacing make a positive difference to me. I don’t mind putting a few hundred dollars at risk ordering one from a shop that allows returns, if I don’t bond with it. That’s probably my best choice. Ultimately, I’m sure I’ll be happy with either.

Thanks again. Wish I could afford both, but this will likely be my last guitar because of my age. Used to never say that, but semi-retirement and age are big factors nowadays.

Hoyt,

A little confused about your post... When you say "afford both" what are you referring to?

in any case, the D-40 Traditional from Oxnard seems like a winner. They're using African mahogany rather than Honduran these days, but other than that these seem to be on a par with the great D-40s of the past.

Good luck in the hunt!

Oh, by the way @James Hart there's a lot more to read here regarding strings:

The Absolutely Positively Last String Thread

From "the usual source": "For a typical high-E nylon string, the maximum transverse force is roughly 40 times greater than the maximum longitudinal force amplitude. However the longitudinal force increases with the square of the pulse amplitude, so the differences diminish with increasing...

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