NGD: 1970 D-25 cherry

[E-Type]

I already have a 1974 archback version. From everything I have heard, I expected it to be darker and not as loud with the flat back and mahogany top. With the same strings (10s), the 1970 version is brighter than the ‘74 and damn near almost as loud (at least from my pov as player). The ‘74 is def a bit more boomy. Sound really projects out of it that one.

I was a little shocked by the 1/4” thick bridge. With the saddle about as low as it can go, the D-string is < 3/8” above the top. Luckily, the action is 5/64” so I can have a new 1/32” taller saddle made. I prefer action at 5/64”, but I can deal with 6/64”. I hope the neck will stay stable with extra light strings as any additional movement will mean a reset (I now have four guitars right on the edge).

I love the look and the tone. Anyone know the story behind the small pick guard? I think I’ve seen earlier ones with the larger one, so it might not have been a switch as some point in time.

The neck feels great, nut is 1-11/16”. Measuring fret heights, they seem to vary between 1/16” and 5/128”. But no buzzing and I don’t mind short frets. I suspect the bridge was off at some point (someone scored the finish all around the perimeter), but it looks like a lot of other D-25 ‘68-‘70 bridges.

The serial # is OG 590 which means it isn’t on the Guild list. I am guessing it’s therefore a 1970. Did Guild really only make 91 D-25s in 1968 and 30 of them in 1969?

 

[GGJaguar]

Beautiful cherry color on that one, congrats!

 

[Cougar]

Pretty! Congrats! I was a little surprised you're using 10s, but then it sounds like you know what you're doing.

 

[E-Type]

Pretty! Congrats! I was a little surprised you're using 10s, but then it sounds like you know what you're doing.

This one is going to get 12s, but then I'll tune it down a full step. Old age and tendonitis have forced me to give up using 12s, unfortunately.

 

[Brick]

Gorgeous!

 

[Norrissey]

That is a beautiful '70 D25. Congrats! That '74 is not too shabby either. In terms of numbers of D25s made in '69 and '70 that would probably be a question for @hansmoust
I have always thought the smaller pickguard was used on the '68 and '69 and early '70 models but perhaps I'm wrong. @mavuser is pretty expert on the early D25s, he may be able to provide info too.

 

[fronobulax]

The serial # is OG 590 which means it isn’t on the Guild list. I am guessing it’s therefore a 1970. Did Guild really only make 91 D-25s in 1968 and 30 of them in 1969?

Guild switched from the model specific serial numbers sometime in 1970 but that does not mean they reassigned serial numbers for instruments that were in progress before the switch. So I'd agree with 1970 for OG 590 , at least until I checked Hans' book.

The existence of your OG 590 suggests Guild made at least 357 instruments that they allocated to 1970, But since serial numbers were not assigned at the completion of the instrument trying to say how many were made in a given period (using serial numbers) is at best guesswork.

 

[E-Type]

That is a beautiful '70 D25. Congrats! That '74 is not too shabby either. In terms of numbers of D25s made in '69 and '70 that would probably be a question for @hansmoust
I have always thought the smaller pickguard was used on the '68 and '69 and early '70 models but perhaps I'm wrong. @mavuser is pretty expert on the early D25s, he may be able to provide info too.

I think you are right that they started using the larger pick guards in 1970 sometime. I’d love to know the serial number cutoff between ‘69-‘70 and ‘70-‘71, but that may be lost to history.

 

[Boneman]

Very cool, I like everything about it, especially that color. HNGD! I'm sure it's awesome, enjoy!

 

[HeyMikey]

Really nice looking, especially for a 50+ year old guitar. Congrats and enjoy playing it!

 

[Br1ck]

Yes, a very nice and somewhat rare guitar. Your fingerboard and bridge are likely Brazilian rosewood. My 70 D 35 has that. 74 is into the transitioning to a heavier build era. The D 25 could be braced lighter. Don'y mess with the bridge. Bite the bullet and do the neck reset.

My D 35 neck is just about the easiest neck for me to play.

 

[mavuser]

OG 590 had a neck reset when I owned it a few years ago, so it should be good to go. that was maybe 5 or 6 years ago. I havn't owned it in about 3-4 years. These are great guitars. I owned three and kept one (a 1972 variant). enjoy that bird!

 

[E-Type]

OG 590 had a neck reset when I owned it a few years ago, so it should be good to go. that was maybe 5 or 6 years ago. I havn't owned it in about 3-4 years. These are great guitars. I owned three and kept one (a 1972 variant). enjoy that bird!

Wow! Someone did a great job with the seam between the neck and body as you cannot tell the finish has been cut. I’m surprised they didn’t allow for a taller saddle. It certainly does sound great.

 

[E-Type]

Yes, a very nice and somewhat rare guitar. Your fingerboard and bridge are likely Brazilian rosewood. My 70 D 35 has that. 74 is into the transitioning to a heavier build era. The D 25 could be braced lighter. Don'y mess with the bridge. Bite the bullet and do the neck reset.

My D 35 neck is just about the easiest neck for me to play.

No more messing with the bridge. I’d just like a taller saddle… like an extra 1/32” of height.

 

[richardp69]

Personal opinion, but I'd say "don't mess with a good thing".

 

[mavuser]

saddle was tall when I got it back. can't speak to its journey between then and now

 

[E-Type]

Pretty! Congrats! I was a little surprised you're using 10s, but then it sounds like you know what you're doing.

Also, with a bass player and keys, being bright (using 10s) helps me cut through the mix.

 

[E-Type]

saddle was tall when I got it back. can't speak to its journey between then and now

Just looked again. What a clean neck joint! Props to whomever did the reset!

 

[E-Type]

One last measurement. This one is 4lbs 3oz while the archback is 5lbs 5oz.

 

[adorshki]

One last measurement. This one is 4lbs 3oz while the archback is 5lbs 5oz.

Seems to bear out the idea that builds began to get progressively heavier in Westerly in the mid '70's.

It's been proposed that the archbacks are by nature heavier than the flatbacks (in late Westerly Guild lit, even) but I can't believe it's due to the back. For one thing, there's no bracing. Also, laminates are engineered specifically to yield greater strength with less mass. And I can't believe the laminating glue is very heavy, either. After, all it's only microns thick between the layers, which are normally 3, the center sheet being a light wood like larch or poplar, IIRC.

So I think they beefed up sides and top and bracing, but I'd bet the backs are't any heavier than the flatback, only thick enough to support the rest of the build. Also a change from open to closed tuners can add a couple oz's IIRC.

Hoboken and early Westerly ('68-'71 or so) are reputed to be very light resonant builds. It's been postulated that the builds got heavier due to the boom in flattop sales of the period, resulting in higher-than-anticipated warranty claims. Which to be fair certainly had a good percentage of failures due to owner ignorance of proper care.

In any case it's been suggested the fix was to beef up the builds.