NGD: Gloppy, the Totally Abused D-35
- Thread starter Neal
- Start date
Br1ck
Senior Member
That back makes me wonder why anyone ever saw a need to stain mahogany. D 35s are really wonderful balanced dreads, and to see one come to life is heartwarming.
Westerly Wood
Venerated Member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2007
- Messages
- 13,457
- Reaction score
- 6,704
- Guild Total
- 2
Exactly! The one time I question Guild decision making is the staining of the hog backs. After seeing Neal's D35, I know want to strip my D25 down to its unfinished form. I can call it "relicking"...or even better, "nealing" the Guild. Conversation could go something like this:
"Dude, what Guild model is that, with the satin finish D25 flatback?"
"Oh, it is my longtime D25BR, but I "nealed" it down".
"Duuude...sweet."
" I know".
"Can I buy it for 2k?"
"Absolutely...and rumor is Drake played a D25Br too..."
Last edited:
Pretty much everyone (i.e., not just Guild) has stained mahogany since the dawn of time, Wood. I guess tastes have changed.
To my eye, I agree that most mahogany can be exquisite without staining.
Y'know, part of this might be that you need to use pore filler to get a really good gloss on natural mahogany. Maybe that's where the staining started to be de facto.
To my eye, I agree that most mahogany can be exquisite without staining.
Y'know, part of this might be that you need to use pore filler to get a really good gloss on natural mahogany. Maybe that's where the staining started to be de facto.
Westerly Wood
Venerated Member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2007
- Messages
- 13,457
- Reaction score
- 6,704
- Guild Total
- 2
yeah, I figure there had to be a real reason for it. But if you have ever seen how Larrivee does hog, particularly their satin finish 03 series, it is amazing. the back of Neal's now "nealed-down" D35 look a lot like it.
"Nealing" - love it!
walrus
walrus
Neal
Senior Member
I actually tried to keep the stain intact, but after a few passes of the mouse sander, it became clear that in order to get the glop off, I was going to have to be pretty aggressive and sand down all the way to bare wood. Now I am glad I did.
If I had it to do over, I probably would have removed the bridge to get the crud off of the top. It was just so firmly attached that I decided to work around it (and given the previous "restoration", no telling what it was glued down with). I learned that rosewood is a lot softer than I thought it was. Consequently, the edges of the bridge got a little rounded in the sanding process. I am going to take a rasp and reshape the corners a little bit to square them back up (masking off the top to protect it, of course).
I might do a second wash coat, just a little thicker than the first but still more alcohol than shellac.
I have a tendency to keep fiddling with little imperfections and turning them into big imperfections, so I am trying to appreciate this guitar for what it is.
Neal
If I had it to do over, I probably would have removed the bridge to get the crud off of the top. It was just so firmly attached that I decided to work around it (and given the previous "restoration", no telling what it was glued down with). I learned that rosewood is a lot softer than I thought it was. Consequently, the edges of the bridge got a little rounded in the sanding process. I am going to take a rasp and reshape the corners a little bit to square them back up (masking off the top to protect it, of course).
I might do a second wash coat, just a little thicker than the first but still more alcohol than shellac.
I have a tendency to keep fiddling with little imperfections and turning them into big imperfections, so I am trying to appreciate this guitar for what it is.
Neal
adorshki
Reverential Member
You could probably hide those top cracks with a zebra stripe paint job...
Hey waitaminnit!! I think somebody dosed me!!
12 string
Senior Member
As long as it's not Gloppon...
76 D55 Kenny
Member
Wow Neal!
All I can say is ...
All I can say is ...
What a great thread...excellent work Neal. Those pictures of the back in the sunlight are absolutely gorgeous.
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
Kudos Neal! I can't believe how "brave" you were to buy that guitar and how quickly you were able to transform her into such a beauty!
Regarding the headstock decal see my post #52 here: http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...hed-quot-D35&p=1703211&viewfull=1#post1703211
Ralf
Regarding the headstock decal see my post #52 here: http://www.letstalkguild.com/ltg/sh...hed-quot-D35&p=1703211&viewfull=1#post1703211
Ralf
Neal
Senior Member
Thanks, Ralf. I have sent an email to ChrisGuitars to see what is available.
I slapped a SD Woodie in the soundhole and took the D-35 to an open mic last night. I had composed a song about our throw-away culture, and introduced the crowd to the D-35, using its story as a metaphor for recognizing beauty hidden under layers of abuse and damage.
Neal
I slapped a SD Woodie in the soundhole and took the D-35 to an open mic last night. I had composed a song about our throw-away culture, and introduced the crowd to the D-35, using its story as a metaphor for recognizing beauty hidden under layers of abuse and damage.
Neal
Neal
Senior Member
And Al, I actually toyed with the idea of doing an early '80's tobacco burst on the top, which, given the placement of the cracks, would hide all of them.
But as I said, I am infamous for ruining the good in search of the perfect. So I am taking a few giant steps backwards before I do anything more demanding than installing the TRC, which arrived yesterday.
Neal
But as I said, I am infamous for ruining the good in search of the perfect. So I am taking a few giant steps backwards before I do anything more demanding than installing the TRC, which arrived yesterday.
Neal
jcwu
Senior Member
Are those dark streaks the cracks that you speak of? I actually like the looks of them. Reminded me of spalted maple.
adorshki
Reverential Member
THAT was the reference I remembered seeing so recently but I had you confused with Joe (Killdeer43). I think the chances of finding anything like that from a repair shop are basically nil.
Neal
Senior Member
Jcwu, yes, the dark streaks are actually cracks. All are stable, and do not move when pressed upon. They are not cleated, but are so tight that I could not force any Titebond into them. And they survived a lot of pressure and commotion with all the sanding I did.
Amnicon, the TRC appears to be original and is a little scuffed up, in keeping with the rest of this project.
Neal
Amnicon, the TRC appears to be original and is a little scuffed up, in keeping with the rest of this project.
Neal
Rayk
Enlightened Member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2015
- Messages
- 5,807
- Reaction score
- 1,203
So, all you doubters...behold!
Just has a wash coat of amber shellac on it. Probably going to stop there.
Action at the 12th fret is perfect. Intonation is spot on. Plays easily and takes a capo well. The Guild tuners I found on the Bay work flawlessly. All she needs now is a TRC and a head stock logo.
And the tone? Wow. Warm, loud, responsive, a great finger picker. Best $200 guitar ever.
Neal
Well done and fun to can't beat that
wileypickett
Enlightened Member
Very difficult to sand a bridge while still on the guitar, and sand around a bridge and get neat results. (Though if anyone can, Neal. . . !)
Me, I'd take off the old bridge, clean up the top, and replace with a new bridge, or period bridge if you can find one.
Me, I'd take off the old bridge, clean up the top, and replace with a new bridge, or period bridge if you can find one.