NGD Thursday: Oxnard D-20!

[Rayk]

Is there an issue with the string balls or slots other then someone jamming the pin in before they seated the ball ?

If ya did that on all the strings you could have your own personal little egg shaker built in lol

 

[adorshki]

Scale length is 25-5/8", I believe! Is that the traditional Guild dreadnought scale length?

Yes it is, and I got tired of waiting for Guild's page to load so I stuck my neck out and went with my memory that Oxnard's was the same as the MIC counterparts.
Shoulda looked at the spec sheet on the Walmart ad.
Yep, 25-5/8".
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Guild-D-2...61658&wl11=online&wl12=52708053&wl13=&veh=sem
Waitaminnit.
WALMART?!?!?!?
I guess they took all that b---ching about not being able to find one to play seriously......

 

[Bill Ashton]

Interesting thread...I remember Ortho Novum...uh, rather uh...intimately? Think "No Ovum"??? Don't think Tom wants those...

 

[Jesse_Dylan]

Is there an issue with the string balls or slots other then someone jamming the pin in before they seated the ball ?

If ya did that on all the strings you could have your own personal little egg shaker built in lol

No, I think it was just someone in a hurry to get it strung. I will know soon when I restring, but I think it's fine. Heck, I'm sure it's happened to me before.

 

[RBpicker]

Chazmo, no, Martin just applies a matte clear nitro finish without the benefit of a grain filler. Even the new "Black Smoke" 17 series are not grain filled prior to finishing, and that model sells for nearly $1,800. I know they are going for a vintage vibe, but I think they just come off cheap looking.
I don't get the pricing of many guitars these days. I'm willing to step up and pay what's fair, but I think Martin, Taylor, and perhaps Gibson are playing with fire with some of the high prices these days. Seems like Guilds are a bit more reasonable, especially when you consider the great quality that Guild builds in. I also think Larrivee is a great value in North American built instruments.
Way off topic. Sorry Jesse.

 

[Jesse_Dylan]

No need to apologize! I'm interested, too! It would be interesting to know what the profit margin is for the companies (Guild, Martin, Gibson, Taylor, Larrivee) and the dealers. I don't know if that kind of information is disclosed. I have to wonder if Gibson is making any money at all on the J-15 (although I think dealers are), and I wonder the same about the Guild D-20 and M-20. Is it as razor-thin a profit margin as it seems? Or are we just victims of "added value" to the point that we think so? I know labor is really expensive in the US, as it should be, but that still doesn't really clue us in.

 

[adorshki]

Chazmo, no, Martin just applies a matte clear nitro finish without the benefit of a grain filler. Even the new "Black Smoke" 17 series are not grain filled prior to finishing,

Gets me to wondering, I wonder if they believe it enhances tone somehow?
I never knew Guild did it until I read about it here, then I just assumed it was standard practice and somebody must have decided it didn't inhibit top resonance enough to worry about, and lord knows it seems to be true enough.

I don't get the pricing of many guitars these days. I'm willing to step up and pay what's fair, but I think Martin, Taylor, and perhaps Gibson are playing with fire with some of the high prices these days. Seems like Guilds are a bit more reasonable, especially when you consider the great quality that Guild builds in. I also think Larrivee is a great value in North American built instruments.Way off topic. Sorry Jesse.

Veering even father afield, I stumbled across some thoughts about Martin's latest composite bodies on another forum and while one owner praised the tone, another allowed that while it was good enough, the projected life of the instrument was going to be around 7-10 years....
Then there's those g-dawful composite necks.
I don't get what's going on in their heads either.
Gibson?
I wonder if they're trying to make up for all that wood they lost a couple of years back.
Did you know L'arrivee's only a couple of blocks away from Guild in Oxnard?

 

[Jesse_Dylan]

7-10 years?? I have fully composite guitars (Composite Acoustics) that are nearly ten years old, some older, and they're still fine. Of course, Martin's composite is high-pressure laminate, so is different. The composite necks Martin uses are Stratabond, strips of wood glued together, and they will probably outlast the planet itself. I don't have much to say for Martin's HPL as far as tone (it sounds okay.......), but it's very sturdy, and I can't imagine it somehow falling apart in 7-10 years.

 

[JohnW63]

The Walmart guitar is actually a "Marketplace" product, sold by Music123

 

[davismanLV]

Seems like Guilds are a bit more reasonable, especially when you consider the great quality that Guild builds in. I also think Larrivee is a great value in North American built instruments.
Way off topic. Sorry Jesse.

Nope, not off topic. And not like we shy away from the veer. Some of the guitars are getting a little too pricey. Considering how many they sell and how popular they are, you wouldn't think the prices would be so astronomical. If Guild can stay competitive... they need that edge. I really love Larrivee's... they make really nice guitars. As does Dana Bourgeois! Actually all the big makers make some really nice guitars. Not ALL of them are great, but many are. I like Breedlove too.

I know Al and some other people hate the Martin stratobond necks, but ... the purpose of a neck is to stay stiff and hold up. And those necks do very well. And I like the look. Kinda like some really cool custom furniture in design. Saves money, does it job. I'm fine with 'em. They're on the lower end models anyway, so before you go whining about them, consider what you're paying for.

Taylor's have gotten unreal in their pricing. (If you don't like Taylor's that fine, spare me.... I've heard it all before) But the cost is a bit hysterical. Of course, all the big companies have some really high priced models.

I'm really looking forward to what Guild pumps out! Wonder what will happen when they need a high gloss, nitro finish? Will we see that? Some people will accept nothing less......

 

[chazmo]

Chazmo, no, Martin just applies a matte clear nitro finish without the benefit of a grain filler. Even the new "Black Smoke" 17 series are not grain filled prior to finishing, and that model sells for nearly $1,800. I know they are going for a vintage vibe, but I think they just come off cheap looking.
I don't get the pricing of many guitars these days. I'm willing to step up and pay what's fair, but I think Martin, Taylor, and perhaps Gibson are playing with fire with some of the high prices these days. Seems like Guilds are a bit more reasonable, especially when you consider the great quality that Guild builds in. I also think Larrivee is a great value in North American built instruments.
Way off topic. Sorry Jesse.

Never fear the veer. Thanks for the thoughts, RB. Very interesting that they apply lacquer without pore filler on mahogany. I have to say, I imagine that does seem kind of "cheap" looking, as you described.

 

[bobouz]

I know Al and some other people hate the Martin stratobond necks, but ... the purpose of a neck is to stay stiff and hold up. And those necks do very well. And I like the look. Kinda like some really cool custom furniture in design. Saves money, does it job. I'm fine with 'em. They're on the lower end models anyway, so before you go whining about them, consider what you're paying for.

Martin's stratabond utilizes strips of laminated birch. I do agree that what you're getting at a particular price point is well worth considering. In 2009, I purchased a new Martin OM-1, discounted by 15%, for approx $750. This new model was Martin's attempt to deliver a quality USA-made acoustic at a very competitive price.

My OM-1 has a solid spruce top, solid mahogany sides, solid sepele back, and rosewood fingerboard & bridge. In this particular case, the stratabond neck represents a price point compromise, but one that, imho, still produces a great guitar for the money.

 

[adorshki]

Never fear the veer. Thanks for the thoughts, RB. Very interesting that they apply lacquer without pore filler on mahogany. I have to say, I imagine that does seem kind of "cheap" looking, as you described.

When I was 17 I probably would have considered it to be cool, hand-made and organic looking.
But back then I was a bark-eating vegetarian and even used Dr Bronner's Peppermint Soap to brush my teeth just like the label suggested.
Until the bark started staying stuck between my teeth.
I will never accept that stratabond neck aesthetically, though.
:livid:

 

[chazmo]

Nothing like bark stuck between your teeth, eh, Al.

Did you know most parts of a pine tree are edible?

 

[adorshki]

Nothing like bark stuck between your teeth, eh, Al.

Yeah these days I've graduated to free-range buffalo meat and just pop the teeth out and run 'em through the dishwasher as needed.

Did you know most parts of a pine tree are edible?

So true, but trust me, you do NOT want to brush your teeth with Pine-Sol.

 

[davismanLV]

I will never accept that stratabond neck aesthetically, though.
:livid:

The tree is DEAD, Al!! Accept it!!!

 

[adorshki]

The tree is DEAD, Al!! Accept it!!!

With that image stuck in my mind I will never be able to hug a tree again you cruel cruel man.
Well.... maybe after I've eaten of its bark.

 

[Jesse_Dylan]

Took some outdoor photos finally! I know, photo overload, but it should have been outdoor photos in the first place.

 

[Jesse_Dylan]

 

[Rayk]

That's pretty
Only thing I don't like about satin finishes It tends to get buffed spots . I do like the look audio ? Lol