NGD

[Gdjjr]

Copy and paste from my other thread... https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/long-story-short-or-vice-versa.215880/#post-2079596

It got here, Monday... UPS let me down...but

I played it a bit when I got it unboxed just to hear it even though the Label said, as is Sweetwaters usual, to wait 24 hours to let it acclimate. It had been here since early Saturday morning and I figured that was enough acclimating... LOL
It's different than my other Guilds, for sure. It has a high gloss finish I'm not keen on... but, we'll see.

Last night, (late yesterday afternoon, actually) I decided to install the LR Baggs Anthem pup.
No biggie, if you have a drill. I don't... but, with some red neck ingenuity and a mickey mouse set of 1/4" drive sockets and accompanying nut driver... it only took about 3 hours to open the pilot hole they put in for the strap button. Whew! Bout wore my fore arm out. I had to sleep on completing it.

I did this morning. Then I sanded the saddle for the piezo wire, (had to take .030 off the saddle), stole the Bob Colosi pins from AMI J, (AMI J 45 clone), then fitted new Martin SP PB's 11-52 gauge...been playing at it for an hour or so...

Not real sure how to define the sound. It has quite a good sustain... but, it also has over tones, I think.
It doesn't have a thumping bass, but it is noticeable. The trebles aren't obnoxious either. Ought to get better with some age and the amount of time I spend beating on a guitar, it should be sooner, rather than later when it does. It might need Retro label strings to kill some of the over tones... Sweetwater gave me 3 sets of strings and a cheap stand, and one set of strings I asked for was Retro's...

I have 4 songs I've written the past couple three months, including one I wrote just last week, for my son, titled Three Days After, plus one I'm trying to write, the title of which, my friend in Arkansas sent a title and said I should make a song for it... I Am An Island... I have started it...

Those are the ones I've been playing, as well as I've Never Been to Spain. I love the chord progression in it and the lyrics.

Listening to Dave Matthews cover of For What Its Worth tells me I have to learn it as well.

With several good sounding guitars to choose from... I'm stoked... and sated for a while

and have lots of songs to work on... so many songs, so little time...

EDIT: March 15

Been playing it a lot since yesterday. The over tones are too much for me, especially when strumming a G chord, with just my thumb, which is how I play. I'm going to, sooner, rather than later put some Martin Retro 11-52's on it to try to kill some of that over tone.

I have them on a Martin 00015M and a Lag T118 ASCE BLK and those two really like them.

 

[KCGuildPicker]

Congrats and Enjoy - NGD's are boss!

 

[Gdjjr]

I put a set of Retro's on... it killed some of the over tone. I'm not sure how to describe the sound it makes.
It's definitely not dry (or woody) and string articulation is noticeable so I can't say muddy.
It is full, I will give it that and that is what I was looking for in a dreadnought.
The low E is not as prominent as my other 2 Guilds... this one is more balanced I'd say.

It is harder to fret than any of my other guitars, even though all the measurements are spot on, resulting in 7/64 action.
I've tuned it down 1/2 step... but it is still not as comfortable to fret as my others... not sure what's up with that.
Any ideas or input is appreciated.

 

[chazmo]

Is this a new D-20, gdj? Sorry, I kind of lost the thread of what you got here for your NGD... If this is a new guitar, I'd consider returning it since it doesn't sound like you are having a great experience with it.

Is the neck bowed? If this is not a new guitar, are the frets worn down or not level? I can't give you any legitimate reason why fretting would be difficult if the geometry isn't off somewhere. I know nothing about the Retro strings (Martin's, I guess)? I'd try another set light strings and compare the feel.

Good luck!

 

[BradHK]

Regarding action, check the nut. If the string slots are too high it will be difficult to fret. It is not uncommon for me to receive a used guitar that has the nut slots too high and associated difficulty fretting.

 

[Gdjjr]

Is this a new D-20, gdj? Sorry, I kind of lost the thread of what you got here for your NGD... If this is a new guitar, I'd consider returning it since it doesn't sound like you are having a great experience with it.

Is the neck bowed? If this is not a new guitar, are the frets worn down or not level? I can't give you any legitimate reason why fretting would be difficult if the geometry isn't off somewhere. I know nothing about the Retro strings (Martin's, I guess)? I'd try another set light strings and compare the feel.

Good luck!

It's a new D140 and yes the strings are Martin Retro's. It had D'Addario's that I changed out for Martin SP, PB's in 11-52 gauge and are now the Retro's to kill some of the over tones, which they did do.

I don't want to return it, and I've already installed an LR Baggs Anthem pup.

All the set-up measurements are spot on, including the relief and first fret string height, action at the 12th fret and the fret board to bridge angle is flat, the neck isn't bowed converse or convex.

I am thinking on slotting the nut, just a little just to see what happens though.

 

[chazmo]

Well, hmm...

If you put a capo on the 1st fret, is it easier to fret the 2nd, 3rd, etc? I'm thinking your better adjustment is the saddle, not the nut.

And, since the neck is flat, where does a straight edge touch the bridge when run across the top of the fretboard? If it's not near the top, and instead it's toward the middle or below, then the angle of your neck is likely to need adjustment (neck reset).

 

[Gdjjr]

Well, hmm...

If you put a capo on the 1st fret, is it easier to fret the 2nd, 3rd, etc? I'm thinking your better adjustment is the saddle, not the nut.

And, since the neck is flat, where does a straight edge touch the bridge when run across the top of the fretboard? If it's not near the top, and instead it's toward the middle or below, then the angle of your neck is likely to need adjustment (neck reset).

The neck to bridge is perfect. The straight edge lays/runs up onto the bridge with no problem.

I think my problem is no body fat taking its toll, especially on my index finger. I have calluses, but on my index finger I have a groove that I bet is ever bit of 1/32 deep...

I have a Telecaster and a Gretsch 5420 I'm going to try today to see what happens.

 

[Gdjjr]

I'm sending it back. The sound is just too lush for my style of playing... too much over tone. It would be a great finger picking guitar, IMO, but not for thumb strumming, which I do a lot of, and I can't stand the sound of a pick when I'm sitting on top of it. I like listening to others use one, but, when I'm doing it, it sounds too brash.