OK, Guild newbie needs some schooling...

[Dubbaround]

I would like to know what the letters, numbers, and hyphenated letters mean concerning Guilds?
I have looked around, but no "official" listing can be found..

IE; D25/40/50/55/60/ DV, F, concert, ...

I just get confused as to the actual differences between these...I know a Dread from a "jumbo", but it seems like I am woefully out of touch with what these names and numbers and such mean..

Thanks guys..

 

[GardMan]

Welcome to LTG! (perhaps a little late, but not TOO late!)

The best sources of info on the different models and designations are "The Guild Guitar Book" by Hans Most and "Guitar History #5: Guild Guitars" by Ted Beesley. Hans' book is the Guild "Bible" around here, covering the Guild company and its guitars thru 1977 (we are all awaiting volume 2). Hans is a member of the forum, and is very generous and gracious in answering our many questions. Beesley's book has less of the backstory, and is more a catalog of model specs thru the early 90s. Both books can be a bit hard to find these days (Hans might still have some signed, hard-bound copies).

I mainly pay attention to the different models of Guild dreadnaughts, and a year or two ago compiled a list of the different dreads Guild made... more than 40 (specs for some models changed thru the years). The following list may not be complete, and may have some errors:

D-4 (spruce over arched mahogany)
D-6 (spruce over arched mahogany back) Flat-backed?
D-15 (mahogany over arched mahogany)
D-16 (mahogany over arched mahogany)
D-17 (mahoganyover arched mahogany)
D-25 (mahogany over flat mahogany, ~pre-73; + Corona?)
D-25 (mahogany over arched mahogany, ~'73-'74))
D-25 (spruce over arched mahogany, post-'74)
D-25C (spruce over arched mahogany cutaway)
D-26 (spruce over arched mahogany?; shop model)
D-30 (spruce over arched maple)
D-35 (spruce over mahogany)
D-40 (spruce over mahogany)
D-40C (spruce over mahogany cutaway)
D-44 (spruce over pearwood)
D-44M (spruce over flat maple)
D-46 (spruce over ash)
D-47CE (?)
DS-48 (solid or thin body dread?)
D-50 (spruce over rosewood)
D-52 (spruce over rosewood)
D-55 (spruce over rosewood)
D-60 (spruce over rosewood; Gruhn era?)
D-60 (spruce over maple)
D-62 (spruce over mahogany; Gruhn)
D-64 (spruce over maple; Gruhn)
D-65 (?... I found reference to this model, but no specs)
D-66 (spruce over rosewood; Gruhn)
D-70/D-70C (carved) (spruce over rosewood)
D-80/D-80C (carved) (spruce over rosewood)
D-100/D-100C (carved) (spruce over rosewood)

DCE-1 (spruce over arched mahogany cutaway acoustelectric)
DCE-5 (spruce over rosewood cutaway acoustelectric)
DC130 (maple over maple acoustelectric)

DK-70 (koa over koa)

DV-4 (spruce over mahogany)
DV-6 (spruce over mahogany; Westerly)
DV-6 (spruce over rosewood; Tacoma, Mexico)
DV-25 (spruce over flat mahogany)
DV-52 (spruce over rosewood)
DV-62 (spruce over rosewood)
DV-72 (spruce over rosewood)
DV-73 (spruce over rosewood)
DV-76 (spruce over rosewood?)

G-37 (spruce over arched maple; morphed into D-30)
G-41 (spruce over mahogany large body/long scale)
G-45/Hank WIlliams Jr (spruce over arched maple; based on G-37/D-30)
G-75 (spruce over rosewood small body/standard scale)

Deco (spruce over rosewood)
Finesse (spruce over rosewood)

 

[Dubbaround]

Thanks!

Now, what makes a D4 different from a D25M when both have hog and spruce and both are "dreads"...?
That's the really mystifying part for me. The same woods, same style, but different numbers and letters..

 

[Qvart]

Thanks!

Now, what makes a D4 different from a D25M when both have hog and spruce and both are "dreads"...?
That's the really mystifying part for me. The same woods, same style, but different numbers and letters..

workedinwesterly said at one point that the only difference between a D4 and D25 was the finish.

 

[fronobulax]

Thanks!

Now, what makes a D4 different from a D25M when both have hog and spruce and both are "dreads"...?
That's the really mystifying part for me. The same woods, same style, but different numbers and letters..

Welcome.

I think there are two possible answers. The first is that you need to consider when a model number was in use so, in some sense, your question is only relevant for a time period when D4's and D25s were both in use as model numbers. I have seen the D4 described as a "poor man's D25" and I am reasonably certain that one of the differences was the finish. Someone who knows what they are talking about will be along to correct me, momentarily.

 

[killdeer43]

Dubb,

Just like a happy birthday wish, I don't think it's ever too late to say "welcome," so WELCOME to the LTG fold.
If you're ready to learn about Guilds, this is the place, as you can probably tell, already. :wink:

Enjoy yourself,
Joe

 

[GardMan]

I think the D-4 was also unbound (or perhaps bound top, but not back). I didn't keep track of all the finish differences on my list... for example, the D-15 thru D-17 series were basically the same build when introduced in '83-84, with different finishes/trim levels. D-15 was originally matte finish, the 16 was high gloss. Both 15 and 16 were unbound, and the 17 was gloss finish and bound. In '87, the 16 got dropped from the line, and the 15 had gloss finish (info from Beesley).

 

[12 string]

Thanks!

Now, what makes a D4 different from a D25M when both have hog and spruce and both are "dreads"...?
That's the really mystifying part for me. The same woods, same style, but different numbers and letters..

Welcome.

I think there are two possible answers. The first is that you need to consider when a model number was in use so, in some sense, your question is only relevant for a time period when D4's and D25s were both in use as model numbers. I have seen the D4 described as a "poor man's D25" and I am reasonably certain that one of the differences was the finish. Someone who knows what they are talking about will be along to correct me, momentarily.

According to Hans, for the most part, Frono is correct. :wink: :wink:

' Strang

 

[JerryR]

Hi Dubb - they're all Guilds - so enjoy

 

[Dubbaround]

Thanks you guys! And thanks for the warm welcome!

I Admin at a few non guitar forums, and belong to several other various themed forums as well....but not one of them has ever shown such a warm welcome to a newbie. This forum is clearly a community. Really like that.

Dubb.

 

[killdeer43]

Thanks you guys! And thanks for the warm welcome!

I Admin at a few non guitar forums, and belong to several other various themed forums as well....but not one of them has ever shown such a warm welcome to a newbie. This forum is clearly a community. Really like that.

Dubb.

You might go so far as to say that we're all....Guilded!
And we're all afflicted with GAS, too, so be careful! :wink:

Joe

 

[poser]

Gardman,
Thanks for that list. I've been meaning to do something like that, but have never gotten around to it.

Dubbaround, welcome to the forum.

In addition to the info on Gardman's you may see some letters after the model number.

Also. at least with the D-25's, you may see the letters M, NT or Ch next to the model number. Those letters describe the finish on the spruce top (the post '74 models). M means the spruce has been stained a reddish brown mahogany tint, Ch refers to a brighter reddish Cherry tint given to the spruce, and NT (natural top) is used on those in which the spruce top wood has not been stained. At least that's the way I understand it.

 

[GardMan]

Gardman,
Thanks for that list. I've been meaning to do something like that, but have never gotten around to it.

It was easier once I bailed on trying to keep track of the timelines for all the models and morphs, and the different trims... The 70s timelines wouldn't be so hard, but the mid '80s and '90s would be a pain. A lot of models were introduced, other morphed, and some were dropped. There also aren't a lot of references for the late Westerly, Corona, and Tacomoa epochs: Hans' book only goes to '77 and Beesley only to the early '90s.

My original motivation was to set up a poll to have folks vote/list all the models of dreads they owned... I wanted to see how well LTG represented the Guild dread line, and how the models distributed in numbers (guessing that D-25s are the most common). Unfortunately... polls only allow eight choices, and there are 40+ dread models. SO that idea went out the window.

 

[GardMan]

OK... here's a slight re-work of the Guild Dread list. I have added some approximation of dates, taken from Hans' book, Beesely, and SN lists on the web. I don't have any data source for models more recent than 1997. Some models I found refernce to in SN or other lists, but don't have any info on specs. I didn't include models that just had a transducer added at the factory (as in D-40E).

I am sure there are errors... feel free to point them out

Guild Dreadnaughts
D-4 (1991-1997; spruce over arched mahogany)
D-6 (1993-?; spruce over arched mahogany back) Flat-backed?
D-7 (1993-?; spruce over arched mahogany? same as D-6 but HG?)
D-15 (1983; mahogany over arched mahogany)
D-16 (1983-1986; mahogany over arched mahogany)
D-17 (1984-1988; mahoganyover arched mahogany)
D-25 (1968-1973; mahogany over flat mahogany; + Corona?)
D-25 (1973-1974; mahogany over arched mahogany)
D-25 (1974-?; spruce over arched mahogany)
D-25C (1983-1984; spruce over arched mahogany cutaway)
D-26 (1995; spruce over arched mahogany?; limited shop special?)
D-30 (1987-1995; spruce over arched maple, morphed from G-37)
D-35 (1968-1987; spruce over mahogany)
D-40 (1963-1993; spruce over mahogany)
D-40C (1975-1991; spruce over mahogany cutaway)
D-44 (1965-1973; spruce over pearwood)
D-44M (1971-1977+; spruce over flat maple)
D-46 (1980-1985; spruce over ash. Early models with rosewood centerpiece in back)
D-47CE (1983; ?)
DS-48 (1983-1984; solid or thin body dread?)
D-50 (1963-?; spruce over rosewood)
D-52 (1983-1984; spruce over rosewood)
D-55 (special order from 1968, production model in 1974; spruce over rosewood)
D-60 (mid-80s?; spruce over flat maple).
D-60 (1987-1990; spruce over rosewood; Gruhn era?)
D-60 ("late '90s;" spruce over arched maple).
D-62 (1984-1985; spruce over mahogany; Gruhn)
D-64 (1984-1986; spruce over maple; Gruhn)
D-65 (1987 and 1994?... I found reference to this model in SN list, but no specs anywhere)
D-66 (1984-1986, model number changed to D-60 in 1987; spruce over rosewood; Gruhn)
D-70/D-70C (carved) (1981-1985; spruce over rosewood)
D-80/D-80C (carved) (1983-1987; spruce over rosewood)
D-100/D-100C (carved) (1989, 1994-1996; spruce over rosewood)

DCE-1 (1993-1997; spruce over arched mahogany cutaway acoustelectric)
DCE-5 (1994-1997; spruce over rosewood cutaway acoustelectric)
DC130 (1994-1995; maple over maple acoustelectric)

DK-70 Peacock (1995-1996; koa over koa)

DV-4 (spruce over mahogany; Westerly/Tacoma/Mexico)
DV-6 (1996-; spruce over mahogany; Westerly)
DV-6 (spruce over rosewood; Tacoma, Mexico)
DV-25 (spruce over flat mahogany)
DV-52 (1992-; spruce over rosewood)
DV-62 (1993-; spruce over rosewood)
DV-72 (1993-; spruce over rosewood)
DV-73 (1993-; spruce over rosewood)
DV-74 ("Pueblo?")
DV-76 (1993-; spruce over rosewood?)
DV-82 (1994)

G-37 (1972-1986; spruce over arched maple; "morphed" into D-30 in 1987)
G-41 (1974-1976; spruce over mahogany large body/long scale)
G-45/Hank WIlliams Jr (1982-1986, re-issued in 1994; spruce over arched maple; based on G-37/D-30)
G-75 (1975-1976; spruce over rosewood small body/standard scale)

Deco (1997; spruce over rosewood)
Finesse (1997; spruce over rosewood)

 

[dapmdave]

That's some good work, gardman.

And welcome, dubbaround. You'll like it here.

Dave

 

[12 string]

I am sure there are errors... feel free to point them out

Great work, GardMan! But as a proud G-312 owner I must point out that there is a similarly long list of Guild dread 12ers, too. And some great honkin' guitars!


Dubbaround, great thread to get you started here. Well done.

' Strang

 

[GardMan]

But as a proud G-312 owner I must point out that there is a similarly long list of Guild dread 12ers, too. And some great honkin' guitars!

' Strang

There certainly is! Someday, I might even own one (but I still have a couple 6ers on my list...). D

 

[adorshki]

I would like to know what the letters, numbers, and hyphenated letters mean concerning Guilds?

HI Dubbaround: I too wondered at the start, then realized through lots of careful observation that there was a bit of order to the madness. As the model numbers got higher, the quality of materials and workmanship and ornamentation went up. That D4/D25 question for instance: originally the D4 was a "satin finish", has been referenced as having a "Morado" fretboard, and the headstock logo was silk-screened directly onto the wood. D25's had gloss finish, rosewood fretboard/bridge, and by the time the D4 was introduced (early '90's) had a pearloid inlay with black headstock overlay. Thus the D4 was known as the "poor man's D25" through several subtle economy measures.
Move up to D40 and you got a chesterfield added to the headstock ornamentation and a FLAT back. D40 maybe had a little nicer bracing but I can't remember ever seeing a specific confirmation of that. All those guitars were 'hog back/sides and rosewood fretboards/bridges in general.
Move up to D50 and you got rosewood body/sides and ebony fretboard/bridge. Move up to D555 and you got MOP inlay and G-shield headstock logo and fret position markers. And upgraded bracing, and maybe selected wood for the top.
SO, to a great degree the model numbers denoted a specific combination of woods within any body style denoted by the prefixes.
Rosewood's a price upgrade from mahogany and generally gets the upgrade to ebony fretboard as well. Same with maple as an alternative to rosewood.
Here's a GREAT place to START:
http://westerlyguildguitars.com/links.htm
Be aware, as others mentioned, specs on a given model could change over the course of time. So the models on that site should be considered according to the date of the spec sheet attached. Most frequent changes I've seen would be on dimensions of things like nut width or scale length. Sometimes models were discontinued and re-introduced under other names and more subtle changes occurred.
D25 in particular had some major changes over its lifetime. It started as an all-mahogany flatback in '68 and evolved into spruce-topped mahogany archback by '74, at least officially. There were some number of archback/mahogany-TOPPED D25's made and shipped during the transitional period. I've seen refs as early as '72 and as late as '74. The arched back is laminated by the way. More D25's were sold than any other Guild model.
OK, homework is to drool over that link I gave you. We can meet here later for more fun.

 

[Dubbaround]

Thank you very much! That is great info!

I have been to that website before, and it's sure one heck of a wish-site!