creeksideguy said:what are GADS????????
Firebird said:One thing that the Westerly and Tacoma Guilds have is a uniformity in tone. A Guild guitar has its own unique sound in the the same way a Martin has its own definable sound. The Guild tone is recognizable throughout the entire model line. The GAD guitars are well built, look great and have a nice tone for the money but they lack the classic Guild tone that the American made guitars are known for. The GADs have a much better tone than any Ibanez, washburn, Alverez, Fender or Epiphone guitar. Starting off your guitar buying journey with a GAD is not a bad thing but I would opt for a used Westerly for similar money in order to get the real McCoy.
Siwash said:Yeah, I agree with the fellow above about the D-25 being dropped.
A guitar this widespread almost stands alone in terms of public recognizability. And it WOULD be the next logical step up the Guild ladder.
fungusyoung said:If they made a D25 (built like the old ones), they would probably need to price them in the $700 - 850 range. Or at least I'd think that would be a very good competitive option.... which might be too close for comfort considering the GAD line pricing.
guildzilla said:If the market responds, maybe they'll ramp up a little more and run some big batches of D-25's.
Metalman said:The GAD's are made in China, are not Guilds, don't sound like Guilds, but have the name on their headstock.
Remember Madeira Guitars? Theywere made in Japan, I believe, and I never really liked them. They would be the '60's equivalent to the GADs I suppose. But they didn't carry the Guild name on them, but they sounded a little like Guilds. Just not as good as the American-made guitars.
At least the Madeiras sounded SOMETHING like a Guild. The GADs don't come close. They are nicely made, but don't call them Guilds.
Metalman said:Reply to Terry Allen Hall
My reply:
Yes, Madeiras were made out of plywood. I guess that's why I never liked them. And I stand corrected, sort of; The GADs are made much better than those Madeiras, but still don't like them. Now, the dreadnoughts are pretty decent. The smaller bodied ones I just don't like.
Now, about that GAD D-25; in 35 years it will sound great. I don't want to wait that long for my guitar to sound good.
>>>Didn't mean to imply it would take 35 years to improve...the GAD-40 I have access to has improved a great deal in the 2 years my buddy has owned it...it now sounds so much better than his 15-yo D-18 that he's getting ready to sell the Martin to finance a 12-string.
I can tell right away if an instrument has any potential, as far as opening up in sound as the guitar ages. And this process, mind you, takes place only in the first few years of its life. The resins in the wood get loosened up from vibrations, and after two or three years, this process stops.
>>>Well, in the 35 years I've made a living as a performer, I've actually bought a few brand-new guitars and experienced this phenomenon for myself...
Older guitars sound better because Martin, Guild, Gibson used different methods back then, and air-dried woods. Other factors were present, but that is it in a nutshell. I believe guitars don't get better year after year, and on and on.
>>>Properly cared for, they certainly do, but after the first few years, it's a much more subtle/gradual thing.
Unless you install a JLD Bridge Doctor sometime along the way. THEN the guitar comes alive even more so . . .
>>>Pass...those are great for plywood guitars, but sometimes ruin solid tops...
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Metalman said:To: Terry:
Talk to me about the JLD. How does it ruin solid tops. I like the sound that I get as a result of installing one; however, I am not interested in damaging my guitar!
Like to hear more about this . . .
>>>If you're not careful in the installation, the JLD can split the top...I've also heard of this happening to guitars that got too dry in the winter.<<<
I like that - someone sells his Martin D-18 in favor of a chinese-made Guild. doesn't say much for Martin, does it.
>>>Wasn't a bad Martin, but the Guild sounded better to him...and to others. Hopefully, the D-18 will make it's new owner very happy. :idea:
OTOH, the fact that his Guild was made in China instead the wrong side of the Mason-Dixon line doesn't make it any less of a fine guitar. 8) <<<
Someone told me, there is just something regal about pulling out an old Guild Guitar. Must be the headstock . . . Martins are so plain . . .
>>>Guilds are cool...that why we all have 'em! <<<