The Strings my D25 would have left Westerly strung with at the end of 1971

[davismanLV]

 

[Westerly Wood]

I don't know what Contact Core is...... I don't really see what difference it makes which strings it left the factory with. That was 44 years ago!! String technology has improved a bit. I know you think it's gonna be magical to put the same strings back on but...... I doubt it will be. Good luck with the dream, anyway.

worth a shot bro. thanks for weighing in.

 

[adorshki]

I don't know what Contact Core is...... I don't really see what difference it makes which strings it left the factory with.

It's like, it's like...having an original '58 fuelie Corvette that somebody replaced the fuel injection and tires on...sure the newer stuff might be better and more reliable but what if you just wanted to see how it felt to drive a Corvette in 1958, warts and all?
Maybe I just relate because I'm such a "factory spec guy" myself. At least I'm lucky enough to know exactly what my guitars came with and still able to get 'em.
:single_eye:

 

[hansmoust]

Hans didn't mention what they were made of.

In those days Guild referred to them as 'brass' strings, but other string makers would have called them 'bronze'.

Guild introduced Phosphor bronze strings during the first half of the '70s and those were made by D'Addario.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[adorshki]

In those days Guild referred to them as 'brass' strings, but other string makers would have called them 'bronze'.

OK I'm slightly confused, because that 1972 price list shows both brass and bronze:
"Spanish Guitar strings" as "special alloy brass" but the "Special Bronze Alloy" strings with "high copper content" and "wound on hexagonal cores" matches 2 of the details for the D'Addario PB strings with the L350 part number that I always knew as phosphor bronze.
Are those L350's early versions of D'Addario's Phosphor Bronze strings?

 

[sailingshoes72]

I don't really see what difference it makes which strings it left the factory with. I know you think it's gonna be magical to put the same strings back on but...... I doubt it will be. Good luck with the dream, anyway.

When I bought my '81 D-25NT (used in 1987) it still had the Guild Owner's Manual in the pocket of the original case, with the warranty card intact. On the last page of the booklet is a section with spaces left blank to be filled in at the factory... Model #, Serial #, and Guild Strings: L-350 Phosphor Bronze (with an ink stamp).

On page 23 the booklet states: All Guild instruments are set up at our factory with the strings noted in this Owner's Manual. We cannot guarantee top performance of your instrument if strings other than those indicated, or their equivalent, are used.

I think that you may be on to something here Wood! :encouragement:

 

[Westerly Wood]

When I bought my '81 D-25NT (used in 1987) it still had the Guild Owner's Manual in the pocket of the original case, with the warranty card intact. On the last page of the booklet is a section with spaces left blank to be filled in at the factory... Model #, Serial #, and Guild Strings: L-350 Phosphor Bronze (with an ink stamp).

On page 23 the booklet states: All Guild instruments are set up at our factory with the strings noted in this Owner's Manual. We cannot guarantee top performance of your instrument if strings other than those indicated, or their equivalent, are used.

I think that you may be on to something here Wood! :encouragement:

It would really be something if we were to find out that in fact PB was out there as an alloy 2-3 years before D'Addario itself sold them under their own name. I still cannot see how Guild would use PB on a hog top though, as it is clear even to a layman as myself, with a touch of OCD as Tom mentions above, can tell that 80/20 allows the all hog to shine. And though it is probable the Br left with lights, I am taking Ralf's suggestion re Mediums. I told you this would be fun, if not a tad annoying.

 

[hansmoust]

OK I'm slightly confused, because that 1972 price list shows both brass and bronze:

That's because they were not coming from the same manufacturer. Guild had been calling them 'brass' during previous years and the new 'vendor' supplied them 'bronze' sets.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[sailingshoes72]

As Ralf pointed out in an above post: an alloy composed of copper and zinc is commonly referred to as brass; an alloy composed of copper and tin is commonly referred to as bronze.

Bill

 

[Rayk]

But a mahogany top is much stiffer compared to a spruce top, so medium strings are needed to drive the top hard enough I would say. Light strings won't accomplish that on a hog top, or?
Ralf

man major typo LOL Yup that was the question .. to bad your not NC bound hahaha

 

[adorshki]

On page 23 the booklet states: All Guild instruments are set up at our factory with the strings noted in this Owner's Manual. We cannot guarantee top performance of your instrument if strings other than those indicated, or their equivalent, are used.
I think that you may be on to something here Wood! :encouragement:

They were still sayin' that right up through '03 Corona with my D40.
What groused me was when Fender actually changed the L350's around '02 or so.
A few years back, somebody explained Fender dropped D'Addario and started using a maker they owned in Mexico, and I though to myslef, "AHA! THAT'S why they changed the G string from .025 to .024!"
But they never updated any of their spec sheets for the gauge set. You can still see it pop up from time to time.
The search for that .025 G led me to D'Addario, before I learned they had been Guild's OEM when I bought my D25.

 

[sailingshoes72]

Hey Wood... I enjoyed the link to the La Bella Strings website. The History section indicates that the company has roots dating back to a family business in Italy in the 1600's. They made violin strings for the Amati and the Stradivari instrument shops in Cremona. That's pretty good company to keep!

I don't see how you can go wrong with a string that is labeled "Golden Alloy". :biggrin-new:

Bill

 

[Westerly Wood]

Hey Wood... I enjoyed the link to the La Bella Strings website. The History section indicates that the company has roots dating back to a family business in Italy in the 1600's. They made violin strings for the Amati and the Stradivari instrument shops in Cremona. That's pretty good company to keep!

I don't see how you can go wrong with a string that is labeled "Golden Alloy". :biggrin-new:

Bill

Bill, I figure, if they are the string for me, awesome and well worth this search. If not, there is always others Like I say, if you cannot afford GAS, certainly I can afford SAS...

 

[Westerly Wood]

man major typo LOL Yup that was the question .. to bad your not NC bound hahaha

Oh man, I would love to relocate to NC. Ashville area, that whole state is on a roll.

 

[SFIV1967]

an alloy composed of copper and zinc is commonly referred to as brass

So that means the M-410 set on Woodies D-25 was really a 80% copper and 20% zinc set (mostly called 80/20 Bronze) vs the copper tin alloy used for PB strings.
La Bella's Golden Alloy is spec'ed as 80/20 Brass Alloy, so perfect!
Ralf

 

[Westerly Wood]

I emailed the folks at La Bella, to see if they had anything in their records. Boom! Here was their reply...I am surprised the D25 BR would have left Westerly with light gauge strings, but also find it interesting.

Hello Woody,
Sorry for the delay, had to do some research!
The set would have been the 40PS Golden Alloy Light 12-52:

http://www.labella.com/products/40ps/
Please let us know if we can be of further assistance and thanks for playing La Bella!