Okieguildfan
Member
Hello all,
I walked into my favorite shop the other day (Music Villa in Bozeman, MT) with some cash to spend and a desire to let the best guitar win. They were working to move a few guitars at the end of the year, and a number of brands were deeply cut (Guild, Breedlove, Taylor, Martin). I tried just about everything in my price range (American and Oregon series Breedloves, a few 300 series Taylors, Martin 15, 16, 17 series, Guild F40 Traditional, D40 Traditional, etc. In fairness, the Traditional Series Guilds weren't really in my price range, but they too were cut (down to $1600/$1700). I spent a few hours and the shop was great (even changing the strings on the final two to help make sure that old strings weren't contributing to the sound). The D-40 Traditional won out hands down. It caught me at the beginning, and I kept trying the others just to make sure that brand loyalty wasn't placing a thumb on the scale. The sound is deep and full, but focused when I want it to be (if that makes any sense). Playability is great too. I owned a Westerly D-55 a few years back, but I tend to gravitate towards mahogany. It scratches my mahogany/spruce itch perfectly. I haven't been able to find a flaw, and I can't seem to put it down. I've run the gamut of Guilds over the years: initially GADs when I was just starting, then Westerly, NH, back to Tacoma, Oxnard, and now my newest Oxnard.
I'm terrible at pictures...which I know is a sin here. But, I guarantee the truss rod cover is pointing the right direction.
Guild wins again.
I walked into my favorite shop the other day (Music Villa in Bozeman, MT) with some cash to spend and a desire to let the best guitar win. They were working to move a few guitars at the end of the year, and a number of brands were deeply cut (Guild, Breedlove, Taylor, Martin). I tried just about everything in my price range (American and Oregon series Breedloves, a few 300 series Taylors, Martin 15, 16, 17 series, Guild F40 Traditional, D40 Traditional, etc. In fairness, the Traditional Series Guilds weren't really in my price range, but they too were cut (down to $1600/$1700). I spent a few hours and the shop was great (even changing the strings on the final two to help make sure that old strings weren't contributing to the sound). The D-40 Traditional won out hands down. It caught me at the beginning, and I kept trying the others just to make sure that brand loyalty wasn't placing a thumb on the scale. The sound is deep and full, but focused when I want it to be (if that makes any sense). Playability is great too. I owned a Westerly D-55 a few years back, but I tend to gravitate towards mahogany. It scratches my mahogany/spruce itch perfectly. I haven't been able to find a flaw, and I can't seem to put it down. I've run the gamut of Guilds over the years: initially GADs when I was just starting, then Westerly, NH, back to Tacoma, Oxnard, and now my newest Oxnard.
I'm terrible at pictures...which I know is a sin here. But, I guarantee the truss rod cover is pointing the right direction.
Guild wins again.