Show us yer Guilds

KevS · July 23

My USA Made Guild D 50 ,Love at first chord,one of the nest acoustics I have heard,although it does prefer to be strummed..
Nice low action,,although I love it so much I do get worried..
My cousin has a Herringbone,,Vintage Style etc Martin D 28,,really expensive compared to the standard D 28..
It does sound good but a bit different..The D 50 is much easier to play....

Then my Chinese made Guild M120,,all solid wood still...
My ear bought this one again...Good for fingerpicking,I have dead strings on it just now..I like the sound..
I'm going to try Martin Monel strings when I buy from somewhere that has them so I don't have to pay so much postage..
24.75 Scale length on this one..<a href="https://imgur.com/m74cc07"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/m74cc07.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a><a href="https://imgur.com/VyCUIDT"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/VyCUIDT.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a<a href="https://imgur.com/eBVQ8Bc"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/eBVQ8Bc.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a<a href="https://imgur.com/HPyPXuR"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/HPyPXuR.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a<a href="https://imgur.com/J9zkCFM"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/J9zkCFM.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

jimmyguitar · July 25

jimmyguitar · July 25

My 1975 F30, beautiful guitar! It’s actually for sale if anyone is looking for one. It’s a great size, like a Gibson lg but deeper sides.

munckee · July 25

My current 1988 D25 spruce, best acoustic I've ever played.

https://i.imgur.com/1w48lvq.png?1 ;

https://i.imgur.com/SrmTHZc.jpg ;

munckee · July 25

And my previous OM 140CE Westerley, was a lovely guitar just decided I'm more a dreadnought chap

https://i.imgur.com/9tN1IvV.jpg ;

earwighoney · July 25

I've got a few MIC ones, GAD30R I bought earlier this year and a F212 I've had for over 10 years. I will take some pictures of both to post up when I can.

munckee said:

My current 1988 D25 spruce, best acoustic I've ever played.

https://i.imgur.com/1w48lvq.png?1 ;

https://i.imgur.com/SrmTHZc.jpg ;

A good old American Guild is a wonderful instrument, I think they go under the radar.

KevS · July 25

Nice..I think they make an SG that balances properly too...

My Experience of American Guild Acoustics is that they are often the best sounding acoustic in the shop that aren't extra premium range...I played a Standard Martin D28 the day I got the D50..The D50 sounded straight off the record...
Guess what,it records beautifully too..

earwighoney · July 25

KevS said:

Nice..I think they make an SG that balances properly too...

My Experience of American Guild Acoustics is that they are often the best sounding acoustic in the shop that aren't extra premium range...I played a Standard Martin D28 the day I got the D50..The D50 sounded straight off the record...
Guess what,it records beautifully too..

Did you ever try their 'boutique' American made acoustics? They were in production for a few years before Fender torched the Guild brand to the ground and they were called the 'Orpheum' series. I think they were £2k or so plus, which at the time was more expensive than the standard ranges, and they were truly outstanding guitars. They were aimed at the premium Martin market, and were designed by Ren Ferguson, I tried a few of them and they were better than most of the other expensive acoustics in the shop. 'Better' might be the wrong word, but I preferred them to others. They were different to the standard ones in character, somewhere between a vintage Martin and Guild.

But the 'standard' range ones are excellent, I think they are underappreciated in the context of things. I'm thinking of treating myself to the US made M20 (the US made counterpart to your M120).

IMO the old F112/212/312's are some of the finest acoustics made, up there with the best Martins of the era.

rustneversleeps · July 26

Over the years having gone through the some nice acoustics,Santa Cruz,many Martins.Ive settled on Guilds.Ive got 3 all different sizes and woods.(not USA)A couple of these beat my Martin at a fraction of the cost.The last one I got is a OM260ce BURL DELUXE.A nice sunburst with Burl figured back and sides certainly a looker.It looked a bit naked so l added a pickguard.Its a shame I can’t do the photos.

Tannin · July 26

My Tacoma-built Guild CO-2.

Red Spruce top, mahogany back, sides and bolt-on neck, ebony fretboard and - almost unique to the Guild CO-2 - a remarkable carbon fibre neck block. .

This was a very interesting innovation. The idea was to provide a precise, exactly repeatable neck block to allow the consistent production of a quality guitar, in the USA, at a very reasonable cost.

Commercially, the CO-2 was not a success. By this time, Fender's mismanagement of the Guild brand had reached its zenith and morale at the factory was very low. Quality control went out the window and there was a high defect rate with a lot of returns, mostly to do with faulty necks. These returns were simply stacked up and new CO-2s shipped out as warranty replacements. When Fender closed down Tacoma and shifted Guild production to the Ovation factory, all the faulty CO-2s, together with a lot of unsold new ones, were stamped "USED" and sold off cheaply, with no warranty. The model earned a lousy reputation in consequence.

Fast forward 15 years, and it's a different story. Any CO-2 you see today is either one of the many good ones, or else has long since been fixed. They are excellent guitars - and very likely the cheapest US-made Guild you'll see.

Are they any good? Hell yeah. But the CO-2 has its own particular voice, so they are not for everyone. Whether it is the carbon fibre neck block or the Red Spruce (aka "Adirondack") top, a CO-2 is very loud (louder than most dreadnoughts and it's only a 00 size), very crisp, and has that clarity and purity of tone characteristic of Red Spruce. If you play it exactly right, it rewards you with something very special. And if you get it just a little bit wrong, it bites! It has a very crisp, almost savage attack, and needs concentrated accuracy and control, especially with the right hand.

I had a hot and cold, love-hate relationship with the CO-2. In the end, I decided it was too damn fussy for a sloppy player like me. I couldn't bear to sell it, so I gave it to my brother - mainly an electric player - for a big round-number birthday.

He loves it! He likes to play loud (and the CO-2 is very loud) and he plays simpler things than I do and gets a great sound out of it. (I always play stuff which is too hard for me so I need a forgiving guitar or I sound awful. He plays more sensibly and makes the CO-2 sing.)

PS: On my advice, my other brother, the 12-string fingerstyle player, after 40 years with the same guitar, lashed out and bought a late-model used Guild F-512. Now I reckon the F-512 Maple is the best 12-string I've ever played, and one of the finest half-dozen instruments I've ever met. But he liked the rosewood one, and he is very pleased with it. He lives a long way away so I haven't seen it yet.

KevS · July 26

earwighoney said:

KevS said:

Nice..I think they make an SG that balances properly too...

My Experience of American Guild Acoustics is that they are often the best sounding acoustic in the shop that aren't extra premium range...I played a Standard Martin D28 the day I got the D50..The D50 sounded straight off the record...
Guess what,it records beautifully too..

Did you ever try their 'boutique' American made acoustics? They were in production for a few years before Fender torched the Guild brand to the ground and they were called the 'Orpheum' series. I think they were £2k or so plus, which at the time was more expensive than the standard ranges, and they were truly outstanding guitars. They were aimed at the premium Martin market, and were designed by Ren Ferguson, I tried a few of them and they were better than most of the other expensive acoustics in the shop. 'Better' might be the wrong word, but I preferred them to others. They were different to the standard ones in character, somewhere between a vintage Martin and Guild.

But the 'standard' range ones are excellent, I think they are underappreciated in the context of things. I'm thinking of treating myself to the US made M20 (the US made counterpart to your M120).

IMO the old F112/212/312's are some of the finest acoustics made, up there with the best Martins of the era.

I did see one in the same shop I bought my Guilds..I was a slope shouldered model..I think 3k plus over here..It may have been a little less..I was scared to play it basically...I haven't even had the chance to try an F series..I couldn't really afford the D 50 at the time,but it was the best sounding guitar in the shop that day..It isn't the most sensitive for finger picking,but as an accompaniment strummer..Wow,,for recording too..Use a different gauge / material of ick,,it really changes..The M120 is great for fingerpicking...I also have a Martin Gpcpa4..It sounds very different..It is very versatile..Very loud,but very crisp..Sensitive for finger picking,but a great strummer too...

KevS · July 26

Tannin said:

My Tacoma-built Guild CO-2.

Red Spruce top, mahogany back, sides and bolt-on neck, ebony fretboard and - almost unique to the Guild CO-2 - a remarkable carbon fibre neck block. .

This was a very interesting innovation. The idea was to provide a precise, exactly repeatable neck block to allow the consistent production of a quality guitar, in the USA, at a very reasonable cost.

Commercially, the CO-2 was not a success. By this time, Fender's mismanagement of the Guild brand had reached its zenith and morale at the factory was very low. Quality control went out the window and there was a high defect rate with a lot of returns, mostly to do with faulty necks. These returns were simply stacked up and new CO-2s shipped out as warranty replacements. When Fender closed down Tacoma and shifted Guild production to the Ovation factory, all the faulty CO-2s, together with a lot of unsold new ones, were stamped "USED" and sold off cheaply, with no warranty. The model earned a lousy reputation in consequence.

Fast forward 15 years, and it's a different story. Any CO-2 you see today is either one of the many good ones, or else has long since been fixed. They are excellent guitars - and very likely the cheapest US-made Guild you'll see.

Are they any good? Hell yeah. But the CO-2 has its own particular voice, so they are not for everyone. Whether it is the carbon fibre neck block or the Red Spruce (aka "Adirondack") top, a CO-2 is very loud (louder than most dreadnoughts and it's only a 00 size), very crisp, and has that clarity and purity of tone characteristic of Red Spruce. If you play it exactly right, it rewards you with something very special. And if you get it just a little bit wrong, it bites! It has a very crisp, almost savage attack, and needs concentrated accuracy and control, especially with the right hand.

I had a hot and cold, love-hate relationship with the CO-2. In the end, I decided it was too damn fussy for a sloppy player like me. I couldn't bear to sell it, so I gave it to my brother - mainly an electric player - for a big round-number birthday.

He loves it! He likes to play loud (and the CO-2 is very loud) and he plays simpler things than I do and gets a great sound out of it. (I always play stuff which is too hard for me so I need a forgiving guitar or I sound awful. He plays more sensibly and makes the CO-2 sing.)

PS: On my advice, my other brother, the 12-string fingerstyle player, after 40 years with the same guitar, lashed out and bought a late-model used Guild F-512. Now I reckon the F-512 Maple is the best 12-string I've ever played, and one of the finest half-dozen instruments I've ever met. But he liked the rosewood one, and he is very pleased with it. He lives a long way away so I haven't seen it yet.

Looks Gorgeous..I say up above..I have a Martin Cutaway Electro Grand Concert...It is really loud..All Solid wood but for Martin Budget..Great guitar..Not built for looks...

My 12 String is a Taylor, 150 e,huge sounding,,Walnut ply back and sides,,pricey for a not all solid wood,but it sounds great..

That is pretty much my entire acoustic collection..<a href="https://imgur.com/XTKsEv5"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/XTKsEv5.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

Cryptid · July 28

Nice Guilds! I have a lot of love for them. Here's my current brace:

(left) 1988 GF-30, Westerly built.
Sitka top, arched maple laminate back, solid maple sides, maple neck, RW board and bridge, 1 11/16 nut, 25 5/8 scale.

I always fancied trying the 'grand folk' format with 16" lower bout and narrowly missed out on a 70's F-40 (same body shape) a few years back. Took a chance on this from a Reverb seller with no feedback and no clue. I got lucky - frets will need replacing in a few years but low action and more saddle left than you could hope for.
I looked at them like a J-185 with a long scale but it's so much more than that. An incredibly versatile and balanced guitar. Bass is there but not boomy like a dread, lovely mid bark with choppy rhythm parts, round sustaining tone for lead work with a flatpick and also beautiful for fingerpicking. It also takes a mic better than any other acoustic I've had with the arched back focusing the mids and offering feedback resistance.

(right) 2010 GSR F-30, New Hartford built.
Adi top, AAAAA maple b&s, mahogany neck, ebony board and bridge, 1 3/4 nut, 25 5/8 scale.

Couldn't resist snapping this up - a limited run (20 worldwide) of an F-30 made to original specs before they changed to mahogany in 1959. A gorgeous build; very light and repsonsive with a shocking amount of bass for a small maple guitar. Gets loud too with a clear, strong and thick voice. It's got a crisp edge but never brittle or over-bright. Fingerpicker's dream but sounds surprisingly good when strummed with a pick too.

I'd still love a 70's D-40 one day and regret selling my Oxnard D-55... but I have a love / hate relationship with rosewood.

KevS · July 28

Cryptid said:

Nice Guilds! I have a lot of love for them. Here's my current brace:

(left) 1988 GF-30, Westerly built.
Sitka top, arched maple laminate back, solid maple sides, maple neck, RW board and bridge, 1 11/16 nut, 25 5/8 scale.

I always fancied trying the 'grand folk' format with 16" lower bout and narrowly missed out on a 70's F-40 (same body shape) a few years back. Took a chance on this from a Reverb seller with no feedback and no clue. I got lucky - frets will need replacing in a few years but low action and more saddle left than you could hope for.
I looked at them like a J-185 with a long scale but it's so much more than that. An incredibly versatile and balanced guitar. Bass is there but not boomy like a dread, lovely mid bark with choppy rhythm parts, round sustaining tone for lead work with a flatpick and also beautiful for fingerpicking. It also takes a mic better than any other acoustic I've had with the arched back focusing the mids and offering feedback resistance.

(right) 2010 GSR F-30, New Hartford built.
Adi top, AAAAA maple b&s, mahogany neck, ebony board and bridge, 1 3/4 nut, 25 5/8 scale.

Couldn't resist snapping this up - a limited run (20 worldwide) of an F-30 made to original specs before they changed to mahogany in 1959. A gorgeous build; very light and repsonsive with a shocking amount of bass for a small maple guitar. Gets loud too with a clear, strong and thick voice. It's got a crisp edge but never brittle or over-bright. Fingerpicker's dream but sounds surprisingly good when strummed with a pick too.

I'd still love a 70's D-40 one day and regret selling my Oxnard D-55... but I have a love / hate relationship with rosewood.

Phwooooar !!!! Really nice guitars..Really Really nice guitars in so many ways..

Tannin · July 28

@Cryptid - oh yes. Two truly lovely instruments. OK, I couldn't cope with the cramped fretboard of the the GF-30 (a common Gulid 6-string problem) but that F-30 looks utterly divine.

(Anyone who hasn't owned a maple-back acoustic hasn't lived.)

Soupman · July 28

The GSR-F30 in particular is gorgeous. Lovely!

Cryptid · July 29

Thanks chaps. I count myself lucky to have found both of these rare beauties on this side of the pond, for a decent price too.

Tannin said:

@Cryptid - oh yes. Two truly lovely instruments. OK, I couldn't cope with the cramped fretboard of the the GF-30 (a common Gulid 6-string problem) but that F-30 looks utterly divine.

(Anyone who hasn't owned a maple-back acoustic hasn't lived.)

I've got 4 acoustics and 3 of them are maple! People seem to think maple guitars are too bright but that hasn't been my experience at all, especially Guilds. I love their fast attack for snappy strumming, yet all have plenty of sustain when needed. Strong fundamental tone makes them easy to record, they mic well live, and they don't fight with vocals when accompanying.

I know how you feel about narrow nuts but the GF-30 doesn't feel cramped to me at all coming from the F-30 - it has a chunkier neck so the hand still feels nicely filled, slightly wider spacing at the bridge too.

One thing about Guilds I love is the playability with their 12" fretboard radii. Both guitars came with a really low action and no fret buzz at all, despite the frets being quite worn on GF-30. The F-30 is almost too easy to play with the 11s it was set up for. Will be getting it fitted for 12s as I prefer the feel and tension.

Tannin · July 30

Cryptid said:

People seem to think maple guitars are too bright but that hasn't been my experience at all, especially Guilds.

And then they turn round and buy something in rosewood! Go figure.

rze99 · August 2

I've got a D4 NT from the 90s. Easy to play and very loud.

1993 Guild D4-NT Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar - Made in USA - Natural - Free Pro Setup image 1

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