I saw Nick Drake play an all nighter with John Martyn at Les Cousins on Greek St London in 1971. They alternated 45 minute sets throughout the night. He was playing the Guild M20; he said it was borrowed and he would be giving it back soon. He was a quiet man but not aloof; if you spoke to him he answered politely and fully. I asked him about the guitar and he let me play it. It was the first time I’d seen a mahogany guitar and the first time I’d seen bronze wound strings (nickel wound were what you got in most uk music shops at that time). The guitar wasn’t his but he had it for considerably longer than just holding it for the photo . The gig was winter time, early 1971 about 6 weeks before Bryter Layter was released. As a rare living contemporaneous witness who actually saw him I think it important to record the history ( and correct he myth that he only held it) Regards to all Phillip Tanswell
That is a great story. Many things been said about Nick playing this guitar. Huge fan of both this guys I’m sort of jealous. I just had the luck getting myself on a M20 VSB here in France in brand new condition and just love it. The man I got it from bought it three years ago but didn’t play it. After a little tress rod turn the action’s just good and now it will be played to "open up". Thanks for your story
What an awesome story.. thanks for sharing this .. 1971 is my yob.. 😃 I’ve bought some guitars in my life but today I’ve received my first Guild (Jumbo) and played it a couple of hours .. the tone is really special.. I had goosebumps while playing it .. next is a m-20 or m-25 ..😂😂😂
I love my Westerly Guild D55! I wanted one for 20 years. I was scared it would disappoint me. I can say, it certainly did not. It is an amazing guitar, and it sounds absolutely incredible.
The Guild D-55 is the Holy Grail for me. It is truly gorgeous, the treble just chimes beautifully, and the bottom is strong. The clarity of the notes without a jangle of overtones is what attracted me to this guitar. Besides, it is beautiful to look at. I'll have one someday.
My father was blessed with an incredible ear. Plays multiple instruments but mostly acoustic guitar while singing.. And 100% by ear, never learned to read music. And for 55 years now GUILD is the only guitar he plays. He always told me that no other guitar has the perfect combo of tone and resonance like a Guild does. Said he would take a 1400 dollar Guild over a 7,000 dollar Martin every day of the week.
Thanks for your story. I've had Taylor's & Martin's & always sell the Taylor's. I'm researching Guilds. I'm looking for an acoustic which really projects the sound while finger picking without plugging in or mic'ing up. ✌️
Last week we went to the Acoustic Corner in Black Mountain NC and I scored a 2016 Guild M-20. I bought it mainly because of how comfortable the guitar is. I was so surprised by how comfortable the guitar is to play that I asked the owner why. It also sounds amazing and I bought it. I am so glad I did.
Having played both the OM-120 & the M-20, I have to say the M-20 IS the sweet spot. Smaller body & slightly shorter scale seems to make the tone even sweeter & I like that they have a gloss finish which is unusual in the all mahogany arena.
Hard to dispute any of your selections. That said, I'm surprised a D-55 didn't make your list. I absolutely love mine and think it punches at the same level of the Martin D-40s and many boutique-builder dreads. Great list Tony, thanks.
My 1964 Guild Hoboken factory D-50 - hands down the best recording acoustic I've ever heard. Picked it up in the mid-'70s after someone had tried to wear a Richie Havens-style hole just below the pickguard. It's beat up, in a totally gorgeous way, and sounds amazing.
The M size really expresses the Guild sound. Tony has the mahogany top rated 1 and 2 on his list. I have an M-40 which has a spruce top which brightens and focuses the response. What a great guitar from the Oxnard facility. It sits next to a Guild Bluesbird in my living room. I am a happy Guild cult member.
I have a D 30M that is finished to look like a mahogany top but is actually spruce (1972), as well as a 1974 D44M. Most people claim Guild never made a D44, but it is listed in the production records. This guitar has MOP inlaid Guild and a Chesterfield logo with the most intense curly maple back and sides. The sound is heavenly and distinctly Guild. Loved your list. Thanks.
Hands down, the iconic D25. Spruce or mahogany tops, solid mahogany sides and steam pressed laminated mahogany arched back. Produced in a wide variety of finishes. Phenomenal guitars. Guild is not making them currently, the closest in the current catalog would be the D-240E from the Westerly collection. Excellent vintage examples are regularly available in the $1,000.00 range. I've got a 1988 D25 SB, mahogany/spruce, and it's a stunning dreadnaught. I believe that Guild produced more of these than any other acoustic in their line. Check them out!
Wow, so great to see Guild getting all this love. Tony you did a D120 demo in 2016, listening to that base E was mind blowing. My son has the 1995 arched-back F20 that Sam Ash had a run of 50 guitars remade just for them. Acoustic Guitar printed my article on it. I'm so diggin' your Guild video, thank you!
Ahhh. I know click bait when I see it. Where oh where to begin. First of all… The same question can be asked about Gibson, Martin, and Taylor as well. But be that as it may, the answer is… they are all wonderful instruments. But let me get into it a bit deeper. In the way that a Martin sounds like a Martin (woody tone, balanced, long sustain), and a Gibson sounds like a Gibson (jingle jangly, balanced, inspiring), a Guild sounds like a Guild (harp-like chime, great sustain, loud as hell). _These examples obtain so long as one uses 80/20 strings, as, these were the strings used at the time the tonal specs of these guitars were established and designed._ From the moment Guild introduced their jumbo 12-string instruments, they became the 12-string guitar “standard candle” by which all 12-string guitars would be judged. (Yamaha has recently started to solve the mystery with their _LL-16-12_ 12-string) Guild still makes their legendary 6-string jumbo _F50r_ guitar as well utilizing the original specs and materials although they have fallen out of use somewhat - mostly in light of the end of the folk rock style of the 1970’s so prevalent among the Travis style players (Paul Simon, John Denver, Bonnie Raitt, et al.) Guild fell into hard times a decade or so ago, and their quality control slipped under Fender ownership. But they were rescued at the last minute by the classic guitar maker Córdoba. Now they’re as good as they were in their heyday.
I have three Guilds in my "guitarsenal" that I feel are excellent guitars. First is a import, 2006 Guild GAD-30R, all solid wood, spruce top, rosewood b/s with ebony fretboard, next is a 1999 Guild D-30, spruce top, flamed maple b/s with rosewood fretboard, and finally 1996 Guild DV-52 NT/HG, spruce top, rosewood b/s with ebony fretboard. All sound wonderful.
This was a great overview of Guild Guitars. I just purchased my first Guild. A D-40 Natural Traditional. Wow! this guitar is a cannon and sounds so beautiful. I looked at a Martin D18 also. Several actually. They both played well and sounded good. Once I looked at the fit and finish on both Guild and Martin, I went with the Guild D-40. It was impeccably built. Not 1 issue. The Martins had issues like a gap at the dovetail joint on the neck and on both of the D18s, the inlay dots on the neck were crooked and did not line up. I know its just aesthetics, but for a $2500 American made Martin, I was surprised. I am an excited Guild Fan forever.
I have multiple high end guitars in my "guitarsinal" along x 2 Guild USA guitars. The Guild M-20 and the Guild D-20. Tony, if you haven't played the D-20 , I encourage you to do so at your earliest convenience. The Guild D-20 is just as phenomenal as the M-20. These two guitars consistently perform wonderfully when listening to them and playing them in blind tests even when comparing them to USA Martins, Taylors and Gibsons. Specifically the Martin D-28, the Taylor 814, and the Gibson J-45 as well as others. If it isn't obvious by now, I've become a huge fan of Guild.
No mention of Guilds Baritone guitar made in China.Talk about the plus and minus of the build ?Very interested in guitars made overseas.Do they still make guitars in America ?
Yep. They have perfect tone in my opinion. For 1500 bucks they have better tone and resonance than many 5,000 acoustics... even better than Martin in my opinion. But I may be bias. My old pops has played Guild guitars for well over 50 years.. And it's ALL he'll play.
Guilds tend to be very jangly for the most part -- that's the typical Guild tone Tony is referring to. It like having a 12-string like tone in a 6 string However, there are some that veer from that such as the second bassy guitar that Tony showed. They are great acoustic guitars.
I'm curious about your thoughts on a G-37 model. I bought one new in 1978 and absolutely love it. Arched back and made from Birdseye maple. Slightly larger than the D-40. I feel it has a better lower end, but still retains that bright, almost Martin like sound on the upper strings. It has only gotten better with age.
Personally, I think Guild is like the often overlooked answer to the whole Gibson vs Martin acoustic guitar debate. The Westerly made Guilds in particular are generally fantastic guitars that don't break the bank - might need a neck reset due to age though but even so. Best sounding acoustic I've ever played is my '76 F50.
Late to this post. Been playing for 50 years and I'm in the Guild cult. I've played all kinds of guitars, and nothing is more at home for me than Guild. Right now, I'm loving a CD-1 Contemporary made in Tacoma, WA. Looks great, sounds great, plays great. I also have a CV-2 Contemporary that is my main gigging guitar. It has a red spruce top and maple back and sides. Thanks for the review Tony.
I had a 1976 D 25m that I bought in 1977. At the time, I had enough money to buy any guitar that I wanted. I played every guitar in the shop, even the Martins, and I decided that the Guild was the best guitar in the shop. I bought it and received more compliments on it when I was out playing gigs or just sitting on the Galveston seawall than I had playing any other guitar. Unfortunately, my house got flooded and the military came out and forced us to evacuate. When I got back from the shelter, the high humidity made the neck crack in half. I contacted Guild to see if they could repair it but they told me that I would have to buy a new guitar. I didn't have the money to do that. One day, I hope to be able to buy another Guild because their sound is noticably phenomenal, even to untrained ears in the audience. I had a lot of offers to buy the guitar but I wasn't selling. Guild is absolutely the best!
I gotta say, my favorite guitar I've ever owned was my '73 D50. What a monster! Projection, tone and playability for days. Great for straight up acoustic, country and such, but, man, that thing could rock. Sadly, I say was because it was stolen and I've never replaced it.
I was given a 1954 Guild classic acoustic. The inside Guild guitar tab reads Mark II CB 2000, but it is a mystery that the builder wrote 0 and on top of the zero a 2, as in 2200. Also, I vacuumed 1/6 of dust from inside the body of the guitar and, not knowing I had vacuumed up, three small rectangular cloth tags into the vacuum cleaner, and they read "Gildan". Do you know what this Guild guitar might be worth and what to clean and polish on this vintage guitar? This is my main concern. The guitar itself is in absolute unbelievable, great condition because of being 70 years old. Can you give me any information on my questions? It would be appreciated. That's right. I am a person that fits Guitar for Dummies. The last thing, only the bone bridge is missing, but the thin bone slides out easily, sometimes people do silly crap and glue it into the slot. That I do know. OK, Have a Bless day. I am out of Here. Elvis has left the building.
I agree with your assessment of the B-240E, but the Jumbo Junior Bass has incredibly even balance and sustain all over the fingerboard. While it usually needs some amplification, it sings during legato passages in a way that no other full-sized ABG does, including other Guild basses. Ridiculous value at such a low price point.
While I was working at a guitar shop carrying every major brand, I got to sit with both the F-512 maple and rosewood and A/B them, brand new out of the box from Oxnard Guild. The maple is nice but the rosewood had much more 3D depth and bass. It was singularly the best 12-string acoustic I've ever played or heard. It was like God's own 12-string. Magnificence.
As an intermediate player i picked up the Guild DS-240 Slope Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar. I’m just blown away with playability strait out of the box and tone is incredible for this lower priced guitar. I took it in to a local luthier for a setup which was nominal and he was impressed to say the least. Highly recommend this guitar as it will provide a 1500 guitar tone. Though finger picking may not be this guitar strong suit.
I just uncovered a 1958 Guild M-20 from a storage closet in the elementary school I work at here in NJ. They were getting set to put it in the dumpster and I saved it in the nick of time. It has 2 large cracks in the top I'm guessing from temperture/humidity neglect. Otherwise it looks like it could be playable again with those cracks repaired. I'm pricing some local luthiers for the job but I may do it myself with hide glue and homemade cleats. The neck feels really awesome and I'm pretty sure its a Brazilian rosewood board so I really hope to hear this guitar play one day.
@@goneoverboard2900 Hi, the main thing to my ears is that the D55 has a smooth, silky kind of essence strumming chords that the D50 doesn't have. I prefer a thick rosewood sound and they both have it. Both are cannons. I love playing the D50, perhaps because I've owned it longer. Either way, for me, for dreadnaught body types Guild is the way to go. I also have a Taylor 615 and Martin M36 which are both jumbo body types. If $$ is a concern go with the D50, it's expensive enough as it is, plays and sounds awesome. You won't be sorry because it's win win either way.
2 года назад
I had 16 solid wood Westerly, Tacoma made. 1970's to 2008. D-55, D52, D50...Ritchie Havens etc..D40...now only a D55 and D40 Traditional made in Oxnard. I love Guild Guitars!!
Love my Guilds! My first affair was with my new 1977 D-25m followed by 1992 JF 4 NT, 1976 D-40 and a 1994 D-25 NT. All of them were born in Westerly RI.
My favorite Guild, is the one that recently joined my guitarsenal. My Guild F-1512 I have never had a 12 string before, nor have I had a guild before, but I am extatic with the sound and playability of this instrument.
My Guild D-50 (1978) just gets better and better. The balance, resonance, maturity make great melody, chords, pattern picking. It also seems to know what volume I want and is pleased to provide the right dynamics without a pickup.
Very nice video ! Guild m20 one of the sweetest guitars ever!! Guild without trying to make the best guitars are among the best. I have heard the Martin d28 and d35 along with the Guild D55 and they are all great instruments. Just the Guild D55 a little more ready to put it in front of a microphone and say that's it. It has a deep full sound with great mids and treble. So I rightfully consider the D55 to be one of the best acoustic guitars I've ever heard, and I'm surprised it's not on this list. Maybe she deserves a solo video ;) . Good luck everyone!!
So I play Guild acoustics for a living and I use two of them regularly. One, a Westerly 1999 Gruhn-era JF55-12 that was a bit of a "bling" upgrade from the Rosewood F-512 adding a abalone rosette. The other is a 1979 D-55. Both guitars are amazing and sound simply wonderful using identical Fishman Blend pickups thru a Fishman SA-330X amp. The 12-er is the primary instrument for my solo show and a while back I found myself badly needing a fret job on the 12 and was wondering what the heck I was going to play while it was being worked on. I was about ready to give up when one day on a whim I decided to walk into the local GC and see what they had. Unbelievably, there in the used acoustic section was this Chinese-built Guild 2512-E which is the *much* cheaper maple back and sides version of the rosewood version seen in Tony's video here. I grabbed it and there was not a mark on it. Even with old strings it sounded fabulous and with its slim neck it played with some of the lowest action I ever found on *any* acoustic guitar, never mind a 12 string! The price was a staggeringly-low 250$ so it was a no-brainer -- I paid the man and brought it home and strung it up with new D'Addario PB strings. *WOW!* Simply amazing and with its built-in Fishman pick-up it sounded great thru my rig without changing a single control. Was it as every bit as good as my JF55? Of course not, but not that far off and certainly good enough as a stand-in by a long-shot! I was now all set to give my JF55 to my Luthier and him have go at it. The moral of the story is simple and a big agreement with Tony here that the Guild import 12s are an *incredible* value. If you are looking for a 12er, Guild simply *must* be part of your search and if your budget is tight, then these imports are exactly what you are looking for!
I just got a brand-new F2512E, Deluxe...which is the same guitar you got, but a bit fancier-looking....and I agree with you about these import Guilds. ..These guitars are VERY well-built, and, WOW, do they have the sound!...At least mine does. I don't plug-in, so I can't comment on the electronics, but all the other components (tuners) are top-notch! It's a beautiful instrument, and the sound is awesome....well beyond its price-point!
I have a D 150 that was listed as B stock. The only B issue I could find was the truss rod hole was wider than the rod itself. I put in a shim to hold the still. A 4mm wrench worked fine. This rosewood back machine is a monster, loud, clear, and I mean loud. It makes my partners 1969 Gibson J50 sound like a puppy’s bark.
I have a Guild GED 150CE. Spruce top and solid Rosewood back and sides. When I was looking for a guitar I tried out a Gibson, Martin and finally the Guild and I was struck. Steve's Music in Toronto had a beautiful D55 but I couldn't pull the cash together quick enough. Paid a visit to Long and Mcquade in Toronto and the salesperson there said to me. "We got a Guild here that you might like, it's got the same wood as the D55; it's made offshore but don't let that scare you." I tried it and the moment I started playing it I was hooked. Sounded just as good as the D55 and couldn't believe how nice it played. Told him to hide it I was going home to get my Ovation to trade in for this one. (I bought my Ovation from them about a year before that). Hurried back, did the deal and dragged it home. For a 4 year period after that I played it live at least once a week sometimes 2 or 3. Got married in '09 and played it at our wedding. When I was playing it a pick fell in the soundhole and that pick is still there to this very day. Now when it comes to acoustics I have a hard time looking at anything else. Now I'm looking at a Guild 12 string which I hope to get soon.
Hi Tomy I have two guild guitars. One is a d4hr 1960 true American made in Rhode Island. My second one is a om-120 rosewood back and side. Love those guitars. I'm fascinated with sound and arch back o my true American.
I've been looking for a goal guitar and I thought the M20 was going to be it, but turns out I really wanted something just a little brighter. I really like the size of the M20, so I gave the M40 a try and I kinda love it.
Thanks Tony. I had a 1975 D35N. I played it to death. The neck was warping and the fretboard was getting grooved out. Traded it in and got a D35 Blk with the arched back in 1990. Still have it today and it holding up great ( but have more guitars now so don't play it exclusively as I did my D35. It may be my imagination but I think the the D35 had a sweeter sound. I have found and comparisons of these 2 guitars but it would be interesting to me to see that. Thanks again, Mike
I love the sound of a guild acoustic 12 string jumbo. To me, Martin owns the dreadnaught with the D-18/D-28, Gibson the Jumbo 6 string with the J-200, Taylor owns the mid range with the grand concert and grand auditorium sizes, and honestly, I don't know who has the smaller market, but when it comes to big 12 strings, Guild is my go to. That said, I ask "Why did you order the 512s the way you did"? To me, the maple's clarity and it's archback produces a sound that clearer and more articulated. Don't get me wrong, the Rosewood is great, but it seems that the harmonics produced by the rosewood seem to make it...muddy? when you have 12 strings sounding out, especially when compared to the maple.
Hi Tony, kind of off-topic, but thank you for introducing me to John Fahey's music! I have been listening to it for a few years now and nothing is as hypnotic - love it!....also , I have one of those new Californian M-20s, excellent fingerpicker!
When I started guitar lessons back in high school, maybe 1979? My teacher suggested a Guild classical.. Mark IV. Anyway - it was too expensive at the time, and the store had a used classical (Garcia - a no name Mexican brand, as far as I can tell) that sounded really good for half the price (still have it!). At the teacher’s garage studio, he had an electric Guild - George Barnes model. What a beastie! Different story, tho. Anyway, the Guild name and mystique held in my brain. About 15 years ago, I decided to get a 12-string. I went to Fuller’s Guitar in Houston and played on Taylor, Martin (though I knew I wasn’t going to spend Martin money), maybe one or two others, but.. a Chinese-made Guild G212NAT sounded better than all of them. And was about $600. I bought it and although it doesn’t get used much these days - I still am very happy with my decision. PS: didn’t know John Oates had Mississippi John Hurt’s Guild. I got goosebumps & a little choked up seeing that clip! Thanks for the heads-up on the documentary gofundme.
Thanks much. I bought a Guild F-#2512E Westerly Maple 12 string a few months back …. Sounds like a 12 string costing 3 or 4 times as much. ( I paid $529). Can’t tell you how much I love this thing! Thought it should have been included in this list …
American made Guilds are benchmarks of the profession. The 12 strings are peerless. The Dreadnoughts are poised. The jumbos are divine. All of them are built like tanks. I happen to have a 1964 classical Guild guitar. I call her Morgan, or more specifically, Morgana DeFey. She's a demanding instrument; however, ounce-for-ounce, pound-for-pound, this is the loudest acoustic guitar I have. She nestles in my lap like a kitten and fills the room with sound. She's absolutely unforgiving about mistakes. A missed note or a flubbed fret, and she shouts it across the yard.
You aren't allowed to refer to your guitar as an axe when your photo is you in a bowtie......just kidding! You look baller and I wish I could pull that off.
I was (pleasantly) surprised to see the OM-120 on the list. I figured ‘yeah, yeah, it’ll be a bunch of vintage models and a few high end US current models.” I rolled the dice and ordered one a few weeks back. I had no idea what to expect. I absolutely love it though. Oh, and you can add David Gilmour to the list as well. I don’t know that he ever recorded with a Guild, but I know he had a Guild 12 string. He was holding it during an interview and played a few little things on it (a snippet of Wish You Were Here). That’s actually what planted the initial seed in my head about Guilds when I saw it years ago.
Guild G37 with mahogany stain. Mine has the gentleness of a lullaby or turns into a cannon on demand. Full spectrum of tones and sustains forever. Amazing guitar.
I own an “New Guild” F-40 Natural. Sort of the low end of the all solid wood Jumbo series. It has zero frills and flat “Natural” finish. I got it as a “flaw” example new for a very reasonable price. I have yet to find the flaw. It is a decent looking guitar but the flat finish is definitely not nearly as nice as the gloss finish models. These guitars have (like most modern acoustics) kiln dried wood. This means that it has not settled and is very susceptible to changes in moisture in the atmosphere. The huge top of the jumbo exacerbates this. I live in the PNW and I found out the hard way that you must keep these guitars in a case with active humidity control or you will get a lot of changes in the shape of the top. That can greatly affect playability. Now, after having the guitar in a humidity controlled case, the playability is excellent, as it was when I bought it. Over the life of the guitar, it will probably settle down but these guys need to be taken care of. That said, this is the best sounding flattop I have ever played. It sounds at least as good as the $4500 J-200 Gibson that a buddy bought a few years ago from Gibson, but with a cleaner sound. You just can’t over power this thing. And finger picking is very sweet. I am very happy with it
This was fun to watch -- I've got a D-40 Bluegrass Jubilee (same as the D40 but with an adi top) from 2008. I love it. I also have a Guild Orpheum Orchestra 12 fret. Mouthful of a name, but an absolutely beautiful guitar; they only made the Orpheum series for a few years; I think it was in the period before Ren Ferguson joined Guild. I wish they still made them--I'd love to get the slope shoulder dreadnought Orpheum
I had the privilege of owning an early ‘70’s rosewood F50R Aragon when I was in college. It was very balanced, and wonderfully responsive for such a large-bodied guitar.
Another great video from the acoustic "Beard of Guitar Knowledge"! I have always liked Guild guitar tone, it sounds like Takemine and Yamaha had a baby, but they definitely have their own identity.
F-212XL. Same body as an F-512 but all mahogany. It has a smaller version called the F-212 which is slightly smaller. I am rebuilding a 1968 212xl right now. It came from Hawaii and it was literally falling apart. I have videoed the process so far because I thought that this would be a worthy nod to Guild and the way they built their guitars. To give you an idea, the back has been removed to reglue all the back braces and several top braces. The neck is being reset, but it came off in the 3 pieces Guild built it with. The fretboard is off the neck, and it would have eventually fallen off if I had not removed it. The amount of debris that was inside this guitar is more than anything I have ever seen. When this is finished I will be posting the video footage. It has been quite an education so far. Another great Guild is the rare DV-52. They call it the “Martin Killer”. I have loved Guilds since 1972 ( D-25 mahogany top back and sides with a solid braced back). Great video. Let me know if you would like to see the video.
I have a 1976 Guild D25CH with an arched back. It's a mahogany back and sides with a Sitka spruce top and it is awesome. I do however lust after a D-55;😃 they sound phenomenal as well.
I currently own two Guilds. A new M 40 E. Incredible small body Guitar. A mid 90's DV-52 Sunburst that was owned, toured and Recorded by the late, great Kelly Joe Phelps. In the past I've owned a 1992 D-55. A 1975 D-50 and a 2004 D-50. Guild deserves its place amoung the Best Guitarsbin the world.
My M-20 is so balanced and sweet sounding, gets better the more i play her, it’s a keeper, had it three years and will never sell. I think some bone pins were an upgrade worth doing, they were an unusual size so look it up if you decide to fit some.
My 2010 NH built F30-R standard is my go to guitar, along with my new purchase, of a few months, the OM-120 which plays and sounds fantastic. I find it odd that the “King of Dreadnaughts” the D-55 did not make the list!
In my case, I ended to own and play a 1974 F-47 a few years before. Until then I was never interested in Guild, but I was shocked to hear the strong unlikely mahogany sound. I’m enjoying it.
Hi Tony I watched your episode 253 (along with watching almost all of your espisode when you had Noah). I am a Guild player but can't afford an M 20 BUT for about $1,000 less, the M120 is still all mahogany and similar specs but imported. Ray from Florida.
I have a Vintage 1990's F65CE which is a slim line but it's a killer in disguise. Very rare to find you don't see them on the market very often. My original one was stolen, and it took me 10 years to find another. The day I got the replacement the dealer called me up and offered $500 more than what I paid, of course I said no. 😎
I've got a d25 that I bought 1976 one of the best guitars ever held up well through the years has been played and played and played and played and played I've taken that guitar everywhere to the ocean to the mountains mistreated it and it still kicking still sounds great great studio guitar great life guitar wrote many of songs on that guitar thank you Gil for making me one of the best things I've ever owned in my life peace love feathers and music forever
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I saw Nick Drake play an all nighter with John Martyn at Les Cousins on Greek St London in 1971.
They alternated 45 minute sets throughout the night.
He was playing the Guild M20; he said it was borrowed and he would be giving it back soon.
He was a quiet man but not aloof; if you spoke to him he answered politely and fully.
I asked him about the guitar and he let me play it.
It was the first time I’d seen a mahogany guitar and the first time I’d seen bronze wound strings (nickel wound were what you got in most uk music shops at that time).
The guitar wasn’t his but he had it for considerably longer than just holding it for the photo .
The gig was winter time, early 1971 about 6 weeks before Bryter Layter was released.
As a rare living contemporaneous witness who actually saw him I think it important to record the history ( and correct he myth that he only held it)
Regards to all
Phillip Tanswell
Thank you for this story. I'm a big Nick Drake fan.
That's cool.
That is a great story. Many things been said about Nick playing this guitar. Huge fan of both this guys I’m sort of jealous. I just had the luck getting myself on a M20 VSB here in France in brand new condition and just love it. The man I got it from bought it three years ago but didn’t play it. After a little tress rod turn the action’s just good and now it will be played to "open up".
Thanks for your story
What an awesome story.. thanks for sharing this .. 1971 is my yob.. 😃
I’ve bought some guitars in my life but today I’ve received my first Guild (Jumbo) and played it a couple of hours .. the tone is really special.. I had goosebumps while playing it .. next is a m-20 or m-25 ..😂😂😂
Guild D55 without a doubt deserves first place in the list. Absolutely iconic, astonishing acoustic guitar.
True. Best guitar ever.
I agree...I own a D55E and it's the best sounding and easiest playing guitar I've ever played, including my Martin D28.
I love my Westerly Guild D55! I wanted one for 20 years. I was scared it would disappoint me. I can say, it certainly did not. It is an amazing guitar, and it sounds absolutely incredible.
The Guild D-55 is the Holy Grail for me. It is truly gorgeous, the treble just chimes beautifully, and the bottom is strong. The clarity of the notes without a jangle of overtones is what attracted me to this guitar. Besides, it is beautiful to look at. I'll have one someday.
The Guild D-55 needed to be on the list...an iconic instrument.
My father was blessed with an incredible ear. Plays multiple instruments but mostly acoustic guitar while singing.. And 100% by ear, never learned to read music. And for 55 years now GUILD is the only guitar he plays. He always told me that no other guitar has the perfect combo of tone and resonance like a Guild does. Said he would take a 1400 dollar Guild over a 7,000 dollar Martin every day of the week.
Thanks for your story. I've had Taylor's & Martin's & always sell the Taylor's. I'm researching Guilds. I'm looking for an acoustic which really projects the sound while finger picking without plugging in or mic'ing up. ✌️
Last week we went to the Acoustic Corner in Black Mountain NC and I scored a 2016 Guild M-20. I bought it mainly because of how comfortable the guitar is. I was so surprised by how comfortable the guitar is to play that I asked the owner why. It also sounds amazing and I bought it. I am so glad I did.
Having played both the OM-120 & the M-20, I have to say the M-20 IS the sweet spot. Smaller body & slightly shorter scale seems to make the tone even sweeter & I like that they have a gloss finish which is unusual in the all mahogany arena.
I have a question. I haven't the money for a M20. I was at the point to buy a M120. What is your thought about it ? Warm regards.
Hard to dispute any of your selections. That said, I'm surprised a D-55 didn't make your list. I absolutely love mine and think it punches at the same level of the Martin D-40s and many boutique-builder dreads. Great list Tony, thanks.
My 1964 Guild Hoboken factory D-50 - hands down the best recording acoustic I've ever heard. Picked it up in the mid-'70s after someone had tried to wear a Richie Havens-style hole just below the pickguard. It's beat up, in a totally gorgeous way, and sounds amazing.
Favorite is a ‘76 Guild D 25M arch back. Cause it sounds great and has been in the family since day 1.
Same here ! I’ve had mine since 78 or so - beautiful sound
Tommy Smothers also played a Guild D-55.
I just got a Guild om-120 any suggestion for a pickup?
The M size really expresses the Guild sound. Tony has the mahogany top rated 1 and 2 on his list. I have an M-40 which has a spruce top which brightens and focuses the response. What a great guitar from the Oxnard facility. It sits next to a Guild Bluesbird in my living room. I am a happy Guild cult member.
I have a D 30M that is finished to look like a mahogany top but is actually spruce (1972), as well as a 1974 D44M. Most people claim Guild never made a D44, but it is listed in the production records. This guitar has MOP inlaid Guild and a Chesterfield logo with the most intense curly maple back and sides. The sound is heavenly and distinctly Guild. Loved your list. Thanks.
D44's do exist! I have a 75 D44M Bld. Great guitar!
Hands down, the iconic D25. Spruce or mahogany tops, solid mahogany sides and steam pressed laminated mahogany arched back. Produced in a wide variety of finishes. Phenomenal guitars. Guild is not making them currently, the closest in the current catalog would be the D-240E from the Westerly collection. Excellent vintage examples are regularly available in the $1,000.00 range. I've got a 1988 D25 SB, mahogany/spruce, and it's a stunning dreadnaught. I believe that Guild produced more of these than any other acoustic in their line. Check them out!
You get me so excited to play my guitars. I absolutely love your channel. I also love the guild OM 120 it is amazing.
Wow, so great to see Guild getting all this love. Tony you did a D120 demo in 2016, listening to that base E was mind blowing. My son has the 1995 arched-back F20 that Sam Ash had a run of 50 guitars remade just for them. Acoustic Guitar printed my article on it. I'm so diggin' your Guild video, thank you!
Is the Guild M-20 a little bit too rich for your blood? Seek out a Guild Westerly M-120. Very highly recommended.
Ahhh. I know click bait when I see it.
Where oh where to begin.
First of all… The same question can be asked about Gibson, Martin, and Taylor as well. But be that as it may, the answer is… they are all wonderful instruments. But let me get into it a bit deeper.
In the way that a Martin sounds like a Martin (woody tone, balanced, long sustain), and a Gibson sounds like a Gibson (jingle jangly, balanced, inspiring), a Guild sounds like a Guild (harp-like chime, great sustain, loud as hell). _These examples obtain so long as one uses 80/20 strings, as, these were the strings used at the time the tonal specs of these guitars were established and designed._
From the moment Guild introduced their jumbo 12-string instruments, they became the 12-string guitar “standard candle” by which all 12-string guitars would be judged. (Yamaha has recently started to solve the mystery with their _LL-16-12_ 12-string)
Guild still makes their legendary 6-string jumbo _F50r_ guitar as well utilizing the original specs and materials although they have fallen out of use somewhat - mostly in light of the end of the folk rock style of the 1970’s so prevalent among the Travis style players (Paul Simon, John Denver, Bonnie Raitt, et al.)
Guild fell into hard times a decade or so ago, and their quality control slipped under Fender ownership. But they were rescued at the last minute by the classic guitar maker Córdoba. Now they’re as good as they were in their heyday.
Have a 1969 D-25 and an M-20. Great feeling neck and balanced sound to both! Different balance than Martin, but in a nice way.
I'm a new member of the Guild universe, recently bought a 2017 Oxnard CA made D40 tradional. It's a wonderful guitar!
I have three Guilds in my "guitarsenal" that I feel are excellent guitars. First is a import, 2006 Guild GAD-30R, all solid wood, spruce top, rosewood b/s with ebony fretboard, next is a 1999 Guild D-30, spruce top, flamed maple b/s with rosewood fretboard, and finally 1996 Guild DV-52 NT/HG, spruce top, rosewood b/s with ebony fretboard. All sound wonderful.
Thanks for that Tony. I knew of Guild (especially 12 string) 50 years ago. I now have a 1979 D 50. I think Bonnie Raitt provided the impetus.
This was a great overview of Guild Guitars. I just purchased my first Guild. A D-40 Natural Traditional. Wow! this guitar is a cannon and sounds so beautiful. I looked at a Martin D18 also. Several actually. They both played well and sounded good. Once I looked at the fit and finish on both Guild and Martin, I went with the Guild D-40. It was impeccably built. Not 1 issue. The Martins had issues like a gap at the dovetail joint on the neck and on both of the D18s, the inlay dots on the neck were crooked and did not line up. I know its just aesthetics, but for a $2500 American made Martin, I was surprised. I am an excited Guild Fan forever.
I have multiple high end guitars in my "guitarsinal" along x 2 Guild USA guitars. The Guild M-20 and the Guild D-20.
Tony, if you haven't played the D-20 , I encourage you to do so at your earliest convenience. The Guild D-20 is just as phenomenal as the M-20. These two guitars consistently perform wonderfully when listening to them and playing them in blind tests even when comparing them to USA Martins, Taylors and Gibsons. Specifically the Martin D-28, the Taylor 814, and the Gibson J-45 as well as others. If it isn't obvious by now, I've become a huge fan of Guild.
No mention of Guilds Baritone guitar made in China.Talk about the plus and minus of the build ?Very interested in guitars made overseas.Do they still make guitars in America ?
I love the Guild F512 12 string but have you ever heard a 12 string Guild F2512 before?
I think Guild guitars deserve the praise they get. They’re guitars are just awesome, especially the D-50.
Yep. They have perfect tone in my opinion. For 1500 bucks they have better tone and resonance than many 5,000 acoustics... even better than Martin in my opinion. But I may be bias. My old pops has played Guild guitars for well over 50 years.. And it's ALL he'll play.
Guilds tend to be very jangly for the most part -- that's the typical Guild tone Tony is referring to. It like having a 12-string like tone in a 6 string However, there are some that veer from that such as the second bassy guitar that Tony showed. They are great acoustic guitars.
Love Guild, planning on the OM120 next up, but love the M-20 and would love to try the M-25E. Thanks for the Guild spotlight!
My black 2006 Guild F-50 ( Tacoma build) is the best acoustic I’ve ever owned. It’s developed into something really special over the years
I'm curious about your thoughts on a G-37 model. I bought one new in 1978 and absolutely love it. Arched back and made from Birdseye maple. Slightly larger than the D-40. I feel it has a better lower end, but still retains that bright, almost Martin like sound on the upper strings. It has only gotten better with age.
Personally, I think Guild is like the often overlooked answer to the whole Gibson vs Martin acoustic guitar debate. The Westerly made Guilds in particular are generally fantastic guitars that don't break the bank - might need a neck reset due to age though but even so.
Best sounding acoustic I've ever played is my '76 F50.
Late to this post. Been playing for 50 years and I'm in the Guild cult. I've played all kinds of guitars, and nothing is more at home for me than Guild. Right now, I'm loving a CD-1 Contemporary made in Tacoma, WA. Looks great, sounds great, plays great. I also have a CV-2 Contemporary that is my main gigging guitar. It has a red spruce top and maple back and sides. Thanks for the review Tony.
Favorite Guild is my 2012 F-30R built while they were in New Hartford, CT. Great all-around guitar!
Never knew Paul Simon and Jeff Buckley used these guitars. So cool! They’re two of my favorite artists
I had a 1976 D 25m that I bought in 1977. At the time, I had enough money to buy any guitar that I wanted. I played every guitar in the shop, even the Martins, and I decided that the Guild was the best guitar in the shop. I bought it and received more compliments on it when I was out playing gigs or just sitting on the Galveston seawall than I had playing any other guitar. Unfortunately, my house got flooded and the military came out and forced us to evacuate. When I got back from the shelter, the high humidity made the neck crack in half. I contacted Guild to see if they could repair it but they told me that I would have to buy a new guitar. I didn't have the money to do that. One day, I hope to be able to buy another Guild because their sound is noticably phenomenal, even to untrained ears in the audience. I had a lot of offers to buy the guitar but I wasn't selling. Guild is absolutely the best!
I've had a Guild Troubadour from the Westerly collection for about a year and I smile every time I play it.
Great choice Cynthia - I also have a Guild Troubadour M-240E and I love it as much as my Fender Custom Telecaster FMT HH Special Edition
I gotta say, my favorite guitar I've ever owned was my '73 D50. What a monster! Projection, tone and playability for days. Great for straight up acoustic, country and such, but, man, that thing could rock. Sadly, I say was because it was stolen and I've never replaced it.
I have a 2002 Guild d50ce and love it, All American made. Full sounding guitar.
Such wonderful guitars, you should definitely replace it. It would want you to.
I was given a 1954 Guild classic acoustic. The inside Guild guitar tab reads Mark II CB 2000, but it is a mystery that the builder wrote 0 and on top of the zero a 2, as in 2200. Also, I vacuumed 1/6 of dust from inside the body of the guitar and, not knowing I had vacuumed up, three small rectangular cloth tags into the vacuum cleaner, and they read "Gildan".
Do you know what this Guild guitar might be worth and what to clean and polish on this vintage guitar? This is my main concern.
The guitar itself is in absolute unbelievable, great condition because of being 70 years old. Can you give me any information on my questions? It would be appreciated.
That's right. I am a person that fits Guitar for Dummies.
The last thing, only the bone bridge is missing, but the thin bone slides out easily, sometimes people do silly crap and glue it into the slot. That I do know.
OK, Have a Bless day. I am out of Here. Elvis has left the building.
I agree with your assessment of the B-240E, but the Jumbo Junior Bass has incredibly even balance and sustain all over the fingerboard. While it usually needs some amplification, it sings during legato passages in a way that no other full-sized ABG does, including other Guild basses. Ridiculous value at such a low price point.
While I was working at a guitar shop carrying every major brand, I got to sit with both the F-512 maple and rosewood and A/B them, brand new out of the box from Oxnard Guild. The maple is nice but the rosewood had much more 3D depth and bass. It was singularly the best 12-string acoustic I've ever played or heard. It was like God's own 12-string. Magnificence.
As an intermediate player i picked up the Guild DS-240 Slope Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar.
I’m just blown away with playability strait out of the box and tone is incredible for this lower priced guitar.
I took it in to a local luthier for a setup which was nominal and he was impressed to say the least. Highly recommend this guitar as it will provide a 1500 guitar tone. Though finger picking may not be this guitar strong suit.
I just uncovered a 1958 Guild M-20 from a storage closet in the elementary school I work at here in NJ. They were getting set to put it in the dumpster and I saved it in the nick of time. It has 2 large cracks in the top I'm guessing from temperture/humidity neglect. Otherwise it looks like it could be playable again with those cracks repaired. I'm pricing some local luthiers for the job but I may do it myself with hide glue and homemade cleats. The neck feels really awesome and I'm pretty sure its a Brazilian rosewood board so I really hope to hear this guitar play one day.
I've had a 74 guild d25m for about nine years, did a refret a couple years ago. Great playing and sounding guitar.
Haven't heard of most of the models you mention. I happily own a Guild D25m archback (1974), D50 (2011) and D55 (2020).
Hi
Is there much difference in sound between the D50 and the D55..Cheers.
@@goneoverboard2900 Hi, the main thing to my ears is that the D55 has a smooth, silky kind of essence strumming chords that the D50 doesn't have. I prefer a thick rosewood sound and they both have it. Both are cannons. I love playing the D50, perhaps because I've owned it longer. Either way, for me, for dreadnaught body types Guild is the way to go. I also have a Taylor 615 and Martin M36 which are both jumbo body types. If $$ is a concern go with the D50, it's expensive enough as it is, plays and sounds awesome. You won't be sorry because it's win win either way.
I had 16 solid wood Westerly, Tacoma made. 1970's to 2008. D-55, D52, D50...Ritchie Havens etc..D40...now only a D55 and D40 Traditional made in Oxnard. I love Guild Guitars!!
Love my Guilds! My first affair was with my new 1977 D-25m followed by 1992 JF 4 NT, 1976 D-40 and a 1994 D-25 NT. All of them were born in Westerly RI.
Yes, the OM 120 really is exceptional
My favorite Guild, is the one that recently joined my guitarsenal. My Guild F-1512
I have never had a 12 string before, nor have I had a guild before, but I am extatic with the sound and playability of this instrument.
You should give the new D-40 traditional a try, Cordoba has really brought them back, also the D-55 is iconic, can't believe you left it off the list.
My Guild D-50 (1978) just gets better and better. The balance, resonance, maturity make great melody, chords, pattern picking. It also seems to know what volume I want and is pleased to provide the right dynamics without a pickup.
Very nice video ! Guild m20 one of the sweetest guitars ever!! Guild without trying to make the best guitars are among the best. I have heard the Martin d28 and d35 along with the Guild D55 and they are all great instruments. Just the Guild D55 a little more ready to put it in front of a microphone and say that's it. It has a deep full sound with great mids and treble. So I rightfully consider the D55 to be one of the best acoustic guitars I've ever heard, and I'm surprised it's not on this list. Maybe she deserves a solo video ;) . Good luck everyone!!
Love my Guilds 1980 F-50 rosewood, G 312-rosewood 12 string and a Guild Artist Award jazz guitar beautiful tone
So I play Guild acoustics for a living and I use two of them regularly. One, a Westerly 1999 Gruhn-era JF55-12 that was a bit of a "bling" upgrade from the Rosewood F-512 adding a abalone rosette. The other is a 1979 D-55. Both guitars are amazing and sound simply wonderful using identical Fishman Blend pickups thru a Fishman SA-330X amp. The 12-er is the primary instrument for my solo show and a while back I found myself badly needing a fret job on the 12 and was wondering what the heck I was going to play while it was being worked on. I was about ready to give up when one day on a whim I decided to walk into the local GC and see what they had. Unbelievably, there in the used acoustic section was this Chinese-built Guild 2512-E which is the *much* cheaper maple back and sides version of the rosewood version seen in Tony's video here. I grabbed it and there was not a mark on it. Even with old strings it sounded fabulous and with its slim neck it played with some of the lowest action I ever found on *any* acoustic guitar, never mind a 12 string! The price was a staggeringly-low 250$ so it was a no-brainer -- I paid the man and brought it home and strung it up with new D'Addario PB strings. *WOW!* Simply amazing and with its built-in Fishman pick-up it sounded great thru my rig without changing a single control. Was it as every bit as good as my JF55? Of course not, but not that far off and certainly good enough as a stand-in by a long-shot! I was now all set to give my JF55 to my Luthier and him have go at it. The moral of the story is simple and a big agreement with Tony here that the Guild import 12s are an *incredible* value. If you are looking for a 12er, Guild simply *must* be part of your search and if your budget is tight, then these imports are exactly what you are looking for!
I just got a brand-new F2512E, Deluxe...which is the same guitar you got, but a bit fancier-looking....and I agree with you about these import Guilds. ..These guitars are VERY well-built, and, WOW, do they have the sound!...At least mine does. I don't plug-in, so I can't comment on the electronics, but all the other components (tuners) are top-notch! It's a beautiful instrument, and the sound is awesome....well beyond its price-point!
@@stevenberger1926 Agreed, Steven! Glad that you are enjoying it. It's a whole lotta jangle for a minimum of dough!
What guitar was Tony playing at 19:00 in the bathroom break?
I have a D 150 that was listed as B stock. The only B issue I could find was the truss rod hole was wider than the rod itself. I put in a shim to hold the still. A 4mm wrench worked fine. This rosewood back machine is a monster, loud, clear, and I mean loud. It makes my partners 1969 Gibson J50 sound like a puppy’s bark.
I have a Guild GED 150CE. Spruce top and solid Rosewood back and sides. When I was looking for a guitar I tried out a Gibson, Martin and finally the Guild and I was struck. Steve's Music in Toronto had a beautiful D55 but I couldn't pull the cash together quick enough. Paid a visit to Long and Mcquade in Toronto and the salesperson there said to me. "We got a Guild here that you might like, it's got the same wood as the D55; it's made offshore but don't let that scare you." I tried it and the moment I started playing it I was hooked. Sounded just as good as the D55 and couldn't believe how nice it played. Told him to hide it I was going home to get my Ovation to trade in for this one. (I bought my Ovation from them about a year before that). Hurried back, did the deal and dragged it home. For a 4 year period after that I played it live at least once a week sometimes 2 or 3. Got married in '09 and played it at our wedding. When I was playing it a pick fell in the soundhole and that pick is still there to this very day. Now when it comes to acoustics I have a hard time looking at anything else. Now I'm looking at a Guild 12 string which I hope to get soon.
Hi Tomy
I have two guild guitars. One is a d4hr 1960 true American made in Rhode Island. My second one is a om-120 rosewood back and side. Love those guitars. I'm fascinated with sound and arch back o my true American.
I've been looking for a goal guitar and I thought the M20 was going to be it, but turns out I really wanted something just a little brighter. I really like the size of the M20, so I gave the M40 a try and I kinda love it.
So 2 months later, I purchased a Guild M-25. No regrets. I love it.
Thanks Tony. I had a 1975 D35N. I played it to death. The neck was warping and the fretboard was getting grooved out. Traded it in and got a D35 Blk with the arched back in 1990. Still have it today and it holding up great ( but have more guitars now so don't play it exclusively as I did my D35. It may be my imagination but I think the the D35 had a sweeter sound. I have found and comparisons of these 2 guitars but it would be interesting to me to see that. Thanks again, Mike
I haven't played a Guild M-20, but it sounds great. I've played an M-120 and I loved it.
A current D40 with Ren Ferguson 's influence is pretty special, would love one, although there are many great Guild's as you have shown.
I love the sound of a guild acoustic 12 string jumbo. To me, Martin owns the dreadnaught with the D-18/D-28, Gibson the Jumbo 6 string with the J-200, Taylor owns the mid range with the grand concert and grand auditorium sizes, and honestly, I don't know who has the smaller market, but when it comes to big 12 strings, Guild is my go to. That said, I ask "Why did you order the 512s the way you did"? To me, the maple's clarity and it's archback produces a sound that clearer and more articulated. Don't get me wrong, the Rosewood is great, but it seems that the harmonics produced by the rosewood seem to make it...muddy? when you have 12 strings sounding out, especially when compared to the maple.
Hi Tony, kind of off-topic, but thank you for introducing me to John Fahey's music! I have been listening to it for a few years now and nothing is as hypnotic - love it!....also , I have one of those new Californian M-20s, excellent fingerpicker!
When I started guitar lessons back in high school, maybe 1979? My teacher suggested a Guild classical.. Mark IV. Anyway - it was too expensive at the time, and the store had a used classical (Garcia - a no name Mexican brand, as far as I can tell) that sounded really good for half the price (still have it!). At the teacher’s garage studio, he had an electric Guild - George Barnes model. What a beastie! Different story, tho.
Anyway, the Guild name and mystique held in my brain. About 15 years ago, I decided to get a 12-string. I went to Fuller’s Guitar in Houston and played on Taylor, Martin (though I knew I wasn’t going to spend Martin money), maybe one or two others, but.. a Chinese-made Guild G212NAT sounded better than all of them. And was about $600. I bought it and although it doesn’t get used much these days - I still am very happy with my decision.
PS: didn’t know John Oates had Mississippi John Hurt’s Guild. I got goosebumps & a little choked up seeing that clip! Thanks for the heads-up on the documentary gofundme.
Thanks much. I bought a Guild F-#2512E Westerly Maple 12 string a few months back …. Sounds like a 12 string costing 3 or 4 times as much. ( I paid $529). Can’t tell you how much I love this thing!
Thought it should have been included in this list …
American made Guilds are benchmarks of the profession. The 12 strings are peerless. The Dreadnoughts are poised. The jumbos are divine. All of them are built like tanks. I happen to have a 1964 classical Guild guitar. I call her Morgan, or more specifically, Morgana DeFey. She's a demanding instrument; however, ounce-for-ounce, pound-for-pound, this is the loudest acoustic guitar I have. She nestles in my lap like a kitten and fills the room with sound. She's absolutely unforgiving about mistakes. A missed note or a flubbed fret, and she shouts it across the yard.
My main axe is a Guild. All mahogany dreadnaught. Love that thing!!
You aren't allowed to refer to your guitar as an axe when your photo is you in a bowtie......just kidding! You look baller and I wish I could pull that off.
@@UltraShuffle87 but I tied it myself!? No clip ons for this Rawkin Rolla!! Thanks man!
John Renbourn played a Guild D-55 for a few years and Buddy Guy also played Guild electric guitars for awhile.
I was (pleasantly) surprised to see the OM-120 on the list. I figured ‘yeah, yeah, it’ll be a bunch of vintage models and a few high end US current models.”
I rolled the dice and ordered one a few weeks back. I had no idea what to expect. I absolutely love it though.
Oh, and you can add David Gilmour to the list as well. I don’t know that he ever recorded with a Guild, but I know he had a Guild 12 string. He was holding it during an interview and played a few little things on it (a snippet of Wish You Were Here). That’s actually what planted the initial seed in my head about Guilds when I saw it years ago.
Guild G37 with mahogany stain. Mine has the gentleness of a lullaby or turns into a cannon on demand. Full spectrum of tones and sustains forever. Amazing guitar.
I own an “New Guild” F-40 Natural. Sort of the low end of the all solid wood Jumbo series. It has zero frills and flat “Natural” finish. I got it as a “flaw” example new for a very reasonable price. I have yet to find the flaw. It is a decent looking guitar but the flat finish is definitely not nearly as nice as the gloss finish models. These guitars have (like most modern acoustics) kiln dried wood. This means that it has not settled and is very susceptible to changes in moisture in the atmosphere. The huge top of the jumbo exacerbates this. I live in the PNW and I found out the hard way that you must keep these guitars in a case with active humidity control or you will get a lot of changes in the shape of the top. That can greatly affect playability. Now, after having the guitar in a humidity controlled case, the playability is excellent, as it was when I bought it. Over the life of the guitar, it will probably settle down but these guys need to be taken care of. That said, this is the best sounding flattop I have ever played. It sounds at least as good as the $4500 J-200 Gibson that a buddy bought a few years ago from Gibson, but with a cleaner sound. You just can’t over power this thing. And finger picking is very sweet.
I am very happy with it
This was fun to watch -- I've got a D-40 Bluegrass Jubilee (same as the D40 but with an adi top) from 2008. I love it. I also have a Guild Orpheum Orchestra 12 fret. Mouthful of a name, but an absolutely beautiful guitar; they only made the Orpheum series for a few years; I think it was in the period before Ren Ferguson joined Guild. I wish they still made them--I'd love to get the slope shoulder dreadnought Orpheum
I had the privilege of owning an early ‘70’s rosewood F50R Aragon when I was in college. It was very balanced, and wonderfully responsive for such a large-bodied guitar.
My favorite is my G37 Guild. It’s an ‘82 maple dreadnought with an arched back.
Another great video from the acoustic "Beard of Guitar Knowledge"! I have always liked Guild guitar tone, it sounds like Takemine and Yamaha had a baby, but they definitely have their own identity.
F-212XL. Same body as an F-512 but all mahogany. It has a smaller version called the F-212 which is slightly smaller. I am rebuilding a 1968 212xl right now. It came from Hawaii and it was literally falling apart. I have videoed the process so far because I thought that this would be a worthy nod to Guild and the way they built their guitars. To give you an idea, the back has been removed to reglue all the back braces and several top braces. The neck is being reset, but it came off in the 3 pieces Guild built it with. The fretboard is off the neck, and it would have eventually fallen off if I had not removed it. The amount of debris that was inside this guitar is more than anything I have ever seen. When this is finished I will be posting the video footage. It has been quite an education so far. Another great Guild is the rare DV-52. They call it the “Martin Killer”. I have loved Guilds since 1972 ( D-25 mahogany top back and sides with a solid braced back). Great video. Let me know if you would like to see the video.
My 2023 Guild D40T is worth any Martin D18 I've played.
I have a 1976 Guild D25CH with an arched back. It's a mahogany back and sides with a Sitka spruce top and it is awesome. I do however lust after a D-55;😃 they sound phenomenal as well.
My G37 with stained back and sides is just incredible sounding with unparalleled sustain.
Hello,I have a Guild F512 maple,it's a beautiful instrument, the craftsmanship it's superb,the sound it's clean,rich, I love it !
Me too. The recent guilds made in California are amazing. Mine is an early 2020
I currently own two Guilds. A new M 40 E. Incredible small body Guitar. A mid 90's DV-52 Sunburst that was owned, toured and Recorded by the late, great Kelly Joe Phelps. In the past I've owned a 1992 D-55. A 1975 D-50 and a 2004 D-50. Guild deserves its place amoung the Best Guitarsbin the world.
Fabulous explanations ! Thanks again.
No D55 or D25? Seriously?
I own three Guilds. My favorite is my M-20. Wonderful sound.
My M-20 is so balanced and sweet sounding, gets better the more i play her, it’s a keeper, had it three years and will never sell. I think some bone pins were an upgrade worth doing, they were an unusual size so look it up if you decide to fit some.
My 1st good guitar was one my dad gave me. It was a 70s Guild d40c bluegrass jubilee...amazing
My 2010 NH built F30-R standard is my go to guitar, along with my new purchase, of a few months, the OM-120 which plays and sounds fantastic. I find it odd that the “King of Dreadnaughts” the D-55 did not make the list!
In my case, I ended to own and play a 1974 F-47 a few years before. Until then I was never interested in Guild, but I was shocked to hear the strong unlikely mahogany sound. I’m enjoying it.
Update got my guild dv52 back found one on reverb.And I let the d20 go but I replaced it with a brand new Guild d40 traditional yep.
I have a 1972 Guild G37 all maple archback that I'd out up against any other acoustic for sound quality.
I have the Guild OM-140E. Love it! I also have a Gibson J-45 that I barely play since I got the Westerly.
Tough to beat a Guild jumbo 12 string, and for me the signature sound of a 12 string is the F512 Rosewood!
Love playing my brother's 80s Guild. Awesome guitars.
Hi Tony
I watched your episode 253 (along with watching almost all of your espisode when you had Noah). I am a Guild player but can't afford an M 20 BUT for about $1,000 less, the M120 is still all mahogany and similar specs but imported.
Ray from Florida.
I have a Vintage 1990's F65CE which is a slim line but it's a killer in disguise. Very rare to find you don't see them on the market very often. My original one was stolen, and it took me 10 years to find another. The day I got the replacement the dealer called me up and offered $500 more than what I paid, of course I said no. 😎
I've got a d25 that I bought 1976 one of the best guitars ever held up well through the years has been played and played and played and played and played I've taken that guitar everywhere to the ocean to the mountains mistreated it and it still kicking still sounds great great studio guitar great life guitar wrote many of songs on that guitar thank you Gil for making me one of the best things I've ever owned in my life peace love feathers and music forever