
Guild D-25
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Guild D-25
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User Reviews
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1981 Guild D25 Arch Back Spruce Top
An Absolute joy...Full rich tone with as much soul as the entire Motown catalogue!
The volume is huge!
A beautiful balanced voice with rich velvet overtones..Imagine Barry White, Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin singing harmony and that is the range you have to work with.
If you are after a light bell like tone...these are not for you.. Full, rich, woody and jazzy dark is the menu.
These are of a heavy build and respond best with 13-56 strings...in saying this they are sensitive to the touch.
I have owned and traded over 30 acoustics. I currently have four extremely high end instruments. This is the one that reaches right in and grabs my soul every time I play it.
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D-25 Guild 1974
Great guitar! I inherited this a few years ago from a friend who did great things with it.
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The Great D-25 Of The Early-mid 1970's
I bought my d-25 in 1975. it was my first professional guitar. from the first time I played I knew it was for me. forty years later it has aged so well that it sounds like a very expensive classical guitar. I would not sell it any amount of money.it is truly a treasure.
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Guild D25m
Bought my new D25M in 1977, and had pickup,s fitted - one on each side of the bridge. The quality of sound is soft when needed and bold when required, the action remains superb. Had some frets replaced to cure the buzz worn ones cause but that's it. Would never replace it
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My Sweet Guilda
i bought my d25m new in 1978 for about $500 after playing several other nice guitars at the store. i selected it for its tone, action, and price.
it sat in its case for about 15 years and damn me for a fool, i didn't take the tension off the neck. when i picked it up again the neck was still fine. this guitar stays in tune and still sounds great. even after being abused by baggage handlers at the airport, putting a small fracture where the top meets the body. since i bought this guitar, i have never even considered buying another one.
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Simply The Best
My d25 is from the mid 70's, it is the most incredible guitar I have ever had the pleasure of playing. It stays in tune thru many weather changes. I use only lights and ultralight strings as I have come to realize the heavy strings seem dull after a while plus it is not the best for the truss rod. This guitar is a true friend. I have had the best sessions at 3AM when the warm and clean crisp sustain echos in my living space. My experience is mainly for personal entertainment. I had always wanted a Martin and truly intended to buy one. But a good friend, and an early fan of Larry Carlton, was with me and convinced me to buy the Guild. It was the best $320 I have ever spent. I am so happy every time I play this beautiful instrument. It responds today as it did 40 plus years ago. Twice in my lifetime I came close to selling it as I needed funds. But as I took it out of its case I fell in love all over again. This is the guitar that I cherish for all time.
I agree, I would not give mine up for any amount. Luckily I have no cracks or unreasonable wear for a guitar this old. The action is quite low compared to any other premium guitars I have played. I only finger pick, and at times it almost sounds like a 12 string. i feel very lucky as time goes on and it just gets better and better.
I play a 1971 Guild D25 which I bought new from Boston Music. Paid $200 plus 50 for a hardshell case. I've had to reglue the bridge, did it myself - no big task - have done little else. It's got a few cracks, down to the bare mahogany from the bridge repair, and a lot of finger grease from sweat along the neck. The frets are pretty worn which are so low that other guitars feel like the swiss alps along the neck when I play them. This guitar is incredibly worn - and sounds fantastic. As the company says, made to play, which I have done for over 40 years. It's not mint - they go for around $800 for a '71 - but I wouldn't sell mine for three times that amount. Another point, I've never played another guild with action as low as this one.
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Guild Guitar D25
I have a Guild D25 that I traded for a parrot back in 1980. I am primarily a bass player, and the thing has sat around in the case for years. It sounds great, but is an animal to play, I think it needs some work to bring it back into shape. I have been playing it a lot more as of late and wanted to purchase something like a Martin. I have not been able to pull the trigger on a new guitar and I think that I have not found one that has the same resonance. After reading all of the comments here, I think it would behoove me to have some repair work done instead. I am sitting on something quite good here based on your input. Thank you much,
Rob
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76 D25m
I go to music stores and play all the big name guitars and have to say they generally sound crappy to me and seem poorly made. This I suspect is because I have this Guild, this heavy duty dreadnought which sets an unrealistic bar. I feel a little self conscious responding to this thread as I only play for entertainment, don't flail away or us a pick, mostly play only what I figure out. But after doing this for generations I have an appreciation for good tone, playability and good construction. One could try to find a duplicate for this D25 but I have played too many guitars costing thousands which seem a joke to me. Knowing now that a guitar is not a good investment regardless of the name, I suggest you buy what you love; looks, sound and , feel being factors, like a lover, leaving the name to chance. Everyone I've known who had a D25 and moved on to something else, have regrets.
D25m Guild
I bought my Guild D25M in 1978 wth a tax return. Best thing I ever bought w/tax money, by far. I still own the Guitar and play it daily. I gig w/it and it always gets rave reviews. The sound has only gotten better w/age. Everyone who hears it asks "where did you find that guitar". I have made a few minor adjustments. I replaced the orginal tuning gears w/German made 12to1's. added a bone nut and saddle and a pickup for amplification. It still sounds like an acoustic guitar. I have had to have the truss rod adusted only twice since I've owned it once when I replaced the nut and saddle the other just before replacing them. The highs are crisp. The mids sustaining and the bottom end has to be heard to be beleived. Playing in Drop D will sind chills up your spine. I would not trade this guitar for love or money. I don't care how broke i get this guitar will always be mine. What a fantastic instrument. I feel priveliged to own it and play it. The man that said things only get better w/age must have owned a Guild D25M.
I have had my D25M since the late 70's and paid about 300 for it then used. A guitar is a very personal thing and what sounds and plays good to one person can be totally different to another . I dont know if I have the guitar players disease of never being satisfied and always looking or that "perfect axe"....but I do not like my D25m. It only sounds good when new medium bright strings are on for a couple weeks, then the tone goes flat and dull and its hard to tune. Nothing worse than an out of tune guitar. And I've always found it hard to play. gotta dig deep. Not for me. Id like to sell it and will be putting it on Ebay soon. Its 35 years old.
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I Purchased The Guild D-25 In Manhattan When I Was
I purchased the Guild D-25 in Manhattan when I was 29 years old. That was 1979 and the guitar is in the same condition now with only a few minor nicks and scratches. It sounds great, stays in tune better than any guitar I've ever owned.
Better for soft finger picking than strumming. Very good for jazz chords and single note runs. I have recorded the instrument in well known LA and NYC studios. Sounds great without pick - just fingers.
Q&A
The original tuners on my 1973 D25M are now almost too stiff to be usable after 40 years (I can't believe it) of regular playing. Any recommendations for replacements that would not require mods (drilling) to the instrument?