blindboygrunt Posted November 29, 2016 Author Share Posted November 29, 2016 I have owned several older Guilds. As for the mahoganay top D25, I had a '72 (solid mahogany top b&s) and a '73 (hog top ply back and sides). I think they only did the hog ply model for a couple years but they are awesome. They made some D25M with spruce top, as well as D25C (cherry), D25B (brown,I guess). The gumtree one looks to be late 70s from what I see, and spruce top and ply back and sides. These late 70s are not very impressive to my ears or hard to find. If you can find a 72 or 3 I would jump on it. I still see my 73er every couple years and offer to buy it back. The only reason I passed it was not wanting to do the repairs it needed. Sorry if this is a rambling mess. No worries , appreciate the ramblings I too thought it was a 1979 but the seller says it's not a 17 at the start of the serial number , though it sure looks like it to me . He says its two 1's A '11' at start of number puts it 1975 It has the hump on the back which I'm thinking makes it laminate back with solid sides and top. Anyone make anything of the action ? Can be seen ,barely in one of the pics , seller says it has been set up and inspected by a luthier who is highly regarded in these parts. I'm trying to shift a guitar and don't want to go visit a guy when I've no money in my pocket and waste his time Any ammo I get before I get there is valuable Thanks fellas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumboluther Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 I worked in a guitar store in the mid 70s and we sold a lot of Guild. The D-25 that was current then was hog top, arched back and gold logo like the one shown. One of the top values in the store at $219. I thought they were great and was only deterred by the dark cherry finish, which I didn't care for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mojorule Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Vintage 1975 Guild D25M https://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/vintage-1975-guild-d25m/1201801037?utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_content=app_ios&utm_medium=social&utm_source=sms An *almost* affordable birth-year guitar which might not be an absolute dog (though it be an absolute 'hog). Glad it's your side of the Sea (and that I really haven't got the readies). Not easy to imagine a nice birth-year guitar when you're born in 1975. You still have a real shot with Martins for your year, Gruntfuttle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliasphobias Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 The top looks refinished to my eye, something going on. Precious little saddle left but can't tell about string height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainpicker Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 I've sat across from a finger picked '70's era D-25, all mahogany Guild, just about two Friday nights out of every month for over a decade now and it has just about the sweetest tone one can imagine. It's not a loud guitar but it just sounds fantastic. Tonight I'm going to have to look and see if it has an arched back or flat but I think it's just a standard flat backed model and it doesn't have a dark cherry finish. I think Guilds are real sleeper instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 In 1975, the bar on the decal, at the base of the Guild logo, was not attached to the letters. It was separate & slightly under the letters (note that the line on inlaid logos from this period was attached, but the D-25 had a decal logo). Also, the tuners are not period correct as standard issue for the '75 version of this model. In the '70s, Guilds were very well made, and represented one of the best values in the market, which is why I chose to purchase four of them within that decade. I currently have five Westerly instruments, three from the '70s and two from the '90s. Three have arched maple backs, one is solid rosewood, and one is solid mahogany. Arched-back or solid-back, Guilds are well worth a serious look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldCowboy Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 In 1975, the bar on the decal, at the base of the Guild logo, was not attached to the letters. It was separate & slightly under the letters (note that the line on inlaid logos from this period was attached, but the D-25 had a decal logo). Also, the tuners are not period correct as standard issue for the '75 version of this model. In the '70s, Guilds were very well made, and represented one of the best values in the market, which is why I chose to purchase four of them within that decade. I currently have five Westerly instruments, three from the '70s and two from the '90s. Three have arched maple backs, one is solid rosewood, and one is solid mahogany. Arched-back or solid-back, Guilds are well worth a serious look. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny3j Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 I have an all hog flatback D25 from 1972, as mentioned, D25s change a bit over their history as follows: Late 60s - 1973 = All Hog Flatback 1973/1974 = Transition era with any combination of Hog Top/Stained Spruce Top with Flatback/Archback 1975 onwards = Stained Spruce Top with arched back I prefer the original all mahogany model, its also the quintessential D25 which is the one reissued. Its one of a handful of steals on the vintage market, and has a nice bark and bite IMO. Here's a 1972 Guild D25 all-hog Flatback in action: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbrain77 Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Hello to the group. I'm throwing in another example of a D-25M, one I purchased recently at auction. A spruce top example from 1975. Had to tinker with the action a bit to solve a slight fret buzz above the neck joint, but it plays nicely now stem to stern. As noted previously, not particularly loud but the tone is good. Personally I prefer the 12 string Guilds from this period, but the 6 string models are of good quality and definitely under-priced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbrain77 Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Hello to the group. I'm throwing in another example of a D-25M, one I purchased recently at auction. A spruce top example from 1975. Had to tinker with the action a bit to solve a slight fret buzz above the neck joint, but it plays nicely now stem to stern. As noted previously, not particularly loud but the tone is good. Personally I prefer the 12 string Guilds from this period, but the 6 string models are of good quality and definitely under-priced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harmony Sam Posted March 31, 2020 Share Posted March 31, 2020 I got a 1979 D-25M with the arched back and spruce top, a lot of play wear but a steal at $400. It sounds great, I honestly prefer playing it over my Taylor, although the Taylor has much better playability. The bridge is starting to lift but the neck is sound thank god and the chunky profile of the neck does take a little time to get used to. Overall great full sound the low end sound is amazing, super full and the low end is a nice strong but not overly bright combination great for open chords. Picking is great and the guitar sounds great with blue and country. Personally I’d recommend using bronze strings to really bring out the warmth in the tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harmony Sam Posted March 31, 2020 Share Posted March 31, 2020 On 11/26/2016 at 10:07 PM, blindboygrunt said: The neck is 'slim' rather than skinny ? The neck is definitely on the chunkier side, I have 1980 Gibson Maruder and the necks and quite comparable, big fat baseball bat necks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted March 31, 2020 Share Posted March 31, 2020 There’s a ton of variation in Guild necks during the ‘70s & ‘80s. They can range from chunky to very slim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted March 31, 2020 Share Posted March 31, 2020 (edited) Guild's can stop a charging Rhino in its tracks. This is maple but it was a tank. Edited March 31, 2020 by Sgt. Pepper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrColg8 Posted April 2, 2021 Share Posted April 2, 2021 I had a '77 D25M that I "lost" somewhere in my 60 yrs of life. It was always my favorite guitar and one I've aspired to recreate with the purchase of other good guitars, that I've sold. Most recently was a 70's j-45. Ironically, the closest I've come to feel is an Epiphone spruce top. Until yesterday... I had the opportunity to come across a distressed finish (but good wood) 78 d25M mahogany archback. Even in its unkempt condition (or should I say, so well played the finish has worn off the neck and the human touched areas. I found it at an an estate auction in update NY and drove 9 hours to pick it up yesterday. I'm going to clean it up as is before deciding whether to retouch the finish. But the sound... the sound us surely there. Now I have to find a replacement pickguard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted April 2, 2021 Share Posted April 2, 2021 A 70s D25C is on my list. Love the red. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted April 4, 2021 Share Posted April 4, 2021 On 4/2/2021 at 8:38 AM, DrColg8 said: I'm going to clean it up as is before deciding whether to retouch the finish. But the sound... the sound us surely there. Now I have to find a replacement pickguard Guilds were my guitar of choice in the ‘70s, and I currently own three of them from that era (‘73 F-30R, ‘74 F-40, & ‘76 G-37), along with three other Westerly-made Guilds. Often built like a tank in areas like the neck & end block - but not the tops, which remained thin and resonant. There’s a bunch of good ones out there, and they often can sound somewhat like a piano trying to navigate it’s way through the soundhole of a guitar. Cordoba now owns the Guild brand & their Guild website sells a pickguard that comes pretty close to the actual ‘70s version. There also are a number of folks out there who specialize in pickguards, such as Terrapin Guitars. Have lots of fun with your new-to-you Guild! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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