Guild D-25

OK, so all you D 25 lovers take note: I bought mine in 1971 and it's a total viewing wreck. All mahogany and I love it. Sounds as good as the day it came home. Has a nice face crack along the front lower front face which hasn't changed the sound a bit. Might have made it better. Everywhere I play I usually get other musicians asking if they can try it out. I've let a few but, honestly, it takes a while to learn how to play a D 25 and get the most from it. I've never heard anyone play it as good as me and that ain'y bragging. 38 years is a long time to get used to your baby.

Sounds beautiful. Anyone ever try strumming with fingers and pick? If you can do it this guitar will sound pretty nice.

My first guitar was a $15 Sears, 2nd a Harmony, 3rd the D25. I had nothing to compare to it. But I knew as soon as I held it's body, weighty, it was the one for me.

It's the only guitar I use, ever. Only problem is the bridge; came unglued about twenty years ago and starting up again. This time I'm going to try re-glueing myself - if I can get the right glue. The finish? What finish? It was beautiful hanging in the store and now has an incredible amount of finger grunge along the neck and between the frets. A purist would probably be afraid to pick it up - but I'm not a purist. Wonder why it didn't come with strap buttons.

Had the bridge repaired once, about to repair it again. Never dealt with Guild.

Been playing this baby since 1971. If it were lost or stolen I'd probably try replacing it with another brand, or Guild. I think I'd expect too much from another D 25. I tried a $3000 Model, Eric Clapton Model, and that sound pretty good - but wifey would shoot me if I went for it, especially these days.

Product: Guild D-25 M. made in 1975 (Westerly, RI).
Tuners: Unsure of what brand - were replaced by Guitar Center
Finish: Transparent
Body Style: Dreadnaught
Woods: Mahogany with Ebomy fretboard
Neck: Fat

The sound of this guitar is nothing short of increidlbe. Thanks to its curved back, it has a very deep, warm bass. This works perfectly with the style in which I play, which is mostly country blues where a deep bass is key to defining the rythm. The mid-range notes are soulful and deep, and the high-end is clear and delivers a punchy, yet is deep and soulful.

This is also an excellent guitar for playing slide. Its relatively high action means that I can slide freely with my weighted acoustic slide and not worry about hitting any frets. The sound it delivers when playing with a slide is also unreal. It's got quite a lot of deep, rich "soul" but also a little bit of punch and volume - particularly when playing higher notes.

I also play a little bit of folk - namely James Taylor and America - as well as standard classic rock tunes on occasion. The guitar adjusts perfectly, as long as the song doesn't require too many bar chords mid-neck.

My father actually purchased the guitar and, sad to say, neglected it. It sat in an un climate-controlled New Jersey attic (hot, moist summers and dry, cold winters) for the better part of, oh - I'd say about ten years, so that has taken a toll on the guitar. What was probably a straight neck from the factory is now a little bowed - but not prounouncedly so, a testament to this guitar's strength and quality of construction.

Becuase of the neglect, there were some cracks that formed at the base of the neck, ritght next to the soundhole that needed to be repaired and reinforced, and the saddle was starting to become unguled. Anther grievance - perhaps as well a casualty of being left in the attic - was loose tuners that buzzed. I had to get these replaced as well.

However, a lesser guitar facing such temperature differences would've fared much worse. The nut is still in great shape, and the (original) fretware is still holding its own. The quality of the wood, however, is nothing short of awesome. The resonance is beautiful, and the x-bracing is like new. I am of this opinion becuase this guitar is hefty and heavily "built" and becuase it was hand made in Guild's famous Westerly, RI plant. It just has a real heavy, "solid" feel - I can feel the quality of this instrument every time I pick her up.

This guitar is awesome live. Since it is the only guitar I have that I would be caught dead with on stage, and I play open mics about twice a week, this guitar is my workhorse. She performs flawlessly each and every time, always delivering that signature, soulful D-25 sound and ganering comments on her looks and sound.

The finish on the body is awesome - shines like new. It's a litle worn on the back of the neck but I like that because it adds to the feel. Even so, the finish wears very slowly (I've been playing this guitar for about ten years and the wear of the finish on the back of the neck has been progressive but very, very slow).

I have gotten it repaired, but that was at Guitar Center so I guess this doesn't really count.

I have been playing for about 18 years, and my only other guitar is a Squirer Affiny strat (stop laughing).

If this were stolen or lost, I would lock myself in my room for a few days and cry. After doing that I would scour the guitar shops until I found another 1970's D-25.

I love the sound, the feel, the versatility, and the quality. If I had to be critical, I'd have to say i'd like the action to be slightly lower to make it more playable for movable rythm/bar chords.

I've comapared it to basically every high end Taylor found in guitar center, a Gibson or two, and a Martin. The only other guitar I would have in place of this is the Eric Clapton Martin. Other than that, no Martin, Gibson, or Taylro (especially Taylor) has even come close to the combination of build quality, sound, and feel of my trusty D-25.

The only thing I wish it had were an integrated pickup. I have a soundhole job - good quality, but since it picks up the sound at the strings, it does not do the guitar its complete justice when plugging in and playing live.

I've heard of some playing contemporary/soft rock on these. It sounds good no matter for what purpose it's being used. However, trying playing some country blues. You may be pleasantly surprised.

I've had three D25Ms. This type of acoustic is termed a dreadnought, and is an appropriate name since this is also the definition for a heavily armed battleship. Jams w/your acoustic buds and you'll see why.
The 1st I bought in '80 came w/a cheezy chipboard case, had to replace the cheap plastic bridge insert which folded. The nut cracked, popped off a corner during a set-*PING!* There it went. This baby was lost years ago and had been sorely missed till I bought 2 of her sisters; One a '79, the other an '82 (All Westerly, RI). The latter both came with very solidly constructed cases, as they should be. One has a spruce top, the other mahogany, though top materials used seem to be a point of contention among aficinados.
The guitars are Mahogany w/nitrocellulose finish and 20 actual frets. Unless you struggle w/longscale these are eminently playable.
Arched back which many believe is carved- is laminated (press-formed); this deepens the tone and boosts projection.

It's all about tone & presence.
Beautiful.

Action appropriate, whole neck playable easily.
Aging shows discrepencies in wood tone, but with the sound, who cares?

Once you replace appointments I mentioned, very dependable.

Cheap retailers aren't worth the aggravation and high end joints exist to gouge you. Be resourceful and/or have a luthier.

Playing many years, own many guitars.
Eventually will get one of these in a 12.
Having an ear to discern a quality instrument when you can't afford what the poseurs push is a gift.

D25C manufactured in Westerly R.I. in 1975. I bought this one used. What a beauty, cherry finish and hardly used, this guitar is like new. A sweet dreadnought with 21 frets and a curved back. Seams are solid and neck is straight. I play folk and am able to wrap my hand around the neck with ease. My brother bought one brand new back in the 70's and we passed it back and forth between each other for 20 some years, he finally hocked it several years ago and I was heartbroken. This guitar is solid, manufactured very well, a quality piece, and this particular one is in better shape than the one we owned before. The standard factory features are good to go.

I play everything I can manage, Dead, CSNY, James Taylor, etc. That era is fun for me, from old Beatles to Jefferson Airplane; but folk and bluegrass are my favorite genre. This guitar is sweet It has that classic Guild sound. It was a great find and has hardly been used. The low end is deep and the high end is bright. I can get it chiming while playing anywhere along the neck. It sounds good muddy or clean. You have got to love it. It makes a sad player like me sound good.

My hands are wide and my fingers are short. This guitar allows me to play folk style gripping the F rather than bridging it. the neck is narrow enough to accommodate great action. Both this Guild and as our older one are quick, and with a nice light set of bronze strings give sweet responsive play. I do not recognise any flaws in this Guitar, most likely in my playing, but this guitar gets the double thumbs up.

Live playing, yes. Play it hard. The hardware is quality; we had our last one for 20 years without any need for work. The finish withstood a lot, and with few dings still looked sweet. My present one is factory clean, like new (it sat in a closet for 30 years). All of the componants are solid. I bought it sight unseen (except pics)because I new it was quality. You might think me crazy buying on e bay without hearing it, but I knew I couldn't go wrong. I don't play out, but my brother played gigs all over New England and our older D25C guitar was always with him for acustic sets.

We had one just like this one for 20 years with no problems and no need for repair. This warrenty is long gone, but there are plenty of reputable guitar repairs out there. Guild has a website if you need any help...and as far as I know great support if need be.

I'm 48 and have been playing since in my teens. I own this Guild D25C, a Samick SF28, A Takimine GS3305, all 6 string dreadnoghts. I also have electrics, a Crate Bass, a Gibson Starcaster, and a Tanara 6 string. As I stated above I lost a guitar like this one and have been watching for the opportunity to find another...I got lucky! I love the sound, and my favorite thing about it is its versatility. I like all of my guitars; they all have cetain qualities and definitive sounds, but I would pick my Guild over them all if I had to choose only one.

i'm told it's a 1959 so i ws vry interested when i purchased it. seems the old timer i got it from haden't played it for 14 yrs so the finish is as good as any guitar i've seen as a "used" guitar.
it's a red mahogany back, sides and neck the finger board i suppose is rosewood,

i like to play in the style of Loggins & Messina and that ballad type of guitrist/singers of the 70'S the sound is truly rich, my other Dreadnaught is a Alvarez Yairi DY-85 built in 1976 the sound is tighter more suited for studio work but i play out under my jacuzzzi with a vodka drink with me and my buds. much better for that usage.

since i just got it i guess its ok, that was why i got it, it was playable.

1959 still solid construction no seams are splitting, the pick guard is still intact

no comment here

ive been playing since i was nine, never gave up 41 years.
i also own Alvarez DY-85, DY-76 (12 string)Yamaha classical style and a Strat Big Apple that i play thru a Fener Princton chorus

i didn't need this Guild D-25 but the finish first cought my eye and the "built in 1959" sold me.
i didn't shop it out on e-bay i just restringed it and played away, after about a half hour i told the guy "SOLD"

I bought it new in 1974 in California. I paid $325 for it and have played it ever since. I put schaller turners on it that first year and have been satisfied in every way with it since.

Big and booming and yet the highs come through with ease. I am a bluegrass picker and it will stand up in any group.

I had it adjusted one time in Nashville in 1976 and it has been great ever since. It is now time for a minor fret job but it still looks great. You want believe how it has held up. I played all over the U.S. with it and it has never given me any problem.

unreal

Never needed it.19

10

Just got it, a new D-25 made in Corona under the Fender flag. Its one a those blems off of ebay. Mines the white model, looks more like halfway between seafoam green and a white. Has the Grover style tuners , no inlays. Came with a sweet Guild case, very well done. All mahogany, with a braced flatt back not the arched back. Finish is a semi gloss, and fairly well done.

The tone is not bad! I have a j200 epi cheapo , and for a mear 2 bills more this realy has some tone, however the wood is young and my far less expensive 92 D-4 from Westerly sounds a lot better to me. The new 25 is sort of dull in coparison but dont get me wrong , it still has wonderfull tone for a guitar this young and inexpensive.

I dont know if the middle man on this set it up but WOW! I expected crap and got silk, this plays like a dream. I may have got lucky on this one but the action is low ,low and ya have to hammer the thing to get any buzz. My D-4 came with realy high action and I fully intended to have this one set up at the shop when I got it. I just tuned it and played. The fit is great , no wories, the finish is fair, nothin speacial, not a very showy guitar.

I dont gig. This is way lighter my other Guild but seems to be well built. I only play for fun so I cant say much here.

No warranty being a second.

Ive played ( hacked) since 1965 . I would definately buy a Fender built Guild again, not sure I would buy one full price! The palyability of this Corona D-25 is spectacular for a dreadnaught. The thin neck and low action are great for my midsized hands. The only thing I kinda hate, is its prety dang ugly, but then just dont look at it when ya play and no problem. This is compared to a J200 Epi , 1965 Jaguar,92 D-4 Guild, an old D-40 of a freind.

Purchased brand new in Pacific Beach, CA in about 1977. Owned it ever since. Mahogany sides and back (arched), solid spruce top with a red cherry finish. Rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Added a Tusq saddle, black Carvin tuners (looks great and stays in tune better than originals) and a Martin Thinline pickup with a Powerjack preamp. New DR phosphor bronze strings sound great. My D-25CH was made in Westerly, RI.

The tone is excellent, woody, full and natural. My piezio p/u isn't the best, would like to replace with soundboard type. The piezio is a little shrill. Mostly I strum it with a pick but works well fingerstyle as well. It's an excellent rhythm guitar.

Action was originally high and I had it lowered...it's great now. I really prefer the Tusq saddle to the original and I'll probably replace the original bone nut with a Tusq nut. I think it'll add more clarity to the sound. My third string seems to break a lot...not sure if a new nut would help or not. Didn't much care for the original tuners. Finish is still glossy despite a few scratches and dents and small crack on lower bout.

Well, I've owned this guitar for 27 years now (hard to believe) and I still play it alot, at home and at gigs. It is a "tank", heavy but very solid. It's about time to replace frets as they're getting worn down.

I've played guitar for 36 years, also own a 1994 Martin 000-16C; a 1978 Ovation; a 2003 Carvin CL450 nylon string. My '77 Guild D-25 has been a great guitar for me over the years and it was an excellent value for what I paid. I'll probably never part with it.

1980 model made in Westerly, Rhode Island / solid spruce top / solid mahogany sides / laminated mahogany arched back / mahogany neck / rosewood finger-board / open tuning keys / dark sunburst pattern

I picked this up second-hand in 1981 at Elderly Instruments in Lansing, Michigan. I spent most of the afternoon in their downstairs second-hand section, trying out many guitars, but kept coming back to the D-25. I fell in love with the rich, mellow sound.

Nothing fancy about her, but I liked very dark staining of the sunburst, as it gave her a bare-bones uniqueness. Came with a very good hard case.

The sound was just what I was looking for - deep and rich. I was playing mostly with a pick at the time, strumming with flat-picking as well. I remember jamming with some bluegrass musicians, and the Guild stood up well with mandolins and banjos.

The action was a little high when I got her. I cut a bone nut a few years later and lowered it some. The finish is high-gloss - real purty. No flaws that I could detect.

This is one SOLID guitar. Quite heavy, so you can really feel the deep tones coming out of her. There is a crack that has developed in the head-stock - not sure how it got there, but I'm getting it fixed this fall.

Never used

Been playing off & on for 30 years - for the past 23 my D-25 has been my only guitar - I never felt the need for another until recently when I got myself a Larrivee LV-03, as it sounds better with finger-style, which is what I play more of now.
I don't think I'd buy it again if lost or stolen, for the above mentioned reason. BUT I don't regret the years of pleasure I've gotten form my Guild.

1971 RI made D-25. All solid mahogany. I've added an LR Baggs active I-beam pickup (no controls). Neck is rosewood. Natural finish dreadnaught with standard Grover tuners. It came with a non-original case. This is a flat-backed D-25. They went arched-back in '74 I believe.

Standard, plain.

Unbelievable sound. I've owned a Martins, Fenders, and Guilds. I played countless instruments when searching for this one. It blows away every guitar I've ever played. I had my Martin HD-28 stolen, and with the insurance money (instead of replacing it) I played this '71 and fell in love for less than half the price. I way overpaid for it (I probably could have paid $200 less, easy), but I don't even care.

This guitar has a warm, unique sound that can't be duplicated by newer instruments. It is a war veteran with many stories that all seem to come out when I play it. Full and mellow. It makes you want to cry playing it.

Action is super-low simply from years of wear. So easy to play.

The finish is thin... it gets sticky when I play it a lot, probably just from wearing through the top layers. The pickguard is bubbling up. The tuners are oxidized and dull. But it holds the guitar in tune forever and I wouldn't hesitate to use it without any backup.

N/A. Never dealt with Guild or Fender.

I've been playing for 12 years, and also own a Guild JF-4. If this D-25 got stolen or lost, I'd cry for days. I'd search the ends of the earth for the exact same guitar. The sound and playability are unrivaled in my experience. It sounds better than the Martin HD-28 I had stolen (and didn't replace).

I compared this guitar to many others, new and used before this one. I was looking for a warm, vintage sound. I tried Gibson D's, Taylors, Martins, Takamine, etc. Nothing came close.

'03 D-25
All solid tiger-striped mahogany with a dove tail neck joint, binding, and semi-gloss amber finish.
Solid two-piece back (vs laminated arched back used previously).
Good tuners. Medium frets. Unbound rosewood fingerboard w pearl dots.
Inlayed soundhole rings. Headstock Guild decal w no inlay.
Came with Guild hardshell case.

Nice sound. Fairly rich. Well balanced.
Average projection.
Fingerpicking doesn't drive the top much, but flatpicking gets it going.

Perfect.
No glue slop (this is a Guild?)

Seems a little less "overbuilt" than past Guilds (more responsive too).
Well made.

No worries.

FMIC lifetime.

No experience

Until this guitar, I hadn't found any acoustic flat-top guitars that I really liked.
Had Larrivees, and a Martin D-15. I like this much better. More sustain, richer tone.
Non-fancy basic dreadnought with good balance. Bass rich but not overpowering.
Neck and feel is nice.
I play mostly Jazz and use an archtop on jobs, but wanted an acoustic for general duties and around the house.

Addendum to review below:

I found the just-right strings, the John Pearce .12 80/20s. They get dull pretty quickly, but that's also a + in my book. Most 80/20s are kind of shrilly at first, but the John Pearse's are nice and mellow from the get-go. Now my D-25 sounds full-bodied and smoky.

1987 D-25 made in Rhode Island.

It's almost the sound I've been looking for, mellow, sweet, full and round. Dare I say elegant, too?

I didn't give it a 10 as I've yet to find the "just right" strings (so, really, it's my fault, not the guitar's). I had some John Pearse .13s that made the guitar sound full and confident and refined, but they were hard to play and -- though great for jamming -- they were too boomy for recording. Since then I've tried Elixir Nanowebs (and I hated them, too shrill and brassy), and now I'm on a set of Martin SP 80/20 .12's. In a couple weeks I'll try John Pearse 80/20 .12s and after that some D'Addario acoustic flatwounds.

Very nice finish. Others may take away points for its plainness, but it's precisely why I love it.

This 16-year-old guitar is still rock solid; stays in tune forever, too.

N/A

Guild (now Fender) hasn't made the D-25 in a few years. I just found out they've started up again, and I got to test several brand-new d-25s. They've destroyed them. The new ones (at $750 street price) don't have the unbraced, arched back. The sound is just pedestrian. That said, I heard the new Guilds at a fancy-shmancy guitar store that specializes in $1,000+ guitars. The new Guilds didn't sound worse to me than the gaggles of Taylors, Martins, Larivees, Santa Cruces, Gibsons, etc. Now, I know it's a matter of taste. I look for mellow, dark sounding guitars and stay away from bright ones.

If you're reading this list because you're considering purchasing a D-25, I'd say go play as many guitars as you can find and start categorizing their sounds. I'd avoid getting a used guitar from Ebay as you really don't know what they'll sound like. Each has its unique sound. Also, listen to your favorite CDs and find a sound you're trying to achieve. I wasnted an early Stones kind of sound (like on the song Backstreet Girl). Keith didn't use Guilds, as far as I know, but my guitar comes real close to that sound. Good luck!

Bought mine new in 1988, still looks and smells new. Made in Rhode Island. Mine has the protective binding around the edges. It's got the gloss finish that still looks gorgeous. Mahogany sides and arched back. I think it has Grover tuners. Had to have the strings lowered a bit after I got it, and since then it's perfect. The neck is just right for my smaller hands and the frets are just right. This is a straight looking but wonderfully sounding, solidly built acoustic guitar. I've tried out other top makes of acoustic guitars, Martin, Gibson and Taylor and Guild matches up with all of them. Nothing fancy, just a great sounding, well built guitar.

I primarly play blues, some old time rock, and a little county, and this guitar handles all these styles well. I have a Dean Markely slip in pickup and my guitar playing buddy can get a slight jazz sound from my Guild when he plays it set up this way. I guess you could say the sound is full. Depending on whether you play with fingers or pick this guitar can really boom or sound soft and sweet. This guitar can do it all. I have some friends that play much better than me and when they get going on this guitar, I realize that this guitar packs a quite a wallop when someone with talent plays it.

Well, when I first got it, the strings were a little high for me. I've heard that most of the Guilds are that way new. I found out about a great guitar tech that worked out of the store where I bought it, and had him adjust the action. Since then, it's perfect to play. Inside the look is clean and neat, the bracing is perfect and after having this guitar since 1988 the finish is still beautiful. I have a good hard shell case for mine that keeps the guitar protected well. The tuning pegs are still working to perfection. All other areas of the guitar are perfect also. No complaints at all about the way mine was built.

I have had mine for 15 years now, and it still looks new. This thing is built solid, with solid components, everything has functioned perfect since the day I got it. The finish on mine still gleams, of course I always clean my guitars with a soft polish cloth after playing them. If you don't bang around the house with your guitar and are carefull about who plays them they will look good for years. I just use a little common sense about the way I treat my guitars and they look new all the time.

I've never had to deal with Guild, which is owned by Fender now.

I've been playing guitar most of the last 37 years. I have two other guitars, a Strat and Tele. I love them all, but the Guild is one guitar I hope to keep for good. It's so easy to just grab out of the case, sit down and just start playing. The thing never goes out of tune. If I had to ever buy another acoustic guitar, It would be a Guild. I had a trade in for mine, so I paid $556.

My brother bought my Mahogany-topped D-25 new in August 1974, and I bought it from him a couple months later. Been playing it now for nearly 30 years, and still love every minute. In 1976 I bought a Lawrence pick-up (which still works fine today) that clips into the sound hole. Reading some of the other reviews, I would guess that mine is one of the 'light-construction' models. The finish has held up well, except for a scratch in one side where I dropped it once. Over the years, it's tone has maintained a consistant high quality. Having played many other guitars over the years, I think the efeature iI appreciate most is the feel of the thin neck - very easy to play. Never have replaced a tuner. The case has a slightly different history - didn't last as well. I like the thin frets on the thin neck. Not too many special features by today's standards, but Oh What A Great Guitar This Has Been!

For years I mostly played folk, ragtime, blues, and gospel. The sound is constistantly good up and down the entire neck on fills, leads. Between the 7th and 12th frets, the sound is still clear, even when playing ragtime or jazz chords at speed (provided my fingers functioned as requested). The guitar has a particularly beautiful resonance on open tunings, especially on the low end. On occasion, I've tuned the entire guitar down two full steps with no deterioration of the sound. On the other end, the harmonics ring true anc clear and sustain very well. Above the 14th fret, the notes become increasingly tricky to hit cleanly without a cutaway neck - I'm afraid that the good-old art of wrenching the wrist may become a vestage of the past - but the tone quality is good even there, particularly on the lower strings.

I've adjusted the action several times (not exactly once a season, but perhaps half a dozen times in nearly 30 years). I don't recall how it was originally set (1974 was a long, long time ago), but I've found that it basically stays put. I keep it set as low as I can, and use either light guage (.010 - .046) stings, no particular favorite manufacturer. About 3 years ago, the slot for the G-string on the nut seemed to have filed itself a little too low due to wear (I guess), so I had the nut replaced by a technician I trust. The neck needed a little tweaking after that, but the results have been quite satisfactory. I think I've replaced the plastic bridge-piece a time or two (always filing it to get the best action setting possible), but I don't recall any details at this point. These are the only adjustments I've ever done, and I think that says quite a bit for Guild's original efforts. Overall, when I sight down the neck, it has about the lowest and straightest action setting of almost any accoustic I've ever seen - and it plays like a charm.

Most of my public playing has been in church bands (not exactly quiet and sedate where I've attended), for both rhythm and accoustic lead. I've soloed with it often, and used it to accompany numerous vocalists. The guitar has held up wonderfully. I've recently goten started recording (I have 3 other guitars, an Ibanez RG320 24-fret electric, a Takamine EG335SC Cutaway 12-sting accoustic-electric, and an Ibanez GA5TCE Thinbody Cutaway Classical/electric (strange but true)). I have no problem using the good-old Guild D-25 as the underlying instrument for most of what I've been doing. I've had the same leather strap on it for 28 of the 29 years I've had the guitar, so I guess the fasterners for that must be OK. The only place where the finish has worn is on the back of the neck - the dark-red varnish is simply worn through from the 2nd to about the 9th fret. Even so, the neck still feels 'slipery' and easy to move around on rapidly.

N/A

I've been playing guitar since 1969 (age 15), but I had about eight years of classical piano training prior to that. If I had to replace the Guild, I would look for a cutaway style body, to facilitate playing the high notes, a deep cross section (something like the dreadnought style to bring out the bass sounds), built-in electronics, a thin neck, small frets, and an overall lightweight construction. For 1970's technology, Guild had a fine mid-range product in the D-25. I've owned a couple of Yamaha FG-series guitars over the years, but ultimately got rid of both of them in favor of the Guild. Now, three of my kids are becoming quite proficient on the guitar, and quite often the Guild is the instrument of their choice.

1984 Guild D25
Made In Rhode Island
Solid Spruce top
solid mahogany back (carved), sides and neck
no electronics (I added a Duncan Acoustic Tube pickup)
Excellent precision Guild tuners (like Schaller)
gorgeous nitrocellulose sunburst lacquer finish
dreadnought
with original tank-like Guild hard case (looks like its been thru WWIII)
no fancy froo-froo but it does what it needs to do with grace and class.

Incredibly versatile. Most dreadnoughts aren't squat for fingerpicking, this one has ultra clear definition with each individual note. Flatpicked its a CANNON too! I play folk and rock and roll and this guitar works for all styles. It conforms to the individual player, as a great guitar will. Not like a Taylor where all of 'em sound the same (not knocking them, they are fine instruments!)

I've heard the factory set-ups were lousy, but this one being used had a great setup. I tweak the truss rod every season but other than that action is butter-like low. I string it up with Elixir lights and my God does it sing.
The finish is checking but all factory fit and finish was perfect. No sloppy anything.
Original frets that take major abuse but show little wear.
I am a relatively hard strummer and this guit-box doesn't flinch. Solid, solid, solid!

This guitar is built like a Honda. Tight and reliable. Always starts up and moves!

Being a dealer, I have horrible stories of their customer service. Buy a used one and don't worry about warranties. Just make sure the thing gets properly humidified. Oh yeah; since Fender bought them they simply aren't like the old RI Guilds.

I've bplaying 22 years. I own a '72 Gretsch Nashville, '75 Strat, '42 National archtop, '47 National New Yorker Lap steel, '65 Gibson SG Jr, '64 Gretsch 6071 Monkees bass, '76 Rickenbacker 450-12 and a coupla Teles. I play equal acoustic and electric; if it gives you any idea how much I love my Guild, I have to have a bunch of different electrics but this Guild is the tops and I need no other acoustics! This is a guitar for life. I work in a music store that sells Taylor and Martin and I play different guitars all the time. Nothing compares to this Guild.

1996 Guild D-25 purchased new in 2002 with Guild hardcase. Made at the old Rhode Island factory. Standard USA-made dreadnought. Solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides with a natural high gloss finish. Rosewood neck with dot inlays. Stock tuners. No electronics to speak of, although a factory-fitted pickup is an option. Nothing revelatory, but what's here feels solid.

I play alternative and alt-country singer-songwriter style stuff and this fits the bill perfectly. Has that distinctive Guild sound which is different to other comparable dreads (Martins, for example) - slightly darker and capable of booming bass. However, it has a remarkably clean sound and is LOUD even when fingerpicked or played with a light (0.60) pick.

Like I said before, the high gloss finish is excellent and the action is great - quite possibly the best action on any acoustic I've played and certainly the best for it's price range, especially at used prices.

It's let down slightly by a few little things. Odd specs of glue around the sound-hole (easily removed with a damp cloth) and a very minor lacquer crack on the back of the body below the neck joint (can't really see it under normal conditions, but you can feel it). Nothing major, though and it did help me get the price down.

This has fast become my acoustic guitar of choice. I take it everywhere with me and it's already taken a few knocks, but the finish hasn't dented or scratched at all - okay, maybe I'm raving about it a bit, but it feels very substantial and looks great as well. I really like the stock tuners - they feel rock solid and the thing never needs tuning. Strap button feels fine.

Very solidly constructed and ultra-dependable - haven't managed to break so much as a string on it yet and would gladly gig without a backup.

Never dealth with them and don't foresee having to.

If you're looking for a good quality, solidly-built acoustic, this is it. I had made up my mind that I was going to buy a USA-made dread and I played various other Guilds as well as Taylors and Martins before going for the D-25 - for the money, it had the best sound and seemed to be the most rugged. 6 months down the line, and this thing goes everywhere with me!

If it was lost or stolen, I'd replace it with another D-25 in an instant. As I've said throughout, it offers fantastic sound for the price, looks great and, even though it's not as heavy as you'd imagine - takes knocks remarkably well. I can't recommend this guitar highly enough!

Paid 575.00 Cdn for a 79 D25M

I have been saved

She, and I do mean she, is the most wonderful thing to finger,

a real 10

I mean sure she's used and abused but she's coming around flashing herself in that way again and again - I can't resist her - I don't even try

She is everthing I need - a real fine piece of Wood.

Shes got a real big bottom - I like that - not a whinny kind of voice just a real nice bottom - I'm into that

She's my Fat bottom girl!!!!!!! AND SHE MAKES MY BLUES'N WORLD GO ROUND

SHE'S DIRTY - AND I'M NOT GONNA TAINT HER BY CLEANING HER UP - NO WAY - SURE SHE COULD IMPRESS SOME WITH A SHINE - BUT I'M NOT INTO THAT - I'M INTO HER

ONLY BEEN USING HER FOR A WEEK - BUT I DON'T FORESEE ME BEING DONE FOR A LONG LONG TIME

WHY BOTHER - WHO YA GONNA CALL

I'VE BEEN FINGERING STRINGS FOR WELL OVER 25 YEARS AND THIS IS THE BEST DEAL I'VE EVER FOUND - I PLAY A FRINDS D55 WHEN HE'S NOT LOOKING AND SURPRISINGLY I FIND THE D25 A MUCH EASIER GUITAR TO PLAY EVEN THOUGH, IF YOU DO THE MATH, IT'S 30 LESS (GET IT 55-25 = 30) BUT THAT'S NOT REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT. IS IT?

This is a Guild D-25 made in the late 70's or early 80's in New Jersey USA 22 accessible frets SOLID MAHGOGANY black lacquer finish, no electronics. full dreadnought with a carved back, Guild schaller style tuners chrome. Bought it used from a local pawn shop in Tx for $ 450.00. Original case is well built wood affair with some sort of leathertte black covering that is peeling in places. It protects the guitar well.

This D-25 suits my style because Kurt Cobain played Guilds so I thought I had to have one. It is a dropped D , heavy low end, full booming bass sounding mutha. I like its tonal characteristics but at the same time this booming bass is not easy to record.
Also I enjoy a heavy guitar that does not need to be pamperd but this thing is a tank!

The action is high, but the amount of sound this guitar puts out you will be blown away. (Better have some forearm strength though)
No flaws, really well constructed.

Reliability/durability are A plus.
You cant hurt this guitar by playing it hard. or banging it on something by accident. it wont dent or crack like a fine Martin will. And if it does Oh well it will add character to it.

Never dealt with Guild.

Ive played now for about 15 years, I own many guitars, Martin D15, Yamaha 12Texan,Jackson Rhodes, Kramer,Sigma TB1,Fender Jazz Bass, Peavey 5150,Yorkville 80 bass amp,Jazz semihollow f hole/ unknown make. If lost I would not replace because I have mahogony martin. But I would probably miss it.
This guitar is really heavy. Its a big boomy ballsy acoustic.

i've got two...a 1974 and a 1981...
typical d25's...no fancy electronics and entirely original except for a few new nuts...
paid $500 for the 1974 (ex-bitch purchase), and $650 for the 1981...

love the sound of both of them. the 1974 is a lighter instrument and plays easier and softer...the 1981 is more of a solid guitar. it's heavier and takes the hard picking better. i love the evenness of the sound of the guild. a very clean sounding instrument.

got the 1974 when i met my ex (i was 17 at the time), and the guitar was unplayable. warped neck, etc. $15.00 at a local music shop made it a new guitar. i don't know what he did, but it sure made it a different instrument. plays like a charm now. action is great. the tuning pegs are brutal mind you. terrible tunability. other than that, this guitar has been solid as a rock.

the 1981 has a little higher action. definitely takes more muscle to play it, but it does have it's own nice features. Wanna slam some chords? this'll handle it. this is more solid than my 1974, plays heavier, better highs and lows, and the tuning pegs are inpeccable.

these guitars are built well enough that they can be fully adjusted by a good luthier..

i've babied the 1974, so it hasn't seen many risks..so not much to say there. it's still mint.

the 1981 is my "camping guitar". the finish is checking, but other than that, again, solid like a rock. this guitar has seen it all. stage, temperature changes (mountain camping), fireside stuff, everything, and it still holds up excellent. solid like a rock again.

never dealt with the manufacturer

playing for 20 years. two guild d-25's and recently bought an ovation adamas melissa etheridge signature model 12 string. also have an old 1964 bassman which i am proudly keeping.

if it were stolen or lost, i'd probably repurchase the guild. i own the two that i have because the ex-bitch took the one i was playing (it was hers originally, but i acquired it in the breakup), but i compared ovation and martin, and ended up buying guild again. the feel was too comfortable to give up, and the sound was more even than the others.
what do i love about it? the neck, and the bright and bassy sound.

My Guild D-25 is a 1990 model, clear finish, your basic dreadnought. No real "features" to speak of. Tuners have always been rock solid. Finish is holding up decently considering how hard I've beaten on the thing.

The sound on this Guild has always been outstanding. Full, rich bass, crisp, clear but not-tinny highs. When choosing acoustics, I was between a Martin, a Taylor and the Guild. The Martins and Taylors sounded great, but the Guild was right up there with them, maybe even a little better for my tastes (which is pretty much rock and roll and honky-tonk). The clincher for me was how solid the Guild felt. Here was a guitar I didn't have to worry about banging around when I played.

The one knock on the Guilds from this era was that the action was a bit high out of the factory, and this was the case with mine as well. I had mine adjusted by an acoustic tech not long after I bought it. Lowering the action had no discernable affect on the tone. Playability-wise, sometimes it feels like it plays itself. Post-adjustment, it's a '10'.

This thing is a rock. I can beat the crap out of it for two hours, put it away for a week, pull it out of the case and it will still be in tune. I've played hundreds of gigs with this guitar and it has never given me a problem (other than popping strings about once every couple years, but that's my fault anyway).

Never had to call Guild on this one.

I own a couple of other acoustics (an ancient f-hole Kalamazoo and a late '60s Yamaha FG-110), but as far as I'm concerned, this is the only acoustic for me. I always highly recommend the 'new' Guild guitars (after the rebirth of the company in the late '80s) for sound a reliability. They can't be beat.

Made in the USA, hot dot electronics, purchased and made in '79, case included

Sounded good to me. I liked Guilds. Mary McCaslin, Utah Phillips, and other people I liked played Guilds. So did my partner, so our guitars sounded good together. Suited my folk and country style.

OK action, no flaws, pretty cherry finish

Held up well, a workhorse, stays in tune, always dependable, took a beating on the road and treated me more kindly than I treated it...I am thankful

Never had to deal with the company.

Great guitar, served me well, I like the sloped back, I like the color, I like its sound and dependability. It's a good, solid, basic guitar, no pearl inlay or fancy stuff. I got my money's worth on this one.

This is a 1988 D25 with solid spruce top, solid mahogany sides and arched mahogany back. It has large Grover tuners. This large dreadnaught is much heavier that my Martin, Gibson or Taylor guitars and the construction is very heavy-duty. The fit and finish is absolutely suburb for a guitat this old. Its finish is superior to my 1999 Gibson WM 45 and I feel the guality is also superior. In my coments, I am comparing this guitar with more recent Taylor, Gibson and Martin models.

The sound is very accurate and neutral. It does not have a distinctive "Martin" or "Gibson" sound (though there is nothing wrong with that). The guitar is very musical and one that is suitable for many music styles. The bone saddle and ivory nut on this particular guitar are excellent for Bluegrass fingerpicking. When I first audiutioned this guitar, I thought it sounded poor but I realized the strings were ancient. I offered to contribute a new set of basic Martin strings. I was willing to give them up if I still disliked the sound. With the average, new strings, the instrument sounded wonderful and I bought it. The previous owner took very good care of it, as it was in near mint condition. I find it to be in its own category but I would compare it to the sound of a decent Taylor (which I feel is an accurate, neutral instrument).

This guitar featured flawless construction for a real handmade guitar. Much nicer than my newer Gibson and almost as precise as my four-year old Martin. The Martin is more "perfect" in finish while the Guild looks like a highly crafted handmade instrument. The Gibson WM 45 looks handmade but is more crude in appearance. I would not be afraid to use medium gauge strings on this guitar.

This is built like a battleship. Yet is still sounds very delicate and is able to produce incredible musical nuiances. There is some very minor lacquer checking on the back but it is barely noticeable.
For a 13 year old guitar, it has maintained a very pristine appearance.

I never dealt with Guild on a personal level.

I wish this guitar was as light as my Martin. The construction is very heavy-duty, but the sound is still very delicate, when necessary. If I lost all of my guitars and my insurance company paid their value, I would buy the current version of the Guild D25 and not replace the others. Better yet, I would try to find another near-mint 1988 model.

A 1973 D-25 bought in 1999 used, solid mahogony everthing, pretty plain, enough said.

Bought this guitar after compairing it to my yamaha, no comparision, much more complex and rich sound, the guitar when i bought it had a crunch on the top and needed to be set up, had the crunch repaired and did the setup myself, this guitar is very BRIGHT!, great for finger picking and ok for flat picking, not really a punchy enough bass for serious stuff though, and not real good for strumming, a little to bright. I give it an 8 because of it's lack of versatility.

I bought it used and it was a mess setup wise, but knowing guild and having seen others i will give it an 8.

It's a guild, built very solid and made to last, heck it was 25+ years old when i got it....lol

never dealt with them except for their web site, and for that i will give them an 8, great web site!

Overall I give this guitar an 8, like I said it was not very versatil, had a friend that was strictly a finger style player and he loved it, so I sold it to him for a song....lol not meant to be a pun, now he would give it a 10, but then he is from the 60's, what do ya expect....lol

Made in USA (1972). I bought it in 1973. This guitar has a lovely red finish on mohagany. It is much ighter than other D-25's I have played from the 70's. And the lightness of my guitar gives it a brighter tone.
Typical Guild neck - not very inspiring. But it's rosewood. Also the machine heads are of mediocre quality. They don't hold their tune well.

It's a very sweet sounding guiar. More bright than warm. Very crisp and very resonant. A classic Guild sound. This is a guitar for finger-picking and for strumming. It is not a Bluegrass lead guitar. It's neck isn't good enough, and it's sound, while bigger and more resonant than all but the loudest Martins, is not quite as clean as a Martin. Although, its brightness and resonance make it a good guitar for dramatic Jazz, Rock or Fusion leads. It's neck will crimp your style on any lead passages. This is a great fingerpicking guitar. Not a lead guitar. Still, strum one chord on this little red dreadnaught, and it will overpower all but the loudest Gibsons and Martins.

Beautiful red finish. And it's still beautiful, despite being beat-up and banged around, for the 26 years I've owned it.

Mine has a couple of small cracks from a stupid kid who dropped it on a hard floor and a couple of table bumps. At one point insect repellant smudged some of the finish on the back of the neck.
The neck is still straight after 26 years. And it sounds better with each passing decade.

Never needed it.

The guitar is irreplacable. The new D-25's aren't red. I don't know if they sound as good as mine. Maybe, but I doubt it.

My D-25 is a 1996 model; I got it used, but it appeared barely played. It was made in Rhode Island at the old Guild factory (Guild makes all their guitars there just like they always have). It's finished in black, with a solid (not laminate) maple top and mahogany sides and back. The black finish is unspectacular but well-applied, although there is a little orange-peel effect near the strap button. The tuners are Grovers and appear stock to the guitar; they're very substantial. The bridge is rosewood, as is the fingerboard. It has no pickup or electronics; I might install some later, but I am afraid to mess up the sound, because it sounds super nice. The construction, except for the orange peel effect I mentioned earlier, is flawless inside and out.

I play original music, roots music and blues, and the D-25 sounds good with all of it. Guilds as a rule have a darker tone than other acoustics, and the D-25 has a nice rich sound that still has enough cut when played hard to be effective. I have never owned an acoustic that was this nice, and could cover this many bases all around. If I sound bad, I know it's my fault, because there's certainly nothing wrong with the guitar! The sound is basically ringing but not too bright, full, round, and very "woody."

The action could be a bit lower, but as I said I got it used, and with a little tweaking of the truss rod I got it in perfect shape. Other than that I found no structural flaws worth mentioning. The frets are nice and even with no wear. The fretboard has a nice little arch to it and is well rounded. The neck oddly enough reminds me of an archtop guitar, with the same good feel. I saw a glob of glue on one of the braces deep inside the guitar- big whoop. Other than this everything was perfectly set up.

This is a very solidly built acoustic guitar. I have used it without a backup already, and it has withstood live playing very well. The finish has stood up well. I needed an additional strap button, which I mounted in the neck joint. This didn't affect the neck stability at all, and both strap buttons are solid and wide, with no danger of falling out of the strap. This guitar seems like the kind of guitar you could keep maybe the rest of your life, as far as durability goes.

I have never dealt with the company, because I've never had a need to. I hear that in spite of the fact that Fender has bought the company, their service is still quite good, but there's nothing wrong with my guitar, and it doesn't seem likely that there will be. I am told that Guild offers a lifetime warranty on all their instruments, and their website says that in spite of the sale to Fender they will honor lifetime warranties on pre-and post-Fender Guilds.

I've been playing since 1974. I have about seven guitars and have owned many different types over the years. This Guild has rapidly become my main acoustic guitar and I could not really think of doing without it; if it was stolen I most certainly would buy another one. The things I like about it are its solidness and its responsiveness. Tonally it is everything that I would want, with a warm, woody sound, and structurally it's excellent. The one thing I wish was that it had a pickup of some sort, but I plan to buy a Fishman Rare Earth within the year so that should take care of that problem. In a way I'm glad it didn't have a pickup, because I don't like the sound of piezo pickups most of the time, but it is a bit of a pain to mike it up when I play live. That's going to happen with any acoustic guitar without a pickup, though. It records quite well, although the low end is quite prodigious and requires you to aim the mike a little south of the soundhole to get the best reproduction of the sound. I really cannot speak well enough of this guitar; it's not the most expensive Guild but it certainly beats out many guitars costing two or three times as much. It's eminently playable and very tonally satisfying.