Guild D-40

I bought it for $750 brand new from Musician's Friend on a clearance sale. It was a sweet deal. I read the other so-so reviews on this model that were 30+ years old, not new like mine. This model is a re-issue of those models, with superior construction -- Beefy Grover Tuners - not those 30 year old cheapies. The neck DOES NOT need a reset. It is solid and a little thick. Only a minor adjustment was needed since it started setting in.

Mine is a Standard set-up on a full body guitar with spruce top, mahagony sides, etc. as described in the Guild literature. This guitar was made in 2003, Corolla, CA, USA. It included the fishman matrix active Natural I piezo pickup option under the saddle. No controls, No condenser Mike. Includes deluxe case.

Without the pick-up it is a great sounding guitar. I play in a band and it cuts right through the mix with clear lows, balanced midrange and sparkling highs. No mud anyhwere on this one. The tone is bright across the entire range and evenly balance. It deserves its name "BlueGrass Jubilee". It could play about anything. My wife says it sounds like a Doobie Brothers acoustic.

With the pickup it is probably is not as good as a Takamine. I have a Carvin 100 acoustic amp.

I give an overall sound rating of 9. If I only judged the acoustic tone I would rate it a 10.

The action was darn near perfect. It played so easy. I made one minor neck adjustment, with full tension applied to the strings as recommended in the owners manual. It cranked real easy.

There was one small ding near the soundhole. The case got a scratch through shipment. Otherwise I would give it a 10. No way I'm sending it back because of these minor flaws.

It looks and feels like a workhorse to me. It is solid, and a little heavy, but it did not give up anything on the sound.

no experience

I've been playing it about 2 weeks. If it were stolen I couldn't replace it, not for what I paid. It's a keeper for life as far as I'm concerned. The piezo isn't that good otherwise I love it.

I believe this is a 2002 model. It is the first review on this site for a Fender Corona CA made D40. Traditional specs haven't changed. All solid woods. Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides. One piece mahogany neck, White binding on the body. tortoiseshell pickguard. Ebony headstock with inlaid MOP Guild logo and Chesterfield motif. No electronics on this one although I have added an LR Baggs Ibeam active Pickup. Nitro-Cellulose lacquer gloss finish. Chrome Grover tuners. Archtop case

I'm a traditional kind of guy and like a variety of styles. this guitar works well for Bluegrass, flat picking, Strumming. and finger style. Just a great all around guitar. Very clean sounding with just the right amount of bass response. Not muddy at all. Very resonant. I use D"Addarrio EXP 16's, (light gauge coated phosphor bronze). I love these strings and they sound great for a long time on this guitar.

Since this guitar was slightly used when I got it I can't comment on factory set up. However, when I got it the truss rod needed just a little relief which allowed me to lower the action a bit andd now I live the way this guitar plays. The neck is slightly beefier than I am use to and it took a little bit of adjustment time, but now I am very comfortable with it. Fit and finsh are absolutely first rate. It's so beautiful that sometimes I get it out just so I can look at it! I've owned a handful of guitars that list in the $2500 - $3000 pric range including Martins, Larrivees, Gibsons, Taylors, and Tacomas. This is my favorite guitar of any of them

This guitar seems every bit as well built as previous Rhode Island made Guilds. I see nothing in the construction that would indicate that this guitar will not last me a lifetime. Definitely gigable (is that a word?). Although I only ever play at Church. Maybe not quite as heavy as previous Guilds but still well made and solid.

Any time I have ever contacted Fender/Guild in the past they have been prompt with a response and helpful. Ssince this was a used guitar it does not have a warranty, but I always thought warranties were for cars anyway.

I've been playing for 20 years or so. I have owned LOTS of guitars. Some in the $2500 - $3000 range (see above) If you're a Guild fan don't hesitate to check the new California mad Guilds out. Fender is doing a great job of carrying on the Guild tradition. Great sound, Great vibe, Great look. I would definitely try to find a good deal on another if something happened to this one. I'd consider a D50 but I do like the briteness of the mahogany.

1978 (one year older than me!!) D-40NT that I purchased used a few years ago.
It has a solid top with mahogany back and sides. Mahogany neck and a rosewood 14/20 fretboard. Dot inlays and fancy chesterfield guild logo on headstock. Body binding but nothing on the neck (only thing that I would like to have on this guitar that it doesn't).

When I first picked it up in the store and played it I had tears in my eyes. I knew I had to purchase this guitar within about 4 minutes of playing it. I've never heard an acoustic guitar that sounds this proper before.

I don't know what the factory setup is. Like I said this thing was made probably before I was even conceived.

No bridge lift, no neck warp, no fret pulls, no top cracking or anything like that. Neck joint is solid as ever. It has two fairly large welts on it, and I accidently dropped a vaccum onto the side once (yeah I know) but they don't affect the tone at all. Nothing through the wood, mainly just icky spots on the finish.

purchased long passed warranty, and I have never spoken to guild regarding a guitar before.

I love this guitar. I will never sell it. I wanted to get an acoustic as old or older than me. I played Martins that cost twice as much and didn't sound half as good. Guild is a great company that seems to have been hugely overlooked throughout history. I plan on tracking down an F45 or F60 now. All blonde with a nice flamey neck, ebony fretboard, and those really cool block and triangle inlays.

I bought this 1979 (pre-Fender) D-40 via e-bay. It's definitely seen some serious use (and in my opinion, some abuse), but I think it's held up suprisingly well. Has a beautiful Sunburst top of solid spruce with nitro-cellulose lacquer finish. Solid mahogany back and sides, Guild name and Chesterfield logo in mother-of-pearl. Overall, still pretty visually stunning even though its a bit battered.

I hear a lot about Guilds and the "booming" bass, but I think this guitar is well-balanced with down right beautiful, crystaline highs. It can certainly rock out, and begs to be strummed with abandon, but picking and fingerstyle sound great too. It's fun to play and very hard to put down.

Again, this was an e-bay purchase, and you have to have a little faith when buying an acoustic sight unseen (beyond six pictures) and sound unheard. I took it straight to a local luthier and had it properly set up and a small crack in the lower bottom bout cleated. The action is now fantastic, but it required some fairly serious saddle reduction. The bridge was re-glued in the '80's according to the seller--but it's rock solid now so I can't really comment on that (although there are some visible signs of the work). The tuners are the origanal chrome Grovers, and they're working just fine.

This guitar has lived a good life--lots of knocks and dings, wear along the sides of the neck (capo?), the crack I mentioned which was the result of something hitting the top with something heavy, and some pretty serious weather checking (that "crackling" look you get when an instrument with a nitro-cellulose lacquer finish is exposed to rapid and extreme changes in temperature. The lacquer can't "keep up" with the expansion/contraction of the wood and finish cracks are the result). But honestly, the darn thing still looks totally cool and sounds great. Guild's seem to have a well-found reputation for being very solid.

Haven't dealt with that yet--hope I don't have to try!

A solid guitar that still has many years of music in it. Tonally, I consider it competitive with other mahogany dreads at a great price. If lost or stolen I'd be seriously disappointed, and would certainly look for another Guild--but would probably buy a D-50.

No frills. Good woods. Durable construction. 1967 model made in Hoboken, got it new at Prager and Ritter Guitar Gallery in Chcago. Paid U$265 w/hs case.

Balanced. Not too loud...espcially with xtra-lites. I put a 332 in the saddle a long time ago and it sounds as sweet as a Fishman. At least to me it does. Play it through a Fender Princeton Chorus...the 2 X 10's sound perfectly acceptible (to me) for accoustics.

I'd like to drop tyhe action another 1/32nd"...but the belly has started to pooch out over the years (less than mine!) Neck has been like a rock...only tweaked the truss rod twice in 30-some years. Love the skinny nut width on Guilds. Easily let's me cop a fretted note on the low E with a wrap-around thumb. The transition from the top of the neck to the peg head is perfectly contoured...better than any guitar I've ever held.

Finish looks it age. Playability is as good as ever. Sound seems sweeter with each year that passes.

Never needed it. Own 3 other Guilds, all built right. My next guitar will be a Guild. This guitar has come with me to more places than the company has moved.

Playing since '65. This was a gift from my parents in '67. Every year for Christmas my kids get me new strings...it's like getting a brand new guitar. The best present I ever got. The only material possesion I cherish. Un-replaceable.

This is a 1972 D-40 that I've had since it was new. Standard dreadnought shape. Mahogony back and sides, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard. I put grover rotomatics on about 20 years ago. Also, an end pin jack for a seymour duncan tube pickup suspended in the hole. Nut width a little narrower than standard. Used a late 70's Martin plastic case for the past 25 years (well worth it). Very heavy wood and bracing. Weighs a ton.

This is where I wanted to weigh in on the discussion taking place here on Harmony Central regarding this instrument. It's a workhorse, but the sound is not in any way competetive with Martin, let alone Collings, Santa Cruz, Breedlove, etc. The sound is nice and balanced, lends itself to amplification well, but no volume, bass or treble. They say you can't hitch a racehorse to a plow, and likewise, you can't win any races riding a draft horse, and that's what this is, a workhorse. One caveat, however, I did actually play one that sounded good once. Don't know why, but it felt a lot lighter than mine.

It's a truck. I played this guitar a lot. I've had a fret job, all the finish is worn off the back of the neck, reglue on the bridge, scratches all over the front, and nothing ever happened to the neck or the bracing.

Uh, I guess my prvious comments belong here. This is pretty much the MOST reliable acoustic flat top out there. You pay for it in the sound. I've checked this guitar through regular luggage on airplanes...no problem.

I don't remember what I paid, but then, like now, it was about half of what you'd pay for a Martin. It sounds about half as good, maybe not even half. As a utility instrument, however, it's great. Again, if you're using a pickup the acoustic sound becomes almost irrelevant, and it plays very beautifully. The neck is very very solid. It should be fairly compared to Seagulls (sound good, built like eggshells) or Takamines (great electronics, built a little heavier, sound OK) or Ovations (loud as hell, but despicable unmusical sound). These are built to last. Thirty years later, this baby is still here. Oh, about me, I have several other guitars including some very much better than this one (Martin, Gibson, Fender). I wouldn't have any reason to replace this one, but on the other hand, I consider it to be worth more than I could sell it for (maybe $600 or so), so here it stays.

This Guild is, I believe, a 1967 model, which makes it about 15 years older than me. laminated top, ivory inlaid soundhole, closed tuners, probably grovers, but i was given the guitar and have never been one to look a gift horse in the mouth. neck is perfect size, although a bit slow to play. frets are jumbo. i honestly have no idea how much of the thing is still original parts, but i think most of it is factory original parts.

this is a great sounding guitar. in certain temperature and humidity conditions it can sound just slightly dull, but overall it has a nice mildly bright warm tone. perfect for just about any style. no complaints.

action is a tad higher than i like, but i play mostly electric, sooo... for an acoustic the action is about the best i've played on. as far as guitar flaws go, the thing is 30+ years old and has really been around. i have no idea where the guy who gave it to me got it, but he got it new. over the years, the pickguard has started to peel up a little bit at the back end. also, the bridge has come off ( again, i don't know when our how) but was put back on by a sub-par tech and sits maybe a quarter centimeter off the body on an island of epoxy (or something) however, considering that it IS its age and still sounds and plays great, and that i got it for free, who can whine?

this is a nice solid guitar. i have no idea how, but no neck or body warping at ALL after 30 years of existence. like i said, the pickguard and bridge are screwed up a bit, but neither problem affects the playability at all. just cosmetic damage, and i like guitars that are vintage and look it, so there you go.

I've been playing about six years, and i own (besides this guitar) a gibson victory MV 2, a peavey raptor for beating around, a Laney floor amp and a modest but effective array of pedals. This guitar was given to me by a fellow player when he got an ovation electric-acoustic. he played this thing pretty constantly for about 20 years of its life, then retired it when he got new toys. i have no idea why; it's a gorgeous and great-sounding guitar, but i appreciate the fact that it's mine. if you read this, Ron, thanks a BUNCH.

Having read the lead review, I feel compelled to submit mine--which contrasts the aforementioned 180 degrees. I have had a particular fondness for Guilds for some time and have owned several models of both dreadnoughts and nylon string: one 1976 D50, two D25s, two Mark IIIs, and a very early Mark II (made in Hoboken). Before the recent advent and accessibility of quality guitarmakers, I formerly sought only Guilds due to their quality and price. Ergo, so many Guild guitars over the years. I have stories for all of these, but now have only a 1976 D40. Having owned so many, I am able to make comparisons. In contrst to the lead article attributing a fragile character to the D40, my experience is that if one thing characterizes these instruments, it's durability. These guitars are made with lots of wood and are heavy. I live in the dry air of the west and the neck on my D40 has moved only little just over the past couple of years. I use only a little herco clay case humidifier. I have flown to Florida with this instrument and was amazed to observe upon returning west that the neck had not moved at all. The top is beginning to bulge and droop some, but this is inevitable. A more fragile instrument would have moved much more over this time. My D50, for example, had its top bulge at the bridge and some separation due to its thinner top. But the D40 is made to last. The D25s, with their thick, laminated arch backs are just tanks. These are great road guitars. Sound and playability aspects are superb, but these heavy, durable instruments do not produce the type of delicate resonance as Martins or some Gibsons which are truly much more fragile. These guitars do what they were made to do. Just pick it up and feel how much heavier the Guild is. It takes more energy to move this much more wood.

I bought my D-40 in 1998, I believe it was made in 1977. It had sat in a case for years as the person who owned it never got around to learning to play, so it was like new. The D-40 is a no-frills guitar made of spruce and mahogany . No fancy inlays or highly-figured top, no electronics...There were complaints about the tuners on these instruments, and I have indeed had problems with them breaking, as well as with bridge slippage. The neck is "just right" not too thin or too pudgy, and the fretwork is excellent.

Heres where the gold stars are handed out. I've always found Guilds to be the happy medium between the chunkiness of a good Gibson and the playability and tone of a Martin, and I prefer Guilds to either one-I play and write in a variety of styles, equal parts retro-pop, twangy, fingerpicked and jazzy, with big shifts in dynamics. I use open tunings and capos often (which may account for my complaints throughout the review) and find the D-40 suited for any style. I use a Dean Markley Pro-Mag pickup through a Boss GT-3 processor and a variety of Tube Amps (though I may switch to a Polytone for it's jazz vibe and that they are wonderful keyboard amps). The D-40 REALLY shines in a recording situation, where its warmth and musicality (which are the hallmarks of Guild guitars, especially their hollowbodies) really cuts through-It reacts well to the GT-3 and is equally good for fingerpicking and chords either delicate or bashed. Very, very playable...

As one Mr. Loaf once said, "Two out of three ain't bad." The action and fit are among the best I've ever encountered. I bought the guitar used, but it was like new and was set up well. It is a perfect fit, as I said earlier, the neck is "just right. Unfortunately, I have had to have it repaired quite often, perhaps it's the age of the guitar, the fact that the woods Guild uses are not as thick as Gibson or Martin guitars, the Florida weather, as well as my tendency to clumsiness or demolition derby, but the wood around the soundhole broke, I've had four of the tuners fall apart, and it seems like all you have to do is breathe on the instrument to put a "ding" in it. Also, the went a little nuts with the epoxy around the bridge, which is slipping. Guild did cut some corners on this instrument to keep it affordable, which is the case on many of their instruments. Action: 10 Fit: 10 Finish: 3

Refer to the above columns so I don't repeat myself, m'kay?? Luckily when I've had these accidents they were before rather than during a gig. Soundwise, the D-40 ALWAYS delivers, the neck and frets are great. I will need to replace the tuners and eventually the bridge and have had the soundhole repaired, I fear that it will end badly for the D-40, but it'll still have tone, tone and tone...It is a very fragile guitar, and after years of use, abuse and finding out the hard way, I will always have a backup.

Probably not an issue, though back in the day they were good. A big shout-out to Johnny's House of Guitars in Seminole, FL for their excellent, prompt and very reasonable servicing of this guitar!!

I've been playing semi-professionally for 25 years, and have nearly always had at least one Guild guitar in my collection, whether classical, acoustic or electric. If I was "somebody" I would nag for an endorsement deal. Despite their inconsistencies (again, very possibly of age, humidity and my own doing), I wouldn't fancy playing anything else (Besides,I'm too cheap!!) and Guilds have always offered the best bang-for-buck ratio of any USA-made guitar, and there are sweeeeet deals to be had on older ones. I would probably go with a different model if something happened to this one, perhaps more solidly-built and more ornate. In the end, though, I have tried this guitar against several others, and it never loses a shootout. What it lacks in certain areas in workmanship it more than makes up for in playability, versatility and sound.

This guitar is as original, with the exception of the addition of closed Grover tuners and a strap pin on the heel.

When my old D-40 was first built back in 1962, it had (so I can imagine) a nice blonde top which has since mellowed to the color of dark amber. The sound has mellowed much the same way - it's a sweet, clear tone that I can only describe as incredible. It was my main guitar for many years of live stagework and has been used and featured on many recordings. The more it's played the bigger and better it sounds and has only gotten better over time.

The action took some work when I first got the guitar, but not nearly as much work as the finish. Some well meaning knot-head had given it two nice new coats of Varathane in the hope, I would guess, of covering up the checked finish. Quite frankly, it sounded horrible until I got all of the junk removed. There was a huge crack behind the bridge, but I figured that just added "character". I have a friend who, at the time, was a museum conservator who specialized in old instruments and he took the D-40 and fixed the cracks and loose struts without changing the appearance. It still looks like a veteran, kinda beat up!

Many years of gigging six nighters didn't even phase this thing. The finish is wearing thin in places and just plain gone in others. As for a backup; I thought long and hard about retiring her and finding something newer but gave it up as a bad idea.

I'm sure that if I asked, Guild would look after her but after forty years, who knows?

This old girl has survived a lot of miles, not just a few parties and has outlasted more than one wife. She has never failed me and only asks for new strings once in a while. I bought the D-40 to replace a Tama that had been stolen from my apartment the night before a gig. That Tama was top-of-the-line; mother of pearl this; abalone that and a genuine ebony whachamacallit. The D-40 actually started out as a two hundred and fifty dollar throw-away to be replaced as soon as possible. Well, it didn't get replaced, we became inseparable and now I thank the guy that stole the Tama - I think HE got the short end of the stick.