Product: Guild D-70
Price Paid: US $700.00 used
Submitted
02/26/2003
at
11:04pm
by
Bob Arnold
Email: nanuq at adnmail<dot>com
Features
:
10
Mine is a 1981, made in Rhode Island. She's got a tight grain spruce top and gorgeous rosewood sides and back, with curly maple binding. The neck is mahogany with a maple strip down the center. She's got an ebony fretboard and bridge, with the G-shield headstock logo and "crowned" abalone inlays all up the neck. With Grover gold tuners and double binding on the 3-piece mahogany/rosewood headstock, she looks pretty classy. The abalone inlay around the soundhole is the final nice touch, all adding up to a classier overall appearance than even the F-series jumbos. She's a looker and a singer.
Sound
:
10
For fingerstyle this baby sings. She's got HUGE tone all over the neck, even with a gentle touch. Compared to a D-35 or D-50 she doesn't take any coaxing at all to pour out gorgeous harmonics and resonances... you feel her in your gut as that big bottom end and midrange fill the room. She has fuller and more complex mids than typical reference models such as 60s Hummingbirds, meanwhile she doesn't get overly boomy in the bottom end. She's not as clear in distinction between strings as a Goodall, but she's far better than any other Guild or Gibson I've played. Put her right below a good Martin D-45 for clarity... and leagues better than that Martin for fullness and richness. She's got the tone to make people stop and ask what she is. What else has stopped strangers in their tracks? Nothing I've owned.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Since she's 22 years old, she's been well set up. I can't comment on factory build... though this was Guild's first attempt at a limited edition model, and I bet they got it right. The bookmatching is beautiful and the spruce top is tight, tight, tight. The action is low and fast, and she is SOLID. The tuners are still smooth and tight and the saddle and nut are solid. No separated binding anywhere. I'll give her a 10 for playability and action... higher than any of my other Guilds.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
She's been ridden hard and put away wet for 22 years and still tight as new. Not a buzz or rattle or looseness anywhere, and the maple binding isn't even cracked. It's the legendary Guild quality, in a limited-edition hand made package.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
No idea. Not a clue. My luthier is in love with it.
Overall Rating
:
10
I've been playing for 30+ years and this is the most satisfying instrument I've spent time with. The deeper I dig the more I find. She purrs with a gentle touch, and she howls when you dig into her. Her harmonics and resonances are unbelievable... I traded in my 25 year old sweetheart Guild on her, and I'm not looking back. She's THAT good. The best money I ever spent on a guitar... if you find one, BUY IT.
