Here is a striking vintage Guild D25CH from 1978. This beautiful deep cherry red dreadnought has been owned for a number of decades by a member of one of Australia's most prominent surf rock bands. This guitar has been gigged extensively throughout the years and has a few battle scars to prove it. This guitar has a spruce top, mahogany sides and the unique feature of an arched laminated mahogany back. This feature adds structural integrity to the instrument and does away with the need for bracing on the back - letting it resonate more freely. The beautiful aged woods project a very even tone with a touch of mid range focus. Unscalloped bracing provides added structural integrity and aids in resisting feedback when plugged in. The neck has a medium width with a soft U profile and 16" fretboard radius. Action is 3mm at the 12th fret and is currently strung with 11-50 gauge strings. Structurally most of this guitar is original, with the exception of an on board pickup system.
This guitar has been modified to be used electrically with a B-Band A3T piezo pickup system which provides a robust, feedback resistant sound with flexibility of bass, mid, treble and presence as well as on board tuner in a compact 4x5cm control footprint. The panel is located on the side, near the upper bout (photo 11). The output panel boasts a 1/4 guitar jack and an XLR option - providing more on stage and studio versatility. There is a second 1/4 jack to the side of the output panel which is not wired up.
Aside the general bumps and nicks a well loved 46 year old guitar, there are a few structural issues that need mention: There is a slight top separation past the bass side on the lower bout (photo 9) as well as a crack on the side in the same region. On the treble side lower bout there is a crack approximately 14cm in length from the output panel and lines drawn in marker where the output panel has been mounted (photo 12). The neck appears solid and not to have had a reset, however there is slight belly bulge and a slight separation at the back of the bridge. Original frets appear to have approximately 50% fret wear. None of these issues detract from the mojo of this fine vintage Guild D25CH. Whether you restore this guitar to original condition or enjoy it as is, you will have a unique and beautiful dreadnought that only continues to get cooler with age.
