1978 Guild D-25
Made in the fabled Westerly, Rhode Island, plant, this classic Bluegrass D-25 dreadnought has been dominating lesser instruments for 40 years, judging from its serial number (DA100586) and the Guild website. It has been played regularly, and it has the resonance of its aged woods to prove it. The dark red “Cherry” finish makes it stand out in a crowd, but it’s the huge sound that will make other musicians turn around to check it out.
This Guild D-25 has a solid mahogany top and mahogany back, sides, and neck. The dreadnought style body is bound in black top and back, with a classic tortoise pick guard, a rosewood bridge with white pins, and a multi-stripe rosette. The 14/20 fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay ends in three-per-side chrome Guild vintage-style open tuners and the screened headstock logo.
The neck is straight and true and the action is comfortable for most folks at a bit over 4/32” at the 12th fret low E, with a new high saddle which can be sanded down to reduce the action if desired and a working truss rod. The top is flat, the neck joint is solid, the bridge is tight, and the frets are slightly worn but overall in good shape. There are several glued cracks, one small one at the sound hole on the treble side and another above the pick guard, and probably a headstock repair, shown in the pictures because of the dark overspray. While the Guild label has been lost, there is no doubt about the model because of the specs and the Guild serial number.
The few other cosmetic items are typical of any guitar which has been played for four decades, primarily consisting of a conspicuous ding at the bottom of the lower bout, a few small dings in the top, and some finish crazing all over “to let the sound out,” as my old luthier says. While this is a truly attractive instrument, it is a real Guild, “Made to be Played”, and it has been making music and turning heads for a generation. Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, it will pass into the hands of a player able to make music and turn heads for a generation or two to come.
The included hard shell five-latch case is clearly not original, but it fits perfectly and looks new--certainly in excellent condition. The hardware is shiny and works fine (even the key), the plush lining is clean and fuzzy, and structurally it is solid as a rock. It is the ideal complement for this vintage guitar—and of course offers outstanding protection.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have made every effort to describe and illustrate this guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. Its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the description, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.
Thank you for your interest in this solid Guild guitar.
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.