1974 Guild G-37 Dreadnought Guitar
I can't help it -- I'm a Guild fan. This G-37 is a model I haven't worked-on before (well, that I can remember) but it's basically in the same mold as other Guild dreadnoughts from the time save that the sides are solid maple and the back is press-arched (like the Guild jumbos) ply maple.
This makes for a D-18-like tone that's got more sparkle, a bit more of a fundamental ring, and a clean, easy punch. Chords gel nicely and you can hear individual notes stand-out, too. I think it's actually a really successful design -- especially if you fingerpick, too, because that's where that clean-and-clear voice helps keep things tidy.
This one's had some bumps and life lived evidence -- there are two longer repaired top cracks and a small repaired hairline next to the fretboard extension -- but after repairs it's playing bang-on and sounds great.
Repairs included: fret level/dress, cleats/repairs to the top center seam and a top hairline crack along the pickguard's edge, endpin-area fill/new strap button there (it was overdrilled for a pickup jack), saddle/bridge adjustments, setup.
Top wood: solid spruce
Back & sides wood: sold maple sides, ply maple arched back
Bracing type: x
Bridge: rosewood
Fretboard: rosewood
Neck wood: mahogany
Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 54w, 40w, 30w, 22w, 16, 12 custom lights
Neck shape: slim-medium C
Board radius: ~12-14"
Truss rod: adjustable
Neck relief: straight
Fret style: medium
Scale length: 25 5/8"
Nut width: 1 11/16"
Body width: 15 7/8"
Body depth: 5 1/16"
Weight: 5 lbs 12 oz
Condition notes: it has usewear and pickwear throughout and the sides have some scuffs and scratches. There are two long and one short repaired hairline cracks on the top. The saddle is unoriginal but bone, the bridge pins are probably replacements, and the endpin/button is a replacement. The rest is all original. There's an added thin wood block at the neckblock that used to have a battery clamp attached to it.
It comes with: its original Guild hard case in good order, but scuffed.
Comments