1964 Guild D-40 Dreadnought Guitar

Overview: This bruiser is a real interesting character as it's an earlier D-40 with fan bracing rather than x-bracing. It has a warm, direct, punchy sound that's a bit different from a "normal dreadnought" voicing. It's a little less complicated in tone than a D-18 or later D-40 but also has less mids-scoop and a faster response. It also doesn't hurt that it's got good looks, too -- and just the right amount of playwear to show you it means business.

Interesting features: The "two point" bridge on these earlier ones is a little classier in cut than the later Guilds, I think, and the big, country-western pickguard shape is a fun touch, too. It has a two-piece mahogany neck with a maple center strip (two piece tends to be more stable) and, curiously, the fretboard is flat. That last bit is a weirdo for me because a lot of '60s Guilds tend to have a tighter radius on their boards and it's the '70s Guilds that tend to flatten-out to 16" or 20" at times. The mahogany on the back has a nice golden-brown glow to it and it was cut with the grain fit at a bit of an angle so it has an eye-catching look.

Repairs included: I can't remember whether Jose or Ancel worked on this guy, but it got a level/dress of the frets, slightly-expanded saddle slot and fresh compensated bone saddle, and setup work. The various hairline top cracks had some old repairs and some also needed cleating and filling. The work's done and it's playing spot-on and is ready to go!

• Weight: 4 lbs 1 oz
• Scale length: 25 1/2"
• Nut width: 1 49/64"
• Neck shape: medium soft V/C
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 27/32"
• Depth at seventh fret: 7/8"
• Body width: 15 3/4"
• Body depth: 4 3/4"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid mahogany
• Bracing type: fan
• Bridge: rosewood
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 54w-12 lights
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium-lower

Condition notes: There are four longer, repaired hairline cracks on the top. The finish on the back, especially, has a bit of a satin-y, textured thing going on as it's aged. There are various light scratches, scuffs, and dings here and there throughout the body and neck but nothing too ugly. There's, of course, pickwear front and center at the soundhole. The saddle is new. The bridge had previously been shaved a bit just on top and there's a repaired thin-depth hairline crack in it near the pins that is holding-up just fine. 

It comes with: It's got an older hard case.

Consignor tag: DPHN