Since the mid-20th century, Guild flat-tops have been renowned as some of the best American-built instruments of their type. Celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, the firm has just unveiled the new U.S.-made Standard Series models, including the vintage-inspired D-40 and D-50 dreadnoughts, and F-40 jumbo.
Introduced during Guild’s earliest days as the “Valencia F 40,” the 16-inch-wide, maple-bodied F-40 jumbo was discontinued in 1963 along with the similarly shaped Bluegrass model. This mahogany-bodied acoustic guitar was effectively replaced by the Bluegrass F-47 the following year. It’s larger sibling, the Navarre F-48, was concurrently manufactured during the ‘70s and is, Guild says, the “predecessor” of its new 17 1/4-inch Standard Series F-40.
Priced $3,125 ($2,499 street) with a Pacific Sunset Burst finish and $3,000 ($2,399 street) with a Natural finish, the Guild F-40 Standard features a Sitka spruce top along with an African mahogany back and sides, combined with forward-shifted, scalloped Adirondack spruce bracing. An Indian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, tortoiseshell pickguard, and Guild Deluxe Vintage open gear tuners complete this acoustic guitar’s classic look.
The Bluegrass Jubilee D-40 and Bluegrass Special D-50 debuted in the 1964 catalog and were billed as “Guild’s improved version of the popular dreadnaught guitar – with a pure, robust tone to add dimension to any performance.” While both models feature spruce tops, the D-40 was constructed using mahogany while the D-50 boasts a rosewood back and sides.
Although these vintage Guild dreadnoughts changed in appearance over the decades-long course of their production, the company says the new D-40 and D-50 Standard instruments, “reflect the best attributes of legacy D-40 and D-50 models while adding modern refinements in design, playability and construction.”
As per the F-40 Standard, the new mahogany D-40 and rosewood D-50 Standard dreadnoughts are available in sunburst and natural finishes that showcase Guild’s new Vintage Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer. This hand-sprayed process provides instruments with a worn-in feel that “highlights the natural beauty of the tonewoods.”
The D-40 is priced the same as the F-40 (see above) while the D-50 comes in a little more expensive at $3,625 ($2,899 street) for an Antique Burst model and $3500 ($2,799 street) in Natural.
Made in California, all of Guild’s new Standard Series acoustics ship with a hard case and signed/numbered certificate of authenticity.
Visit Guild for more information.
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