Guild D-40E - Antique Burst Review

Might be the best-sounding guitar I've owned...

After 25 years of playing guitar (mostly acoustic), I've owned more than my fair share of axes. From Taylors (814, 510, W15, AD17 Blacktop, 412) to Breedloves (Premier Concertos, mostly), I've always ALMOST found what I was looking for. Enter the Guild D40E Antique Burst; now I've found it. It's certainly not the most expensive or "flashy" guitar I've come across, but the SOUND… read more and FEEL are superior to any other I've owned or played. It checks all the boxes for me. I can't believe it doesn't cost more than it does.

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Nice Rich Tone

This guitar is my first nice guitar since I got my Martin HD28, new, 32 years ago. I needed a guitar for playing out and around with a band that a bunch of us going grey haired guys recently formed. It is very different from my Martin. This is mahogany, not rosewood, and the difference in tone was much greater than I anticipated... very deep and rich with a much subtler high end.… read more After adjusting my expectations, I came to love it's tone very much. It is what they say, a cannon. Very alive and responsive. A well made, light and simple basic dreadnaught perfect for the music I play. While nothing I have played so far has surpassed my beloved Martin HD28 (and that's just me, I know some players prefer mahogany, and I can see why), this Guild D40E has opened up new tonal explorations in my playing. I am very glad I bought this Guitar. The neck has the same width as my Martin, 1 11/16", but it feels wider, I think because of the neck radius... the Martin being 16" and the Guild D40E being 12"... It is very easy to play. The action is good... I will probably fine tune it a little after I have played it a while, maybe change to the 13 gauge strings I am used to first, then set the action if need be. The L.R. Baggs pick up is great... I am very happy with the sound through my Roland AC60. Better than the Fishman Rare Earth sound hole pick up I use in the Martin, a more balanced tone and easily EQ'd sound, though not as shimmery... while feedback is a bit of an issue, I will tame it with a Feedback Buster sound hole cover and maybe an outboard acoustic preamp. The finish? Meh, I would have preferred gloss, but that would have added to the cost, and I plan to break this guitar in hard anyway. The Antique Burst is beautiful and I have already received many compliments. The tuners work fine, very basic no frills, again probably to keep this guitar at this reasonable for the quality price point. A professional guitar player for some very well known artists recommended this guitar, and I am glad he did.

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Guild D-40 E Antique Burst

This Beautifully American

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Exceeded expectations

I've owned 4 guitars previous to my purchase of the Guild D40E. All of these were in the $200-$300 range. I was happy with these while I was learning the ropes.. As I progressed, I began to notice these instruments were incapable of achieving the tone and playability I desired. I did my research and had settled on a Martin D-18E or a 1940's Gibson LG-2 or new Gibson J-45 model.… read more While looking for these other guitars I happened upon the Guilds, then learned that an ex Gibson luthier (Ren Ferguson) had taken over production and design of the new Guild guitars. Listening to online demos of the Guilds, I found them to be just as good if not better than guitars that cost much more. I also played several Martins in guitar shops. So how does it play? Well it is awesome! The tone is unreal, volume is potent when strummed firmly, when strummed or picked lightly it is plenty loud and incredibly articulate with great note separation. It tunes and holds tune like a dream. Taking it out of the box from Sweetwater only the b string had drifted out of tune slightly. The band members I play with (who are much more experienced than I) also love the new guitar and are happy I've replaced my inferior instruments. I would definitely refer this guitar to anyone looking for their first professional, recording or performing grade instrument. So what about Sweetwater sales staff? My sales person was Carl Bleke,, he was knowledgeable, no pressure, and answered my questions and E-mails promptly. I will call Carl personally for future purchases. The treatment of my guitar and the service I received was truly at a VIP level. These guys treated my guitar like it was a precious family heirloom. The , inspection, packaging and shipping were flawless. I was only surprised that they had not activated the humidifier in the case, but I suppose they had to at least leave me one item to do myself. With the rigorous checks they perform on the guitar it is highly unlikely they would send out a lemon or broken guitar. Be advised, this level of service takes a little time as the instruments must acclimate to Sweetwater's warehouse prior to inspection and shipment. Give your self a few extra days for this process, it is totally worth the wait. Finally, if I weren't anxious enough about getting my new music box, Carl sent me a set of professionally done photos to drool over. Thanks Carl for the great service and thank you Ren and the Guild team for an affordable beautiful tone making instrument. I am happily picking and strumming away.

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Great guitar

i never owned a guild before but was really satisfied with this one great sound, feels great and is very beautiful guitar. i have owned martin before and this guitar is right there with martin if not better. plus it is made in the USA.

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