Best Guitar Shop » Guild

“Sound” Advice on Guitars as Christmas Gifts

admin — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:58:55 +0000

Guitars are sold everywhere this holiday season. But be wary: Don't go and buy the cheapest thing you see or pick up the first instrument you find.

Local instrument experts say you should consider these things whether you're buying a guitar.

Whether your son or daughter is trying to shred like Metallica or play Bob Dylan covers, here's what to look for:

In general
For beginners, many guitars come in packages that include everything you need to start learning to play.
Electric guitar packages come with the guitar, an amplifier, a strap, extra strings, picks, a carrying bag and an instructional DVD or book or both.
Acoustic guitar packages come with the guitar, bag, strap, strings, picks and instructional material. Some stores also offer another acoustic package that comes with an amplifier for an additional $30.
Packages come from a multitude of manufacturers and cost at least $200 for an electric guitar and $149 and up for an acoustic.
Individual instruments can be had for less than the price of the packages. An acoustic guitar will cost at least $100. An electric guitar will cost around $110 and up.

Acoustic or electric?
What's better for a beginner: an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar?
It's one of the most commonly asked questions at guitar stores, but the answer isn't clear cut.
One isn't necessarily better to play or easier to learn than the other. It's a stylistic choice.
If the person playing the instrument wants to learn country, folk, worship or other music, an acoustic guitar is generally the better choice. For rock 'n' roll, an electric is generally better, said Dan Sullivan, pro shop manager at Dietze Music.
And for those parents worrying that the noise from an electric guitar will shake the walls, be not afraid. The amps in the starter packages mentioned above are usually only a meager 10 watts.
“They're not that loud. And they all come with headphone jacks,” Sullivan said.

Guitar stand
Those nifty packages come with everything. Everything but somewhere to put your guitar when you're not using it. You can pick up a simple guitar stand anywhere for under $20.

Size
Sometimes kids need small-sized guitars because they're not big enough to comfortably play a full-size guitar.
Children can benefit from playing a smaller guitar, but it depends on the child's height. Someone at a store can help you pick the right size, said Hoyle of Russo's.
At age 11 or 12, it might be a good idea to buy a full-size guitar even if the child isn't quite big enough to play it yet since they'll quickly outgrow a small-size guitar.

Strings and picks
Guitar strings come in all kinds of styles and from many manufacturers.
For a beginner, it's best to use a light to medium gauge string. The lighter strings are easier for a beginner to press down and play notes.
As for picks, they come in countless shapes, sizes and thicknesses. Again, it's better for a beginner to use a thinner, lighter gauge pick. They're easier to use and require less finesse than a thicker pick, Hoyle said.

Amplifiers and pedals
The Foo Fighters might have them, but a beginner doesn't need an enormous amplifier.
If you're not buying as part of a package, a 10- or 15-watt amp is perfect for a beginner. Many by Marshall and Fender have both clean and distorted channels in order to play a variety of different styles.
For a higher price, some amps have multiple effects that can make a guitar sound like practically any guitarist you admire.
“You want to be Eddie Van Halen on the spot? Just push a button,” Hoyle said.

Lessons
It used to be that you had two options: Take lessons or fumble around and try to teach yourself.
“I'm self-taught,” Hoyle said. “When I started, I watched people play or listened to the album and pulled the needle back and listened again to figure out a part.”

A few more options exist today on the Web. Many sites are dedicated to teaching guitar with videos, sheet music and tablature that can help you learn a plethora of songs.

Still, the experts say getting one-on-one time with an instructor and being able to ask questions is important.
“There's a lot of cool stuff on the Internet. There's a treasure trove of information,” Sullivan said. “(But) lessons are the optimum way to do it.”

Teachers can give students direction and guidance and teach them a guitar philosophy that you can't get from a computer, Hoyle said.
Instructors at local stores teach on acoustic and electric guitars in a variety of styles and offer lessons to almost any age. Children can start as young as 6 years old.

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Guild D-40 Acoustic Guitar Review

admin — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 19:35:38 +0000

By Charles Saufley

With a lineup of classic flattop models including the F-30, F-50, F-412, and D-55 and a league of devotees that has included Nick Drake, Tim Buckley, Ralph Towner, Richie Havens, and Ryan Adams, Guild is among the most loved and respected acoustic-guitar companies. But while rightly regarded as an institution, Guild has had several homes, counting New York City; Hoboken, New Jersey; Westerly, Rhode Island; Corona, California; and Tacoma, Washington, as headquarters during its 57-year history. Late last year, Guild’s parent company, Fender Musical Instruments (who acquired the brand in 1995), announced that Guild was on the move again—this time back east to the New Hartford, Connecticut, factory that is home to Ovation production. (Fender also owns Ovation’s parent company, Kaman Music.)

Our review specimen of Guild’s stalwart D-40 dreadnought is among the first to emerge from the new facility. The quality, timeless style, and vibe that has always made Guild guitars special was evident the minute I took this guitar out of the case, and it only took a little picking and strumming to discover that the D-40’s tone and versatility are worthy of the Guild legacy.

A MAHOGANY LEGEND
The D-40 first appeared in 1963 along with the rosewood-and-spruce D-50. The two guitars were critical to Guild’s growth as it transitioned away from jazz archtops, and they were well timed to coincide with the acoustic guitar boom of the 1960s.
Except for a few noteworthy exceptions, the Connecticut-produced D-40 is faithful to the design and spirit of its 1960s forebears. It’s built around a lovely Adirondack spruce top with subtle bearclaw figuring and rich, chocolatey mahogany back and sides and finished with a flawlessly applied nitrocellulose lacquer that gives the guitar a mirror-like depth and shine. Guild’s trademark art-deco headstock—capped here with ebony—looks as sharp as a bespoke suit, sporting deco-inspired Gotoh 700 tuners, a pearl “Chesterfield” inlay (named for its similarity to the Chesterfield cigarette logo), and a pearl Guild logo that lend the guitar a distinctly American elegance. Among the changes to the original design are details such as a slightly tighter 30-foot top radius (earlier versions had a 40-foot radius), which Guild says increases the guitar’s sustain and projection, and a dual-action truss rod, rather than the older single-action type.

The three-piece neck (which has a slightly smaller heel than most older Guilds) is made from mahogany with a walnut “skunk” stripe at its center, and the rosewood bridge is cut in Guild’s signature twin-peaked shape. As on so many Guilds, there are plenty of small luxuries that make the guitar feel like some¬thing more than an ordinary factory ax: black-and-white rosette with a delicate ring of tortoise; tortoise binding and heel cap; and bone nut, bridge, and bridge pins.

FAT, WARM, AND LOUD
I’ve played a lot of D-40 dreadnoughts (as well as all-mahogany D-25’s and spruce-topped D-35’s) over the years, and I’ve always loved their playability, punch, and warmth. They’re like the guitar equivalent of a 30-year-old baseball glove—supple, responsive, and ready to go. Tuning up and laying into some first-position chords, I found that this D-40 displayed much of the power and glow that I remembered in those old Guilds. Like a new baseball glove, it felt a little stiff at first, but a fresh set of strings brought the D-40 to life—making the guitar feel a little faster under the fingers and adding a little extra shimmer to its kick and warmth.

Eager to break in the D-40, I had a go at my favorite Fred Neil vehicle for fast and heavy strumming, “Looks Like Rain.” The Guild’s warmth and clarity made me feel right at home, and I was impressed with the D-40’s responsiveness and tone under both a light and heavy touch. This is a dynamic and touch-sensitive guitar—not prone to harshness or harmonic blur when you push it, as some mahogany guitars are, nor apt to lose bass or high-end when you take your foot off the gas.

My interest piqued by the D-40’s sparkly, high-mid voice, I snapped a capo onto the third fret and improvised around the chord melody to “Shady Grove.” In this context the Guild was as responsive to delicate arpeggios as muscular, staccato picking—again demonstrating a wide dynamic range that will delight flatpickers and vocal accompanists. And I couldn’t help but think how much I’d value this guitar if I played in a band that worked in a wide range of styles. This guitar has a considerable presence that would find a place in any mix.

Fingerstyle explorations, in this case, improvisations in D A D G A D and C G C G C Eb, benefited from the D-40’s impressive range, too. The lower tunings showcased the D-40’s formidable low-end sustain, color, and overtones, and a driving, uptempo original tune in D A D G A D that relies on a droning sixth string sounded orchestral thanks to the D-40’s bottom-end muscle and high-end detail. Changing strings yet again—this time switching to light-gauge strings to facilitate faster bends—made the guitar feel even livelier for fingerstyle workouts. And though it took slightly more effort to summon the same low-end thump, the guitar remained balanced, responsive, and full of character.

NO-NONSENSE STYLE, RICH TONAL PALETTE
Over the course of the month I spent with this Connecticut-bred D-40, it became an ever more-rewarding companion. Though I enjoyed the guitar’s warm, boisterous voice most when strumming with a heavy, percussive, Neil Young–style attack (especially with the sixth string dropped a step or more), the D-40 was a great companion for delicate, late-night fingerpicking sessions, where I could appreciate its sustain and rich palette of overtones. It’s also a subtly gorgeous instrument, built with all the style and attention to detail that has made Guild a favorite of no-nonsense guitarists. If this D-40 is typical of the Connecticut factory’s work, it bodes well for Guild’s continuing legacy as a guitar maker for serious players who value utility and timeless style over flash.

At a Glance: Guild D-40 THE SPECS
Solid Adirondack spruce top. Solid mahogany back and sides. Three-piece mahogany and walnut neck. Dovetail neck joint. Rosewood fretboard and bridge. Bone nut, saddle, and bridge pins. 25.63-inch scale. 111/16-inch nut width. 21/8-inch string spacing at the saddle. High-gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Gotoh 700 tuners. D’Addario EXP 17 medium-gauge phosphor-bronze strings. Made in USA.

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