Guild GAD40C Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic Guitar (with Case)

No longer available at zZounds

zZounds Gear Experts Say...

Solid spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, Venetian cutaway.

Overview

The Guild GAD-40C was designed utilizing a body shape that is the most popular acoustic body shape in the world and has been used for over 70 years. To accommodate modern playing styles, they added a Venetian cutaway for ease in reaching the higher registers of the guitar.

They use solid Mahogany for the back and sides, a solid spruce top that features scalloped bracing, and then joined the one piece mahogany neck with the traditional dovetail neck joint. For other appointments on the GAD-40C Guild uses Indian Rosewood for the fingerboard and bridge.

Guild continued the use of high quality tone woods by featuring ebony for the pearl dot inlayed bridge and strap pins, then added wood bindings, and Grover Rotomatic tuning gears. For the best in tone and intonation, they installed a bone nut and bone compensated saddle. For the finishing touches they inlayed classic pearl fingerboard inlays and then pack the instrument in a wooden arched case.

A guitar worthy of representing over 50 years of fine guitar building by Guild Guitars.

Specs

Body Style: Single Cutaway Dreadnaught

Top: Solid Spruce

Bracing: Scalloped

Back: Solid Mahogany

Sides: Solid Mahogany

Neck: 1-Piece Mahogany

Width at nut: 1-11/16 in.

Fretboard: Indian Rosewood (12 in. Radius)

Scale Length: 25 1/2 in.

No of Frets: 20

Machine Heads: Grover Rotomatic Die-cast Tuners

Bridge: Indian Rosewood Pin Bridge

Hardware: Chrome

Finish: High Gloss (Polyester)

Unique Features: Dovetail Neck Joint, Pearl Dot Position Inlays, Pearl Headstock Logo, Ebony Bridge Pins, Bone Nut and Saddle, Wood Bindings, Clear Pickguard

Strings: Replace with Guild L350 Phosphor Bronze, Gauges .012, .016, .025, .032, .042, .053

Case: Includes Deluxe Hardshell Case

Documents and Manuals

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 480-596-7195

User Manual

Reviews

(58 ratings)

Submitted September 29, 2006 by a customer from tcn.net

"Un-matched value"

Overall:

(see rating details)

I will always be looking for another guitar, but I likley will not part with my GAD40-C as I do not think I will find an equal in sound,looks and price. It was just a great deal.

Sound
Sounds great. It is very bright and punchy, and quite loud. I would say it is equal to Taylor 210, and very close to the sound of the Larivee DO3, but it has more to offer with great looks and gloss finnish.

Features
For the price, I have not seen a guitar with so much to offer. Gloss finnish, lots of inlay, beautiful dark back and sides, nice tight spruce top and that lovely smell of a solid wood guitar! Case is way cool!

Ease of Use
I had to bring the action down slightly, I am not a great player yet! The neck is comfortable, but in my opinion not as nice as the Taylor neck. Since it is loud you do not need to strum it that hard.

Quality
Suprising! A guitar made in china would scare off many potential buyers, including myself. This guitar is nearly flawless. I am impressed with the quality of wood and craftmanship for the money.

Value
I spent 3 months trying a lot of very expensive guitars, and still can not believe this guitar sounds and plays this good. This was the best guitar I could find under $1000, and it had the most features. Great bang for the buck.

Manufacturer Support
Not needed, but… read more they have a nice set up guide available on the web site.

The Wow Factor
I think the dark sides and back are stellar! I also like the chunky look of the large headstock. A cutaway seems to be sexier style of guitar and I love the sowflake fretboard inlays.

Musical Background:
Hobby

Musical Style:
All

3 of 4 people (75%) people found this review helpful. Did you?