Hey Ben, I know your guitar from the Welcome Home video is a Guild but I am not sure of what model it is. It is a wonderful looking guitar and I would love to purchase one. I have been looking for a while but cant seem to find anything similar to it, if possible could you tell me the model details and also if the red colour was a limited edition of some sort as I cant find it online anywhere. Thanks.
I'm still not at home yet, but when I get in on Thursday I can check the model and serial for you. But I do know that it's from 1974. I got it at a pawn shop maybe 7 years ago. The coloring is kinda weird (I think it was originally maroon, and is now a faded red), but I like the sound of it a lot.
Yeah from your wrapped in piano strings tutorial the guitar really does sound great. Thanks for the quick reply and also for your help, I will keep searching until thursday.
I had a chance to look it up, and I'm pretty sure it's a Guild D25 (or D25M). I'll tell you for sure later this week, but I'm almost positive that's it. Another thing about my guitars is I like the sound of really old strings. The strings on my guild haven't been changed in over 3 years now. It's harder to keep a tuning, but it records so much easier and sounds so much better to me that I don't mind.
I always thought my guitar looked exactly like Ben's from the Welcome Home video, and its a Guild D25 so I'm curious as well. I cannot recommend the Guild highly enough. A really solid guitar.
It is. I stumbled upon a used a Martin D35 and sold a bunch of stuff I don't really use anymore (Kaoss Pad, an old preamp, two mics), so it only cost me $500 out of pocket. I love it. I now have a 71 Martin D35, 73 Gibson J55 and 74 Guild D25, and I got them collectively for less than either the Gibson or Martin would cost new. Granted it took me 6 years of looking to find them all, but if you're patient, you can find really good guitars for not too much. I think most guitarists wanna vomit when they find out how old my strings are, but I like the sound. I purposely rub oil on new strings to help them die faster, should I have to change one.
Hmm I might have to keep that in mind, my action is high on my Ventura so old strings for me seem easier to press down, not sure if me just building up muscle.
Ha! Cool Ben - that's what I thought it was - I have a 2001 D35 - great guitar, but I'm sure the 71 sounds better....I played one that was around that year a long time ago and still kicking myself for not buying that one, lol. By the way, how do you normally mic up your acoustics for the records and what mics do you use?
Yeah, I've had that happen twice so far. One was last year. It was a parlor-style Gibson, can't remember the model, but it was from the early 70s as well. Sounded great, but it was expensive. I decided to think it over. Kept thinking about how nice it sounded for the next 3 days, and figured I could sell some stuff and it wouldn't be too much. Went back to buy it and it had been sold an hour before I got there. As for mic techniques ... The two mics I use the most for acoustics are the SM7B (this is used about 70% of the time ... I love that mic) or the KSM44. The Shures win out most often on acoustic guitar for me. But I have a ribbon mic now, so that's muscling its way in. With the SM7B it's usually between one and two feet from the guitar, aimed where the neck meets the body, as a starting point and I just listen for problems. With the 44, I often track it quite close (6" to a foot) in omni to get rid of the proximity effect. For pres, if it's a sparser song, I go with something slower like my little Neve clone, and if I'm gonna be layering I usually use something fast, often transformerless.
Ben - thanks a lot man....you're an awesome guy. I appreciate you sharing this stuff. I've been working on improving my recording techniques and trying to find the right gear for my voice/style and it's extremely helpful to hear honest/clear opinions/approaches from a diy artist. Can't say it enough - you're really great at what you do and your records sound incredible imo - it certainly doesn't hurt that the songs are very well written and performed Oh and come to Denver! I'd love to see a show and I know lots of folks here that would love to see you as well.
Oh and come to Denver! I'd love to see a show and I know lots of folks here that would love to as well.
Have you change the action on the guitar as well? Out of all the guitars I have purchased I have never had the action raised (didn't always understand what it effects) but whenever I play second hand guitars, the strings always feel softer and easier to play. Should I be making a trip to the local guitar shop? Feels like I'm missing out on something
My action is always a bit lower because I tune all my guitars down a half step, but I don't have them set that way. I just like the strings a little loose, and dead. And I think there's just something nice about playing old guitars. I like the way they feel. They're nice and lived in. Oh, no problem. Happy to help if I can. And finding the things that suit you personally is a big part of the battle. You can get tips and advice from all over, but in the end it has to fit with your hands, your voice, your ears, your taste. What I do makes sense to me, but I don't expect it to carry over to others. At most, if someone likes the sound it can give them a starting point. But yeah, glad it's of some help. Thank you. And I may be in Colorado next month. But not performing. Just visiting a friend.
