Guild GAD-50

I purchased this instrument from SameDayMusic.com for $675 in lieu of spending $1500 for a Guild D50 which was my original choice until I came across this model with nearly identical specs.

This guitar, which seems to be a close copy of the Guild D50, is made in China. I had very low expectations for it and was thinking myself extremely stupid for ordering a musical instrument over the internet. But it arrived this morning and the quality is utterly fantastic.

I'm not that great a guitar player, but a long time ago I worked in a music store under a master-class violin maker and learned to appreciate the qualities of fine stringed instruments. Back then I chose a Guild D50 of all the fine guitars in the store to buy for myself.

While shopping for another D50 I came across this GAD-50 and the specs seemed very close to the D50 at about 1/3 the price. The catch was the 'made in China' thing.

Bottom line is that it arrived this morning and, in spite of my low expectations, I was overwhelmed at the quality, workmanship, construction and tone of this instrument considering the price. The action feels the same as my old D50 and the tone and projection seem identical also.

The verdict is still out on the clear pickguard. It does give the guitar a distinct look, but not sure how it'll look with some wear on it.

Some of the deluxe bits of the D50 were left off such as the ebony fretboard, the abalone fretboard inlays, the herringbone around the top, and the tortois shell pickguard. None of these items affect the tonal quality or playability.

I'm deducting just a couple of points for fingerprints on the tuning head and a blemish in the spruce top. The blemish (actually just a dark area in the grain) does not bother me at all since it indicates natural wood was used and gives the guitar some character.

The action is low. The neck is arrow-straight. The tonal quality, sustain and projection are every bit as good as I remember my old D50 from the 1970's being. The tuners are solid and rugged. A very nice hardshell case was included with a distinctive 'antique' look. It was shipped correctly with strings 1 full tone low and tuned up to normal without any hesitation.

My expectations for this Chinese copy of a Guild D50 were very low and I was prepared to discard this one and get the real thing. After receiving this model, I have no need to search out the American-made real thing.

This seems a fantastic value-- a well-made copy of one of the most famous and favored of the fingerpicking style guitars, the 1970's & 80's Guild D50, for about 1/3 the price.

The only question is to the durability and longevity and it has not been out long enough for any history to accumulate. BTW, the serial number on my unit is 001xx so I probably received one of the first batch off the line.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

This is a chinese made acoustic guitar manufactured by Guild. It is your standard dreadnought acoustic with 20 frets and no cutaway. It has a nice and thin neck with very nice string spacing on the fretboard. Mine is in the natural burst and its simple but very appealing. The guy at the store said it was made of spruce and rosewood. He's a very honest salesman who loves guitars so I'm positive on that.

I give this guitar a 9 because while it's not the best guitar in the world, it serves its purpose with pride, especially for a non-USA made guitar.

UTILIZATION

The neck on this guitar is great. As I said before the spacing between the strings is perfect. You can easily make chord changes or do some lead work without a sweat. The access to the higher frets isn't stellar but if you like to play pas the 13th 14th fret on an acoustic you should be buying a cutaway.

The design of this guitar is simple but very effective (and beautiful.) It doesn't have any frills but it feels great in your hands and doesn't weigh much since it doesn't have any electronics.

I give this guitar a 9 once again because it is simple and very effective. Playing is a breeze and this thing doesn't stifle creativity like some acoustics.

SOUNDS

This guitar sounds good for any type of music. It has a real classic acoustic sound. Very warm and full as opposed to other guitars in its price range which sound sharp and chalky. The notes lower on the neck ring clear but sound organic. The higher register is shimmery and a little bit more rounded so it blends with the low end perfectly. No other guitar in this price range sounds as organic as this one. Due to the use of woods it sounds like a real acoustic should. Nice job Guild.

I give this guitar a 10 for sound because you can't beat the bang for the buck of this guitar in terms of sound.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using this guitar for about 2 months now and I love it more every day. Other acoustics I've owned have made playing seem boring. They stifled my creativity. I can jam out on this guitar for hours and no matter what I want to play it for just a little bit more. I use it for open mics and the other guy I play with has one too. People often comment on how warm our tone is and how they enjoy it. Even a lot of non-musicians.

I tried a lot of other guitars in this price and I can't believe the difference. Everything else played poorly and sounded fake. Guild has really impressed me with the GAD-50. If something were to happen to this guitar I would definitely get it again because you get great tone and playability for a very reasonable price.

I give this guitar a 10 for overall because it really shines through all of its competition and has the quality of a more expensive guitar for the price of a mid-level guitar.

See data sheet

USE

The neck is very thin and very pleasant. All boxes are available and nothing frieze even with extra light.
Like all dreadnought, it is large but nothing compar some Takamine.
In addition varnish facilitates slide arms and fingers.

SONORITS

I think it is a very versatile guitar as much for the rhythm game that arpge.
The sound is very round and very balanced between high and low.
She has a very sound and very typ Martin style, but really not very folk mtallique or electric (at least in acoustics)
When the branch, it must obviously have a good amp because it is full of bass.
I love the acoustic sound at David Gilmour, Ben Harper, Radiohead, Heart ... and this guitar resembles it a lot.
The sound is very warm, very rich and very clean.

NOTICE GLOBAL

I use it for 6 months and I would not change it for a while.
I wanted a D-28 at Martin but the price made me back.
This is the only intressante guitar I found and had the sound I was looking vritablement (part D-28 and above models) and frankly, given the price, it should not hsiter.
Yet I try Takamines (too plastic, of Taylors (too expensive), the Gibsons and even a Horse (finally I prfrais D-28)
She is beautiful, it sounds great, it is easy to play.
The only BMOL is that there is no volume rglage on the body.

If I really had the means I would certainly have taken the D-28 (although, since I was the Guild, I have not ressay Martin) but I think I would do the m my choice.

Asian manufacturing (china) but a set of draconian guild loads, high quality wood handpicked, Solid sitka for the table, bottom and sides Indian rosewood, and silet Chavalet bone mechanical Grover Rotomatics short, an instrument that n 'taint no great reputation acoustic guitars Guild

UTILIZATION

the handle is excellent by its finesse and precision, but relatively steep perspective action high enough original it is difficult to get a low action even after adjustment to a luthier, unless planing and silet bridge (Hos..) I tried various drafts but nothing works .. otherwise handle very end in one piece a beautiful mahogany

SOUNDS

the sound of this guitar is rather part of a vintage style with lots of roundness and mids, the bass is huge! I could compare beef with a gibson j200 (4x the price of the guild ..) all maple that has nothing voir.la gibson (jumbo) to really less volume and a more modern sound, more flexible and less hot, the owner of this gibson was very surprised at the "raw" sound of the guild and its projection, however the action of very low gibson was a treat, violin and finishing of the same caliber but the guild holds road though ..

OVERALL OPINION

this guild is a guitar that he must attack both ballad "stonienne" in solo register, wood quality all solid and simple finish without frills but are nevertheless serious that at this rate, no guitar (or almost ) will compete in the category of very good guitars less than 1000 €