Cons
- Plastic bridge pins (replaceable with the best bridge pins)
- Too traditional / plain, in terms of looks and tone
Pros
- Traditional aesthetics and feel, boisterous and resonant acoustic sound
- Incredible build quality at a student-friendly price point.
- Classic dreadnought tone, with deep bass and brassy highs
- Discrete active pickups with good plugged-in tone
The Guild D-240E is a superb acoustic-electric guitar that blends classic dreadnought design with modern functionality.
It has a solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a big dreadnought body, which lets it deliver rich bass and brassy highs. As expected from traditional dreadnoughts, it takes hard strumming like a champ and has excellent projection. Note that the back and sides feature mahogany construction, compared to the usual cheaper tonewood options used on other guitars.
Guild equipped the D-240E with the Fishman-designed AP-1 Sonicore pickup system, which produces a naturally amplified sound. You’ll have to get close to see the discrete soundhole-mounted controls, which removes the need for body modifications.
The fast, slim C-shaped mahogany neck provides a modern contrast to its overall traditional design. And this is a welcome change, especially for students who prioritize playability.
Attention to detail is evident in the overall construction of this guitar, from the herringbone rosette vintage-inspired appointments to its satin finish.
If you’re looking for a no-nonsense traditional guitar that you can learn and play on stage, this is for you. This is also a fabulous yet affordable pick for budget-conscious guitarists looking for a traditional acoustic-electric dreadnought guitar.
Specifications
- String Type: Steel
- Body Shape: Dreadnought
- Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
- Body: Mahogany
- Fingerboard: Indian rosewood
- Bridge: Indian rosewood
- Number of Frets: 20
- Scale Length: 25.5″
- Nut Width: 1.688″
- Nut and Saddle: Bone
- Electronics: Guild/Fishman AP1 with Sonicore pickup
- Pearloid rosette
- Period-correct tortoiseshell pickguard
- Matte polyurethane finish
- Lightweight deluxe gig bag