Guild G-37SB
This may be a strange way to start this post, but I think the Guild G-37SB should be nicknamed The Big Man’s Guitar! For a dreadnaught, this thing feels huge. Now I’m not the biggest person in the world coming in a 5′-6″ and 160lbs, but the G-37 seems to fill up every nook and cranny under my armpit. When I rest this guitar on my thigh and get ready to play, I honestly need to think a bit about how to get myself around it!
But this is not a bad thing! The Guild G-37SB is a fantastic guitar! And it has a very unique sound that can add some identity and character to your playing. Today we will be demoing a 1977 Guild G-37SB (SB = sunburst). I was able to use Guild’s website to date the guitar using the serial code here.
The Overview
The Guild G-37SB is a great cowboy guitar. It’s got a big, boomy, bright sound you can’t help but envision at a campfire. The G-37 was constructed using maple sides and a laminated maple back. The back is arched which explains the laminate construction, and also adds to the guitar’s volume and low end. The sunburst finish is beautiful and gives the guitar a classic old styling that still looks good 40+ years later!
It has a 5-piece neck with a large profile. It’s not quite as big as some of the early Fender baseball bat necks, but it’s a nice size and very comfortable for strumming chords. If you’ve got smaller hands, it may be a tough reach getting to some bar chords, but I find it’s easy to play and don’t mind the thicker profile.
The headstock comes with a Guild inlaid logo with a crown inlay directly beneath. The headstock shape is simple enough and stays within the traditional style for acoustic headstocks. I believe the Grover tuners on this particular G-37 are not original, and if anyone can help me confirm that, I would be very much obliged.
Finding a used Guild G-37 on sites like Reverb.com is not too difficult, and depending on the condition, the price ranges from $1200 to $1,700. I’ve seen some folks on forums claim that they’ve found a G-37 for $800. Some even claim to have bought these below $600, but I think you’ll have to be very patient to get a deal that good.
How Does it Sound
The G-37 is a great sounding instrument, especially for the price of these guitars. I personally think the sound rivals other high-end guitars, and I can’t wait to compare the sound clips to see how it stacks up. When fingerpicking, you get a big fat sound. The low notes are a bit boomy, but it’s nice and loud. I had to adjust my playing a bit so my thumb wasn’t striking the low notes quite as hard, and that seemed to take some of the boom out.
The highs really sing on the G-37. It’s got a bright and glassy sound thanks to the maple wood, and the higher notes separate themselves from the low end of the guitar nicely. Take a listen here:
When strumming, the Guild provides a big sound. All the more reason why I call the G-37 a big man’s guitar. When you start strumming, you can feel the body of the guitar vibrate against you as the guitar comes to life. Its got a great all-around full sound. Take a listen!
I recorded the sound bites using Presonus Studio One Artist 4, Presonus’s AudioBox iTwo, and a Shure SM7B microphone.
The Wrap Up
I really liked this guitar. As it happens, the G-37 is I first guitar I learned how to play on. That guitar had high action and showed other signs of natural aging due to the tension the strings put on a guitar. But playing this G-37 was a whole new experience as it had been professionally setup in the last 10 years or so. It reminded me of my early guitar days and of some of the first Beatles songs I picked and strummed when I was a teenager. I haven’t played a G-37 in years, and after being reunited with one, I realized I have a soft spot for this guitar.
Action & Intonation
The Guild G-37 I demoed had some work done to it, and an extensive setup was completed in the past decade. The guitar that was demoed for this post had fantastic action, nice and low, with no fret buzz. It was a dream to play, and I often got lost in the sound. You’ll find that the Guild pulls you into the music and keeps you there. Fun, fun, fun guitar.
Note, if you find a Guild G-37, play it before you decide to purchase. I’ve played these before where the action is pretty high from age, and they can be a bit of a monster to play. If you’re OK with taking it to a tech and spending some money on a setup, this may not be an issue. Be sure to sight the neck to check for any warping or other anomalies.
The intonation on this guitar was great. That’s all I have to say about that.
Overall Sound
The Guild G-37 SB sounds fantastic! If you love a big low end, sparkly highs, and an altogether full sound this guitar is perfect for you. It kinda makes you want to sit up high in a saddle, ride a horse through a brushy desert, and sing cowboy songs as loud as you can. Definitely a great traveling buddy, though it’s large size may make it a pain to lug around long term. However, I think this is a perfect guitar for campfires, beaches, and backyard get-togethers. Bring it everywhere!
Modifications
I believe there have been minimal modifications to the G-37 I demoed. I do not think the Grover tuners are original, though I am by no means knocking Grover. They make top of the line tuners, and I would not under-value this guitar for not being 100% original. I also think a thorough setup was completed in the last decade. I mentioned it before, but be sure to check and play any used G-37 before you buy it. Keep in mind that you may need a professional to look at it for any structural concerns.
Final Thoughts
This is a nice playing guitar with a good sound. You and you’re guitar playing friends will pick up the G-37 and immediately enjoy yourselves. It’s fairly priced on the used market at around $1,200+ and well worth it if your looking for an instrument built before 1980. It’s incredible to think the guitar I demoed is 43 years old (older than me) and still sounds as fantastic!
AND if you’re a fan of the vintage relic’d look, these guitars all seem to have really nice light checking. It appears that the finish is on the thinner side, and there were several small nicks and dings that gave this guitar the highly sought after naturally weathered appearance. Find one. Play one. Have fun!
Other Guitars to Consider in the Same Price Range or Lower Price Range
Check out the Martin Custom D Classic. They’re not vintage instruments, so they’re a bit less expensive. I think the two sounds are comparable, but the Guild definitely had more articulation or separation between the low end and high end. The G-37 will give you a wider audible range. The Martin’s notes blend a bit nicer, but to my ear, the Martin is more focused on the mid-range.
If $1,200 is a bit out of your price range, I think the Washburn WD32S is a good sounding budget guitar. It certainly does not sound as good as the G-37, but it’s a pretty decent compromise.
Higher End and Better Sounding Guitars
Welp, unfortunately I haven’t demoed any higher end guitars yet. When I do, I will update this post so you can see your options!!
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