Dreadnought Body Shape

A perennial favorite of flatpickers and strummers and the most recognizable body shape by far, the dreadnought dates back more than a century, with Guild introducing its first dreadnoughts in the early 1960s. Characterized by square shoulders, a wide waist, and a relatively flat lower bout, dreadnought guitars are renowned for their robust lows, punchy mids, crisp highs, and powerful projection—and the D-40 Standard Natural guitar’s forward-shifted scalloped Adirondack spruce top bracing enhances those qualities while also increasing overall responsiveness. The ultra-thin Natural Vintage Gloss nitro lacquer finish has both satin and gloss qualities that highlight the natural beauty of the tonewoods and give the instrument a worn-in vintage look and feel.

Premium Tonewoods

The D-40 Standard Natural is meticulously constructed of the finest quality tonewoods. Wood choices and combinations contribute significantly to an acoustic guitar’s sound, and qualities such as hardness, density, and flexible strength distinguish different tonewoods. The D-40 Standard Natural guitar’s solid African mahogany back and sides provide warmth and an earthy richness, while a solid Sitka spruce top adds brightness and clarity, resulting in a powerful, well-balanced sound. The guitar’s mahogany neck topped with an Indian rosewood fingerboard and the Indian rosewood bridge complement the other tonewoods.

L.R. BAGGS ELEMENT VTC PICKUP SYSTEM

The D-40E Standard Natural includes a factory-installed L.R. Baggs Element VTC pickup system with Volume and Tone controls that faithfully reproduces the guitar’s acoustic sound when amplified or recorded. By detecting soundboard movement rather than picking pressure, the pickup captures the full and balanced tone of the guitar while eliminating the high-frequency "quack" typical of undersaddle pickups. The Volume and Tone controls are positioned nearly out of sight under the top edge of the soundhole, along with the built-in low-frequency compressor (the “C” in VTC), which reduces boominess and feedback. The system is powered by an internally located 9-volt battery.