I'm not sure if you can tell how it was sawn, AoxoA. The grain seems to run (relatively) straight from top to bottom. But, clearly, the log that it was cut from had lots of imperfections that gave it that neat figuring with the quilt and puckering. I'm not even sure if you can say that it's from a stump or perhaps the grain was affected by a branch growing in that area.What do y'all know about the Brazilian Rosewood used for the D-55 50th Anniversary? Is it quartersawn or flatsawn? Stumpwood or not? How old was it? I read it was from a 1950’s pre embargo stash.
I'd love to see pictures of the Engelmann spruce top if you can do that sometime!
Engelmann Spruce (Picea englemannii) is native to western North America. That's all I know about it so far. It will be the next thing to look into.Now that's what I'm talkin' about! Beautiful, beautiful top!
I wonder why some are and some aren't.I have owned one. Wasn't particularly impressed with the tone, sustain.
.....these 50th Anniversary D55's are built so tough I don't think the "Stable" issue really matters. They are much more robust than your early 60's Guild D40 build. Mine is a wonderful guitar and one of the best sounding Dreads I have ever played of any Brand. The craftsmanship is second to none and the tone is truly representative of the classic Brazilian "Grand Piano" tone. This one should make someone extremely happy!
Had one right when they were released but had to sell it. Wish I had not. One of the most enjoyable guitars I have ever played.
Looks like quarter sawed stump Braz.
It does look like stump wood..... so beautiful. That wood is abstract enough for me to get a little crazy about the whole thing!! WOW!!
Yes, it is stump wood. That doesn't preclude it being old growth though (the stumps are usually the oldest parts of the tree). It also doesn't preclude it from sounding good; you won't know until you hear it.
Yes indeed. One of the first things I do with a guitar is to pull the saddle & do whatever is required to assure it is optionally set in the slot. Additionally, a change to Tusq is often in order, as it is my preferred material for its bright & punchy qualities. Case in point: I’ll never forget how the tone of my G-37 received a total makeover, just by changing out the saddle & setting it properly.Could be as simple as an irregular bottom on a saddle (or saddle slot), or a not-so-rigid shim beneath a saddle. Or something more nuanced re: the woods used in a particular example, or the way it was assembled. Or ill-suited strings.
I've had two used guitars that sounded especially bad, that came back to life after removing a soft-plastic saddle shim from one instrument, & installing lighter-gauge strings on the other. Was very surprised by the improvement in sound (at least to my ears) in both cases.
The press release said limited to 50, Ray. Fender probably would've had the wherewithal to source Brazilian for 50 bodies, but my guess is that less were actually built. Just a guess, though.How many of these were made ?
I don't know if Brazil can actually export their rosewood anymore, but there is plenty of guitar wood still available out there. Lots of the independent luthiers have their own stashes that they've collected or bought from each other.If I’m not wrong they still export some Brazilian we know old stock is or was grandfathered in
I think the soundboard on my Ibanez AW-75 is Engelmann, and that guitar is a lifelong companion of mine. Sings beautifully . But, yeah, it's not that commonly used and I agree with you that there are plenty of other spruces I'd rather have. It sure looks beautiful, though... Which, of course, is a key eye-candy factor, especially for an anniversary edition. Plus, it always looks new/fresh because it doesn't seem to darken like, say, Sitka.Engalmann !? Ugh I’d B slap that guys decision on choice of top for this guitar ! Besides glamour I’ve not played one Engalmann top that’s worth a hoot .
luthiers can do wonders but it’s hit or miss
I can't remember a picture of 50 of 50. Not even sure what the highest number is we saw. In theory there would have beenFender probably would've had the wherewithal to source Brazilian for 50 bodies, but my guess is that less were actually built. Just a guess, though.
Those R. Taylors were nice guitars.Italian flatpicking guitarist Beppe Gambetta owns two R Taylor mini-jumbos (?), top with Engleman, body/sides of "Madi" Rosewood. I have only heard 1, but there is no lack of sustain in that combo or build. Will ask him about his second when I see him in June.
Just as another comment, again maybe not germain to the discussion, while at Kaufman Kamp last year I had the chance to play another attendee's H & D dreadnaught, similar to mine but weighted a ton! Like playing a Les Paul! It was Brazilian Rosewood. Looked pretty, sounded about like mine (EIR and torrified adi top)...
How many of these were made ?
That Brazilian Rosewood was used for a limited edition run of 50 guitars along with at least two prototypes; The NAMM prototype (headstock was stamped with P 000001) and one that didn’t have anything stamped on the headstock (pics here and here talked about here).I can't remember a picture of 50 of 50. Not even sure what the highest number is we saw. In theory there would have been 51 because there was the additional NAMM 2003 prototype (as also mentioned in the press release) that was not part of the 50 counted.
1979 would be East Indian Rosewood. I have seen some regular production Guilds as late as 1970 made with Brazilian RW Back and sides but most of that was phased out and changed to East Indian RW back and sides during the late 60's. There was a short period in the 70's where Guild had some nicely figured East Indian Rosewood and used it on D50's among other models. I have seen people misidentify that Figured EIR as Brazilian but it is EIR none the less. Guild did use Brazilian RW for Bridges and Fretboards well into the 70's to use up their stock that they already had on hand but pieces big enough for back and sides were all pretty much gone by 1970.
Guild did however produce a 50th Anniversary 2003 D55 model that was limited to 50 guitars that had Brazilian RW back and sides. There are only three other Modern Guilds that I know of that were made with Brazilian RW Back and sides. One was made around 2003 by Master builder Chris Fleming out of the Corona Custom shop which I own and it is a F47 model. The other two I know of were made during the Tacoma, Wa. era in the F47 body style and one was given to Matt Umanov of Umanov Guitars in NY by Fender. The other went to a High up Fender Exec from what I have heard. Hope that info helps and Welcome to LTG!
Oh, you are right! 2 prototypes! 2015, no wonder I couldn't remember that discussion! I had seen the real #1 in San Jose many years ago. So bad those photos are gone in that old discussion.along with at least two prototypes; The NAMM prototype (headstock was stamped with P 000001) and one that didn’t have anything stamped on the headstock (pics here and here talked about here).