D55 top wood

[Guest]

I am considering purchase of a 2005 Tacoma built D55.
My question is in regard to the type of spruce used in this guitars top.
Everything that I have read in this forum states that D55 top is Sitka Spruce.
Guild catalogs and website lists it as AAA solid spruce.
This particular guitar has a top that looks like Adirondack red spruce.
I have several high end Martins with Adirondack tops and they look identical to me.
I have seen a lot of Sitka and never any like this.
In Vintage Guitar Mag May 2007 visit to the Tacoma factory Marketing Manager Donnie Wade
said "Guild flat-tops now have red spruce tops and braces".
So, does anyone here know for sure if Guild used or uses red spruce on the D55???
This will not influence my purchase but I sure am curious about the conflicting information.
This will be my first Guild and I am looking forward to it.
Thanks all,
MikeD

 

[6L6]

I've never heard of it, but that doesn't mean it isn't possible. I would think that it would have been at the end of the Tacoma production where they might have had some left over...?

My '06 D-55 is definitely Sitka.

6

 

[chazmo]

Well, 2005 was the first batch of the then-new Tacoma production. As far as any of us know, the entire run was Sitka spruce. Adironadack spruce was used on some of the other models, including the D-50, but not on the D-55.

We found numerous experimental changes in the Traditional-series models over the 3+ years of Tacoma including strap-button placement, saddle construction, neck trussing (in the 12s toward the end of 2008) and even a changed placement of the tented letters on the G-shield headstock. However, Adi on the D-55 is not one that we've heard mentioned before.

I think you should assume it's Sitka, Mike. Best wishes. Let us know if you find out to the contrary.

 

[Pike]

Hi Mike, D55's rock! Be sure to post some pics if you pull the trigger...