DV difference from D?

[dogberry]

Just out of curiosity, I've never even seen a DV anything, and I got to wondering, what's the difference between the DV designated Guilds, and D's, such as D30, 40, 50, etc. I've heard lots on this forum sing the praises of DV52's and DV72's, and I got to wondering, as I said. Getting repetitive, uh oh. The search function isn't working for me now, so I'm reduced to just plain askin. Thanks in advance.

Dog

 

[Treem]

D = Dreadnought

DV = Dreadnought Vintage

DV52 I think is between a D50 and a D55 (to me).

DV72 is PRICELESS!!!

Treem 8) :lol: 8)

 

[adorshki]

HI Dogberry; I wondered about that myself when I got my first Guild catalog, '95-96. Two readily apparent details were: ALL DV's were flatbacks and they had chesterfield headstock inlays. I know that later on some, like DV4, got out without the chesterfield.

 

[adorshki]

Dog, I was goin' thru some of my old lit last night and stumbled across this little quote in the 1st "Guild Gallery", dated '97-98:
"DV series guitars are the product of research into how to tune the bodies and tops of these dreadnoughts to sound like vintage guitars." "...AA sitka spruce..." (tops) and "DV52 is widely recognized as the best value in the acoustic realm and it was chosen as the basis for the Guild Custom Shop models."
There were a couple of other detail differences mentioned between the DV6 and the DV52 as far as bracing (shaved vs scalloped) and the rosettes.
I think that's about as definitive as we're likely to see until vol. 2 of THE guitar book....

 

[jazzmang]

Dog, I was goin' thru some of my old lit last night and stumbled across this little quote in the 1st "Guild Gallery", dated '97-98:
"DV series guitars are the product of research into how to tune the bodies and tops of these dreadnoughts to sound like vintage guitars." "...AA sitka spruce..." (tops) and "DV52 is widely recognized as the best value in the acoustic realm and it was chosen as the basis for the Guild Custom Shop models."
There were a couple of other detail differences mentioned between the DV6 and the DV52 as far as bracing (shaved vs scalloped) and the rosettes.
I think that's about as definitive as we're likely to see until vol. 2 of THE guitar book....

I think he's right on the money here. Back in the day, the DVs were advertised as being guitars that sounded vintage even when they were brand new.

Not sure if Guild is still sticking with that marketing plan under today's management though...

 

[adorshki]

Not sure if Guild is still sticking with that marketing plan under today's management though...

So you think they've actually got a plan? :lol:

 

[West R Lee]

I believe the DV52 first came out in '93. The model was popular enough that Guild decided to model a few, fairly limited DV's on the DV52. Of those guitars....the DV62 also had the Chesterfield headsock logo, but the DV72 ('94), DV73 DV74, DV76 were all inlaid with semi precious stone material and given the "G Shield" headstock logo and received the stone inlaid block/arrow fretmarkers and rosettes. The DV72 and up also were given AAA tops, some call them "feathered" spruce, some call them AAAA, but as far as I know, they all have AAA tops. If I'm not mistaken, all DV's have scalloped bracing.

The DV6 is a mahogany guitar and DV52-up are all rosewood guitars.

Other than that, I can't tell you of any design differences in the "DV" models from the D models.....Hans? I can't tell you what makes them "Vintage". The DV's do feel a bit lighter to me compared to say, my D55 (don't know if they were actually built lighter), but I've got nothing to base that one other than feel......never weighed them.

West

 

[learnintoplay62]

Well West, not to nit pick, and as seeing how long your list of Guilds are compared to mine ( 1 ), I am sure you are much more knowlegable than I about their history. With that said, my 2008 Dv6 is rosewood b/s. Very plain though. So I guess from reading previous responses, they decided to make all the Dv series rosewood ? Would that make the earlier hog versions worth more?

 

[West R Lee]

Yours must be a Tacoma built guitar? I'm sorry, I always think in Westerly terms for some reason.

West

 

[jazzmang]

I thought DV4s were always mahogany and DV6s were all rosewood.

 

[West R Lee]

I thought DV4s were always mahogany and DV6s were all rosewood.

The earlier DV 6's were hog guitars I believe.

West

 

[stclrob]

Was the DV25 model mahogany?

 

[jazzmang]

Was the DV25 model mahogany?

I believe so

 

[Bill Ashton]

Back when I bought my first good acoustic guitar, around 1995, the local music store had the whole Gibson line, a number of "Montana" Epiphones and also several new Guilds. I ultimately was swayed toward my Gibson J-30, however I remember trying all the Guilds. If my memory does not fail me, the DV52 was the only one they had that was a glossy finish. While I remember it being nice, the J-30 got me One other factor I recall is that the DV52 was not a high end guitar price-wise, in the same ball park as the Gibson, around $1100 maybe a little more.

While this store had J-200's and J-180's, they did not have any higher end Guilds such as a D55...

 

[adorshki]

I thought DV4s were always mahogany and DV6s were all rosewood.

The earlier DV 6's were hog guitars I believe.

West

Correct according to my '96 catalog. Also The DV6 indicated shaved bracing in '96 and '97-98, first issue of Guild Gallery. DV52's indicated scalloped bracing in those catalogs. 8)

 

[adorshki]

Was the DV25 model mahogany?

I believe so

I never even heard of a DV25! That being said, if it was anything other than mahogany I'd be amazed, that's part of the definition of the D25 from day one! When they made one out of maple they gave it a whole new model number! (D30)

 

[West R Lee]

Well West, not to nit pick, and as seeing how long your list of Guilds are compared to mine ( 1 ), I am sure you are much more knowlegable than I about their history. With that said, my 2008 Dv6 is rosewood b/s. Very plain though. So I guess from reading previous responses, they decided to make all the Dv series rosewood ? Would that make the earlier hog versions worth more?

Here's a Westerly DV6......in mahogany. Gosh "Learnin", I don't know if it makes them worth more....just different. Personally I prefer rosewood guitars.

http://www.auroramusiccompany.com/Guita ... 6936abcb27

West

 

[plaidseason]

The Tacoma/Mexico DV4 is semi-related to the Westerly DV4 in that it's an entry level, all solid wood, mahogany dreadnought. Hand rubbed finish and no frills.

THe Tacoma/Mexico DV6 has no correlation to any previous model. It's basically an entry level, all solid wood, rosewood dread. Hand rubbed finish and no frills

The Westerly DV52 and DV6 were basically Guild's midline dreads, and sort of Guild's equivolant to the vintage Martin D28 and D18 respectively. Quality dreadnought guitars, meant to have a vintage sound right out of the gate. In the late 90s, both guitars could be purchased for very fair prices, (as someone else mentioned) the DV52 was around $1100 and the DV6 was notably less. In my opinion, the DV6 is the most underrated Guild acoustic of all time. I've played a few (even a cedar topped one) and they were all exceptional.

The DV25 and DV4 are basically the same guitar, solid backed versions of the D25/D4. The DV25s have a gloss finish with a headstock overlay, The DV4s are hand rubbed with a silk screened logo. Entry level, few or no frills, all solid wood dreads. I have DV4 and it's a ridiculously good guitar for the price. It's super light (especially for a Guild), it projects well, and it's packed with mellow, mahogany tone. It's the best $400 I've ever spent on a guitar, that's for sure.


-Chris

 

[dogberry]

A cedar topped DV6! I haven't ever run across a cedar topped Guild! Anyone got one (of course, someone here does) and what's it like? I've played a few cedar topped Taylors, and I really like the tone.