Guild D55 Serial Number

[adorshki]

However, the neck block date was stamped on the day that the body rim was completed in the 'body shop'. That was a long time before the guitar was serial numbered in the 'finishing department' and even longer before the date that the guitar was completed in 'final assembly'.
Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

THANK YOU! For some reason I have a hard time remembering that step, "completing the body rim". And since that date stamp gets frequent mention I thought the refresher would be useful to others besides me, too.

 

[tomdevall]

Well I hope my picture excited some of you.

 

[West R Lee]

No, no date stamped on my neck block either, but I can tell you this......mine is AD552692 and it is one of the very, very last D55's to come out of Westerly in mid 2001. I could tell you precisely how many more were built after mine, but I've sworn secrecy to Hans.....I could tell you, but Hans would have to kill me. :wink:

West

 

[tomdevall]

Thank you Hans for the information. Thanks for preserving the history Guild Guitars!

 

[West R Lee]

Seems like a bunch of D55's built in '01.....like at least 600 plus. And if Westerly closed in mid 2001, isn't that something like 100 D55's/month? :shock:

West

 

[fronobulax]

The only necks that were serial numbered before they were attached to a body were solid body 'bolt-on' necks.

That is the part I seemed to have glossed over and forgotten. Glad I have you to keep me straight. I appreciate your patience. I'd be flamed and roasted to a crisp for that on other parts of the internet by now.

Next time, I'll say something like the necks were stamped when a superstructure (generally neck attached to body) was created. Superstructures were not always made into guitars close to the time they were created nor were they made into guitars in serial number order.

 

[davismanLV]

So, what's the story with neck block date stamps? I thought they all had one. But apparently Tom and West have no date stamp. So is that something they quit doing at a certain time, or is it just random? Is the lack of a date stamp something you can use to narrow down a build date?

I'm confused..... again. :roll:

 

[West R Lee]

So, what's the story with neck block date stamps? I thought they all had one. But apparently Tom and West have no date stamp. So is that something they quit doing at a certain time, or is it just random? Is the lack of a date stamp something you can use to narrow down a build date?

I'm confused..... again. :roll:

So am I Tom. In fact, when I origionally answered the OP here, I asked him to check the neck block in my response. Then I went to check my D55's neck block and found no date, so I modified my origional post and deleted the part where I asked him to check it. I too thought virtually all Westerly Guild acoustics had a date stamped on the block.

West

 

[adorshki]

So, what's the story with neck block date stamps? I thought they all had one. But apparently Tom and West have no date stamp. So is that something they quit doing at a certain time, or is it just random? Is the lack of a date stamp something you can use to narrow down a build date?
I'm confused..... again. :roll:

They stopped late in Westerly or at least it wasn't visible on the heelblock any more. I don't think it was in that location before about '91 or after about '98? Can't remember if anybody's reported 'em in '80's Westerlys. Default'd be a good person to check with on that detail.
It'd be interesting to see if Ridgemont can see one in his '99 D25.

 

[GardMan]

Can't remember if anybody's reported 'em in '80's Westerlys.

I am almost positive that my '81 D-46 has a neck block date, as well as a top date. As I recall, both are in Dec 1980 (just a few days apart), and the SN date it to early 81. I'll check when I get home tonight and report back.

As I recall, more of my dreads (I have 5 from the 70s, 1 from the 80s, and one from the 90s) have top dates (stamped inside on a brace near the soundhole) than neckblock dates. I'll report back on that, as well.

 

[Ross]

Can't remember if anybody's reported 'em in '80's Westerlys.

My '83 has a neck block stamp

 

[adorshki]

Can't remember if anybody's reported 'em in '80's Westerlys.

My '83 has a neck block stamp

There you go then, thanks!

 

[West R Lee]

So, what's the story with neck block date stamps? I thought they all had one. But apparently Tom and West have no date stamp. So is that something they quit doing at a certain time, or is it just random? Is the lack of a date stamp something you can use to narrow down a build date?
I'm confused..... again. :roll:

They stopped late in Westerly or at least it wasn't visible on the heelblock any more. I don't think it was in that location before about '91 or after about '98? Can't remember if anybody's reported 'em in '80's Westerlys. Default'd be a good person to check with on that detail.
It'd be interesting to see if Ridgemont can see one in his '99 D25.

My D30 has one.....July 23, 2000.

West

 

[adorshki]

My D30 has one.....July 23, 2000.

Sounds like the dropped 'em very late in the game then. Thanks!

 

[West R Lee]

My D30 has one.....July 23, 2000.

Sounds like the dropped 'em very late in the game then. Thanks!

Yes it does.

West