New Guild owner and forum member checking in!

[AmpliFIRE]

Just picked up a beautiful 1988 D50. It's in great condition and sounds amazing. She's not quite as loud/boomy as my HD28, but much more balanced and sweeter sounding. Even better, she plays like a dream! The action is nice and low with now buzzing, and the neck is super comfy.

I've got a few newbie questions...were all D50's from the Westerly plant made with the same bracing and woods? Are the back and sides solid rosewood?

Here's a crummy iphone pic:

 

[Brad Little]

The back and sides are solid rosewood. I don't know for sure about the bracing and the top wood. The bracing is probably all the same pattern, but some of the earlier ones may not have been scalloped. The tops are all solid spruce, but some may have been different kinds of spruce. I like mine a lot, usually play it more than my F-50 these days.
Welcome to the forum.
Brad

 

[chazmo]

Welcome aboard, fire!

Your D-50 back and sides are solid Indian rosewood. Yours looks like a beaut! Congrats!

 

[GardMan]

Hey ampliFIRE,
Welcome to LTG! I just added a '76 D-50 to my stable of dreadnaughts a couple weeks ago... I am quite pleased with it.

According to Beesley's "Guitar History #5: Guild Guitars," the D-50 (which was originally introduced in 1963) was re-introduced in 1987 with a slightly different headstock (he calls it "tapered") and scalloped bracing. From your photo, it appears your does have the tapered headstock... if you looked at the top braces thru the soundhole, or with a small angled mirror, you may be able to see scalloping of the top braces.

Enjoy!
Dave

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Thanks guys! How would this guitar compare tonally with an earlier D50 or D55 with X bracing?

 

[GardMan]

To my knowledge, all the Guild dreads have Guild's version of "X-bracing" (meaning the main top braces make a big X below the soundhole). It's just that in some models, the main braces and/or the tone bars are also "scalloped," meaning they have had some of their mass removed by planing them in the center. Here's a thread with some pics of scalloped vs unscalloped: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=15401

Most of my Guild dreads have unscalloped braces, like my "new" old D-50. But the braces in my '92 D-55 are scalloped. I am sure there are other contributing factors besides scallopng of the braces, but the D-55 has a smoother over all tone than the D-50. The D-50 had the same strong bass... tho' perhaps not as "smooth," and has brighter trebles than the D-55. The old D-50 is just as loud as the D-55 (maybe even more so), and it's tone is a bit more "in your face."

Of course, it's all subjective... so your impresssions might vary.
Dave

 

[krysh]

welcome from germany and a great choice for the 1st guild. many more to come!

 

[Scratch]

Welcome to LTG Amp. I saw a beautiful D50 at the Arlington Vintage Guitar Show on Saturday. Had me GAS'n big time. One of these days maybe. Congrats!

 

[killdeer43]

Welcome to the GAS gang, Amp. You'll love it here...or else! :lol:

You'll also love that D50 and I can offer 20 years of first-hand, original-owner experience with mine. It is, quite simply, my all-time favorite guitar. I think I've tried 'em all! Here it is with another peach, a D15 cousin.

Solid spruce top, solid rosewood back and sides, etc., and the tapered headstock. It's a total winner!

Joe

 

[evenkeel]

Welcome to the group from another newbie.

Sounds/looks like you've got a terrific Guild.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

thanks again guys! here are a few better pics of her:

 

[killdeer43]

Sweet!
They do make good door stops, don't they? :lol:

Joe

 

[john_kidder]

My (gone now) '79 D50 was my all-time favourite outdoors guitar - you could hear it from here to Toledo. Great guitar.

 

[killdeer43]

My (gone now) '79 D50 was my all-time favourite outdoors guitar - you could hear it from here to Toledo. Great guitar.

Toledo? Ohio or Spain?

Holy Toledo,
Joe

 

[dane]

AmpliFIRE,
Welcome to LTG, (better known as Guildigan’s Island). :roll:
That D-50 is a keeper for sure! Congrats on a great guitar.
Dane

 

[southernGuild]

Welcome in...and GREAT GUILD! enjoy!!! :lol: may she be the first of many more!! :lol: