D-55 Dilemma

[Bonneville88]

I've owned Guilds I found pleasing and some less so, from Hoboken-era to present day.

A few quick notes...

Two Hobo-era D35s were remarkably different guitars - I kept one and sold the other.
Four Hew Hartford F50s (maple) rotated through usage over about a year - I kept one - no plans to part with it.
A Westerly Maple F50 owned for little over a year also departed.
Three D55s (two New Hartford, one Westerly) and a Westerly D50 are now gone - done with Guild Rosewood dreads for now, perhaps forever.
Two New Hartford F30s are still here and being enjoyed but eventually there will be only one.
Two of my current favorites - the Hobo D35 I kept, and a DC3E - from a cosmetic
standpoint, are absolute beaters, but I sure like how they sound and feel.
In the far corner, a semi-beater Hoboken-era F20 sounds better to my ears than the Westerly F20 next to it - the Hobo is also noticeably lighter,
but the Westerly has its charms as well. Keeping both for now, and generally play them one after the other,
pondering the differences.

While I've made an intentional recent pivot towards finding vintage Guilds that have been played, the MIC "Westerly Collection" D120 on the wall
holds its own very well against various Westerly D25s in the house.

Guild on.

[bobouz]

Not for one minute do I buy the argument that lighter construction produces better tone.

Imho, the thickness and bracing of the top have much more to do how a guitar is going to sound, regardless of any overall weight factors related to the rest of the instrument.

'70s Westerlys in particular are often noticeably heavy, but their tops are typically quite thin. In contrast, their neck & heal blocks are often massive chunks of lumber - but all that wood & weight is simply suspended in the frame of the instrument.

I think we would all agree that every part of a guitar effects the whole in one way or another, but the top is where the action is, and it's the one area where, at least to my eyeball assessment, Guilds have consistently avoided being overbuilt.

[PittPastor]

My point about weight is really just a matter of aesthetic preference. I really like the feel of a heavier guitar. I’m not arguing anything about tone and weight. In fact, as I said my super light Taylor sounds louder than the D55 (although I like the D55 tone more). Again, I just like the feel of the heavier guitar - not questioning anything about tone and effective guitar construction.

Where in PA? My first stop whenever I get a guitar online is to a Luthier. I know one really good one in Western PA. I know a couple of others some people around here recommend. But, I can't help you much on the Eastern side.

A Luthier can better tell you how serious the issue is, and also give you an estimate for the repair, and that is what I would take to GC. It's one thing to say: "This isn't what I expected" it's another to say: "Hey, I have an appraisal here from a professional luthier, and it's going to cost $X to fix this thing you didn't tell me about... how about we meet somewhere in the middle."

Just a thought. Sorry to hear about your experience. I only got one guitar form GC online, and it was a steal, and came in better condition than I hoped. YMMV is always the case with these things, sadly.

You have 15 days, right?

[Cougar]

...Two Hobo-era D35s... Four New Hartford F50s (maple)... A Westerly Maple F50... Three D55s (two New Hartford, one Westerly) and a Westerly D50... Two New Hartford F30s... the Hobo D35... a DC3E... Hoboken-era F20... Westerly F20... MIC "Westerly Collection" D120...

Guild on.

Man, you've really been Guilding! But better to Guild then to geld!

[bobouz]

I only got one guitar form GC online, and it was a steal, and came in better condition than I hoped. YMMV is always the case with these things, sadly. You have 15 days, right?

I believe GC's return policy on guitars listed as 'used' is currently 45 days. If it's listed as a 'vintage' instrument, you only have three days to return it.

And my experience with GC has mostly been like yours. On a number of occasions, if the guitar was listed as being in 'great' or 'excellent' condition, it's actually been closer to near-mint upon arrival.

[Br1ck]

Then there is the what do you like in tone. Everyone raves about the post 2012 D 18, how wonderful it is. Give me a 65 straight braced D 18 with a 1 11/16 neck any day. I was playing one in Gryphon one day when a guy comes up and says, that guitar is really nasal sounding isn't it. I said to me it was perfection. His idea of tone was a D 28 Marquis.

I once picked up a D 25, at first thought it was thin, but loud as hell, then thought of playing it in a jam. Just the ticket.

[TBK711]

Pitt Pastor - I am in WesternPa - specifically Mars/Cranberry area. I’d love a referral if you have a good luthier. I usually take guitars to a couple shops nearby and I would say they have been ok; but if you have somebody good, I would love to know.

I do have 45 days on this one to return, but I won’t wait that long. I think what I am learning from this thread is that the fact that I have fallen in love with the two D55’s I have played isn’t an accident. I should return and hunt for the one I really want. And I should lnt be too concerned about any era or plant, they all sound great.

.... and, Pitt Pastor, if you run into anyone selling a D55 in our neck of the woods, and you aren’t buying it, please do send them my way. I am in the market 😀.

And note - I’m not really feeling ripped off by GC. I knew this guitar was a little road worn when I bought it. As I said my plan was to return it - just wanted to get another d55 in my hands to make sure I loved it. And, I did/do!! I did not expect/didn’t know about the neck binding issue and there are a few more imperfections that were surprising, but i don’t “think” they deliberaretly deceived me - it just isn’t quite my “forever” D55. All in all, assuming the return is no problem, I would rate it as a good experience.

[PittPastor]

Pitt Pastor - I am in WesternPa - specifically Mars/Cranberry area. I’d love a referral if you have a good luthier.

http://stuartdayguitars.com/
412-381-0512
Stuart@stuartdayguitars.com

He's the real deal. Studied, apprenticed, was a journeyman. Old school luthier (though he's a young guy.) He moved up to New Galilee, which is a little north west of you I think. Really far from me now, but I don't think so much from you. (Cracks me up, we have him in Galilee and Martin in Nazareth -- what is it with guitar guys going to New Testament cities...?)

Here's the thing, I'm not sure where he is in his luthier business right now. I know he got a Realtor's license recently. He does custom builds. (His specialty is archtops. Gorgeous things. One model called "The Steel City Church" makes me want it on so many levels...) I think its hard to make ends meet as a luthier in Pittsburgh. But I would try him first. If he's not taking new business, I would say the next best bet are the guys at NSTuff in Blawnox. Lots of guys I know swear by them and Stuart actually gave them an endorsement when he moved from his south Pittsburgh shop.

Returning to GC, if you have to, is easy. I've done it a few times. You don't even need an excuse. "I didn't love it" is all they need, and they take it back. Hopefully, it doesn't come to that.

PM me if you have any other questions.

(And no, I am not in the market for a D55 -- or anything really. I couldn't get it past my CFO. And I want to stay married. So, the GAS is deeply repressed right now... But that doesn't mean I don't want one!)

[davismanLV]

What area do you live in. I have a like new D55 Tacoma. Sunburst with Dtar pick up.. I may sell it..undecided..but wouldn't want to ship it in this weather. Steffan

Steffan!!! Where the hell you been, brother??? Jeeze.....

[geoguy]

I would vote for keeping the one that you already love, and trying to negotiate a partial refund to cover the cost of repairs.

My experience is that the Westerly D55 I played had a fuller (bigger bass) sound compared to the Tacoma & New Hartford examples that I've also played. The Tacoma & New Hartford versions both had more of an elegant piano-like chime.

I hope those descriptions make sense.