Thanks for the feedback guys. I did not mean to misrepresent the grade or have my listing be offensive or false advertisement. I was having a little fun in title heading of the listing and attempting to be creative in my marketing. All I can do is speak my truth. This is my 4th D55 and its the best sounding to me and the prettiest. I received a near mint d100crv today, and the 2000 d55 has more silking than the 1993 d100crv. Everything is subjective in sound and taste.
Yep.
I do believe this '00 D55 sounds better to you, and might actually show better response on something like an O-scope analysis (no snark intended)
I just questioned the validity of the observations about the top.
Gotta admit a seasoned buyer probably recognizes the difference between opinion and speculation and "fact".
And reading between the lines of Hideglue's comment "I'm not so sure there was an exact method.
It was Willie, afterall." makes me realize that perhaps the very nature of the beast required him to make judgements based on changing availability and even ownership (Fender) demands so no actual "absolute standards" were possible.
It does appear that the quality of basic stocks did actually improve during the very late Westerly period which includes your '97 D55 and the current subject, especially evident in some of the utterly spectacular maple used in the Bluebird AAA model.
I also checked in with Richard and he says his 50th anniversary D55 looks close to the same on top.
And those were Englemann, out of Corona, but yeah pretty sure those were specially selected, can't recall for sure.
:friendly_wink:
And I invite correction but it's my understanding that silking in and of itself is not an indicator of better strength but simply a pretty good guarantee that a top has been quartersawn.
https://www.lmii.com/blog/2019/08/01/what-are-medullary-rays/
Quartersawing yields the tightest possible grain in a cut, yielding wood that will have the best strength-to-weight ratio in any given log; but it's the
grain tightness that's responsible for strength, not the medullary rays.
In fact Bogdanovich even discounts grain tightness but focuses on density, but I might observe that tightness does have a pretty good correlation with density.
He also gives his interpretation of the grading scale here:
https://www.jsbguitars.com/learn-about-guitar-wood/the-soundboard/
With respect I think you'd be better served simply referencing mentioning Willie Fritscher's role in top selection at Guild and leave it at that, it's something you can back with cold hard fact
http://www.westerlyguildguitars.com/articles/woodselection.pdf
and even accolades from no less than Bob Benedetto. (my italics):
https://www.jsbguitars.com/learn-about-guitar-wood/the-soundboard/
"We are sorry to hear of the passing of our friend Willi Fritscher of Guild Guitars (
the heart of the legendary guitar company), shown with Bob and Tim Shaw (center) at Guild Guitars in Westerly, RI, circa 2000"
Oh yeah btw, I know I've been a somewhat demanding critic and want to thank you again for all the provenance you cheerfully provide when requested.
Thanks for being patient.
I had a chance to revisit your first post about the F44MC and had forgotten you actually had contact with Tim Shaw and Than Shearon about that guitar, and that's nice to know you do care about provenance issues.
Final zinger in spite of Frono's preference:
I don't believe soundboard armrests allow enough extra top resonance to be audible, but for sure they probably help prevent sweat damage to that delicate NCL.
Personally would take it off.
