GardMan
Enlightened Member
OK, so here is MY take on the topic of the DV-7X and DV-8X models...
There were about 250 DV-72s made in 1993 and 1994. Altho' the SN lists include 197 DV-72s made in 1994 with AD72XXXX SNs, they DON'T include about 50 made in 1993 with LKXXXXXX SNs. An LTG member owns #43 of these 1993 made DV-72s, and I THINK I have seen an LK SN ending in 53 for sale. So I usually say ~250 DV-72s were made. The DV-72s came with turquoise, malachite (MK in SN), or pink coral (CL in SN) inlays in the fretboard, rosette, and on the bridge. I have SNs for 3 malachites (I own one and one other is owned by an LTG member), 3 corals (one is owned on LTG), and 26 turquoise DV-72s in a spreadsheet... suggesting that the majority (80%?) of the DV-72s are turquoise, ~10% malachite, and ~10% coral.
Guild SN lists include 52 DV-73s made in 1994 and 1995. I haven't seen anything to contradict this number (and I don't think Hans has mentioned there being any others not accounted for in the SN lists). The DV-73s have turquoise, red coral, black onyx and nickel silver inlays in the fretboard and rosette, and red coral, onyx and nickel silver inlay in the bridge... I haven't seen any other trim on a DV-73.
Although DV-72s and DV-73s FROM THE SAME YEAR (which would be 1994) are likely identical in everything except trim, all of the DV-72s were made in 1993 and 1994, and most DV-73s were made in 1995. There was a change in the bracing around the sound hole circa Dec 1994/Jan 1995 (more details and diagrams/images can be found in my blog on dreadnaught bracing: prior to '95, there was a flat sound hole reinforcement "plate" surrounding the soundhole; in 1995, that was changed to two thin braces flanking the sound hole. Thus, the sound hole bracing of MOST DV-73s (those made in 1995) is different than that of the DV-72s (made in 1993-94). My DV-73 is noticeably brighter in tone than my both of my DV-72s. Whether this is due to the different bracing, or just individual variation, I couldn't say... but I love all three!
Guild SN lists include 14 SNs for DV-74s made in 1996: AD740008 to AD740022. If we assume numbers 1-8 were made (in 1995?) then there were 22 DV-73s made. I have seen just one DV-74 for sale, on Craigslists in Atlanta and surrounding communities several years back. It went for sale several times with an asking price of $3000 (or was it $4K?), and never seemed to sell (at that time, DV-72s and 73s were going for ~$2K). In the pics, it appeared to look just like the DV-73s, but with PINK coral in place of the red coral found in DV-73s.
SN lists include ten DV-76s made in 1994. One came up for sale this past year, and was bought by a member of LTG. If I recall the pics correctly, it had pink coral wedges in pearl blocks for fret markers, pink coral triangle inlays in the bridge, and a pink coral rosette, all similar to the DV-72CL. But, the DV-76 also had pink coral purfling around the body.
SN lists include one DV-82 made in 1994. I have never seen one, so don't REALLY know what it might look like... But going off the DV-76, I'd like to think that it has the turquoise fret board markers, rosette, and bridge inlay of the DV-72s with added turquoise purfling around the body. I don't recall it being included in Guilds owned by Jerre Haskew... but maybe it was/is.
I feel privileged to be the current caretaker of three of these magnificent guitars, two DV-72s (one turquoise, one malachite) and a DV-73... my ability certainly doesn't warrant instruments of this caliber. But, I enjoy them, nonetheless... I have even contemplated adding another... under the right set of circumstances, I just might!
There were about 250 DV-72s made in 1993 and 1994. Altho' the SN lists include 197 DV-72s made in 1994 with AD72XXXX SNs, they DON'T include about 50 made in 1993 with LKXXXXXX SNs. An LTG member owns #43 of these 1993 made DV-72s, and I THINK I have seen an LK SN ending in 53 for sale. So I usually say ~250 DV-72s were made. The DV-72s came with turquoise, malachite (MK in SN), or pink coral (CL in SN) inlays in the fretboard, rosette, and on the bridge. I have SNs for 3 malachites (I own one and one other is owned by an LTG member), 3 corals (one is owned on LTG), and 26 turquoise DV-72s in a spreadsheet... suggesting that the majority (80%?) of the DV-72s are turquoise, ~10% malachite, and ~10% coral.
Guild SN lists include 52 DV-73s made in 1994 and 1995. I haven't seen anything to contradict this number (and I don't think Hans has mentioned there being any others not accounted for in the SN lists). The DV-73s have turquoise, red coral, black onyx and nickel silver inlays in the fretboard and rosette, and red coral, onyx and nickel silver inlay in the bridge... I haven't seen any other trim on a DV-73.
Although DV-72s and DV-73s FROM THE SAME YEAR (which would be 1994) are likely identical in everything except trim, all of the DV-72s were made in 1993 and 1994, and most DV-73s were made in 1995. There was a change in the bracing around the sound hole circa Dec 1994/Jan 1995 (more details and diagrams/images can be found in my blog on dreadnaught bracing: prior to '95, there was a flat sound hole reinforcement "plate" surrounding the soundhole; in 1995, that was changed to two thin braces flanking the sound hole. Thus, the sound hole bracing of MOST DV-73s (those made in 1995) is different than that of the DV-72s (made in 1993-94). My DV-73 is noticeably brighter in tone than my both of my DV-72s. Whether this is due to the different bracing, or just individual variation, I couldn't say... but I love all three!
Guild SN lists include 14 SNs for DV-74s made in 1996: AD740008 to AD740022. If we assume numbers 1-8 were made (in 1995?) then there were 22 DV-73s made. I have seen just one DV-74 for sale, on Craigslists in Atlanta and surrounding communities several years back. It went for sale several times with an asking price of $3000 (or was it $4K?), and never seemed to sell (at that time, DV-72s and 73s were going for ~$2K). In the pics, it appeared to look just like the DV-73s, but with PINK coral in place of the red coral found in DV-73s.
SN lists include ten DV-76s made in 1994. One came up for sale this past year, and was bought by a member of LTG. If I recall the pics correctly, it had pink coral wedges in pearl blocks for fret markers, pink coral triangle inlays in the bridge, and a pink coral rosette, all similar to the DV-72CL. But, the DV-76 also had pink coral purfling around the body.
SN lists include one DV-82 made in 1994. I have never seen one, so don't REALLY know what it might look like... But going off the DV-76, I'd like to think that it has the turquoise fret board markers, rosette, and bridge inlay of the DV-72s with added turquoise purfling around the body. I don't recall it being included in Guilds owned by Jerre Haskew... but maybe it was/is.
I feel privileged to be the current caretaker of three of these magnificent guitars, two DV-72s (one turquoise, one malachite) and a DV-73... my ability certainly doesn't warrant instruments of this caliber. But, I enjoy them, nonetheless... I have even contemplated adding another... under the right set of circumstances, I just might!
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