Ensenada Mexico DV6 VS Guild USA D-40

goodry

Junior Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2020
Messages
71
Reaction score
25
I just got done reading a thread on here about how the DV6 can\may be superior to the D-40.

There is an Ensenada, Mexico DV6 up for $500 right now. If that is the case... that the DV6 is better than the d-40... i'd be crazy to not jump on it instead of the $1200 d-40?

I just recently got an Eastman E10D-TC Torrefied Adi\Solid Mahogany.. Have a recording king torrefied Adi\Solid East Indian, as well as Guilds F-150CE and a D-150CE. Both Spruce\Rosewood ...So I've got both quality mahogany and rosewood take care of.

Down the line, my big purchase is going to be a Boucher SG-52 or BG-52, cant decide - but those are my save for guitars.

Long winded post , but, what i'm saying, with all the above taken into consideration, Is the Mexican made DV6 equal to or better than the USA made D-40 ? I was going to save up for the USA D-40 (new, b-stock, $1400 + tax) sunburst but for $500 no tax, I might not have to save.

Thank you all for your quality advice, it is always appreciated.
 

GardMan

Enlightened Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2006
Messages
5,359
Reaction score
959
Location
Utah
Guild Total
5
Never played a DV-6, and haven't played a D-40 in more than 40 years. But, the MIM DV-6 has rosewood back and sides. The D-40 has mahogany back and sides, so a bit like comparing apples and oranges.
 

goodry

Junior Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2020
Messages
71
Reaction score
25
Never played a DV-6, and haven't played a D-40 in more than 40 years. But, the MIM DV-6 has rosewood back and sides. The D-40 has mahogany back and sides, so a bit like comparing apples and oranges.

Oh dang, I forgot that (very important) detail. Thank you for pointing that out. I guess the more appropriate comparison would be the d-55 then.
 

GardMan

Enlightened Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2006
Messages
5,359
Reaction score
959
Location
Utah
Guild Total
5
The Westerly-built DV-6 was a mahogany B/S model. An LTGer who worked at the Westerly factory commented more than once on how they were an under-appreciated gem in the Guild line-up of the day. I don't recall anyone commenting on an A/B comparison with a D-40...
 

goodry

Junior Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2020
Messages
71
Reaction score
25
The Westerly-built DV-6 was a mahogany B/S model. An LTGer who worked at the Westerly factory commented more than once on how they were an under-appreciated gem in the Guild line-up of the day. I don't recall anyone commenting on an A/B comparison with a D-40...

To add a wrinkle to all this - I just realized the Larrivee D-03R is in the same price range - lot of good feedback about anything larrivee. But again, Mahogany VS rosewood


I need a sugar mama so I can just buy them all.
 

chazmo

Super Moderator
Joined
Nov 7, 2007
Messages
25,475
Reaction score
7,132
Location
Central Massachusetts
The DV-4 from Ensenada (which was mahogany -- not the DV-6 of that era) was really awesome. A D-40 from that era would be US-built.
The big difference to me is that the DV-4 is very raw... I mean they used a very thin finishing process (whatever it was), and the necks that I played felt like raw wood. Also, the crown of the guitar looked like it was done on a jig saw by a high school shop student. Having said that, they sounded like angels. I didn't play a lot of D-40s during that period though. The DV-4 should be a great bargain!
 

goodry

Junior Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2020
Messages
71
Reaction score
25
The DV-4 from Ensenada (which was mahogany -- not the DV-6 of that era) was really awesome. A D-40 from that era would be US-built.
The big difference to me is that the DV-4 is very raw... I mean they used a very thin finishing process (whatever it was), and the necks that I played felt like raw wood. Also, the crown of the guitar looked like it was done on a jig saw by a high school shop student. Having said that, they sounded like angels. I didn't play a lot of D-40s during that period though. The DV-4 should be a great bargain!

Sounds like I should be looking for a dv4.

The one I found was a dv6. Are they similar?
 

chazmo

Super Moderator
Joined
Nov 7, 2007
Messages
25,475
Reaction score
7,132
Location
Central Massachusetts
I wasn't as taken with the Ensenada DV-6, goodry (it's rosewood). Given the amazing Guild D-50 and D-55 rosewood axes out there, and maybe I'm biased, but the DV-6 did not compare much in my mind. The DV-4, though, I really liked. By the way, if you go pre-Tacoma, as was mentioned earlier, the DV-4 was the rosewood version (I think) and maybe DV-6 was mahogany; I honestly don't remember. A Westerly version of either of those would surely be great. Good luck in the hunt, Goodry. Oh, and having said that, you cannot go wrong with a D-40; but you will pay more.
 

bobouz

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2015
Messages
2,231
Reaction score
1,827
The DV-4, though, I really liked. By the way, if you go pre-Tacoma, as was mentioned earlier, the DV-4 was the rosewood version (I think) and maybe DV-6 was mahogany; I honestly don't remember. A Westerly version of either of those would surely be great.
There was a D-4 built in Westerly, but no DV-4. The D-4 appeared in 1992 with an arched mahogany back & a variety of finishes. There also was a mahogany-top version of the D-4.

The Westerly D-6 also first appeared in 1992. It had mahogany back & sides, with a flat back & all solid woods throughout, and came in a variety of finishes. I have one built in ‘92 with a full gloss natural finish. In all respects it is essentially a D-40, and it’s a fine instrument with high build quality.

The Westerly DV-6 was first released in 1995, and replaced the D-6 in the model lineup - again with a mahogany body. It added scalloped bracing and a herringbone rosette.

The DV-52 first appeared in 1992. This filled the rosewood slot in the model lineup, and had scalloped bracing & a herringbone rosette. It was followed by the DV-62 & DV-72 In 1993, both with fancier aesthetic appointments. The limited edition DV-74 and DK-70 (koa) were released in 1995.
 

Bill Ashton

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2006
Messages
4,387
Reaction score
989
Location
North Central Massachusetts
Guild Total
4
I may have played the same DV's as Chaz did, at our favorite music store in the heart of Massachusetts? (Sigh!)

The DV's I played there I did not care for. At the same time I played a new-at-the-time D-40 Standard...still kick myself today that
I never bought it, it was there for a very long time, KICK! KICK! :cry: The D-40 Traditional's never did it for me, but that Standard...
 

goodry

Junior Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2020
Messages
71
Reaction score
25
I think after posting this question to multiple people and doing my research - it appears Larrivee's real fortay is their OM and smaller body guitars, The DV-6 seems hit or miss and everybody seems to love the D-40. So, with that said, and your guys' help and guidance, I think I will seek a D-40 Natural. There is a natural for 999 and a sunburst for 1149 on reverb.

Thank you all for your guidance and first hand advice. This forum is great and really cuts right to the point of an inquiry without having to spend hours upon hours researching the web and not being able to tell if the review is from somebody who is just in love with their shiny new toy or has solid grounded historical knowledge and experience.

Thanks for clearing the waters for me!
 

Pike

Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2005
Messages
836
Reaction score
33
I owned a post Fender D40. I liked it better than my 1976 D40, my Martin D18V and also my Martin D16H which were all great guitars. I only sold the post Fender D40 when I acquired a different high end spruce/mahogany dreadnaught. I have not played either of the DV’S mentioned so I cannot comment on those. I did however own a DV52 which was also an exceptional guitar.
 
Top