1978 Kiso Suzuki Guild D55 copy

chazmo

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David, I suspect you'll be very happy with a new D-55. But, frono is right above!

The big difference for you probably won't be playability, quality, or sound... The question is whether you want a new guitar warrantee or not. That's really what you pay for when you buy new.

By all accounts, Oxnard is putting out Guild-worthy guitars, David.
 

geoguy

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In my opinion, D-55 examples from Tacoma, New Hartford, & Oxnard are lighter builds compared to Westerly examples.

The Westerly versions sound a bit deeper & woodier to my ears. And the newer ones have a lighter, chimey, piano-like sound that I enjoy.

I hope that helps.
 

David R.C.

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Thank you Chazmo & Geoguy I agree to try a new one I will have to learn to wait and put up with my wonderful N55
 

westerlyborn

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Recently picked this up for a decent price. Needed some work doing but plays pretty well now. Obviously not on the same level as a real USA Guild D55 but an interesting piece nonetheless. Appears to be a 1978 copy by Kiso Suzuki in Japan. Relatively convincing from a distance with some departures from the original design (for example a three piece rosewood back, adjustable saddle). Anyone come across one of these before?










Maybe I'm easy, but that looks like a nice guitar.
 

David R.C.

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It is, it looks good when you play it does it "do you good"?
 

David R.C.

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<veer> Do you know who worked for Guild and when? I can find references to Ryohei Tahara as a principal at Tahara guitars along with many favorable comments about his work but a direct connection between anyone at Tahara and Guild is not (yet) documented on the internet.
Sorry I can only tell you what I was told by word of mouth from someone I spoke to in Japan i.e. Tahara did some contract work for Guild quite some years ago sorry he told me no dates. My personal opinion of his work is that I think he was meticulous and highly talented hence my luthier's words of "I've seen Guilds younger than this not even close to this quality of sound, workmanship, and playability".
 
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