Bracing on Guild dreads: 1971 - 1992 (several pics)...

jazzmang

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Here are some more, taken from another posting of mine:


Westerly DV-72 (1993):
IMGP0642.JPG


Westerly D-55 (1999):
IMGP0640.JPG


Tacoma D-55 (2005):
IMGP0638.JPG
 

GardMan

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Jazzmang,
The scalloping on your two Westerly builds is (as you might expect) similar to that on my Westerly D-55... but the Tacoma is REALLY scalloped. I wonder if they followed a template when scalloping... or if they did it by sound (I think that's unlikely)? Maybe Hideglue or WorkedinWesterly will chime in with details.

Seeing the thin strip glued to the end blocks of your three made me look more closely at the end-block of my D-55. I had thought it was two pieces glued together, with one of them cross grain. But now I see that, like yours, it's just a thin strip of veneer glued on the face of the endblock.

I'd still like to know if the "shaving" of the braces on my '76 D-50 was done at the factory. Any other owners of mid-70s D-50s care to look inside, and report?
Dave
 

krysh

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KenL said:
Great photos, enjoyed them very much, especially since I have an '91 D-46 myself. Tremendous guitars, my favorite.

The serial # on mine ends in 319. Is yours anywhere close to that?

I saw one for sale a few years ago that was within 9 or 10 numbers of mine, probably rolled off the line the same day.

you didn't ask me ken, but mine is 361. :)
 

jazzmang

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Just got my 2010 CT D-55 and F-50R in today!

Bracing looks much the same as Tacoma, but the innards are much cleaner.
Notice the new birch end blocks in use in CT.

D-55 (CT):
IMGP0729.JPG


F-50R (CT). Sorry about DTAR being in the way.
IMGP0738.JPG
 
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I spent some time this weekend doing my semi-annual guitar cleaning and string swap on six of my dreads (I swapped strings on the G-37 in Oct, so decided it could wait). While the strings were off, I stuck my smaller camera into the body and snapped some pics of each to document the different bracing ...mostly showing the different shapes of the tone bars. Thought some of you might be interested...

1971 D-44 (pearwood).
120991051.jpg

This one came to me with a split end block and top crack. Someone had tried to glue them, but missed... you can see the glue residue on the sides. I had both glued and cleated, and the repairs are visible (large plate on the tailblock and top cleats between end of the tone bar and X-brace). If you look closely beyond the shadow of the bridge plate, you can also see a faint glue line... that, the smaller size, and the diagnonal grain of the bridge plate are evidence that it is a replacement (done before I got her). A very clean repair (tho' a lot of "tear out" when he drilled the pin holes!). Note that the tone bars taper gradually in height towards their peripheral end (compare them to the next pic showing my D-35).

1972 D-35 (flat mahogany back)
120991047.jpg

The tone bars have a more constant profile along their length (maybe a slight taper in height?), and the end taper is straight. The bridgeplate appears to be maple.

1974 D-25M (arched mahogany back)
120991045.jpg

The tone bars have a consistent profile along their length, but the ends are "scooped" instead of straight (compare to D-35 in previous pic). The bridgeplate appears to be rosewood (or mahogany?).

1976 D-50 (rosewood)
120991050.jpg

Notably, the tone bars and X-braces appear to be "shaved," beginning about half-way along their length. I don't know if this was done at the factory, or to voice the guitar after it left the factory. I'd appreciate it if anyone with a D-50 from the same period (say, '75 - '80) could look and let me know if theirs have a similar appearance. Rosewoodbridge plate. You can see stains where super glue I used to seal the hairlin crack in the bridge wicked down the pn holes to the bridge plate.

1981 D-46 (ash)
120991054.jpg

"Standard" profile tone bars. Large rosewood bridgeplate. No cloth side reinforcements. Note the bright reflection from the screw-on end pin (replacing the end-pin jack it had when I acquired her).

1992 D-55 (rosewood)
120991053.jpg

Scalloped X-braces and tone bars. Rosewood strip side reinforcements (none visible in this pic; others are cloth, D-46 has none). Note the two piece end block (edit 21Jan10: In looking more closely at the pics from Jazzmang, I now realize that the endblock on my D-55 isn't two pieces... it simply has a thin strip of veneer glued across the grain as a reinforcement). Note the pin holes are set farther back in the large maple bridge plate.

Dave, I wanted to confirm the bracing on my 1978 D-50 is tapered and shaved down towards the ends as well and looks very similar to the photo you’ve shown of your 1976 D-50. It also has a rather large rosewood bridge plate, typical from the 70’s. It’s a heavy guitar, but well built with a bell like tone. I like it, John
 

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Boneman

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Wow, talk about coming out of the woodwork to show some woodwork! Only 5 messages in 9 years, where you been!? Nothing like reviving a 12 y.o. thread, but glad you did, Dave’s photos were awesome. Which guitar is that from jel?
 
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Wow, talk about coming out of the woodwork to show some woodwork! Only 5 messages in 9 years, where you been!? Nothing like reviving a 12 y.o. thread, but glad you did, Dave’s photos were awesome. Which guitar is that from jel?
The bracing and bridge plate photos I added are from a 1978 Guild D-50 I picked up recently, in pretty amazing condition. I was researching, digging around and found this thread. Years ago, but when posted, he’d mentioned if anyone else has a D-50 with similar bracing to let him know… The least I could do. These 70’s tapered braces Guild used on the X brace and tone bars were fairly unique. Nothing like the scalloped or straight braces found on Gibson or Martins from the 70’s. I find the mid tones excellent and both the treble and bass, far from lacking. But personally, I’d like a bit more bass if given the choice. No doubt if I took some meat off the braces and changed that big rosewood bridge plate out for a smaller maple one, the tone would benefit. But this guitar sounds great as is and it’s in such amazing condition for a 44 year old dread, I’m hesitant to change anything.
 

GardMan

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jel2anto, thanks for your post.

I was the OP of that thread... I contacted Hans Moust (author of the Guild Guitar Book, and esteemed LTG member), and he informed me that the braces on my (now sold) '76 D-50 were scalloped AFTER the guitar left the Guild factory.

Enjoy your recently-acquired '78 D-50!
 
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I realize this thread is super old, just felt like it's too much of a coincidence (or not), not to share. These are the tapered braces of an '80 D-50 and an '80 F50-R. I have a '78 D-40 incoming that i'm very excited to look under the hood as well.

🤷‍♂️
 

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