gmcdeadhead
Member
is a 2006 guild d-55 from corona any good , are they better than westerly's or not , thanks .
corona guilds
- Thread starter gmcdeadhead
- Start date
Scratch
Enlightened Member
Most on this forum would rank Corona guilds behind Westerly and Tacoma manufactured guitars. Not to say I wouldn't buy one, but I'd want to play it first. Most complaints with Corona Guilds tend to relate to finish blemishes etc. BTW; never saw a 2006 Corona Guild. They were made in Tacoma, WA. in 2006. Corona years were 2002 - 2004 I believe...
I believe he's right, an '06 would be a Tacoma model.
Secondly, I would want to play any D-55 first. I played a Tacoma D-55 that sounded pretty dead to me, at least as compared to one of their D-50's in the same room at the same time.
There's been a bunch of discussion here on Corona Guilds, and I think they get a bad rap because Fender sold a bunch of them as "Blem's" and "Factory Seconds", likely while they were working the bugs out of their process after the move from Westerly. Even though these were identified and sold as seconds, the ones that came out of there without any issues are probably suffering from an identity crisis :roll: They typically don't sell for as much on ebay - maybe a great opportunity to get a great Guild at a lower price.
I haven't heard many complaints from Corona owners here, and as far as I know Fender has stood behing their warranty.
Secondly, I would want to play any D-55 first. I played a Tacoma D-55 that sounded pretty dead to me, at least as compared to one of their D-50's in the same room at the same time.
There's been a bunch of discussion here on Corona Guilds, and I think they get a bad rap because Fender sold a bunch of them as "Blem's" and "Factory Seconds", likely while they were working the bugs out of their process after the move from Westerly. Even though these were identified and sold as seconds, the ones that came out of there without any issues are probably suffering from an identity crisis :roll: They typically don't sell for as much on ebay - maybe a great opportunity to get a great Guild at a lower price.
I haven't heard many complaints from Corona owners here, and as far as I know Fender has stood behing their warranty.
jgwoods
Member
For what it's worth the guy that fixed my '75 D50 says he much prefers working on the Corona Guilds to those from Tacoma- AS far as he is concerned the Fender plant guitars are superior. I was surprised to hear it but thats the way it is. Time will tell on the Tacoma Guilds- If they are anything like Tacoma brand guitars they won't hold up.
john_kidder
Senior Member
Bought a Corona D-50 for my brother - he loves it, plays hard and all the time, perfect intonation and action, no issues at all. He would hear immediately anything not quite right, but he wouldn't notice anything except the most extreme finish imperfection.
6L6
Senior Member
I owned a Corona D-50 and thought it was a great guitar.
6
'06 D-55
'06 D-40BJ
'06 F-412
'74 D-40
'98 Martin D-45V
'09 Martin D-35 Custom
'98 Collings D-1
'03 Taylor 214
6
'06 D-55
'06 D-40BJ
'06 F-412
'74 D-40
'98 Martin D-45V
'09 Martin D-35 Custom
'98 Collings D-1
'03 Taylor 214
dogberry
Member
I have a D-40, made in Tacoma, and it's a great guitar. My local shop has had Guilds built both in Tacoma and Corona, and, in my experience, you just gotta play 'em. Some of the Coronas were great sounding -- and occasionally they weren't. Same for the Tacomas -- they have some D-40 bluegrass specials on the wall right now that seem kinda dead, but when I picked up the D-40 Richie Havens model I eventually bought, it sounded pretty good. I got them to put new strings on it -- and it sang. If it sounds good, it doesn't really matter where it was made, does it? It's subjective, if it sounds and feels good to you, then it sounds and feels good.
Scratch
Enlightened Member
jgwoods said:
Wow. First I've seen/heard a statement like that! My first Guild was a 2003 Corona D25. It was quite pretty; played nicely, actually, but in terms of performance, anemic when compared to the '79 Westerly D25.
Scratch
Enlightened Member
TonyT said:Which is a fine guitarScratch said:
Still looking forward to your SoundClick, Tony...
That's a first. Not that there was anything wrong with the Corona Guilds, but I'd really appreciate some elaboration of that comment if you ever get a chance, JG. Interesting comment about the Tacoma brand guitars. I haven't owned one, but what was the issue with their durability? I played a couple of their DM and DR dreads, and they were very nice.jgwoods said:
I'll make one comment about the Tacoma stewardship of Guild... They produced some new models, and innovated substantially with the traditional ones (compensated saddles, new pickguard styles, and more recently the addition and top side mounting of the strap button and carbon rods in the neck of the F512. That's a lot of innovation in a couple of years (IMO). The only durability problem I've heard about Tacoma has been some finish issues and binding separation.
taabru45
Enlightened Member
I've talked about my Corona D25 before, white one. Being a flatback it likely isn't as loud as the arched back. It also has the mahogany top, my first. lt had the Guild "sound" whatever that is, from the first time I played it. That was in a McDonalds. Not the best place to pick up a guitar full range. The first chord I played was 'sold', I was kind of dissapointed at first because when I looked at the label it said Corona. So having heard not so nice comments about Corona, I was preparing myself for a letdown. Anything but! Its lighter than the old Westerlies I have but so are the late Westerlies and Taks. I also had a like new 96 Westerly D4 that really was mint, arched and spent most of it life in a case. It was just not the Guild sound to me, bought it because it was such a great deal, but even after string change, disappointed. However it got traded straight across for a 72 F112, which I love! I now have a Corona D40 on hold for me in California, this will be sight unseen, but that is part of the excitement of the Guild dance, The guy thought it to be about 25 years old, based on appearance, and it had a 3'' crack it the back, but was only asking $250. I told him th get his luthier to check it out and fix the crack, if it didn't need anything else like a neck set, that I'd get it, incl hard shell case. Who could say no to a deal like that. My total cost will be $300, plus shipping..later this month. By the way the luthiers' comment was something like "the only other thing it needs is a slight adjustment", After putting new strings on, it was " man you can't beat these old Guilds, they just don't make guitars like this anymore.' or something like that. Cool huh!
Like always, if you look closely, you might find your name on it. Steffan
Like always, if you look closely, you might find your name on it.
SteffanI just spent a snowy day with my Corona D55.
It is a early Corona production unit, a 2002 model.
I purchased it used, and have played it a lot for 4 years, and can still find no problems!
Finish, materials, fit,tone, playability, you name it, there are just no problems with this great guitar.
As they got a bad rap, and sell for less, they can be a great secret deal. 8)
At least mine was,
Dale.
It is a early Corona production unit, a 2002 model.
I purchased it used, and have played it a lot for 4 years, and can still find no problems!
Finish, materials, fit,tone, playability, you name it, there are just no problems with this great guitar.
As they got a bad rap, and sell for less, they can be a great secret deal. 8)
At least mine was,
Dale.
Here's my story about corona guild :
I bought a D50 "used" some years ago which was a great guitar but i get a pretty good deal on a DV52 westerly at the same time...
So i get these 2 guitars for a short moment and i had to compare them and choose one because i couldn't afford to have them both
I chose to keep the DV52 because it sounded better IMO
Few month after that i got another great deal on a D55 corona
Not "used" this time but normal with serial number etc....
Same case, i got to let go one of these....
I chose the D55 Corona which i own again and love very much
I bought a D50 "used" some years ago which was a great guitar but i get a pretty good deal on a DV52 westerly at the same time...
So i get these 2 guitars for a short moment and i had to compare them and choose one because i couldn't afford to have them both
I chose to keep the DV52 because it sounded better IMO
Few month after that i got another great deal on a D55 corona
Not "used" this time but normal with serial number etc....
Same case, i got to let go one of these....
I chose the D55 Corona which i own again and love very much
jgwoods
Member
Chazmo said:
I owned 4 Tacomas- DR20, paisley hole Road King, a Parlor deep body that I can't recall the model # and a Papoose A scale.
They held up while I had them and the DR20 sounded fine. That was 10 years ago. In the meantime I have run into a dozen more in the hands of young folks where they might not have gotten the best of care and they were beat- cracks everywhere, and sounded poor. I make no conclusions from that but I have seen quite a few- not any Tacoma Guilds though as Guilds around here- MA are pretty rare where I travel.
I will be back talking to Bill Whitsett in a few weeks and I'll ask him to elaborate on his preference for the Corona Guilds over the Tacoma models. We didn't talk about Westerly or Hoboken. http://www.whitsettguitarworks.com/