D-40 BG at local GC, different headstock?

PTC Bernie

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The local GC has a 2009 D-40 Blue Grass in good shape, but the headstock doesn't seem to have the black plastic overlay that I'm used to seeing. You can definitely see the grain of the wood, and the Chesterfield inlay seems original and untouched.

Is that something they were doing in 2009?
 

adorshki

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The local GC has a 2009 D-40 Blue Grass in good shape, but the headstock doesn't seem to have the black plastic overlay that I'm used to seeing. You can definitely see the grain of the wood, and the Chesterfield inlay seems original and untouched.
Is that something they were doing in 2009?
That rings a bell as one of the identifying factors since they didn't say "Bluegrass Jubilee" on the label, but they got Chesterfields.
My memory might be bad but I believe TXbumper was pretty well "up" on those, might want to check with him if he doesn't see this.
Warning: I just did a quick search and noticed 4 items on Reverb all called "Bluegrass Jubilee", 2 of 'em being items from when the name wasn't being used: '72, and '04.
Makes me suspect typical disingenuous sellers capitalizing on the "Bluegrass" name meaning adi top when Tacoma introduced adi and revived the name.
Prior to that D40's always got sitka.
And NH produced both the Bluegrass and a "Standard" version (with satin-finished neck as a dead giveaway on early production before going satin on everything but the top), so might want to take another look at that piece.
Don't know if you knew that but it could be handy for other folks in any case.
 

PTC Bernie

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That rings a bell as one of the identifying factors since they didn't say "Bluegrass Jubilee" on the label, but they got Chesterfields.
My memory might be bad but I believe TXbumper was pretty well "up" on those, might want to check with him if he doesn't see this.
Warning: I just did a quick search and noticed 4 items on Reverb all called "Bluegrass Jubilee", 2 of 'em being items from when the name wasn't being used: '72, and '04.
Makes me suspect typical disingenuous sellers capitalizing on the "Bluegrass" name meaning adi top when Tacoma introduced adi and revived the name.
Prior to that D40's always got sitka.
And NH produced both the Bluegrass and a "Standard" version (with satin-finished neck as a dead giveaway on early production before going satin on everything but the top), so might want to take another look at that piece.
Don't know if you knew that but it could be handy for other folks in any case.

Thanks for the info and quick reply!

Yes, seeing the grain on the headstock got my attention, never seen that before with the inlaid logo just with the decal.

I'll look at the finish this weekend when I'm over there. So the "Standard" had the satin finish neck?

Thanks!
 

chazmo

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Bernie, any chance we can get a picture to see what you mean? I thought chesterfields used flat black faceplates as well.

What you *might* be looking at is a Standard Series model (build from 2010 - 2014), which would have a rosewood faceplate (I think).
 

geoguy

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adorshki

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Thanks for the info and quick reply!
"Friendly wink"
Yes, seeing the grain on the headstock got my attention, never seen that before with the inlaid logo just with the decal.
That's the detail I'm unclear about.
"Back in the day" decals were a "cost-effective" way of logoing guitars that didn't get faceplates. D25's and 35's come to mind and later D4's.
The faceplate was really just a way of getting the inlays into something easily mountable.
I do recall NH announcing wood faceplates at one time as Chaz mentions (and I actually I really dig the look), but wasn't really paying attention to the details, "I had mine", and there were actually other details about NH's (open tuners, medium gauge strings) that worked against serious ownership interest on my part.
BUT I did do some more looking and saw 2 other '09 NH Bluegrass Jubilees, both with black faceplate and one with tortoise binding which I think was another one of those giveaway details TXbumper mentioned in a recap once.
Th-e-e-e-n...Here's one with a rosewood faceplate and labeled with a "BG", too:
https://www.keymusic.com/item/guild-d40-bluegrass-jubilee-antique-burst/
guild-d40-bluegrass-jubilee-antique-burst-3.jpg

Clearly a New Hartford label, just don't rememberhow "NM" decodes for model year but that's easy enough.

guild-d40-bluegrass-jubilee-antique-burst-4.jpg


I'll look at the finish this weekend when I'm over there. So the "Standard" had the satin finish neck?
That one I'm absolutely positive about. it was one of the ways they kept cost down on that line and as mentioned they eventually did full satin bodies with gloss on top only.
But now I think you've got evidence that a "BG" had a rosewood faceplate at one point at least.
 
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chazmo

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Oh, Al, you're right. That's a "Traditional" Series where they used real wood (indeed, rosewood) for the faceplate and chesterfield. Good catch.

The real wood faceplates were one of the key things of greatness that came from New Hartford (IMHO).
 

adorshki

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Oh, Al, you're right. That's a "Traditional" Series where they used real wood (indeed, rosewood) for the faceplate and chesterfield. Good catch.

The real wood faceplates were one of the key things of greatness that came from New Hartford (IMHO).

You and Geo got in there while I was re-working my last post where I found some more corroboration pics.
And as I inserted in an edit, I really dig those wood faceplates too.
 

tommym

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....The real wood faceplates were one of the key things of greatness that came from New Hartford (IMHO).

I really really like the feel of the satin neck on my NH Standards. Also, the rosewood faceplate has a gloss finish. The best of both worlds!

Tommy
 

txbumper57

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Actually the Standard Series got Rosewood Faceplates while the D40 Bluegrass like the one pictured above is Ebony where you can see the grain. If I recall correctly all of the traditional series models like the D40BG from New Hartford had Solid Ebony Wood Faceplates. Some of them you can see more of the grain than on others but definitely Ebony for the Traditional Series and Rosewood for the Standard series. They also used some nice MOP and Abalone for the Chesterfield logo as well. That attention to detail was one of the things that gave the New Hartford models such a Classy touch in my opinion.

TX
 

PTC Bernie

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Stopped by again today and it's the gloss finish on the neck and Ebony headstock plate. Sounds like a bonafide Bluegrass.

Thanks to all for clearing that up.
 
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