D-55 with 3-piece back

[davismanLV]

Tom, I'm not seeing what you're seeing. Are you sure you're not looking at the grain of the brace?

Is that a brace in that bottom photo?? Maybe it is, with a strip over each joint? So only one has Guild burned into it? Maybe that's what I'm seeing.....

 

[geoguy]

I think that's correct, one long brace over each joint.

 

[SFIV1967]

Tom, I'm not seeing what you're seeing. Are you sure you're not looking at the grain of the brace?

Exactly, due to the 3 piece back there is no center bracing but two left and right!
And that wood looks like walnut.

Ralf

 

[davismanLV]

Definitely walnut on the wood. Thanks guys, the angle and everything had me all confused. Now I get it!!

 

[Yoko Oh No]

My Les Paul is maple stained very dark walnut...looks like a black beauty. In fact it’s so dark every time I took it out of my car the oil light would go on

 

[SFIV1967]

I recall seeing a discussion of this one on LTG before... but can't find the thread.

I also looked and can't find anything...Strange...
Ralf

 

[GGJaguar]

Hans must be laughing at our posts about this guitar.

 

[Westerly Wood]

i had a Larrivee L-03 WL way back when. It was awesome!
kind of subdued sounding but i think that is more about Larrivee's bracing approach vs say walnut as a tonewood.

 

[adorshki]

I also looked and can't find anything...Strange...
Ralf

It reminded me of that 12-fret D55 12-string we saw a couple of years back, a one-of-a-kind that I seem to recall Hans had heard of but never actually seen, yet. Ah, here we go:

D 55-12

@Al: Have a look what CITES tells: They have Granadillo as "Platymiscium spp.", not Dalbergia. https://www.delta-intkey.com/citeswood/en/www/fabplspp.htm African Blackwood or Grenadill is Dalbergia melanoxylon: https://www.delta-intkey.com/citeswood/en/www/fabdamel.htm Anyway, the names...

letstalkguild.com

OK, it wasn't a 3-pc back, (couldn't recall at first) but the wood/coloring seems very similar.

 

[awagner]

That was Richard’s, now mine. Despite its unusual coloring, it is definitely Indian Rosewood.

 

[SFIV1967]

Hans must be laughing at our posts about this guitar.

I don't think so. That's a tough one as WAL usually means "walnut stained wood" in other Guild models. Hence the initial confusion... And even that GardMan thinks he saw her before we didn't find any discussion so far on LTG about such 3 three piece back or walnut as wood for the back and sides. After all we don't even know if Hans has seen her before (like that D-55-12 Al mentioned). Sure it would be interesting to know what Hans knows about her.
Ralf

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Well lets see if this works.

@hansmoust

 

[plaidseason]

It's always been my understanding that these were walnut back and sides. And from the photos, that appears to be the case. Walnut is a pretty underrated tone wood, it's sort of a mix of maple and rosewood, which covers a lot of ground.

 

[SFIV1967]

It's always been my understanding that these were walnut back and sides.

Which "these" ? That's the very first single walnut guitar we see from Guild.
Ralf

 

[plaidseason]

Which "these" ??? That's the very first single walnut guitar we see from Guild.
Ralf

Good point. This isn't the first time I've heard of/seen this guitar or at least one like it.

 

[westerlyborn]

Have we seen this one before? Certainly different with a Walnut finish top and 3-piece back.

1983 Guild D-55 WAL-NT Natural > Guitars Acoustic | Rivington Guitars

This is one of the best sounding acoustics currently in our shop. Original 1983 Guild D-55 WAL NT. Made in Waverly, RI, USA. Excellent condition with no cracks, breaks or issues. Tone is remarkable...

www.gbase.com

I had a friend that had a Martin D-35 with 3 piece back. A mellow sounding guitar. This was done to save wood.

 

[SFIV1967]

I had a friend that had a Martin D-35 with 3 piece back.

Yes, all Martin D-35 had 3 piece backs as far as I know. But that's the first and probably only Guild D-55 with such a back.
Ralf

 

[blakeb2193]

I was thinking the 3 piece back could be a conversion by a luthier to repair a damaged back. Just tying to come up with a reason for the 3 pieces.