D50?

[steverok]

Is this the same as a D55 but less fancy, or is there more to it? I am talking about old ones from the 70s. I am interested in a rosewood dread, but something a little more spartan than the D55, in terms of appointments. Thanks.

Steve-O

 

[sitka_spruce]

Less depth, specs are at www.guildguitars.com.

 

[Guildmark]

Is this the same as a D55 but less fancy, or is there more to it? I am talking about old ones from the 70s. I am interested in a rosewood dread, but something a little more spartan than the D55, in terms of appointments. Thanks.

Steve-O

Great choice! My G-312 is the 12-string version of the D-50, and I love it madly.

 

[JHCrawLaw]

Hi, Steve O.

I picked up a '78 D50 about two years ago, and it has become the guitar that they will have to pry from my cold, dead fingers! It's loud, balanced, and virtually bling-less. To date, no one who has heard it or played it has been anything less than blown away by this 30 year old beautiful beast.

If you find one in good shape, by all means pull the trigger! Good luck!

 

[Metalman]

Is this the same as a D55 but less fancy, or is there more to it? I am talking about old ones from the 70s. I am interested in a rosewood dread, but something a little more spartan than the D55, in terms of appointments. Thanks.

Steve-O

Steve,

I'm glad you asked! I owned both guitars at the same time, and made a study of comparing the two "flagship" Guild models: the D-50 and D-55!

I bought the D-50 brand new in '82, have had many guitars come and go, and if I had to choose among my current stock, the D-50 would stay in my possesion, no doubt about it! It is a perfect guitar, no frills, as compared to the D-55, and it has a life to it!

The D-55, current and vintage, is the same guitar, with perhaps better quality wood materials, pearl inlay, and a bound fingerboard, and the classic shield logo.

When I had the two side by side (about 3 years ago), I noticed the D-55, a 1999 model, had a warmer, more majestic sound, as opposed to the D-50 more jangly sound.

The D-55 had lower frets, making for more of a nice feel, but they were too low for me. I looked into a re-fret, but I had already spent top dollar for the guitar, anymore expense would not be acceptable. So I sold it to a friend of mine.

I would go back and forth between the two brothers, and going back to the D-50 was like "going home". It was more responsive, and inspired me to play more. The D-55 was a beautiful instrument, but just didn't do it for me. Especially at the price I paid for it ($1850).

But the two are similar, like I said above. The D-50 is more spartan, stripped of elegant appointments, but a beautiful guitar on it own.

The price difference is stark; you can get the D-50 for about half of what a D-55 goes for , new, used or vintage.

There are those on the forum that swear by their D-55s. And for good reason. You have to go with what feels right to you. I found it in my ultimate guitar, my '82 D-50.

 

[steverok]

Cool. Thanks everyone. So Metalman, you are saying the D50 employs larger frets? OK, that could come into play when sliding around, which I do. But other than that, are you saying that the D50 and D55 are of the same construction? This is still unclear to me. I see, for instance, that the new ones have a red spruce top, but I don't think the old ones do. And I suppose an old one in good condition should go from somewhere in the $750 to $1000 range ?

 

[6L6]

The best thing about Guild guitars is that you just can't go wrong with any of them. Amazing quality throughout the line from Day 1. That they don't rapidly increase in value is a mystery unexplainable to anyone familiar with them. But that's GOOD news for those who want to acquire more Guild guitars!

I've owned two wonderful D-50's (a Westerly and a Corona), although not concurrently. I played them for many years. Loved the guitars in every way! However, I wanted the bling of a D-55 and had to sell the Corona D-50 to finance the purchase. What followed was an incredible '06 D-55 (Tacoma) that I can't say enough great things about.

I had a Fishman Matrix pup installed and this guitar sounds super both plugged and unplugged. It has been my main gigging axe since the day the pup was installed. She goes to the grave with me.

Go Guild and you just can't go wrong.

6

'06 D-55
'74 D-40
'06 D-40BJ
'06 F-412
'98 Martin D-45V
'98 Collings D-1
'03 Taylor 214
'60 Harmony Meteor (TONE CITY. But it is an electric...)

 

[GardMan]

Cool. Thanks everyone. So Metalman, you are saying the D50 employs larger frets? OK, that could come into play when sliding around, which I do. But other than that, are you saying that the D50 and D55 are of the same construction? This is still unclear to me. I see, for instance, that the new ones have a red spruce top, but I don't think the old ones do. And I suppose an old one in good condition should go from somewhere in the $750 to $1000 range ?

Steve... the D-55 has LOWER frets, but they are wider... like on some of Guild's jumbos (F-50). My fingers tend to hit the wood of the fretboard on my D-55 a bit more, but I keep my nails short, so it doesn't bother me. I understand the D-50 has taller, narrower frets, comparable to other Guild dreads.

I asked more-or-less the same questions a couple years back, and remember metalman's comparisons... that the D-50 is a bit more jangly and "in your face," the D-55 more "majestic." Tho' I ended up with a D-55 (a rebound from failing to win back-to-back auctions for a D-46 and D-50 a couple years back), I still hope there's a '70s-'early '80s D-50 in my future (got my D-46 last year!)...

There's quite a bit of overlap in the selling prices of D-50s and D-55s... D-50s do sell for <$1K, but it isn't common. More of the D-50s I have watched over the last couple years from the '70s have sold for $1000-$1500, and several have gone for upwards of $1700 (a couple of '70s 'bursts have topped $2K). '80s will go a bit less, as will '90s.

Good luck in your hunt!
Dave

 

[Metalman]

Cool. Thanks everyone. So Metalman, you are saying the D50 employs larger frets? OK, that could come into play when sliding around, which I do. But other than that, are you saying that the D50 and D55 are of the same construction? This is still unclear to me. I see, for instance, that the new ones have a red spruce top, but I don't think the old ones do. And I suppose an old one in good condition should go from somewhere in the $750 to $1000 range ?

Steve,

Okay, I was comparing the pre-fender D-50 and D-55. The corona-built D-50 was a big disappointment. I played it in the store, and did not like it one bit. Never played a Corona-built D-55.

Now the Tacoma built 55 and 50 are thus: The D-50 (as well as the new D-40, and F-30) has a red spruce top. The D-55 has a sitka spruce top. This I know for sure.

If I lost ALL my guitars, and I had to pick one, I would go for the new Tacoma-built D-50. It doesn't capture very much of that original bling of the '82, but comes close, and is a very nice playing guitar.

Mandolin Brothers in Staten Island had one of each in their showroom, and I was able to compare the two. The differences between them were greater than their '80s and '90s counterparts. The D-55, more majestic, warmer, fuller. The D-50, similar, just a bit brighter, more, how should I say it, "spartan-sounding".

I don't remember feeling any difference in the feel, other than the D-55 had pearl block inlays, and it seemed to have a smoother feel. The D-50 had dot inlays, and maybe it did have higher, thinner frets. Come to think of it, as I am writing this, it did have the higher frets, as opposed to the D-55. So there you have it.

Oh,I forgot to mention my D-50 is a "factory-second". Meaning, in the early '80s, Guild was releasing into the market guitars that didn't quite pass inspection. It knocked the price down about 20% or so.
It was a result of blemishes, cracks, etc. BUT . . . the sitka spruce top on mine has such a fine, close grain, that it has a cross-silk pattern running across the top, and you don't find that on anything but the most expensive Martins.

I had spoken to Martin during a factory tour around this time, and asked what they do with guitars that come off the line with blemishes, cracks, dips, etc. Hoping for a Martin second, I got this answer:

"We cut them in half, and discard them. Nothing goes out of here that is not perfect."

Makes sense.

 

[Metalman]

Is this the same as a D55 but less fancy, or is there more to it? I am talking about old ones from the 70s. I am interested in a rosewood dread, but something a little more spartan than the D55, in terms of appointments. Thanks.

Steve-O

Here's one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Westerly-Rhode-Isla ... dZViewItem

 

[steverok]

Is this the same as a D55 but less fancy, or is there more to it? I am talking about old ones from the 70s. I am interested in a rosewood dread, but something a little more spartan than the D55, in terms of appointments. Thanks.

Steve-O

Here's one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Westerly-Rhode-Isla ... dZViewItem

He reports the action "a little high" with not much room left to lower the saddle. Is that normal?

 

[john_kidder]

Here's what you're talking about, right age and all

'77-'78 D-50SB

 

[FNG]

I know you are looking for an older one, but don't kick a Tacoma D-50 outta bed.

 

[steverok]

Holy Moly that is sweet.

 

[steverok]

I know you are looking for an older one, but don't kick a Tacoma D-50 outta bed.

I would never! But you must admit the old ones have an undeniable vibe.

 

[Tony Burns]

Is this the same as a D55 but less fancy, or is there more to it? I am talking about old ones from the 70s. I am interested in a rosewood dread, but something a little more spartan than the D55, in terms of appointments. Thanks.

Steve-O

I own a '71 D-55 and had a friend with about the same year but a D-50 - the D-55 is not a up-graded D-50- besides the obvious fretboard and head inlays( like the old Epiphones) their is also a inlay around the board before the fretboard binding ( besides a few other appointments )- The original Guild,Guilds D-55's do not have the soundboard inlay-and the body style was slighly changed from the modern day Fender Guild D-55 .The originals also have a master grade top and materials the new ones do not have . The original D-55's ( believe before 73-or74) were custom builds only- not part of the standard guild line . D-50's of this era might have the same body shape but they were a production guitar where the D-55 was not .The newer D-55's are not the same animal as the old -nor are they the same guitar -thou I am a fan of both guitars. It sounds like im not a fan of the newer guilds -I am but i like age on guitars and i think the older guitars have better craftsmanship -age gives them character !

 

[Metalman]

Here's what you're talking about, right age and all

'77-'78 D-50SB

Man, oh man, I have never seen a sunburst D-50. That is one sweet looking guitar. And a good price.

One of you had asked about the action high and the saddle low, and if that is normal. Some people like a high action, I myself like a lower action. So it is up to the individual.

However, in most cases, if the action is high, and if the saddle had room left on it so that a luthier (or someone who knows what they are doing) can shave off some material from the bottom of the saddle, then you can indeed lower the action to where it is comfortable.

But if both the action is high, and the saddle is low, then can you say: "neck reset"?

That is a $250 - $350 repair. So if you get the guitar at a good price, and if there is a good luthier or guitar repairman in your area, and IF such guitar needs the so-named neck reset, then it would be a good buy.

But if the asking price is up there, and it has these problems, then it would be best to steer clear.

 

[Metalman]

Here is a link to a very nice sounding D-55, played by the first guitar player to ever have one: Tommy Smothers.
The D-55 was custom made for him around 1965, or maybe later, not sure.

Please watch to the end; this clip will really crack you up, and the D-55 is amazing sounding!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRuPIfs7 ... re=related

 

[GardMan]

That is a sweet looking D-50! I think the same one was up on eBay earlier this fall/last summer, I was drooling over it then... Think the previous post was >$2000 or BO, and didn't sell. But, I could be mistaken.

$2000 BIN is gone now, with the bidding. It will be interesting to see how high she goes... wouldn't be surprised if she beat the original BIN. But in these economic times, at this time of year, I also wouldn't be surprised if she didn't.

Added: I stand corrected. Not the same guitar. Found the old ad for the earlier one...it was a '75. Didn't sell at $1979.

If I hadn't just bought my D-44, and if my wife's car hadn't just been totaled (actually, still waiting to hear from Allstate whether they'll repair it), and if it wasn't Christmas... Id' be sorely tempted by this one.

 

[john_kidder]

Sold at $1800. New high for a D-50?