DV-52 history and reasoning for making

richt54

Member
Gold Supporting
Joined
Dec 18, 2021
Messages
263
Reaction score
314
Guild Total
1
I did a search here and came up short on links for this info. Is it on this site or only in a book somewhere. Curious if this was a Fender idea or before. Since I have one I wanted to get a little history.

Thanks
 

GardMan

Enlightened Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2006
Messages
5,359
Reaction score
959
Location
Utah
Guild Total
5
Somewhere there is a thread...
IIRC, the idea was to make a dreadnaught (and eventually, also a jumbo) that had a "vintage" sound from the get go, thus the "V" in the model designation... The DV-52/62 first appear in the SN lists in 1993, but in my list, I note 1992 intro date for the 52, and 93 for the 62, probably info from Hans' posts on the forum. IIRC, this was AFTER George Gruhn left Guild, but BEFORE Fender bought Guild...

Some of the earliest DV-52s were mis-labeled as D-52s (a model from the mid-80s). Compunding the confusion, the two models shared the EK serial number prefix. The two models can be distinguished by their headstock, with the 1980's D-52 having the older domed or center raised heastock, and 90s and later DV-52s having snakehead headstock.nIIRC, the earliest DV-52s had a satin finish, with the DV-62 having the "High Gloss." Later, the 62 was dropped, and the 52s got "High Gloss (HG) finish."

The DV-52 was the "base" for the DV-7X/8X series with the fancy turquoise, malachite, pearl, etc inlays introduced in 1993 with the DV-72.

Hope I got all that correct...
 

richt54

Member
Gold Supporting
Joined
Dec 18, 2021
Messages
263
Reaction score
314
Guild Total
1
Somewhere there is a thread...
IIRC, the idea was to make a dreadnaught (and eventually, also a jumbo) that had a "vintage" sound from the get go, thus the "V" in the model designation... The DV-52/62 first appear in the SN lists in 1993, but in my list, I note 1992 intro date for the 52, and 93 for the 62, probably info from Hans' posts on the forum. IIRC, this was AFTER George Gruhn left Guild, but BEFORE Fender bought Guild...

Some of the earliest DV-52s were mis-labeled as D-52s (a model from the mid-80s). Compunding the confusion, the two models shared the EK serial number prefix. The two models can be distinguished by their headstock, with the 1980's D-52 having the older domed or center raised heastock, and 90s and later DV-52s having snakehead headstock.nIIRC, the earliest DV-52s had a satin finish, with the DV-62 having the "High Gloss." Later, the 62 was dropped, and the 52s got "High Gloss (HG) finish."

The DV-52 was the "base" for the DV-7X/8X series with the fancy turquoise, malachite, pearl, etc inlays introduced in 1993 with the DV-72.

Hope I got all that correct...
I wonder what would be considered ”Vintage“ sound? I appreciate the info.
 

mavuser

Enlightened Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
8,128
Reaction score
2,637
Location
New York
in the 60s Guild was known for building somewhat "delicate" or even "fragile" guitars. this resulted in Guilds really getting beefed up in the 70s and even moreso in the 80s...now they were getting an opposite reputation, this time "overbuilt." so I beleive the D"V"was a concious attempt to make them lighter again and copy more closer to like a Hoboken specs, hence the "V"intage designation.
 

GardMan

Enlightened Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2006
Messages
5,359
Reaction score
959
Location
Utah
Guild Total
5
concious attempt to make them lighter again
Don't know about the DV-52s, but my '94 DV-72 is certainly not lighter... weighing in at over 5# 13 oz (for comparison, my '72 D-35 weighs in at 4# 4 oz). Some of that excess weight might be the inlays... but don't think the inlay accounts for all.
 

GGJaguar

Reverential Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2011
Messages
21,322
Reaction score
31,407
Location
Skylands
Guild Total
49
I know the DV-52 has scalloped bracing, but I wonder if the braces on the DV series have been forwarded shifted at all.
 

GardMan

Enlightened Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2006
Messages
5,359
Reaction score
959
Location
Utah
Guild Total
5
I know the DV-52 has scalloped bracing, but I wonder if the braces on the DV series have been forwarded shifted at all.
I don't have a 52 for comparison, but the top bracing of my DV-7Xs can be seen in this image from my bracing blog:

index.php
 

GardMan

Enlightened Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2006
Messages
5,359
Reaction score
959
Location
Utah
Guild Total
5
Looks like the bridge plates are smaller on the DV's
Hard to really tell if the bridge plates are smaller. However, everything I have owned from 1974-1982 have/had rosewood bridgeplates. Both my early 70s dreads ('71 D-44 and '72 D-35) and all my '90s ('92 D-55 and all my DVs) have/had maple bridgeplates.
 

SFIV1967

Venerated Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2010
Messages
18,442
Reaction score
8,956
Location
Bavaria / Germany
Guild Total
8
Some thoughts Hans posted about the topic:


Ralf
 

wileypickett

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2009
Messages
4,965
Reaction score
4,491
Location
Cambridge, MA
The size of the bridge plate is determined by the angle of the X bracing. It has to fit in the angled space between and behind the X. The bridge plate would only be bigger if the X bracing hs been forward shifted.

At least on dreadnaught guitars, which the DV series is.

Bridge plates should be bigger on jumbo guitars because the degree of the X angle is greater.

I think.
 

Neal

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2013
Messages
4,857
Reaction score
1,627
Location
Charlottesville, VA
And for a frame of reference, here is the bridge plate on my ‘49 Gibson (with a small piece of maple added later).

E3607391-5A9A-4B86-8DD1-672048E8D77E.jpeg
 

richt54

Member
Gold Supporting
Joined
Dec 18, 2021
Messages
263
Reaction score
314
Guild Total
1
Not on the acronym list "JLD". I know JYD. That's Junk Yard Dog.
 
Top