Hans, What's With The Side Wood? Darryl....Could It Be?

[West R Lee]

This one has been relisted a couple of times recently. Is this just wild looking Indian rosewood?

http://cgi.ebay.com/GUILD-MODEL-D-50-AC ... dZViewItem

West

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

That's certainly unique. I've never seen anything like that before. I don't know what to make of it. Do you think the sides are Braz?

 

[lpa53]

Now this is really a coincidence. I just joined this forum last night and today I see "my guitar" mentioned as being for sale on eBay! In 1975 or so I bought a Guild D50 (serial no. 101267)that looks just like this. It wasn't from the dealer's shelves but was ordered from the factory and when I went to pick it up the guy said he had a "surprise" for me - a Guild like he'd never seen before. Maybe he really thought it was a mistake but wanted to make the sale so he was trying to make it sound "special". But I took it and have never regretted it.

It's story, photos, and Hans Moust's interesting reply to my query to him about the odd wood are in a blog post on my website, http://guitardiaries.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!76820C9848A6FED9!249.entry

The eBay seller's description of the sound and build of this guitar describes mine exactly. I also have the original hardshell case.

 

[coastie99]

Now this is really a coincidence. I just joined this forum last night and today I see "my guitar" mentioned as being for sale on eBay! In 1975 or so I bought a Guild D50 (serial no. 101267)that looks just like this. It wasn't from the dealer's shelves but was ordered from the factory and when I went to pick it up the guy said he had a "surprise" for me - a Guild like he'd never seen before. Maybe he really thought it was a mistake but wanted to make the sale so he was trying to make it sound "special". But I took it and have never regretted it.

It's story, photos, and Hans Moust's interesting reply to my query to him about the odd wood are in a blog post on my website, http://guitardiaries.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!76820C9848A6FED9!249.entry

The eBay seller's description of the sound and build of this guitar describes mine exactly. I also have the original hardshell case.

That is quite a coincidence lpa, and a most interesting post.

Welcome to the Guild lounge.

 

[West R Lee]

Ipa,

Fascinating, and truly a small world isn't it. I've never seen mahogany that looked anything like that before.

So you sold this to the man that is listing it on eBay and were the origional owner, or the eBay listing is yours?

West

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

Similar coincidence: Gilded and I just discovered that I once owned the Duane Eddy 400 he has now.

 

[lpa53]

Well, I guess i need to be more clear with my posts! By "my guitar" I meant one that that has strange, non-standard wood like mine. Everyone I've shown mine to over the years, including Mr. Moust I think, has never seen its like before and here you guys post about one just like it on eBay the day I join!

From the difference in the serial numbers, I think mine was made in '74. Otherwise it's the same - all appointments D-50 but sides and back don't seem to be rosewood. The description of the eBay Guild seems to imply that only the sides are odd. If that's the case, that one is odder than mine.

I just now posted some more photos, including one of the case, on my site. I raised the resolution from the older pics and the grain shows up better. You know, I don't even know what a rosewood one is supposed to sound like - don't know even if I could tell the difference - but I like mine just fine.

The owner of a small but good shop here, who adjusted the neck and saddle a few years back, when asked if I should get a newer guitar, said no, this one'll do just fine. I wonder what the one on eBay one will go for.

One thing I'll mention, and I hope I haven't committed sacrilege - a few years ago I had an undersaddle pickup installed. Did I destroy my best friend by "fixing" him? But I just love the sound.

Thanks for the welcome.

 

[West R Lee]

Oh ok, I must have misunderstood. I've just looked at the pictues from your website, and yours does indeed look like mahogany sides.....quite a bit different sides from the D50 posted on eBay. I will say too that yours would be the first D50 I've seen of mixed woods....mahogany and rosewood. I thought you had said that it WAS your guitar on eBay, or that it used to be yours.

I'm still curious about the guitar on eBay though.

And welcome to LTG. These guys are great, I think you'll enjoy it here.

West

 

[Dr Izza Plumber]

West, almost looks like the African variation of Mohagany, which is called Sapele; (pronounced Suh_pay_lay) if I'm not mistaken.

 

[West R Lee]

Ipa,

I went to your website and listened, you're very talented. I've got to ask you......what are you recording into? The sound quality is just awesome....you ain't bad either. Very nice.

West

 

[lpa53]

Thanks for the compliments, West. I need all the encouragement I can get. I keep thinking about trying to play out like I did in college but am having a time getting up the gumption. I also pursuade myself that no one wants to listen to this "old stuff".

I had an undersaddle pickup put in my Guild a few years ago (darned if I don't remember what type!! - I'll have to ask the guys at Tobias). My recording is a pretty simple affair so far as I'm learning as I go. I record through an M-Audio Fast Track Pro into the opensource program Audacity on my HP Pavilion. All of the vocals, including backgrounds, are me - through a Shure SM58. I save from Audacity to a wave file as its mp3 convertor doesn't perform too well, then use Windows Audio Convertor to make the mp3s. I sometimes put a slight reverb on the vocals but that's about it.

I've downloaded the shareware Reaper, too, but for me it's really complex. I'll give it the college try one of these day, though.

Thanks again for visiting my site.

 

[West R Lee]

Great info Ipa......you really sound good and play well. That's some beautiful work you've done. If I had your talent, I wouldn't be the least bit apprehensive about playing out. Heck, I don't have half your talent and do occasionally.

I've been struggling to learn how to use a Zoom H4 and almost have the basics down. There is a thread over on "LTGers Only" that documents my ordeal. I finally did manage to do my firsst crude recording and you're more than welcome to ridicule and lambast my meager talents. But that's why I was so curious as to how you recorded. I did it through a Shure SM57, a rosewood junker I had laying around here, a little Roland acoustic amp and into the Zoom. Then Jeff put me onto Soundclick, and I uploaded it there. Jeff and Graham put me onto the Zoom H4.

Finally got the recording posted on Page 2 of this thread, but get ready for a bunch of distortion, like I said, I'm learning . I had to do that one first since it's my wife's favorite song.

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8791

West

 

[jgmaute]

Thanks for the compliments, West. I need all the encouragement I can get. I keep thinking about trying to play out like I did in college but am having a time getting up the gumption. I also pursuade myself that no one wants to listen to this "old stuff".
I had an undersaddle pickup put in my Guild a few years ago (darned if I don't remember what type!! - I'll have to ask the guys at Tobias).

I grew up in Wheaton, you didn't get the guitar at Burke's did you? (I'm not sure if they were still open then.) Are there places to play in the area now? (I moved from IL a couple of years ago.) Ken Tobias is great, tell him Joan says "Hi" when you ask about the pickup.

 

[lpa53]

West, almost looks like the African variation of Mohagany, which is called Sapele; (pronounced Suh_pay_lay) if I'm not mistaken.

I searched for sapele images on the web and the do indeed look like what I've got. I wonder, though, how common that would have been in 1974! Was "regular" mahogany getting scarce then?

 

[lpa53]

Thanks for the compliments, West. I need all the encouragement I can get. I keep thinking about trying to play out like I did in college but am having a time getting up the gumption. I also pursuade myself that no one wants to listen to this "old stuff".
I had an undersaddle pickup put in my Guild a few years ago (darned if I don't remember what type!! - I'll have to ask the guys at Tobias).

I grew up in Wheaton, you didn't get the guitar at Burke's did you? (I'm not sure if they were still open then.) Are there places to play in the area now? (I moved from IL a couple of years ago.) Ken Tobias is great, tell him Joan says "Hi" when you ask about the pickup.

I think there are some places to play. There are some that appear to cater to the "folk" crowd but I think I'd be more interested in small coffeehouses - I mean real ones, not places where everyone's a performer. I'd feel like there was a competition on and I don't need that. I haven't played in front of strangers for years.

I'm planning on dropping by Tobias' this week to talk about working on my saddle and getting advice on whether or not to spend the money to electrify my '70 Framus 12-string. I'll certainly mention your name to the staff. The first time I went there I was shocked that, while I asked just to buy some strings, he ended up adjusting the neck, shaving down the saddle, and stringing it himself - all for the cost of the strings!

 

[lpa53]

Great info Ipa......you really sound good and play well. That's some beautiful work you've done. If I had your talent, I wouldn't be the least bit apprehensive about playing out. Heck, I don't have half your talent and do occasionally.

I've been struggling to learn how to use a Zoom H4 and almost have the basics down. There is a thread over on "LTGers Only" that documents my ordeal. I finally did manage to do my firsst crude recording and you're more than welcome to ridicule and lambast my meager talents. But that's why I was so curious as to how you recorded. I did it through a Shure SM57, a rosewood junker I had laying around here, a little Roland acoustic amp and into the Zoom. Then Jeff put me onto Soundclick, and I uploaded it there. Jeff and Graham put me onto the Zoom H4.

Finally got the recording posted on Page 2 of this thread, but get ready for a bunch of distortion, like I said, I'm learning . I had to do that one first since it's my wife's favorite song.

http://www.letstalkguild.com/phpBB2/vie ... =17&t=8791

West

West, just got around to your link and, man, I don't know too much about what you're complaining about. I thought it was great. Clear as a bell and great voice. I can see why your wife likes it! Wish I could hit those low notes!

I see what you meant about the low notes hiting the ceiling a bit but I'll bet you can find a way to control it. With the Zoom are you recording voice and guitar at once or overdubbing?

I'll have to look further into this Soundclick site - could be fun.

Keep pickin' and postin'.

 

[lpa53]

[quote="I grew up in Wheaton, you didn't get the guitar at Burke's did you? (I'm not sure if they were still open then.) Are there places to play in the area now? (I moved from IL a couple of years ago.) Ken Tobias is great, tell him Joan says "Hi" when you ask about the pickup.[/quote]

No, I bought the guitar in some small shop in some small suburb north of Detroit when I was living at Selfridge ANGB, and stocking liquor at the Class VI store (they liked me 'cause I don't drink!).

 

[West R Lee]

Great info Ipa......you really sound good and play well. That's some beautiful work you've done. If I had your talent, I wouldn't be the least bit apprehensive about playing out. Heck, I don't have half your talent and do occasionally.

I've been struggling to learn how to use a Zoom H4 and almost have the basics down. There is a thread over on "LTGers Only" that documents my ordeal. I finally did manage to do my firsst crude recording and you're more than welcome to ridicule and lambast my meager talents. But that's why I was so curious as to how you recorded. I did it through a Shure SM57, a rosewood junker I had laying around here, a little Roland acoustic amp and into the Zoom. Then Jeff put me onto Soundclick, and I uploaded it there. Jeff and Graham put me onto the Zoom H4.

Finally got the recording posted on Page 2 of this thread, but get ready for a bunch of distortion, like I said, I'm learning . I had to do that one first since it's my wife's favorite song.

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8791

West

West, just got around to your link and, man, I don't know too much about what you're complaining about. I thought it was great. Clear as a bell and great voice. I can see why your wife likes it! Wish I could hit those low notes!

I see what you meant about the low notes hiting the ceiling a bit but I'll bet you can find a way to control it. With the Zoom are you recording voice and guitar at once or overdubbing?

I'll have to look further into this Soundclick site - could be fun.

Keep pickin' and postin'.

Yep, I just placed the zoom on top of an open box lid so it would angle up directly towards the amp, then plugged in my guitar and sang through the amp and played into the zoom. That's why I say pretty crude... ....trying to imagine a REAL musician sticking a recorder on a box top and playing and singing through a little bitty amp. Thanks for the kind words Ipa.

West

 

[lpa53]

West, almost looks like the African variation of Mohagany, which is called Sapele; (pronounced Suh_pay_lay) if I'm not mistaken.

I've been away for awhile and am back at it, having just played out at an open mic for the first time in 30 years. How time flies.

Over the last month I've had a dealer and a luthier comment on the odd wood on my '74 Guild. The first said he thought the sides and back were rosewood but admitted they looked different from what you normally see. The luthier, who came highly recommended, thought it was stranger yet, in that he thinks the sides are mahogany and the back is rosewood. If that's it, then I have a three-wood guitar ...

I love it anyway. Just put in another post on it too as I am thinking of getting the bridge and saddle worked on and have it refretted and wanted some thoughts on having that done.

 

[chazmo]

lpa,

Just saw this post and your pictures. Most interesting! Definitely looks like sapele or mahogany sides with a light rosewood back. If Hans didn't know it by sight, well that's amazing.

Very pretty guitar, by the way. I'm actually surprised more vendors haven't mixed/matched rosewood and mahogany more often.