Anyone else think this is just exquisite? Forgive the pictures of this non-Guild (it's an R. Taylor, Style 1 up on eBay), but this wood just makes me crazy with GAS! If only I had a spare 6 grand to make the BIN.
Not likely.Chazmo said:I'm dreaming of an F-212 made out of this wood.
Yup, that's right, cjd! I wasn't interested in all the hype about "the tree" but I cannot argue with the astonishing figuring in this mahogany. You just don't see that much.cjd-player said:Not likely.Chazmo said:I'm dreaming of an F-212 made out of this wood.
That's from "The Tree"
That brings up an interesting topic. Whether you like the sound / look / or whatever of Taylor guitars, I think they have certainly done more than any other company (private luthiers excluded) to get people looking at the backs and sides of guitars. And I think they have used it to a marketing advatage, especially with their full-blown Build-To-Order program.
I think Fender/Guild could learn a thing with the Conneticut Guilds and use some interesting back woods, alternative tops (cedar, redwood, etc.) to grow the brand. The traditional D-55's, D-50's, etc. are great, but grow a little. The acoustic guitar buying public has matured and diversified since the 60's. The contemporary models seemed to be a start, but were not well marketed in my opinion. But then Fender probably has little interest in REALLY marketing anything other than Strats and Teles.
kostask said:Guild is the only company that I know of that was brave enough to experiment with Pearwood (D44) and Ash (D46) back and sides while they were still in Westerly, and had at least one model in Koa (the Peacock).
The GAD line, at least last year, had Padauk back and sides in the GAD-30PCE and GAD-50PCE (I think).
Guild is all over mahogany, maple, and rosewood back and sides, in both US and Far East lines. There are models in the Contemporary line that had cedar tops (CO-1, I think).
Guild has never been afraid to experiment, they've just tended towards solidity, tone, and reliability. What Guild doesn't have eye-candy type back and sides like Taylor does, or Breedlove for that matter. Guild's woods are good/great quality, they just tend to use straighter, less eye catching woods with less figure in general, although some of the maple guitars have had some good figure. Also, Guild has never used walnut back and sides, which I am a fan of.
Kostas
Hey, I only recently saw that turkeys actually fly. Maybe monkeys do and I just haven't seen it yet.FNG said:If I was a betting man, I would bet monkeys would fly before you ever saw a Guild like that.
Tacoma did put Adirondack spruce (rather than Sitka) on the D-50.
6L6 said:Tacoma did put Adirondack spruce (rather than Sitka) on the D-50.
Yep. And they put Adi tops on the Tacoma D-40BJ's too.
And if you think Fender can't build a custom D-55, ye need to get on down to Guitar Showcase in San Jose, CA to play the 50th Anniversary D-55 they have in the glass case. And, it's #1 of 50!
I've played this Corona Custom Shop-built guitar many times and it KILLS. Unfortunately, the current price on it is $10K... (it sold originally for $5K). It also looks incredible!
Fender can do it if the notion strikes them.
6
'06 D-55
'06 D-40BJ
'06 F-412
'74 D-40
'98 Collings D-1
'98 Martin D-45V
'03 Taylor 214