Inputs on D-46?
- Thread starter Siwash
- Start date
Darryl Hattenhauer
Venerated Member
Eyewash,
If that's the ash one, I have to say I didn't like the sound of the one I played. But it would be good if you wanted something different.
If that's the ash one, I have to say I didn't like the sound of the one I played. But it would be good if you wanted something different.
Guildelicious
Member
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I have to say the ash looks like ikea furniture and I would know to play it or have dinner on it! Seriously, I am all for getting as many Guilds as possible...I would imagine anything in the 40 or 50 series would be high quality!
Darryl Hattenhauer
Venerated Member
Guildypleasures,
As I recall, it was a well-made mid-range guitar. If you tried it but re-sold, you wouldn't have a lot of $ tied up. There must be somebody who would like it. Even Rosie has a girlfriend.
As I recall, it was a well-made mid-range guitar. If you tried it but re-sold, you wouldn't have a lot of $ tied up. There must be somebody who would like it. Even Rosie has a girlfriend.
jciampa
Member
Siwash said:Let me know if you know anything about the D-46. I'm bidding on one on that E-normous, E-laborate auction site. Any input, thoughts, feelings, suggestions appreciated. Thanks guys.
I owned one of these and thought it was an absolutely wonderful guitar, and I greatly regret selling it.
It had a brighter sound typical of maple with a great midrange, but also had a satisfying bass and excellent balance. I recall it being the "smoothest" sounding guitar I ever owned -- if that makes sense. It was also very quick to the touch and "snappy" sounding. I hear the knock on ash is that it doesn't have the sustain of mahogany or rosewood, but my guitar never disappointed in that regard.
My understanding is that Guild pioneered the ash dreadnaught and made the D-46 from 1980-1985. I also played a Martin D-16A (their ash equivalent from the late-eighties) and thought it sounded much thinner than my Guild and seemed to support some of the aforementioned criticisms of ash.
I would buy another one in a heartbeat if given the opportunity, but I've seen prices for these go through the roof in recent years (perhaps due to the model's relative scarcity). If you intend on sticking with that auction, be prepared to pay around $1,000. I've seen two in the last few months sell for a grand and $1250 respectively.
Hope this helps and good luck!
John
jciampa
Member
I thought I would add that this guitar was very heavy. Someone once told me that the density of ash accounted for the guitar's weight. Regardless, it was by far the heaviest dread I've ever played.
I've always liked the heft of Guilds in general, though many players like a guitar that feels lighter.
Thought you'd might like the added info!
I've always liked the heft of Guilds in general, though many players like a guitar that feels lighter.
Thought you'd might like the added info!
West R Lee
Venerated Member
I like 'em Siwash. Never owned or played one, but I like the look. Very different.
West
West
GardMan
Enlightened Member
Siwash,
I like the look of the ash sides and back, and D-46 owners seem to like the sound:
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/revi ... /D-46/10/1
I have been waiting for an opportune D-46, and was keeping an eye on that one (asked the seller some ???.... he/she wasn't terribly informative, but the condition looks pretty good).
As my (and your) luck would have it... my home desktop computer (the one used by the wife and kids) died (looks like the motherboard failed)Tuesday. My "guitar money" went to a new computer for them. So "Good luck!" I'll watch from the sidelines... but if you change your mind and bow out of the auction, let me know. Maybe I'll jump in.
Dave
I like the look of the ash sides and back, and D-46 owners seem to like the sound:
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/revi ... /D-46/10/1
I have been waiting for an opportune D-46, and was keeping an eye on that one (asked the seller some ???.... he/she wasn't terribly informative, but the condition looks pretty good).
As my (and your) luck would have it... my home desktop computer (the one used by the wife and kids) died (looks like the motherboard failed)Tuesday. My "guitar money" went to a new computer for them. So "Good luck!" I'll watch from the sidelines... but if you change your mind and bow out of the auction, let me know. Maybe I'll jump in.
Dave
Gardman, I've decided to take a pass on the D-46. I LOVE the looks of the thing, actually any blonde on blonde Guild looks beautiful to me.
But when all's said and done, at the end of the day, I want a bluegrassin' guitar. I'm not sure the D-46 matches up; love the wood look.
In fact, I'd gather the D-50's more what I need than the D-55. I'm a sucker for tasteful bling, which I think the D-55 has. . . but even then, likely the D-50s the right beast for me.
Or maybe go the jumbo route with an F-50.
But when all's said and done, at the end of the day, I want a bluegrassin' guitar. I'm not sure the D-46 matches up; love the wood look.
In fact, I'd gather the D-50's more what I need than the D-55. I'm a sucker for tasteful bling, which I think the D-55 has. . . but even then, likely the D-50s the right beast for me.
Or maybe go the jumbo route with an F-50.
GardMan
Enlightened Member
Siwash, Thanks for letting me know... I'll have to look at the budget, and see how the bidding goes (damn computer... why couldn't it wait until AFTER I bid before dying!). Anyone else should feel free to go after it... I have to wait it out a bit longer... D
GardMan
Enlightened Member
Siwash,
Don't remember if you were part of, or followed, this thread last winter:
http://www.letstalkguild.com/phpBB2/vie ... sc&start=0
Lots of folks love their DV-52s, and I almost went after one myself (ended up with a D-55, for not many more $$$):
Somewhere in there, while considering going after a DV-52, I posted a query regarding tonal/character differences between the DV-52, D-50, and D-55:
I would certainly agree that the D-55 sounds regal/majestic. I also note that the wider/lower "jumbo" frets give it a bit different feel than my other dreads... I but it is really a dream to play.
I think a D-50 (hopefully from the 70s or early 80s) is in my future somewhere... but I think I want to try an ash D-46 before I go for another rosewood dread (or, maybe a flat-backed maple D-44M, to compare with my G-37? or maybe a flat-backed mahog D-25? or maybe...?).
Good luck on the DV-52! Still trying to figure a way to go after the D-46 (biggest problem is clearing it with the wife!),
Dave
Don't remember if you were part of, or followed, this thread last winter:
http://www.letstalkguild.com/phpBB2/vie ... sc&start=0
Lots of folks love their DV-52s, and I almost went after one myself (ended up with a D-55, for not many more $$$):
Somewhere in there, while considering going after a DV-52, I posted a query regarding tonal/character differences between the DV-52, D-50, and D-55:
Here was one response I got:GardMan said:
Metalman said:Dave,
This is a little late in coming, but I just now read your post about the difference in a D-50 and a D-55. Maybe I can shed some light on this, for I owned both guitars at the same time.
I did an extensive study on the two, (right after purchasing the D-55), comparing them side to side; picking one up, playing it, putting it down, playing the other, going back and forth.
The '93 D-55 had a warmer, richer sound, felt majestic in my hands. It also had, to my dismay, lower frets than the 50. This meant that more contact was made between my fingers, and the wood. Some people like that, I didn't. The '82 D-50 had higher frets, which helped in my playing, was (rather, is) a little brighter, more "alive" sounding, and had a little less "majestic" sound and feel to it. It lent itself to more inspiration to play, more so than the D-55.
It was almost like the D-55 was too much guitar for me, and that playing the D-50, the one I had since new in '82, was like "coming home".
I talked to a few of my guitar repairmen, asked about refretting the D-55, giving it higher frets. At a cost of about $350 - $400, I decided against it. That was my main issue with the D-55. Other than that, I enjoyed it. But not as much as my D-50. And seeing that I had paid pretty much top dolloar for the instrument ($1800), I decided to unload it for something I would really enjoy. (And that guitar is up there on the left
I ended up selling the D-55 to one of the guys in the acoustic guitar ensemble I had at the time, and he was more than happy to take it off my hands.
So, the D-55, warmer, louder, richer, more "regal".
The D-50, brighter, still just as loud, a little bit more "jangly", not as "regal" as the D-55.
But each person has their own tastes, it is all up to the individual.
I see a lot of D-55's on Ebay at all different prices. Should be no problem picking one up. Same with the D-50. But stay away from the Corona built models. I have played them, and the sound is just not there. Not even the D-50CE, which is a cutaway acoustic-electric. They sound even worse.
Now, if you want something really good, the new Tacoma-built D-50 is the one. If I lost my '82 D-50, I would waste no time in picking up the new model.
I would certainly agree that the D-55 sounds regal/majestic. I also note that the wider/lower "jumbo" frets give it a bit different feel than my other dreads... I but it is really a dream to play.
I think a D-50 (hopefully from the 70s or early 80s) is in my future somewhere... but I think I want to try an ash D-46 before I go for another rosewood dread (or, maybe a flat-backed maple D-44M, to compare with my G-37? or maybe a flat-backed mahog D-25? or maybe...?).
Good luck on the DV-52! Still trying to figure a way to go after the D-46 (biggest problem is clearing it with the wife!),
Dave
Darryl Hattenhauer
Venerated Member
It's often a problem to clear things with the wife when you're looking for some ash.
Good luck Siwash, my DV-52 just rings, almost plays bluegrass all by itself
You get more features than a vintage D-50, many of the features of the D-55, including scalloped bracing and ebony fingerboard & bridge, but not as much bling. They weren't that well known, which I think keeps the vintage pricing somewhat reasonable. Seems to me if they reissued them from Tacoma, the price would be around $2K
You get more features than a vintage D-50, many of the features of the D-55, including scalloped bracing and ebony fingerboard & bridge, but not as much bling. They weren't that well known, which I think keeps the vintage pricing somewhat reasonable. Seems to me if they reissued them from Tacoma, the price would be around $2K
Hey Siwash I just found that DV52 on ebay, she's a beauty :shock: