Mysterious Guild D60

[guilded1]

Hello All,

I'm new to the forum. I'm not new to Guild, however, since I've been loving my 1994 Guild D-60 (with maple b/s) since about 1995. Found it in a music store and couldn't leave without it. I have a question about the serial number on it. The serial number is FG000045. According to Guild's serial numbering sequence for 1994, this is actually the number for a G45/Hank Williams Jr model. What's up with that? Mine has the narrow headstock like the older Walker D60's. I thought that the D55 & D60 had changed to the wide headstock by 1994. Do you think they just had this "FG" neck lying around and stuck it on my D60?

I'll post pics soon.

Thanks!

 

[killdeer43]

Welcome.
I know that I speak for everyone here when I say that we can hardly wait for the pics. :wink:

Stay in tune,
Joe

 

[guilded1]

I found this info through a Google search.....Hmmm. Like I said, my D60 is FG000045. :roll:

"Guild G45-BL Hank Williams
by: Paul Dustman

I purchased this guitar in 1994 for $1678. It was my understanding that Hank Jr. received the first 5 serial numbers. My serial number is FG00013. The last serial number produced was FG00067. Current prices (based on auction prices) is between $1300 and $2000, determined by condition and serial number."

 

[GardMan]

Does your "D-60" have a flat or arched maple back? I believe the Gruhn-era maple D-60s had flat backs... but Hans has mentioned a 90s era re-introduction of the maple D-60 with arched maple back like that of the G-45/Hank Williams. I wonder if it is not a case the wrong neck (HW neck) on a D-60 body, but rather a mis-labeling (wouldn't be the first time for Guild)... with someone mistakenly writing D-60 on the label of a Hank Williams?

Hans will probably chime in with the "scoop" soon...

Oh... and welcome to LTG!

 

[hideglue]

but Hans has mentioned a 90s era re-introduction of the maple D-60 with arched maple back like that of the G-45/Hank Williams.

Yup. The '90s D60 is a D55 with maple sides & arched maple back.

 

[hansmoust]

I've been loving my 1994 Guild D-60 (with maple b/s) since about 1995. Found it in a music store and couldn't leave without it. I have a question about the serial number on it. The serial number is FG000045. According to Guild's serial numbering sequence for 1994, this is actually the number for a G45/Hank Williams Jr model. What's up with that? Mine has the narrow headstock like the older Walker D60's.
Do you think they just had this "FG" neck lying around and stuck it on my D60?

Hello guilded1,

Welcome! The explanation is quite simple. Your guitar started life as a G-45/Hank Williams Jr. model, which was reintroduced during the first half of the '90s. Sales weren't all that great so during 1994 it was decided that the G-45/Hank Williams Jr. model would be discontinued but that the model would still be available as the D-60 albeit without the Hank Williams Jr. name inlayed into the pickguard. The D-60 name had been used before for one of the models that derived from the original Gruhn/Walker designed line of instruments from the mid-'80s. However, that particular D-60 had rosewood back & sides and was discontinued during the very early '90s.
So, to revive the D-60 name for a different guitar was not really a good choice and that's were some of the confusion these days comes from. Your guitar is one of the G-45/Hank Williams Jr. models ( with a G-45 serial number) that had been left over at the factory and was re-labeled as a D-60.

I thought that the D55 & D60 had changed to the wide headstock by 1994.

No, the D-55 always had the wider headstock and the D-60 did get the wider headstock at a later date during the '90s together with several other features but that is beyond the scope of this question.

Yes, we would love to see some photos!

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[evenkeel]

**

 

[learnintoplay62]

Pics please and welcome to the club. Thanks for letting us join in some of your gits history.

 

[bluesypicky]

Welcome! And needless to say you came to the right and only place....

 

[guilded1]

Here she is. Guild D60-NT, born February 2, 1994, Westerly, RI. Autographed by Alison Krauss and Union Station in 1996 (Barry Bales signed where my right arm rests so his sig is almost gone). This has been my main acoustic since 1995 and never failed me once! I had the Fishman Aura Ellipse installed a few years ago. It is spectacular. I have never seen another guitar like this one and probably never will, based on the info from my new friends here.

 

[guilded1]

This is Dan Tyminski and Barry Bales the night they signed it. Undoubtedly the best G chord ever played on this guitar!!

 

[evenkeel]

**

 

[fronobulax]

Autographed by Alison Krauss and Union Station in 1996 (Barry Bales signed where my right arm rests so his sig is almost gone).

Since you're up to four posts now this is belated, but welcome.

I'm going to apologize in advance for bringing this up and I hope the discussion remains civil. When autographed guitars show up for sale there is usually a thread where most people start talking about 'desecration' and eventually the discussion moves on to how to remove Sharpie from a guitar finish. The fact that you are not trying to sell your guitar (let alone at a premium because of the autograph) and it is a player certainly suggests that your opinion is going to be interesting and untainted by commercial considerations. Any comments you'd like to share about signatures on guitars?

(I am always interested in other points of view although I have played Devil's Advocate often enough to annoy people, so please understand that I am curious and not trolling).

(And if asking this turns out to be a mistake, I'm going to make Chazmo moderate me :wink: )

 

[walrus]

Welcome guilded1! I guess I would call my D64 your guitar's "second" or even "third" cousin - your guitar is a beauty!

I have no trouble with the autographs - its your guitar. I'd rather it be autographed, and played regularly, than worry about how it looks and never play it.

walrus

 

[guilded1]

I'm going to apologize in advance for bringing this up and I hope the discussion remains civil. When autographed guitars show up for sale there is usually a thread where most people start talking about 'desecration' and eventually the discussion moves on to how to remove Sharpie from a guitar finish. The fact that you are not trying to sell your guitar (let alone at a premium because of the autograph) and it is a player certainly suggests that your opinion is going to be interesting and untainted by commercial considerations. Any comments you'd like to share about signatures on guitars?

Firstly, you haven't said anything that offends me in the least. The autographs have been quite a conversation piece over the years. I have no regrets about asking total strangers to deface my instrument :lol:. It's kind of like getting a tattoo...you'd better be absolutley sure its what you want! On a more serious note, my D60 is very special to me and has grown more so over the years. I've owned quite a few other much more expensive guitars that I would never have considered doing such a thing to. Notice I said "have owned". None of them became as much a part of me as the D60 and selling them was not very painful. I've noticed that most autographed guitars that you see for sale are very low end instruments. I think that autographs are worthless for the most part and I do realize that it hurt the resale value of my D60, but selling it has never (nor will ever) be considered. Today, now that I'm much older and wiser, I will never allow anyone else to write on my instruments. I'm over that phase of my life. I don't have that level of adoration for any person any more. I could get into a deep theological discussion about it at this point, but I will rerain. By the way...if you think the Sharpie desecrated my instrument then you would die if you saw what the bug spray (deet) did to the nitro one summer when I was playing an outdoor gig. Not pretty, but it is yet another stripe that adds to the story of me and my Guild.

 

[guilded1]

Don't ever remember seeing maple stained before. Very striking. It looks like your D-60 is built like my GF-30, solid top and sides, w/ arched, laminated maple back. No bracing on the back :?: :?:

Nice! Yes, mine has the arched laminated maple back without bracing.

 

[taabru45]

ATTENTION....If you didn't catch the comment about Deet bug spray....if you have it on your body and you are touching the guitar (with nitro finish) you ARE putting a solvent on your guitar.....and a powerful one.....In fact its not great for skin contact, best to just spray your clothes if you need to use it...but still avoid your clothes touching your guitar..Steffan.....

 

[Pike]

Cool Guild. You might be able to remove the sigs with naptha without harming the finish...

 

[fronobulax]

Cool Guild. You might be able to remove the sigs with naptha without harming the finish...

That wasn't very nice... :wink:


@guilded1 - Thanks for the insights. I think the analogy between a signature on a guitar and a tattoo is a good one.

 

[Willy]

Welcome Guilded1, that's a beauty.

If anyone's interested, one of the Guitar Centers in Florida has one, ser #AD600018, that's in pretty decent condition I'm told. They will sell for $1300 but rejected an offer of $1000 from a friend who just left the store an hour ago. Greg was tempted but just bought a new F50 Hartford last week. Greg said it has some pickguard scratches and nicks on the back, a few checks in the lacquer, no fret wear noticeable, and sounds incredible.