NGD D-55

[David R.C.]

Thank you so much you better-informed Guild Guys I'm going to forward your answers to herself indoors and see what reaction I get.

 

[SFIV1967]

I noticed all was not well with the headstock.

Like Chazmo and others said, nothing wrong with the headstock, natural wood with different figures. Sure, personal taste.
Regarding Ebony: It's worth listening for 10 minutes to what Bob Taylor said about pitch-black Ebony in this video already from 10 years ago. He supplies basically every guitar manufacturer in the world with ebony today. He explains why the ebony is mostly colored today.




Ralf

 

[David R.C.]

My other half's reaction was, "well there you are then it's up to you" if you want to accept the new one or get the money back and find a 1978 onwards D55. I think after watching Bob Taylor's video (thank you so much for that Ralph) I will accept the second one I've been offered it is far better than the first one we received.
Makes me think about how much my 1970s F50R & F512 would be worth now.
All of you guys have been great with my re-education on Guilds one forgets that time does not stand still I've been longing for something new that no longer exists I think.
PS saying that though it has shown me that Cordoba (ignoring all my requests for help/replies) does not seem to be the right sort of people to own Guild.
Kind regards to you all
David

 

[fronobulax]

PS saying that though it has shown me that Cordoba (ignoring all my requests for help/replies) does not seem to be the right sort of people to own Guild.

There are many things CMG/Guild could do better. It's not clear how many of them are now under CMG's control. But always remember that Guild almost certainly would have been an abandoned or defunct brand if CMG had not purchased them.

 

[chazmo]

Hey, best wishes on your choices, David. I will tell you that I really like the figuring on the ebony. As Ralf mentioned earlier, have a look at Bob Taylor's ebony sourcing video. Bob has practically taken over all the ebony supply (in a good, sustainable way, IMO), and he may change your mind about what you're looking at. Personally, I'd take real ebony over the jet black fibreboard that Guild used to use any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

 

[David R.C.]

Watched it after Ralph sent me it. Thanks anyway for taking the trouble for me. Looking forward now to a smooth collection & delivery of 2cnd D55e.

 

[Br1ck]

It is my firm opinion that the term better is touted by a company interested in turning a $75 dollar pieced of wood into $500 worth of profit vs a $50 piece into $150 profit. Adi will be different. It will be particularly useful and desirable for certain types of music. But does the balladeer want a bright, brash, bluegrass machine? Better is a term used to maximize profits. If volume is your goal, a Telecaster is far better than a D 28. I played a Custom Shop D 28 recently that has an adi top. It was loud and punchy. It was not really resonant with a lot of overtones. I read a classified add recently for a Hoboken D 40, touting a dry old wood tone. That is how I'd describe my 70 D 35. Better than a modern D 18? Depends on who is playing it. If you like one you maybe won't like the other.

 

[David R.C.]

I say again to all you kind people that have helped me come to the decision to enjoy the second offering from my wonderful dealer here in the UK Guitar Village Thank you all so much keep playing and loving your Guilds after all they are, Made To Be Played.

 

[Rayk]

Yes, it appears that they do not stain the ebony veneer (overlay) any longer. Here is the description for the D-55 from the current Guild website:

The D-55 showcases Guild’s most recognizable headstock which is fully bound and features the Guild “Peak and Shield” inlay combination over a figured ebony overlay.

I like this better !

 

[richt54]

My D-55 was born in Tacoma Washington on August 15, 2005. It was the 2nd guitar finished on that day. It was a Monday.

 

[richt54]

My Guild D-50 BGS was born in Tacoma Washington June 15th 2006. It was the 10th guitar finished. It was a Thursday. Not relevant to this post other than me as the OP. I am a big fan of Tacoma and New Hartford Guilds. By default I'm a big fan of the Fender era of ownership of Guild. The abrupt ( or seemingly abrupt) sale to CMG after all the effort put into the NH facility is perplexing but it all came down to numbers I'm sure.

 

[fronobulax]

By default I'm a big fan of the Fender era of ownership of Guild. The abrupt ( or seemingly abrupt) sale to CMG after all the effort put into the NH facility is perplexing but it all came down to numbers I'm sure.

Feel free to search or browse LTG since there was much discussion at the time and links to opinions that weren't just ours. It doesn't really matter to me anymore but my recollection is that it it was, as you expected, money. Some of FMICs venture capitalists liked the balance sheet better if New Hartford was closed and the product lines that used it discontinued or sold.

 

[richt54]

Feel free to search or browse LTG since there was much discussion at the time and links to opinions that weren't just ours. It doesn't really matter to me anymore but my recollection is that it it was, as you expected, money. Some of FMICs venture capitalists liked the balance sheet better if New Hartford was closed and the product lines that used it discontinued or sold.

I looked up FMIC in the acronyms and I can't find it's meaning. But I will guess it's Fender Musical Instrument Corporation. That's what it is. I'm not a fan of the Fender venture capitalists

 

[jeffcoop]

Feel free to search or browse LTG since there was much discussion at the time and links to opinions that weren't just ours. It doesn't really matter to me anymore but my recollection is that it it was, as you expected, money. Some of FMICs venture capitalists liked the balance sheet better if New Hartford was closed and the product lines that used it discontinued or sold.

That's my recollection as well. IIRC, not only was Fender itself not doing well, but it was owed a lot of money by Guitar Center, which was doing even worse. The venture capitalists wanted to see something positive on the balance sheet, and that meant, among other things, shutting down New Hartford and selling Guild (the original plan was simply to shut down Guild, as MFIC had done with Hamer and with Ovation USA, so to that extent CMG saved Guild.

 

[Boneman]

My D-55 was born in Tacoma Washington on August 15, 2005. It was the 2nd guitar finished on that day. It was a Monday.

Fun facts. Just decoded mine, it was born June 21st that year, a Tuesday, and was the 9th guitar of the day. Also of interesting note, the 2022 calendar is the same as the 2005 was
Love that abalone!

 

[richt54]

Wow, she looks really nice! Did you use the bore oil on the fret board? I’ll have to look at the original pics you posted but are those the bridge pins that came with it? Are they ebony? She‘s as nice to look at as I’m sure she is to play. My questions were answered after reading your post. And you’re calling it a male as well. Enjoy!

 

[richt54]

That's my recollection as well. IIRC, not only was Fender itself not doing well, but it was owed a lot of money by Guitar Center, which was doing even worse. The venture capitalists wanted to see something positive on the balance sheet, and that meant, among other things, shutting down New Hartford and selling Guild (the original plan was simply to shut down Guild, as MFIC had done with Hamer and with Ovation USA, so to that extent CMG saved Guild.

Income statement, statement of changes in financial position and cash flow as well. Sounds like LTG could have been a nostalgia board if it wasn’t for CMG. Still so much effort and good done in NH to be just shut down is sad.

 

[fronobulax]

I looked up FMIC in the acronyms and I can't find it's meaning. But I will guess it's Fender Musical Instrument Corporation. That's what it is. I'm not a fan of the Fender venture capitalists

We should probably fix that. Thanks.

I tend to use Fender Musical Instrument Company (FMIC) when talking about the business or corporation and Fender when talking about the most prominent brand of products. I also tend to use Cordoba Music Group (CMG) and Guild in similar ways.

 

[chazmo]

We should probably fix that. Thanks.

Done.

 

[Br1ck]

Looking at the guitar business from a high altitude, if private equity buys a company, it is not for any reason but to maximize profit in as short a period of time, three to five years, and sell out for two or three hundred million profit, or take the business public. This could be golfballs, or candy. All decisions are based on profit. Now this could be beneficial to the product, but not the end game. Cordoba is a guitar company with no overlords. Sweetwater now has overloards. They want to build market share and dump the business. Squashing all competition is part of that, then when manufacturers have fewer places to sell to, they squeeze the begibeezes out of them for better pricing. Guitars don't factor into it much.

Now being an enlightened guitar builder having an enviornmental outlook is a sales benifit. That guitar with natural ebony is of interest to private equity only insofar as the profit is greater. Not all bad, not all good. I'm sure the streaked ebony, being reletively plentiful sells for less, unless Bob Taylor says different I guess.