Thumbs up for the last of the Westerly Guilds. The 98 D55 I owned was right up there with the best of them. I also owned a D40 from that period which was excellent.
NGD D55
- Thread starter jklemm18
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KenL
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If I can jump on this bandwagon, I'd like to add that I just traded for a 2002 D-55. It arrived yesterday. I had to let it acclimate for several hours, since it went from Florida to Colorado, but finally couldn't stand it any longer. Got it out, tuned it up, and played the heck out of it for a couple hours last night. It handled everything I threw at it, fingerpicking to strumming to flatpicking, without breaking a sweat.
Glorious. That's the word for this guitar.
Glorious. That's the word for this guitar.
jklemm18
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I have an update...since owning this D55, I have come to realize that my other guitars were redundant. The D55 strums and fingerpicks better than I ever will so I made the decision to move on from my other guitars and now the D55 is my one and only. Couldn't be happier.
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Great question. As you've probably already noticed on LTG, such questions often trigger recitations and liturgies not found even in religious traditions. That's because LTGers LOVE this stuff, and love to tell the story over and over again. Thanks for the question! Congrats on the D-55; I have one and it is my favorite acoustic.
So you're selling the others?
I really like the Guilds built in the late '90's under Fender ownership. They knocked out a bunch of fine guitars during that time frame. My son's '99 DV52 is a superb dread.
I really like the Guilds built in the late '90's under Fender ownership. They knocked out a bunch of fine guitars during that time frame. My son's '99 DV52 is a superb dread.
adorshki
Reverential Member
HI Ken, I se you're one of those guys who've been around for years but just doesn't post much.
Am I right in assuming you're aware that's a Corona-built? They didn't used to get much respect, but over the last 3 or 4 years new owner reviews have been very favorable.
I got a Corona D40, only thing wrong with it is it just took a long time to open up.
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adorshki
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Wow that was quick.
But be careful, before you know it you'll get bitten by the F47 bug.
KenL
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HI Ken, I se you're one of those guys who've been around for years but just doesn't post much.
Am I right in assuming you're aware that's a Corona-built? They didn't used to get much respect, but over the last 3 or 4 years new owner reviews have been very favorable.
I got a COrona D40, only thing wrong with it is it just took a long time to open up.
Hey, adorshki. Yes, I knew going in that it was Corona-built.
I've had several Guilds, all Westerly. But I've read good things about the Corona Guilds. I've had two days now with this D-55, and I'm pretty much blown away. It is well-built, loud and powerful. Plays nice, action is right on where I like it. It needs a good "scrubbing" and some new strings. New bridge pins too, not sure if those in it are OEM or not, but they are cracking. Not sure what they are, but I like ebony pins.
It is just like my old D-46 in that I can strum, flatpick, fingerpick, and play loud or soft, there's nothing it doesn't do well.
jklemm18
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The D55 made them feel like toys.Wow that was quick.
But be careful, before you know it you'll get bitten by the F47 bug.
Outstanding, jklemm! Many of us have had that experience when playing Guild's premier guitars. Having said that, make sure you don't sell off any instruments that you have with sentimental value if you can avoid that... Just my $0.02. You'll regret it down the road.
12stringer
Senior Member
A real beauty! Enjoy!