Have been looking for a D-55 for a while. Decided that the right one would probably find me if I took my time and was patient.
I was right. Mom always said I could fall in the manure and come up with a gold watch! This D-55 was an original-owner, case queen. Hans verified that it was built in 1999 and one of the last D-55's out of Westerly, RI by a pretty good margin (Thanks, Hans!).
Best part of the whole transaction was that the owner didn't feel comfortable about shipping it from Michigan and instead offered to drive it down to me in SW Ohio. When he arrived, we went directly to the shop of my luthier, Justin Kennedy, where Justin gave it a thorough going over before we sealed the deal.
Outside of a little tarnish on the tuners and a set of strings that looked as if they hadn't been changed in a LONG time, I couldn't believe the primo condition of the guitar and how pretty the rosewood was. Not a mark or ding on it! Took it home to humidify (just in case), oil the fretboard, put on new strings, and polish it up a bit. Justin will get it back for a full set-up.
Some pics :
I was right. Mom always said I could fall in the manure and come up with a gold watch! This D-55 was an original-owner, case queen. Hans verified that it was built in 1999 and one of the last D-55's out of Westerly, RI by a pretty good margin (Thanks, Hans!).
Best part of the whole transaction was that the owner didn't feel comfortable about shipping it from Michigan and instead offered to drive it down to me in SW Ohio. When he arrived, we went directly to the shop of my luthier, Justin Kennedy, where Justin gave it a thorough going over before we sealed the deal.
Outside of a little tarnish on the tuners and a set of strings that looked as if they hadn't been changed in a LONG time, I couldn't believe the primo condition of the guitar and how pretty the rosewood was. Not a mark or ding on it! Took it home to humidify (just in case), oil the fretboard, put on new strings, and polish it up a bit. Justin will get it back for a full set-up.
Some pics :
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