Question about my D55e

[Phoenix 602]

...and yes the blueing of the logo was his but i think he may be mistaken about rens involvement. . Also he had a takimine protype in same conditions, A white fender JAZZ bass, that was clean no issues, and sexy vietnam made sapmple strait with an single fhole, i thought it was a semi hollow strat at first but it was decorative only, nice strat though it felt real but no blank headstck no numbers. . He was selling them all at the same along with this guild. I mite still have a pic of couple

 

[JohnW63]

To the all knowing crowd...

Which Guilds did ship with blue inlays? I was thinking DV-60 or something like that.

 

[geoguy]

I recall an Orpheum example that had some blue in the soundhole rosette. Was there actually a production model with blue inlays on the headstock?

 

[GardMan]

To the all knowing crowd...

Which Guilds did ship with blue inlays? I was thinking DV-60 or something like that.

The DV-72* and DV-73 had a turquoise G-shield inlay in the headstock (photo is my DV-72):

Not the same as the OP's D-55...

*A small number of DV-72s had malachite or coral inlay

 

[SFIV1967]

I recall an Orpheum example that had some blue in the soundhole rosette. Was there actually a production model with blue inlays on the headstock?

No Orpheums had any blue in the headstocks.
Only the few NAMM 2013 samples of the Orpheums used the blue rosettes and blue back stripes:



Both were changed to brown for production:



Ralf

 

[SFIV1967]

Kind of hard to say from the pictures what the blue really is, the white edges look like it's just a blue film on top of a white inlay below?



Ralf

 

[davismanLV]

I was wondering that same thing myself, Ralf. Wonder how you'd find out or explore that without wrecking whatever it is? Sure would be cool to know the WHY.

 

[Neal]

I have a theory. It is simply blue-tinted plastic protecting the logo underneath. I’ll bet it peels right off, just like that the plastic that protects the pickguard.

 

[SFIV1967]

I have a theory. It is simply blue-tinted plastic protecting the logo underneath. I’ll bet it peels right off, just like that the plastic that protects the pickguard.

I thought the same thing initially but it also does not make sense as the logo is inlayed and later lacquer is sprayed over it and it is polished and so on, so a protective plasticfilm makes no sense to me.

Ralf

 

[fronobulax]

I have a theory. It is simply blue-tinted plastic protecting the logo underneath. I’ll bet it peels right off, just like that the plastic that protects the pickguard.

For starters the headstock logo isn't abalone, I dont think. It's a light metallic blue color, almost like the plastic they mite put over something to protect it from scratches however I am unable to peel it back

 

[Neal]

So much for my theory.

So on to the next one! Perhaps a luthier could carefully remove it to reveal what appears to be the white MOP underneath.

 

[JohnW63]

I suggested a little hair drier action to see if the stuff will come off when the glue warms a bit.

 

[SFIV1967]

I suggested a little hair drier action to see if the stuff will come off when the glue warms a bit.

Yes, might be an idea, but if I would be not sure what it is I would leave it alone. Would be a pity to damage the inlay by any means. I wonder if lacquer is over it or not?
Maybe Hans has some ideas what the blue could be?

Ralf

 

[JohnW63]

I should then state.. " Carefully apply a little heat from a hairdryer " and see if anything changes. I would think a film would be noticeable it short order. Don't melt the inlay!

OK, I feel better.

 

[Phoenix 602]

Hey guys, so I've installed the bridge doctor and it seems to be recovering on schedule. I chose to go with a ebony plug to hide the screw because I thought the abalone dot they provide would be an eyesore. Still isn't fully playable yet. I've ordered a new bone nut and saddle for it so hopefully by the end of the weekend it will be ready,
As far as the bluing on the headstock goes, it does appear to be covering something and I too originally thought the same blue film idea protecting the MOP. However it's either lacquered over or its permanent, cuz I've tried the hair dryer to get it off. Nothing. It's not a plastic either it appears to me to be a very very thin gauge of sheet metal almost that was done by Cnc perhaps. Maybe this was the reason for it being taken home or whatever ? Is all of the branding , stamps, labels, and what not on the back brace and neck block and/or serial number done before or after the guitar is built???

 

[Phoenix 602]

Here's the old thread that includes photos of my D-55 prototype.

Phoenix, if your pickguard matches the unusual shape and size of this one, the mystery is solved.

NGD '09 D-55 New Hartford Prototype

I bought this from a FMIC employee in Scottsdale, AZ. As the story goes, it was an early (10/24/08) prototype build by the luthiers at Kaman Music Corp. prior to the start of Guild production in New Hartford. Not sure if it came as a kit from Tacoma, but I tend to doubt it because the heel cap...

letstalkguild.com

They appear to be the same? I dont understand how that's mystery solved tho?

 

[Neal]

They appear to be the same? I dont understand how that's mystery solved tho?

That shape and size pickguard is different from the pickguards that were installed on all of the production D-55's from both Tacoma and New Hartford. They appear to be unique to the New Hartford prototypes of late 2008- early 2009.

 

[Phoenix 602]

That shape and size pickguard is different from the pickguards that were installed on all of the production D-55's from both Tacoma and New Hartford. They appear to be unique to the New Hartford prototypes of late 2008- early 2009.

So then there has to be more than only 2 prototypes that exist? The prototypes came after fender acquired guild but before Cordoba acquired them from fender? So at some point after fender acquired guild they stopped production of them? I think I'm just not understanding fully the timeline of events that actually created this prototype.

 

[Phoenix 602]

They appear to be the same? I dont understand how that's mystery solved tho?

So our two prototypes are identical minus the blue inlay on the headstock?

 

[Neal]

No. Close, but not identical. The back of the neck on my former guitar was more refined. And it was not a sunburst.

Fender owned Guild from 1995 to 2014, spanning four different locations (Westerly, RI to Corona, CA to Tacoma, WA to New Hartford, CT). These prototypes would have been made only as operation was shifting from Tacoma to New Hartford. There can’t be more than a handful In existence.