Sorry if I'm bombarding the forum with this, but as mentioned in another thread, the DV52 I purchased got damaged.
I don't know a lot about Guilds, and was wondering if any new models are equal to the DV52? I'm afraid to go back into the used market after this experience and would consider a new one if the quality is as good.
What I like about the DV-52. Full tone, great fretboard -- the ebony felt great and was fast. What I didn't like: neck is a bit thin. So maybe a new model that has a full tone, great fretboard, and a thicker neck, all with the same high quality build. Does this exist? Thank you.
For "bang for the buck", the short answer right now is "no" and I'd actually recommend giving the used market another chance after you get some more coaching on the tricks of the trade.
Richardp69, TXbumper, and a few others have a
lot of successful experience in it.
Limiting my suggestions to US-built product because I can't in good conscience suggest any Chinese-built pieces compare to DV-52's:
They only make one rosewood bodied dread right now and are only just starting production as it is: the D55, which is somewhat of an upgrade from a DV52, for bling if nothing else, and which is sure to carry a price appropriate for a top-of-the line Guild.
The only benefit I can see to buying new right now is warranty, and "Honeymoon Moment" pride of owning a brand-new instrument.
But the new facility, Oxnard, is still an unknown quality proposition in many members' eyes, myself included.
SO:
If it's rosewood you're after, consider also the D50's from which DV52's were derived.
Also be aware that the "thin neck" seems to be most common in late Westerly guitars, and that's when the DV52 was introduced.
Necks at Westerly were individually hand finished on a belt or cone sander so there's variation from piece-to piece no matter what, even though they did attempt to stay close to a template.
If my memory's correct late '80's D50's might have a better chance of a thicker neck.
Also, my Corona D40's neck is thicker than my 2 late Westerlys by virtue of having a "C" profile as opposed to late my Westerlys' "modern flat oval" that's more like a D with the arch flattened. I suspect that's what your DV52 has.
Coronas get frequent reports of "chunky" necks, especially the electrics, and they made D50's there, too.
Coronas are also somewhat undervalued for reasons I won't go into now, just be aware that there are a lot of "refurbs" out there that have the headstock s/n's obliterated and a barcode sticker pasted over the label s/n.
While these can be great deals and some might even have been flawless when they were liquidated at close of Corona, they'd carry the same stigma at resale as a repaired guitar.
But I think the closest you'd get to a DV52, soundwise , at a comparable price point, will be a Tacoma built D50, where they introduced adi bracing as standard and even adi tops on the "Bluegrass Special" models, and lightened up the builds again, according to owner reports. (One of the elements of "DV" construction was sanded sides and backs for for better resonance).
AND: If rosewood isn't mandatory, Oxnard has been producing D40's for a few months now, but they're still kinda scarce and I can't recall any new owner reviews on 'em yet.
And you're sure to get recommendations for New Hartford-builts, too, where they also offered D40's and D50s with and without adi tops, but again, I think price-point is gonna be higher than most DV52's out there.