Two Guild Rosewood Dreads... Decisions...

[bronzeback]

1977 D50 that is close to needing a neck reset. 4/32" at the 12th fret low E with about 3/32" saddle over the bridge and a nearly flat fretboard. Otherwise very good condition for a '77, and sounds terrific of course and plays great.

2007 DV6 from Tacoma. Very similar guitar with a matt finish, rosewood bridge and fretboard instead of ebony, and scalloped braces. Very good good shape, plays great, tall saddle, needs nothing.

Gotta love the tone on the D50. 30 years older, and a classic. I just got it today at a great price... I think I could sell the DV6 and almost cover the cost. Not planning on keeping both.

They are both terrific but if the potential neck reset was not a factor the DV6 would be listed already.... thoughts?

 

[fronobulax]

To clarify, you own both of these and want us to help choose the one you put on the market?

 

[bronzeback]

Yes I should have mentioned, 3 day return period on the D50.

 

[fronobulax]

Yes I should have mentioned, 3 day return period on the D50.

Thanks.

Do you have a luthier you trust with a reset and are you willing to live with the instrument and enjoy it until the reset is done? For me getting repairs (in general) is a hassle so it would have to be something very very special before I would buy something knowing a repair was in the near future. You aren't really convincing me that you think the D-50 is that special.

But you have to live with the decision so what I would do is not relevant

 

[bronzeback]

Yeah I think I'm leaning that way Frono. Cosmetic wise the '77 is in great shape and sounds distinctly different than the DV6, in good way. But no I don't think there's anyone in town who could do the reset and I sure don't want to ship it off, or pay for that anyway. It's playable as it is but I think it would forever bother me staring at that low saddle and high action. I think she's going back.

 

[fronobulax]

Yeah I think I'm leaning that way Frono. Cosmetic wise the '77 is in great shape and sounds distinctly different than the DV6, in good way. But no I don't think there's anyone in town who could do the reset and I sure don't want to ship it off, or pay for that anyway. It's playable as it is but I think it would forever bother me staring at that low saddle and high action. I think she's going back.

Glad to have helped. That can't always be said about my posts

 

[Coop47]

A few years ago, I learned to never buy a project unless you have a viable project plan.

 

[richardp69]

No brainer in my mind. The D 50 is the winner. Buy it and have it shipped to Tom Jacobs or another Luthier you trust and it will be good for another 40 years. The D 50 may be my most favorite RW Guild.

 

[bronzeback]

No brainer in my mind. The D 50 is the winner. Buy it and have it shipped to Tom Jacobs or another Luthier you trust and it will be good for another 40 years. The D 50 may be my most favorite RW Guild.

Wish I had the patience/funds for that.

 

[gjmalcyon]

Much as I love my Tacoma DV-6 (it has caused owners of very expensive Martin dreadnoughts to question their sanity), it was not that expensive to begin with (I paid around $800 for the guitar as new) and appears to have used asking prices around that now.

If it were me, I would sell the Tacoma and fix the D-50.

 

[bronzeback]

Returned to GC. They said they would relist at the same price.. $1199. That's a deal for someone who doesn't mind a little high action or wants to do the reset.

 

[chazmo]

Fair enough, bb. Good luck with the (continued) hunt.

If you have a chance to play a DV-4 from either Tacoma or Ensenada, try it. Now there's a helluva value. Mahogany, yes, (compared to the latter-day DV-6 in rosewood), but a real honey nonetheless. https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index.php?threads/ensenada-dv-4-and-dv-6.153844/

 

[donnylang]

I think “objectively”, a 1977 Guild vs a 2007 lower end model- the ‘77 is the better investment. Assuming both are reasonable deals for their condition, etc.

But subjectivity is usually what matters! So sounds like you went with the one you liked better. Something to be said for a guitar that’s ready to go right outta the gate too.

 

[mushroom]

I read into your first post that you aren’t really convinced about either?

Why not sell both which will give you a budget increase which will at least broaden the range of options?

Maybe a higher spec model?

I’ve done that in the past - done a two for one swap (and a one for two swap now I think about it)

 

[gjmalcyon]

<snip> a 2007 lower end model <snip>

What gives the Martin owners fits about my DV-6 is it punches way above its weight. It is very plain, unornamented guitar, but it is impeccably built and plays and sounds absurdly good.

 

[bronzeback]

Looks like it was just re-listed. That pickup is not attached to the bridge: https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Guild/Vintage-1977-D-50NT-Acoustic-Guitar.gc

 

[Br1ck]

You need to really learn who you are in the guitar world, and I've noticed that usually dovetails with who you are period. There are those that put vinyl windows is a hundred year old houses, and those that get nervous driving a 20,000 mile car. Buying a guitar should always be a long term proposition. Learn to find the guitars you can't put down. My personal experience is that I think guitars that are forty or fifty years old sound better, and they come with their own issues. Spending a thousand dollars fixing a guitar is to me a viable proposition. There are plenty of disposable guitars out there you can be happy with. Like someone said, don't venture into old guitar world without commitment. If you can't ever see owning a guitar for ten or twenty years, it might not be worth it to you. If you can, it brings significant rewards.