Vintage d-55! yeah, yeah!

[kentukblue]

Im on a quest...and until hans new book comes out, maybe some of you can help.

If you look at frosty's video below, which is amazing btw, hes got what i believe is the most beautiful specimen of a d55 burst ive seen. From frosty himself, he called it as a 1981 D55 tobacco burst. So, what year did they start and stop making this darker burst and what was the official name....Hans, you there?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om1DmnJN8gQ

And lastly, where can i get one of these badboys!!!! I mean, i would drive cross country for this guitar...it haunts my dreams!! Literally, i had a dream I was playing black mountain rag with Doc Watson.

Maybe i should just buy a natural top and give it the spray job!! :lol:

 

[gilligan]

I agree with Ken on both points--Frosty, your playing is awesome and that guitar is stunning! I hope to learn to fingerpick like that someday, the rhythm and timing was right on and the chords sounded so harmonious. The sunburst is pretty dark (is that what they call tobacco burst these days?) or is it the cool lighting from the window? It is a beautiful finish. One of the nicest I've seen, too.

gilligan

 

[dreadnut]

Yeah, great pickin'! And the guitar is a beauty, I don't know when they stopped making the tobacco sunburst, but my buddy has a '76 D-35 with that finish.

 

[GardMan]

Hey Kentuk,
I have been watching eBay and Gbase for about 18 months, and have about a dozen shop sites that I check each week (or more), and would say that "vintage" (70s and 80s) 'burst D-55s are few and far between. I remember just a couple in that time on eBay, and can't recall any on Gbase (doesn't mean they weren't there). One '73 I do recall came up just after I got my '92 D-55 NT... it was gorgeous, but one of the lighter bursts (which I tend to favor). As I recall, it went for ~$2000. I have seen more "modern" (late 90s into the Corona and Tacoma years) 'bursts... but don't recall any looking like Frosty's. [Just watched his video... phenomonal! I feel very humbled... I had just borrowed a book of Joplin for fingerstyle guitar, but no way I'll be able to play like that!]

Anyway... most I have encountered have looked more like:
http://www.gbase.com/Stores/Gear/GearDe ... em=1723327 (fixed link?)
which is more like the modern "antique burst." I guess my only suggestion is to have everyone here keep there eyes open for you (I will)... there are a couple shops (gruhn's and others), where you can put in a WTB request...
Dave

 

[Frank]

That may be the most beautiful guitar I've ever seen.

 

[Frosty]

Thanks for the kind words, folks. Yes that is a stunningly beautiful guitar and I know that forum member Firebird has one of similar vintage and finish. I think the D-55 is an excellent fingerpicking guitar. I have owned Westerley and Tacoma models, and they each had something to offer in terms of tone and playability. The D-55 has a warm, balanced tone I do not often find in a dreadnought. As a matter of fact, the Guild D-55 (either Westerly or Tacoma) is the *only* square shouldered dreadnought guitar model I have ever owned! I've had quite a few Gibson J-45/J-50 slope shouldered dreads, though as well as jumbo and smaller body styles.

 

[guildzilla]

Your talent is more than worthy of the instrument, Frosty. I enjoyed your "Maple Leaf Rag" very much and continue to watch it with admiration. I'm about to watch and listen again. If I could pick a style to be adept with, it would be ragtime.

 

[Scratch]

I'm humbled by the talent in this forum. Great tune, Frosty. I had Pam come in to watch it with me; then asked her continued patience with my pickin. :mrgreen:

 

[Graham]

I'm humbled by the talent in this forum. Great tune, Frosty. I had Pam come in to watch it with me; then asked her continued patience with my pickin. :mrgreen:

:lol: :lol: Last Christmas I played one of Frosty's Tunes for my wife and she said, "A guitar can sound like that eh?" :shock:

She always has a grin on her face after one of those quips.

 

[JerryR]

I'm humbled by the talent in this forum. Great tune, Frosty. I had Pam come in to watch it with me; then asked her continued patience with my pickin. :mrgreen:

I'm humbled by the talent too - the rest of us can only watch, listen and wonder (or in Coastie's case, chunder) :mrgreen:

 

[J45dale]

Frosty, the D55 is great, But man, you have real talent, and could even make a SliverTone sound OK! Post some more.
Dale.

 

[john_kidder]

FrostY:

How did you mic that? Great clarity and tonal/dynamic range, didn't see a cord from the guitar?