WTB: 1971 -1973 Guild D-55
- Thread starter wombat
- Start date
GardMan
Enlightened Member
Tunes
Member
Here's one in minneapolis ... it's an '81, but looks great.
http://minneapolis.en.craigslist.org/da ... 71174.html
And another '80's D55 in Janesville (no idea where that is).
http://janesville.craigslist.org/msg/1331605642.html
That's the best I can find today.
http://minneapolis.en.craigslist.org/da ... 71174.html
And another '80's D55 in Janesville (no idea where that is).
http://janesville.craigslist.org/msg/1331605642.html
That's the best I can find today.
Tunes
Member
Wombat,
You seem to have the same post in two places - here and LTG Bay. I left a response in the other one. Might be better served with just one post.
You seem to have the same post in two places - here and LTG Bay. I left a response in the other one. Might be better served with just one post.
Thanks for the replies and link guys, sorry I haven't got back to you before now, I've been away with work.
I really appreciate the links and even kind offers to check out guitars on my behalf, however, I'm specificaly looking for guitars from that era (it's narrow, I know).
The thing is, I've been very in the past to have owned a DV-52, a '65 and '78 D-50 and a '78 D-55 and I also currently own a '71 D-50. All were and are great guitars, but none have hit the spot for me like my '73 D-55.
All of the D-50s I have played, though apparently made of the same woods, were coarser sounding (the '65 was very loud). The '78 D-55 was nice, and had class, but the neck was too chunky for me - and somehow it was quite dark sounding. But there's something about my '73 that is quite special: sophisticated, sweet, compressed.
All that said, it might have nothing to do with the year - I might just have a good one. The top and neck have both been sanded down and that certainly helps the sound and playability respectively (my F-212 also has a sanded top and it is the best 12 I have played).
Thanks again, and please do let me know if you hear of a D-55 from that era
Wombat
I really appreciate the links and even kind offers to check out guitars on my behalf, however, I'm specificaly looking for guitars from that era (it's narrow, I know).
The thing is, I've been very in the past to have owned a DV-52, a '65 and '78 D-50 and a '78 D-55 and I also currently own a '71 D-50. All were and are great guitars, but none have hit the spot for me like my '73 D-55.
All of the D-50s I have played, though apparently made of the same woods, were coarser sounding (the '65 was very loud). The '78 D-55 was nice, and had class, but the neck was too chunky for me - and somehow it was quite dark sounding. But there's something about my '73 that is quite special: sophisticated, sweet, compressed.
All that said, it might have nothing to do with the year - I might just have a good one. The top and neck have both been sanded down and that certainly helps the sound and playability respectively (my F-212 also has a sanded top and it is the best 12 I have played).
Thanks again, and please do let me know if you hear of a D-55 from that era
Wombat
Tunes
Member
jjl1118
Junior Member
Here's one in San Diego. Don't know year but it is Westerly
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/msg/1380777974.html
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/msg/1380777974.html
GardMan
Enlightened Member
Hey Wombat...
Although I expect there might be some year-year variation, you might find that the sound varies more comparing individual to individual. You might have a real sweetie in your '73 D-55... but I'd bet there are D-55s from any era that compare favorably (I have never had my D-55 head to head with another, so don't know how it would compare. Honestly, at this point, I'd rather not know... I like it fine, and don't want to start second guessing).
I think we have heard from Hans that there were really no standards or templates for necks back then... so there could be a lot of variation. I can say that my '92 D-55 has a slim, fast neck. I'd say its the slimmest of all my Guild dreads, and I can't imagine anything slimmer... It's followed closely by the necks of my G-37, D-46, and D-35. The D-44 seems a little more robust to me, but the meatiest by far is the D-25 (and my wife's now sold '78 D-35).
I don't think you will find many opportunities to side-by-side D-55s from the '70s (or other eras). You might have to just take your chances a bit... audition other '55s against yours. Bring one in... if it doesn't cut it after a while, I am sure you would be able to sell it with little loss.
Good luck hunting!
Dave
Although I expect there might be some year-year variation, you might find that the sound varies more comparing individual to individual. You might have a real sweetie in your '73 D-55... but I'd bet there are D-55s from any era that compare favorably (I have never had my D-55 head to head with another, so don't know how it would compare. Honestly, at this point, I'd rather not know... I like it fine, and don't want to start second guessing).
I think we have heard from Hans that there were really no standards or templates for necks back then... so there could be a lot of variation. I can say that my '92 D-55 has a slim, fast neck. I'd say its the slimmest of all my Guild dreads, and I can't imagine anything slimmer... It's followed closely by the necks of my G-37, D-46, and D-35. The D-44 seems a little more robust to me, but the meatiest by far is the D-25 (and my wife's now sold '78 D-35).
I don't think you will find many opportunities to side-by-side D-55s from the '70s (or other eras). You might have to just take your chances a bit... audition other '55s against yours. Bring one in... if it doesn't cut it after a while, I am sure you would be able to sell it with little loss.
Good luck hunting!
Dave
Hey Gardman, you have a point there. After all, I didn't get to audition my '73 before I bought it (Craigslist). The guy I bought it from was selling it because, try as he might (sanded top, brass bridge pins, bigger bridge) he couldn't get it to sound loud enough for his Bluegrass band, so he had bought a Martin dread. I like it for the same reason - I just find it complements the volume of my voice perfectly and I certainly don't have to worry about keeping up with a banjo.
I guess by specifying dates, I just wanted to give myself a head start on finding a good one and I have found that necks (and build) get chunkier, certainly in '78 and into the '80s, whilst before '70 or '71 the build is almost a bit too light for my tastes. The other guitars I mentioned were all great guitars, they only suffered in comparison with my D-55 (maybe I should 'mod' all my guitars like the D-55, but I can't bear to sand down a top or change a good bridge!). Aside from the neck profiles which were more or less comfortable, I'd have probably been happy with any of them if I didn't have the D-55, but I ended up selling them all thinking, why hold onto anything that doesn't sound as good. It's not just me either, a few people have commented that it's really special sounding and something a bit different from the herd. I guess I just got lucky.
Accepting that there is a lot of variation between individual guitars of the same make and model, I have always wondered why there has been a general difference in sound between the Westerley D-50s and D-55s I have played given that they seem to share the same woods and construction.
Thanks again
I guess by specifying dates, I just wanted to give myself a head start on finding a good one and I have found that necks (and build) get chunkier, certainly in '78 and into the '80s, whilst before '70 or '71 the build is almost a bit too light for my tastes. The other guitars I mentioned were all great guitars, they only suffered in comparison with my D-55 (maybe I should 'mod' all my guitars like the D-55, but I can't bear to sand down a top or change a good bridge!). Aside from the neck profiles which were more or less comfortable, I'd have probably been happy with any of them if I didn't have the D-55, but I ended up selling them all thinking, why hold onto anything that doesn't sound as good. It's not just me either, a few people have commented that it's really special sounding and something a bit different from the herd. I guess I just got lucky.
Accepting that there is a lot of variation between individual guitars of the same make and model, I have always wondered why there has been a general difference in sound between the Westerley D-50s and D-55s I have played given that they seem to share the same woods and construction.
Thanks again
jgmaute
Member
good luck, happy hunting jm
G
Guest
Unregistered
User deleted by their request
I own a 1978 Westerley-built D-55. Solid Engelmann spruce top and solid Rosewood back and sides (note: I was told by the seller that the top is Engelmann, but I've never had it confirmed). Well-balanced tone and good string articulation without the boominess one might normally find in a dreadnaught. Email me if you're interested and would like pictures. aldogucci(at)gmail.com