1992 Guild D-50 Rosewood
This veteran Guild D-50 Bluegrass Special dreadnought guitar was made in Guild’s Westerly, Rhode Island, plant in 1992, judging from its serial number (D500846) and the Guild website. The D-50 was a rosewood version of the mahogany D-40 Bluegrass Jubilee until it was discontinued in 1993 (to be re-issued later). This guitar model was not mass-produced in the 90s; only 182 were built in 1992. This particular guitar has been dominating lesser instruments for over 30 years, and the resonance of its aged woods will only improve with its new generation of players. Its classic good looks make it stand out in a crowd, but it’s the huge sound that will make other musicians turn around to check it out.
The Guild D-50 has a solid spruce top and solid Indian rosewood back and sides. The body is fully bound, top and back, and it has a large tortoise pick guard, an ebony bridge with white black-dot pins, and a multi-stripe inlaid rosette. The mahogany neck is faced with a 14/20-fret ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlay. It ends in a mahogany headstock with gold enclosed Grover tuners and the pearl inlaid Guild logo and Chesterfield.
This guitar has been played a ton and has the sound quality to prove it. The overall tone is incredible, with great bass response and volume output when played with an aggressive attack. It is very easy to finger pick as well, and the individual note response is lovely all the way up the neck. The pickup works and sounded great when I tested it. The truss rod functions properly, the bridge is secure to the sound board, and there is still good saddle height on this one. This particular D-50 has a lovely set of figured rosewood sides that reminds me of the vintage Martin D-28 Brazilians that are so highly desired. The Spruce top and East Indian Rosewood back are both very tight and straight grained. The Gold Grovers work properly and also show signs of use.
There are several cosmetic and functional items to report: there is slight visible fret wear, especially in the first three frets. There are relatively few other small dings and bruises, with the exception being the several dings and chips in the finish of the headstock. Weather checking or crazing can be seen in the top, and there is some light pick wear and some binding cracks. The original plastic heel cap for the neck has been replaced with a tortoise cap. Considering its honorable 30 years of service and the passion with which it has evidently been played, the beautifully straight-grained back and sides are in excellent condition.
While this is still a truly attractive instrument, it is a real Guild, “Made to be Played”, and it has been making music and turning heads for a generation. It has now been thoroughly checked out and set up by a professional luthier, the action is medium-low (3/32” at the 12th fret low E), and it’s ready to beat up on some banjo and fiddle players. Here is your chance to own a fully broken in vintage dread, with nothing wrong with it but minor cosmetic flaws: no cracks, no breaks, no repairs, no neck issues or playability issues. Here is your chance to own a fully broken in vintage dread, with nothing wrong with it but minor cosmetic flaws: no cracks, no breaks, no repairs, no neck issues or playability issues. Here is your chance to own a fully broken in vintage dread, with nothing wrong with it but minor cosmetic flaws: no cracks, no breaks, no repairs, no neck issues or playability issues. Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, it will pass into the hands of a player able to make music and turn heads for a generation or two to come.
The included original hard shell case is in very good working condition, and obviously fits the guitar perfectly. The burgundy plush lining is soft and odor-free, and structurally it is solid as a rock. It is the ideal vintage complement for this vintage guitar—and of course it offers outstanding protection.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have made every effort to describe and illustrate this guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. Please read the description carefully and check out the pictures before offering to buy it. Its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing.
Thank you for your interest in this powerful Guild classic.
ALUMPSTER'S GUITARS
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.