2002 Guild D-55

This beautiful Guild D-55RW dreadnought guitar was made in the Westerly, R.I., plant in 2002, judging from its serial number (AD551803) and the Guild customer service representative, but it’s a bit complicated. According to The Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars, the Guild flagship model D-55 was originally introduced as “TV Model D-55” in 1968 and available only as a special order. Flooded by “special orders,” Guild made it a production model in 1974; it was re-named the D-65 in 1987; discontinued that same year; and re-introduced as today’s 15 ¾” D-55 in 1990, with the abalone rosette ring added in 1996. The last MSRP was over $4250, and reviewers unanimously say it’s worth every penny.

The Guild D-55RW has a solid AAA Sitka Spruce top with scalloped Red Spruce bracing and solid East Indian Rosewood back and sides. The body is fully bound, top and back, as is the fretboard and headstock, and it has a large tortoise pick guard to contrast with the ebony bridge, ebony fretboard, and black headstock overlay. If this sounds kinda plain, think again: with three-per-side gold-plated Grover enclosed tuners, the inlaid mother-of-pearl G-Shield and logo, a multi-stripe and abalone inlaid rosette, this ain’t no plain Jane. Top that off with the three-piece mahogany/walnut/mahogany neck’s 14/20-fret ebony fingerboard with spectacular inlaid mother-of pearl block position markers with abalone V-inserts, and this guitar is a real head-turner. On the practical side, the neck has a 25.625” scale from the 1.69” bone nut to the bone saddle and a fingerboard radius of 12”.

However, this is not just another D-55; this guitar is special. Whoever the person was in charge of selecting the tone woods for the D-55s must have decided to find the best piece of book-matched, quarter-sawn AAA spruce in the whole factory. If you are not familiar with the terms "silking" or "medullary rays" then please do a google search to learn more about this feature. Basically, if you look at the grain pattern running north and south, and then notice the grain lines running east to west, those are the silking lines or medullary rays. The more silking, the higher grade the top, and most luthiers associate these features with the best-sounding guitars.

Another thing that stands out about this Guild is the after-market armrest. The purpose of the arm rest is to keep all parts of your arm from making contact with the sound board when playing. The theory behind this is that when we make contact with the top, we are actually muting about 20% of the sound, by reducing the vibration of the wood. I was not so sure that this was a real thing until I played this particular D-55 and compared it to my personal 1997 D-55. I could immediately hear the difference in tone and volume output. I am not sure if it's because of the arm rest or just that this 2002 D-55 has a much higher quality spruce top, but I honestly think this D-55 sounds better. Obviously, if you do not like the look or sound of the arm rest, then it can be removed (but you should have a luthier do it for you).

There are virtually no cosmetic items to report: there is almost no visible finish “crazing” on the top and no cracks or repairs. I found a couple of small dings about the size of a pencil tip here and there on the top, there is a bit of finish peeling and cracking in the binding throughout the guitar (with one binding crack on the back waist touched up), and the gold Grover tuners have had some of the finish rubbed off. Considering its honorable years of service, the beautifully grained rosewood back and sides are in excellent condition, and one can only assume that this instrument has been treated like the masterpiece it is.

The action and playability on this D-55 is also excellent. The truss rod works properly and there is still a good bit of saddle left for future adjustments, but right now the guitar is set up perfectly for easy finger style playing at a bit under 3/32” at the 12th fret low E. There is little to no visible wear in the frets or the ebony fingerboard, the three-piece mahogany neck is in excellent shape, and for your gigs at Yankee Stadium or Carnegie Hall there is an under-saddle pickup and end pin jack that work great.

Be advised that this is a truly attractive instrument, but it is also a real Guild, “Made to be Played,” and it has been making music and turning heads for almost two decades. I would match its power and balance against any D-28 or J-45 out there, and of course they would pale compared to the beauty of this guitar. 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 also in very good condition. The brass latches work perfectly, the red plush lining is soft and odor-free, and structurally it is solid as a rock. With the Guild logo proudly displayed, it is the ideal complement for this fine 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 and personal 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. Its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy it.

Thank you for your interest in this great guitar.