2006 Guild® D-55 RW Excellent, Original Hard, $2,395.00
This beautiful Guild D-55RW dreadnought guitar was made in the Corona, California, plant in 2006, judging from its serial number (CV000935) 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 current MSRP is over $4250, and reviewers unanimously say it’s worth every penny.
Regardless, this particular guitar has been dominating lesser instruments for more than 10 years, and the resonance of its superb aged woods and nitrocellulose finish will only improve with each new generation of players. Its gorgeous 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 distinctive nitrocellulose lacquer finish is a hallmark of this instrument and its tone can be heard on countless hit recordings of our time.
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”.
There are virtually no cosmetic items to report: there is no visible finish “crazing” on the top, no visible pick wear on the pick guard, and no visible cracks or repairs. I found a couple of scratches on the headstock, a little anomaly or finish crack and a ¼” ding below the bridge, but that’s it. Considering its honorable years of service, the beautifully grained back and sides are in excellent condition, and one can only assume that this instrument has been treated like the masterpiece it is. I would honestly give it a cosmetics score of about 9.7 out of 10, and the missing .3 is mostly because my trifocals might have missed something.
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 over a decade. It has been thoroughly checked out and set up by a professional luthier, the action is low and fast at a hair under 3/32” at the 12th fret low E, and it’s ready to beat up on some banjo and fiddle players. 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 deluxe arched-top hard shell case is also in very good condition, so the brass latches work perfectly, the burgundy plush lining is soft and odor-free, and structurally it is solid as a rock, with the arched top adding extra strength. 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.
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.