been on the fence about it but think I will pull the trigger (finally).

@@marksoftime did you?

Whoa. That's awesome!

Nice! I still have my 1992 Guild D-4NT HG (high gloss, which cost a few hundred guilders extra). I bought it used with way too light .010" strings. We put .011s Martins on it in order not to have to adjust the trussrod. So it's a fingerpicking guitar now. For a fair comparison I should put .012 d'Addario EJ-16 on it and have a new set-up done. Right now it gets its ass kicked by my other solid mahogany dreadnaught guitars* because of the too light strings. *1973 Martin D-18 1971 Gibson J-50 1980 Gallagher Doc Watson Tama TW-07 Tacoma DM9 Blueridge BR-40A (laminated mahogany with an Adirondack spruce top) I am going to give the Guild a fair chance in the comparison, since selling the Guild is not interesting anyway, because Fender totally ruined Guild's reputation and the prices of the OLD Guilds really suffered from it. Today these Guilds go for €500-650 which is way too low for what they are. I paid 1300 guilders used in 1999 (the HG version had a LIST PRICE of 2495 GUILDERS in 1992, which was pretty comparable with a Martin D-18) and I refuse to lose a single penny on it. I should give Cordoba enough time to build up the good reputation of Guild again and THEN eventually sell it, because I have way too many axes. Until now I only sold my Lakewood D-8 after I bought the Tama... I had to buy the Tama, because it's a member of the Ibanez family, and it kicked the Lakewood's ass. But then the Tacoma came along... and I had to have that. Same for the Blueridge. I HAD to have it because Harrie stopped importing them and I didn't have a regular Blueridge dreadnaught (I just bought the really special Blueridges, then Covid came along and Harrie made some strategic business changes and closed shops and really slow Blueridge deliveries didn't fit into that strategy). I'm really glad I found a simple BR-40 PLUS that incredible Adirondack top USED at a very decent price. It's a KILLER guitar. Mahogany gives such a sweet tone, especially for strumming. IMHO every serious acoustic guitar player should have a Rosewood, a Mahogany AND if you can find one: a MAPLE dreadnaught. (If you can't find the latter, buy a jumbo).

@@gingerbeer914 The D4 is highly under rated. It is an excellent guitar that comes with a lot of soul to it! I use John Pearse medium lights on mine. Great strings! Enjoy your Guild. They are special!

Here's a secret for you Nick and others who may be reading this. See if you can find a Guild Arch Back to play. The arch backs produce their own strength and rigidity like a domed roof in a stadium does, are very stable and require NO internal back bracing strips. I was in a guitar shop looking to spend some decent dollars, 1K plus, and played about 15 different guitars up to 3500 kinda range. Was pretty well down between a nice Gibson or a Martin. Then I spotted a Guild arch back. I took one strum on it and new instantly this was the guitar for me. The difference in depth, projection, play ability (nice thinner neck), sustain and richness blew me away. I'd never heard such acoustic sound as this in my life, and I've had a number of what I thought were great acoustics. If you can find one to play hold it up vertically with thumb and forefinger where the head stock meets the neck and tap quickly the center of the arch back. It booms like a drum and sustains it. Then do the same thing with any other high end guitar with internal back bracing that have flat backs and you'll immediately feel how dead they ALL sound compared to an arch back Guild. Best discovery of my life. This Guild is a AD-3 Nat built in Mexico. I bought it about 7-8 yrs ago. I put light strings on it and tune it down a full step. It's a very light weight guitar with a thin neck, easy to play, and with the tuned down lites WOW the thing just hums and resonates and the whole guitar feels alive in your hands. Don't buy another acoustic until you've managed to try out the Guild arch backs. There's more than one line of them. I assume but don't know that all the arch backs are incredible. That missing internal back bracing makes more difference in the sound of a guitar than ANY other feature I've ever come across. The Mexico plant is now closed but you can find a used AD-3 for CHEAP if you look. This AD-3 cost me new 450.00 and included a good padded Guild case, lololo. It has a solid Sitka Spruce top and laminated Mahogany back and sides. Don't let the laminate fool you. This is hands down the finest sounding guitar I've ever played or owned. I found out later the arch tops started with Epiphone in the '30s for their stand up basses and were designed specifically for much better sound volume and projection before Electric Bass was invented. Anyway this Guild will always be with me, I will NEVER sell it. It beat the 3000.00 Martins and Gibsons like a DRUM, literally...lololo. I write this review in depth to ALL us poor acoustic players because I want everyone to know you don't need big bucks to find big sound. Hope this helps people. Comment me back when you confirm what I'm saying. It'll make your day and mine. Cheers Richard West Kelowna British Columbia, Canada.

I agree, however, it may need a neck reset and other work, which is not cheap, but it's worth it if the buyer is willing to give an old Guild some TLC. Like giving a shelter dog a good home, it will reward you.

It’s always worth it. The D55 is a Bentley. If you’re into quality of sound that is.

i had a jf65 12 string made in Westerly that I will always regret selling. A great Guitar. Someday I'll buy another one.

I have a D55 dated 1974. I brought it in 1982 and for the next 30 years played it in all sorts of venues up and down New Zealand. It's in semi retirement now and though it looks a bit rough it's still in perfect working order. It's had a refret or two and once the bridge came unstuck but that's the only problems I've had with it. Now it's a 'sit on the deck and pick ' guitar.

I have one of these too. It was my first dread, bought it new in the late 90’s. I have purchased some other high-end boutique guitars in the last few years. All that did was made me realize how good the told “cheap” Guild is. I just upgraded from the original cardboard case because this thing deserves it. I’ve used it everywhere, it’s beat up but sounds great.

Yep...unlike most Martin and Taylorites....I wonder if any of them ever play, they seem to be more interested in model and serial numbers and one upping each other lol!

I believe it was destroyed on tour from airline baggage handlers. He often used custom tooled leather soft cases. He also reserved some guitars that he liked too much to take outside his home.

That’s a banger of a guitar! You chose well. I played one I couldn’t afford the day I bought my D18.

Only the flagships has the G logo.

I have a DV52NT that I bought new in 1993 or 94, and it's the nicest sounding guitar I've ever owned. I have several smaller-bodied ones that are lovely when I don't want the booming dreadnaught, but for sheer tonal awesomeness, you can't beat a big Guild.

You played the wrong Guild. All Guild guitars don't fat necks. I guess the one you had did.

I'm jealous!

I'm so excited for you! I still have this one and adore it.

Battery pack is inside by the neck block. Easy to access when needed. I'd much rather have that than a hole in the guitar.

@@JeremySheppard Thank you. Good to know.

Collectors item, and for good reason - "v" is for vintage. I found one and it's great.

Here's a secret for you Adam and others who may be reading this. See if you can find a Guild Arch Back to play. The arch backs produce their own strength and rigidity like a domed roof in a stadium does, are very stable and require NO internal back bracing strips. I was in a guitar shop looking to spend some decent dollars, 1K plus, and played about 15 different guitars up to 3500 kinda range. Was pretty well down between a nice Gibson or a Martin. Then I spotted a Guild arch back. I took one strum on it and new instantly this was the guitar for me. The difference in depth, projection, play ability (nice thinner neck), sustain and richness blew me away. I'd never heard such acoustic sound as this in my life, and I've had a number of what I thought were great acoustics. If you can find one to play hold it up vertically with thumb and forefinger where the head stock meets the neck and tap quickly the center of the arch back. It booms like a drum and sustains it. Then do the same thing with any other high end guitar with internal back bracing that have flat backs and you'll immediately feel how dead they ALL sound compared to an arch back Guild. Best discovery of my life. This Guild is a AD-3 Nat built in Mexico. I bought it about 7-8 yrs ago. I put light strings on it and tune it down a full step. It's a very light weight guitar with a thin neck, easy to play, and with the tuned down lites WOW the thing just hums and resonates and the whole guitar feels alive in your hands. Don't buy another acoustic until you've managed to try out the Guild arch backs. There's more than one line of them. I assume but don't know that all the arch backs are incredible. That missing internal back bracing makes more difference in the sound of a guitar than ANY other feature I've ever come across. The Mexico plant is now closed but you can find a used AD-3 for CHEAP if you look. This AD-3 cost me new 450.00 and included a good padded Guild case, lololo. It has a solid Sitka Spruce top and laminated Mahogany back and sides. Don't let the laminate fool you. This is hands down the finest sounding guitar I've ever played or owned. I found out later the arch tops started with Epiphone in the '30s for their stand up basses and were designed specifically for much better sound volume and projection before Electric Bass was invented. Anyway this Guild will always be with me, I will NEVER sell it. It beat the 3000.00 Martins and Gibsons like a DRUM, literally...lololo. I write this review in depth to ALL us poor acoustic players because I want everyone to know you don't need big bucks to find big sound. Hope this helps people. Comment me back when you confirm what I'm saying. It'll make your day and mine. Cheers Richard West Kelowna British Columbia, Canada.

I believe you! Man, I'd love to own a vintage one.

1 11/16"

I'd love to help! Use my website and book a call and we'll find the perfect guitar to look for.